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An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any
footrace Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
longer than the traditional
marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...
length of . Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of to over . 50k and 100k are both
World Athletics World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...
record distances, but some races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America. Around 100 miles is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours but there are also longer multi-day races of or more, sometimes raced in stages with breaks for sleep. While some ultras are road races, many take place on trails, leading to a large overlap with the sports of
trail running Trail running is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running (also known as hill running). Mountain running may, h ...
and
mountain running Mountain running is a sports discipline which takes place mainly off-road in mountainous terrain, but if there is significant elevation gain on the route, surfaced roads may be used. In this it differs from fell running; also its courses are more ...
.


Overview

There are two main types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance or route, and those that last for a predetermined period of time (with the winner covering the most distance in that time). The most common distances are , , , and , although many races have other distances. The 100 kilometer race is recognized as an official world record event by the
International Association of Athletics Federations World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...
(IAAF), the world governing body of track and field. Other ultramarathon races include double marathons, 24-hour races, and
multiday races Multiday races are ultramarathon running events which are typically either segmented into daily events of a specified distance or time, or staged so that runners can run as far as they want, at their own discretion, over a set course or over a set ...
of or longer. The format of these events and the courses vary, ranging from single loops (some as short as a track), to point-to-point road or trail races, to cross-country rogaines. Many ultramarathons, especially
trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The ...
events, have significant obstacles, such as inclement weather, elevation change, or rugged terrain. Many of these races are run on
dirt road A dirt road or track is a type of unpaved road not paved with asphalt, concrete, brick, or stone; made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable ...
s or mountain paths, though some are run on paved roads as well. Usually, there are
aid station An aid station is a temporary facility (often a tent, table, or general rest area) established to provide supplies to endurance event participants or medical first aid and provisions during major events, disaster response situations, or military o ...
s, perhaps every , where runners can replenish food and drink supplies or take a short break. Timed events range from 6, 12, and 24 hours to 3, 6, and 10 days (known as ''multi-day'' events). Timed events are generally run on a track or a short road course, often one mile (1.6 km) or less. There are some self-supported ultramarathon stage races in which each competitor has to carry all their supplies including food to survive the length of the race, typically a week long. An example of this is the Grand to Grand Ultra in the USA. The
International Association of Ultrarunners The International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) is the world governing body of ultra running, race events longer than the marathon distance of 42.2 km. It regulates and sanctions the World Championships for various ultramarathon distanc ...
(IAU) organises the World Championships for various ultramarathon distances, including , , 24 hours, and ultra
trail running Trail running is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running (also known as hill running). Mountain running may, h ...
, which are also recognized by the IAAF. Many countries around the world have their own ultrarunning organizations, often the national athletics federation of the country, or are sanctioned by such national athletics organizations. World best performances for distances, times, and ages are tracked by the IAU.
Racewalking Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asses ...
events are usually 50 km, although 100 km and 100-mile (160 km) "Centurion" races are also organized. Furthermore, the non-competitive International Marching League event Nijmegen Four Days March has a regulation distance of 4 × 50 km over four days for those aged 19 to 49. In 2021, concerns were raised about planning and medical care available for ultramarathons in China, after dozens of racers died from hypothermia and at least one from a heart attack while competing in an ultramarathon in the
Yellow River Stone Forest Jingtai County () is a county in the middle of Gansu Province, bordering Inner Mongolia to the north. It is under the administration of Baiyin City and located at its northwest end. Covering an area of , it governs 8 towns and 3 townships, which ...
. The government later announced a ban on "extreme" competitions.


IAU World Record performances

Until 2014, the IAU maintained lists of world best performances on different surfaces (road, track and indoor). Starting in 2015, the distinction between the surfaces was removed and the records were combined into a single category. Some governing bodies continue to keep separate ultramarathon track and road records for their own jurisdictions. Starting in January 2022, the IAU began to recognize and ratify performances as IAU World Records. World Athletics also began to ratify the 50k distance as a World Record for both mixed and women, respectively, along with 100k. Record performances that haven't been ratified yet are as follows.
Patrycja Bereznowska Patrycja Bereznowska (born 17 October 1975) is a Polish long-distance runner who specializes in 24-hour running. Competitions As of August 2019, she has completed thirteen 24-hour runs and won the IAU 24 Hour World Championship and IAU 24 Hou ...
recorded a distance of 401 km in 48 hours in 2018 but this performance was not ratified by the IAU. In May 2022, Bereznowska improved the 48 hour mark to 403.32 km. In February 2022,
Camille Herron } Camille Herron (born December 25, 1981) is an American ultramarathon runner. She is the first and only athlete to win all three of the road IAU World Championships for 50K, 100K, and 24 Hours. She won the 2017 Comrades Marathon and holds severa ...
improved her 12-hour and 100 mile records to 152.1 km and 12:41:11, respectively, while winning the Jackpot 100 US Championship outright. In March 2022,
Stephen Mokoka Stephen Mokoka (born 31 January 1985) is a South African long-distance runner who competes in races ranging from 3000 metres to the 50 km distance. He formerly held the 50 km world record. He is a four-time medalist at the Universiade a ...
ran 50 km in 2:40:13. In October 2022, CJ Albertson ran the same distance in 2:38:43. In September 2022,
Aleksandr Sorokin Aleksandr “Sania” Sorokin (born 30 September 1981) is a Lithuanian long-distance runner holding multiple world and European records. As of September 2022, he held seven world records on the track and road: 100,000m (track), 100 miles (road ...
improved his 24-hour record to 319.614 km at the IAU 24 Hour European Championships in Verona, Italy. The IAU World Records as of August 2022 are as follows.


Men


Women


IAU World Championships

There are four IAU World Championships: the IAU 100 km World Championships, IAU 50 km World Championships,
IAU 24 Hour World Championship The IAU 24 Hour World Championship is an annual international 24-hour run competition organised by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Preceded in 2001 by the IAU World 24 Hours Track Championships, as a track running event, this ...
, and the
IAU Trail World Championships The IAU Trail World Championships are annual trail running World Championships, from 2007 up to 2015 was biennial, held for the first time in Huntsville, United States in 2007 and organised by International Association of Ultrarunners. Editions ...
.


Record holders

The following is a selected list of world or national-record holding, or world-championship-winning, ultramarathon runners. * Tomoe Abe, current women's 100 km Road world record holder (6:33:11, Lake Saroma Ultramarathon, 2000) * Edit Bérces, 24-hour treadmill world record holder; holds several Hungarian records *
Patrycja Bereznowska Patrycja Bereznowska (born 17 October 1975) is a Polish long-distance runner who specializes in 24-hour running. Competitions As of August 2019, she has completed thirteen 24-hour runs and won the IAU 24 Hour World Championship and IAU 24 Hou ...
, 2017
IAU 24 Hour World Championship The IAU 24 Hour World Championship is an annual international 24-hour run competition organised by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Preceded in 2001 by the IAU World 24 Hours Track Championships, as a track running event, this ...
winner and former 24h world best holder; won and set course records at Spartathlon and Badwater Ultramarathon; set a 48h world best of 401k (249.17 miles) pending ratification * Rory Bosio, 2-time winner of UTMB and course record holder, Lavaredo *
Jonas Buud Jonas Buud born 28 March 1974, is a Swedish ultra-distance runner who lives in Mora, central Sweden. Buud is a former orienteer who changed to long-distance running and has achieved international success. He became European Champion over 100 ki ...
, 2015 IAU 100 km World Championships winner and 4-time silver medallist, 8-time winner of the Swiss Alpine Marathon,
Ultravasan Ultravasan is an annual ultramarathon and trail run in Sweden, which was hosted for the first time in 2014. The race is arranged on two distances: * Ultravasan 45: 45 km, start in Oxberg and goal in Mora, following the second half of the Vasal ...
course record, 2nd at
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
* Pau Capell, winner of 2019 UTMB, 3-time Transgrancanaria * Caroline Chaverot, winner of UTMB, Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix, 2016 Trail World Championships, 2016 Skyrunning World Championships Ultra, 2-time Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Transgrancanaria, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy, Hardrock 100, Eiger Ultra Trail, Madeira Island Ultra Trail and course record holder, and Festival des Templiers * Ted Corbitt, "father of American ultrarunning"; 1952 US Olympic team member; former American world record holder at various distances * Ruth Croft, winner of Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix, 2-time winner and course record Orsières-Champex-Chamonix, Festival des Templiers and course record, silver at the 2019 Trail World Championships * Courtney Dauwalter, winner of Western States 100 and UTMB, former American 24-hour record holder * Ragna Debats, gold at the 2018 and bronze at the 2016 Trail World Championships, winner of
Marathon des Sables ''Marathon des Sables'', or MdS, ( French for Marathon of the Sands, also known as Sahara Marathon) "Facing Africa NOMA : The Marathon des Sables", FacingAfrica.org, 2010, webpage: -->pages/mds/default.asp FA8. is a six-day, ultramarath ...
,
Transvulcania Transvulcania is a long distance race that is held annually on La Palma, one of the western Canary Islands. It is considered one of the hardest mountain-ultramarathons in the world and one of the most important in Spain. The total route has a len ...
, Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix, and 2018 Skyrunning World Championship Ultra * François D'Haene, 3-time winner of UTMB and course record holder, 3-time winner of Grand Raid, 2-time winner of Madeira Island Ultra Trail and course record, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy, runner-up at Western States 100 * Bruce Fordyce, nine time
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
winner * Anna Frost, 2-time winner Hardrock 100, 2-time The North Face Endurance Challenge,
Transvulcania Transvulcania is a long distance race that is held annually on La Palma, one of the western Canary Islands. It is considered one of the hardest mountain-ultramarathons in the world and one of the most important in Spain. The total route has a len ...
, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy * Ellie Greenwood, 2-time IAU 100k Championship winner,
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
winner, winner of Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix and Festival des Templiers, holds course records at the Western States Endurance Run, JFK 50 Mile, and the Canadian Death Race * Lizzy Hawker, 5-time winner of
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) is a single-stage mountain ultramarathon, first held in 2003, that follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Since UTMB Group's partnership with IRONMAN Group in 2021, UTMB World Series will formally launch ...
, 2006 IAU 100 km World Championships winner, Spartathlon winner, former 24h world best holder * Wally Hayward, multiple winner of Comrades Marathon, London to Brighton, many other ultramarathons; set early world records *
Camille Herron } Camille Herron (born December 25, 1981) is an American ultramarathon runner. She is the first and only athlete to win all three of the road IAU World Championships for 50K, 100K, and 24 Hours. She won the 2017 Comrades Marathon and holds severa ...
, Only ultrarunner to win the 50 km, 100 km, and 24 Hour world championships;
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
and JFK 50 Mile Champion; holds the IAU World Records for 50 miles (age 40–44), 100 miles, 12h and 24h * Al Howie, record holder for the trans-Canada, 7295.5 kilometres in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes * Sumie Inagaki, current women's 48h Track world record holder(, Surgeres FRA, May 2010), two time female winner of IAU 24-hour run World Championship, two time female winner of Spartathlon * Shingo Inoue, 2010 winner of IAU 24-hour run World Championship () *
Kilian Jornet Killian or Kilian, as a given name, is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Cillian. The name Cillian was borne by several early Irish saints including missionaries to Artois and Franconia and the author of the life of St Brigid. The name is ...
, winner of the UTMB, Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 * Scott Jurek, 7-time winner of Western States 100, Hardrock 100, 2-time Badwater Ultramarathon, 3-time Spartathlon, former American record for 24Hr * Nikki Kimball, 3-time winner of the Western States Endurance Run, 2007 UTMB winner, 2014
Marathon des Sables ''Marathon des Sables'', or MdS, ( French for Marathon of the Sands, also known as Sahara Marathon) "Facing Africa NOMA : The Marathon des Sables", FacingAfrica.org, 2010, webpage: -->pages/mds/default.asp FA8. is a six-day, ultramarath ...
winner * Pete Kostelnick, best known for the male coast-to-coast FKT of the United States in 42 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes, 2-time Badwater Ultramarathon * Yiannis Kouros, often considered the best ultrarunner in history, at least in the longer track and road races, holder of numerous world bests from 24 hours to 1,000 miles, course record holder of the Spartathlon since its inception in 1983 * Mami Kudo, former women's 24h track world record holder (, Soochow TPE, 2011), 2013 female winner of
IAU 24 Hour World Championship The IAU 24 Hour World Championship is an annual international 24-hour run competition organised by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Preceded in 2001 by the IAU World 24 Hours Track Championships, as a track running event, this ...
* Dan Lawson holds the course record for the 145-mile Grand Union Canal Race and in 2020 set the fastest known time for the 874-mile
Land's End to John o' Groats Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities, in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists 10 to 14 days; the record ...
. * Frith van der Merwe, set 50k World Best en route to winning the Two Oceans Marathon, continues to hold the downhill course record at
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
* Stu Mittleman, US record holder for six-day race (578 miles) * Bongmusa Mthembu, 3-time winner of the
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
and the Two Oceans Marathon, African record holder for 100 km * Arthur F. H. Newton, 5 times Comrades Marathon winner *
Ida Nilsson Ida Nilsson (born February 8, 1981) is a Swedish long-distance runner who also competes in ski mountaineering. In 2003 – 2006 she won a total of ten gold medals in Swedish championships in track & field and cross country running, plus two NCA ...
, 3-time winner
Transvulcania Transvulcania is a long distance race that is held annually on La Palma, one of the western Canary Islands. It is considered one of the hardest mountain-ultramarathons in the world and one of the most important in Spain. The total route has a len ...
and course record, 2-time The North Face Endurance Challenge, Swiss Alpine Marathon, and
Ultravasan Ultravasan is an annual ultramarathon and trail run in Sweden, which was hosted for the first time in 2014. The race is arranged on two distances: * Ultravasan 45: 45 km, start in Oxberg and goal in Mora, following the second half of the Vasal ...
* Elena Nurgalieva and her sister Olesya Nurgalieva have won a total of 10 Comrades Marathon titles between them *
Don Ritchie Donald Taylor Ritchie, OAM (9 June 1926 – 13 May 2012) was an Australian who intervened in many suicide attempts. He officially rescued at least 180 people who had intended to attempt suicide at the Gap. Early life Ritchie went to Vaucl ...
, holder of the world best for 100 miles for 25 years, holder of the world best for 100 km for nearly 40 years * Ryōichi Sekiya, four time
IAU 24 Hour World Championship The IAU 24 Hour World Championship is an annual international 24-hour run competition organised by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Preceded in 2001 by the IAU World 24 Hours Track Championships, as a track running event, this ...
World Championship winner, two-time winner of Spartathlon *
Aleksandr Sorokin Aleksandr “Sania” Sorokin (born 30 September 1981) is a Lithuanian long-distance runner holding multiple world and European records. As of September 2022, he held seven world records on the track and road: 100,000m (track), 100 miles (road ...
, IAU World Record holder for 12h, 100 miles, and 24h; Winner of the
IAU 24 Hour World Championship The IAU 24 Hour World Championship is an annual international 24-hour run competition organised by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Preceded in 2001 by the IAU World 24 Hours Track Championships, as a track running event, this ...
and Spartathlon * Gerda Steyn, 2-time winner of the Two Oceans Marathon; set a new uphill course record winning the 2019
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
* Takahiro Sunada, former men's 100 km Road world record holder (6:13:33, Lake Saroma Ultramarathon, 1998) * Xavier Thévenard, only trail athlete to have won all four
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) is a single-stage mountain ultramarathon, first held in 2003, that follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Since UTMB Group's partnership with IRONMAN Group in 2021, UTMB World Series will formally launch ...
races including 3-time winner of UTMB * Ann Trason, fourteen-time winner Western States 100; 2-time winner of the
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
; American 100k record holder (7:00:48) * Sandra Villines, best known for the female coast-to-coast FKT of the United States in 54 days, 16 hours, and 24 minutes, Badwater Ultramarathon *
Jim Walmsley Jim Walmsley (born January 17, 1990) is an American long-distance runner. An ultra-trail specialist, his wins include the JFK 50 Mile in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Lake Sonoma 50 in 2016 and 2018, the Tarawera Ultramarathon in 2017, and the We ...
, 2-time winner and course record Western States 100, JFK 50 Mile and course record,
Ultravasan Ultravasan is an annual ultramarathon and trail run in Sweden, which was hosted for the first time in 2014. The race is arranged on two distances: * Ultravasan 45: 45 km, start in Oxberg and goal in Mora, following the second half of the Vasal ...
, Tarawera Ultramarathon and 100k course record, Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim FKT


Ultramarathons by regions

Ultra Marathons are run around the world with more than 600,000 people completing them every year.


Africa

Several ultra-distance events are held in Africa. * South Africa hosts a number of notable ultra marathon events. ** On paved surface: the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon, the
Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direc ...
. Approximately 12,000 runners complete the Comrades each year, out of approximately 17,000 who start, with 23,961 competing in 2000. ** The Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town in the southern autumn attracts approximately 11,000 runners. ** The Washie 100 road race is the oldest one hundred miler road race in Africa. ** Off-road: The Salomon Sky Run is a grueling self-supported, unmarked trail race held in a particularly scenic part of the country. ** Trail: The Peninsula Ultra Fun Run (PUFfeR) supported, unmarked trail run crossing the Table Mountain range in Cape Town South Africa. **The Namib Race is a six-stage race that takes place along the
Skeleton Coast The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic coast of Namibia and south of Angola from the Kunene River south to the Swakop River, although the name is sometimes used to describe the entire Namib Desert coast. The indigenous San pe ...
in Namibia. It is part of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. * The
Marathon des Sables ''Marathon des Sables'', or MdS, ( French for Marathon of the Sands, also known as Sahara Marathon) "Facing Africa NOMA : The Marathon des Sables", FacingAfrica.org, 2010, webpage: -->pages/mds/default.asp FA8. is a six-day, ultramarath ...
is a 6-day stage race which covers through the
Sahara desert , photo = Sahara real color.jpg , photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972 , map = , map_image = , location = , country = , country1 = , ...
in
Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...
. * The Grand Raid de la Réunion is held annually on
Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island o ...
in October, crossing the island over with an altitude gain of . This race attracts 2,350 competitors, with 1,000 runners from overseas. * The Spanish Canary Islands off the African coast are the location of some prestigious ultramarathons, including the 46-mile
Transvulcania Transvulcania is a long distance race that is held annually on La Palma, one of the western Canary Islands. It is considered one of the hardest mountain-ultramarathons in the world and one of the most important in Spain. The total route has a len ...
. * Egypt has joined the Ultramarathon races with more adding up each year. ** Hathor 100km is a Trail ultramarathon race in Sinaï. With distances of 50km, 100km, and 130km. ** Qarun 66km Trail Ultramarathon race. Dated on March of each year in the city of
Faiyum Faiyum ( ar, الفيوم ' , borrowed from cop,  ̀Ⲫⲓⲟⲙ or Ⲫⲓⲱⲙ ' from egy, pꜣ ym "the Sea, Lake") is a city in Middle Egypt. Located southwest of Cairo, in the Faiyum Oasis, it is the capital of the modern Faiyum ...
with distances 44km and 66km.


Asia

Ultrarunning has become popular in Asia, and countries such as
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
,
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
, and
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...
have hosted IAU World Championships. *Japan had its first 100 km event in 1987 as Lake Saroma Ultramarathon and hosted the
IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach ...
100 km World Championship in 1994 (
Lake Saroma , also Saroma Lagoon, is a coastal lagoon (hence a body of brackish water) in Saroma, Kitami, and Yūbetsu Hokkaidō, Japan. It is located in Abashiri Quasi-National Park. By area, the lake is the third largest in Japan and the largest in Hokk ...
), 1998 ( River Shimanto) and 2005 (
Lake Saroma , also Saroma Lagoon, is a coastal lagoon (hence a body of brackish water) in Saroma, Kitami, and Yūbetsu Hokkaidō, Japan. It is located in Abashiri Quasi-National Park. By area, the lake is the third largest in Japan and the largest in Hokk ...
). Japan hosts more than 50 ultramarathon events throughout the year, including the Trans Japan Alps Race (TJAR) ( with more than cumulative altitude gain crossing Japan Alps, crossing Japan's mainland from Japan Sea to Pacific Ocean in 7 days), Hasetsune cup ( in steep foggy mountains) and the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji ( loop around World Heritage
Mount Fuji , or Fugaku, located on the island of Honshū, is the highest mountain in Japan, with a summit elevation of . It is the second-highest volcano located on an island in Asia (after Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra), and seventh-highest p ...
with cumulative altitude gain of about ). * South Korea's first ultramarathon was held in 2000. * The Gobi March in northwest China was China's first ultramarathon, first staged in 2003. The Gobi March is part of the 4 Deserts Race Series. * India's first ultra marathon, the Bangalore Ultra was held in 2007. Since 2010, Indian Himalayas have hosted ''La Ultra – The High'', a 333 km course crossing
Khardung La Khardung La () or Khardung Pass is a mountain pass in the Leh district of the Indian union territory of Ladakh. The pass is on the Ladakh Range, north of Leh, and connects the Indus river valley and the Shyok river valley. It also forms th ...
, touted to be the world's highest motorable mountain pass. * Soochow International 24H Ultra-Marathon is held since 1999 in
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
, and is an official IAU-registered event. * A night race called the Sundown Marathon has been held in Singapore annually since 2008, over a double marathon distance (84 km) up to 2010 and 100 km since then. *
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
hosts several ultramarathon races, including the Annapurna 100, the Kanchenjunga Ultra Marathon Trail Running Race and the Everest Ultra. Running a total of 1,504 km in a bit more than 24 days,
Ryan Sandes Ryan Nicholas Sandes "Hedgie" (born 10 March 1982 in Cape Town) is a South African trail runner. In 2010 he became the first competitor to have won all four of the 4 Deserts races, each a 6/7-day, self-supported footrace through the Atacama De ...
and Ryno Griesel set a new fastest known time during March 2018 for the Great Himalaya Trail. * Northern
Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; literal translation, lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia Mongolia–Russia border, to the north and China China–Mongolia border, to the s ...
hosts an annual 100 km summer race, Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset. * Malaysia's first ultra trail marathon was founded in November 2011 and is known as the TMBT (The Most Beautiful Thing) in Sabah at Mount Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest mountain. The event has a 55% dropout rate and is a 3-point qualifying race for UTMB and a 2-point qualifying race for the 55-kilometer category of the event. This was followed by the Beaufort Ultra Marathon in Sabah organized in 2012 and a 60-kilometer endurance run under 35-39-degree Celsius heat with a 60% finish rate amongst runners. First 100 miles ultra marathon road race, Putrajaya 100 Miles, was held on 22–23 November 2014. *
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea. In ...
's first ultramarathon race, Mount Rinjani Ultra (52K), was held in August 2013 and Indonesia's first 100K & 160K ultramarathon race, Bromo Tengger Semeru 100 Ultra, was held in November 2013. Tambora Challenge (320 km) held from 2015 * In the
Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 167 ...
,
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
, an All-Women Ultra Marathon race covering a distance of 50 kilometers is held annually on the weekend of
International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against wom ...
since 2012. * Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines is the venue for two of the Philippines' premier ultramarathon events. The Clark Miyamit Ultra, known as CM50 a 60K and 50Mile Trail Ultramarathon that takes runners to traverse from Clark to the Aeta Villages, lahar bed, mountain ranges near Mt. Pinatubo and the iconic Miyamit Falls. Cardimax – Clark Ultramarathon is a road ultramarathon of 50K and 100K distance which brings and gathers ultramarathoners from aspiring ones to the most competitive elites. * In
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, two major ultramarathon races are ''Mount to Valley'' relay race; over 215 km, from the hills of the
Upper Galilee The Upper Galilee ( he, הגליל העליון, ''HaGalil Ha'Elyon''; ar, الجليل الأعلى, ''Al Jaleel Al A'alaa'') is a geographical-political term in use since the end of the Second Temple period. It originally referred to a mountai ...
to the
Jezreel Valley The Jezreel Valley (from the he, עמק יזרעאל, translit. ''ʿĒmeq Yīzrəʿēʿl''), or Marj Ibn Amir ( ar, مرج ابن عامر), also known as the Valley of Megiddo, is a large fertile plain and inland valley in the Northern Distr ...
, and the ''Valley Circle'' race in the Jezreel valley; contains several distances, including 160 km and 200 km.


Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are hosts to some 100 organized ultramarathons each year. Additionally a handful of runners have run the entire length of New Zealand, a distance of around . Australia In Australia, the Westfield Ultra Marathon was an annual race between
Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...
and
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metrop ...
contested between 1983 and 1991. Greek runner Yiannis Kouros won the event five times during that period. Australia is also the home of one of the oldest six-day races in the world, the Cliff Young Australian 6-day race, held in
Colac, Victoria Colac is a small city in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, approximately 150 kilometres south-west of Melbourne on the southern shore of Lake Colac. History For thousands of years clans of the Gulidjan people occupied the region ...
. The race is held on a 400-meter circuit at the Memorial Square in the centre of Colac, and has seen many close races since its inception in 1984. The 20th Cliff Young Australian six-day race was held between 20 and 26 November 2005. During that event, Kouros beat his existing world record six-day track mark and set a new mark of . The Coast to Kosciuszko inaugurated in 2004, is a marathon from the coast to the top of
Mount Kosciuszko Mount Kosciuszko ( ; Ngarigo: , ), previously spelled Mount Kosciusko, is mainland Australia's tallest mountain, at 2,228 metres (7,310 ft) above sea level. It is located on the Main Range of the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National P ...
, Australia's highest mountain. Australia has seen a steep growth in ultrarunning events and participants in recent years. Many new races have come into inception, covering a range of ultramarathon distances from 50 km right through to multi-day events. The cornerstone of Australian Ultra events being such races as Ultra-Trail Australia 100, The Great North Walk Ultras, Surf Coast Century, Bogong to Hotham, Alpine Challenge, GC50 Run Festival, and the Cradle Mountain Run. The Australian Ultra Runners Association (AURA) has a comprehensive list and links of events and their respective results. New Zealand New Zealand's first ultramarathon, called the Kepler Challenge, was held on a trail through
Fiordland National Park Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is by far the largest of the 13 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of , and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. The par ...
. It has been running since 1988 and is one of the country's most popular races. New Zealand'
Northburn 100 ultra mountain run
is the first 100-mile (160 km) race through the Northburn Station. The Te Houtaewa Challenge has a 62 km race on ninety mile beach, Northland. The runners have to contend with rising tides and soft beach sand and the March race dates often means the race is run in the cyclone season. In 2014 the ultramarathon was postponed because of Cyclone Lucy. The Tarawera Ultramarathon is currently one of the most competitive ultras in New Zealand and part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour. In December 2013 in Auckland, Kim Allan ran 500 km in 86 hours, 11 minutes, and 9 seconds, breaking the women's record. In April 2013, a
Feilding Feilding ( mi, Aorangi) is a town in the Manawatū District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North. The town is the seat of the Manawatū District Council. Feilding has ...
man, Perry Newburn, set a new New Zealand record by running without sleep at Feilding's Manfield Park. Ultramarathon running in New Zealand has a national body: the New Zealand Ultrarunners Association. Oceania
New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
Trail Festival has several annual ultramarathon including the Ultra Trail New Caledonia 136 km / 6 000m D+ and the Endurance Shop Trail race 70 km / 3 000m D+ on Pentecost long Week end. The Trail des Cagous is another 60 km ultramarathon held in April.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
has the Kokoda Challenge Race, an annual 96 km endurance race held in late August that runs the length of the historic
Kokoda Track The Kokoda Track or Trail is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland – in a straight line – through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The track was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between Japane ...
. Papua New Guinea also has the Great Kokoda Race, a multi-stage 96 km (3-day) race held in early July where competitors run or walk the length of the
Kokoda Track The Kokoda Track or Trail is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland – in a straight line – through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The track was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between Japane ...
.


Europe

In Europe, ultrarunning can trace its origins with early documentation of ultrarunners from
Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
ic
saga is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Square Enix. The series originated on the Game Boy in 1989 as the creation of Akitoshi Kawazu at Square. It has since continued across multiple platforms, from the Super NES to the Play ...
s, or
ancient Greece Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cult ...
from where the idea of the
Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...
, and the Spartathlon comes. The history of ultrarunners and walkers in the UK from the
Victorian Era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian ...
has also been documented. The IAU hosts annual European Championships for the 50 km, 100 km and 24 hours. The European Ultramarathon Cup is an annual cup event covering some of the biggest ultramarathon races in Europe. Also worth mentioning is the ultramarathon CajaMar Tenerife Bluetrail, the highest race in
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
and second in Europe, with the participation of several countries and great international repercussions. Besides trail ultramarathons, Europe features large road ultramarathons such as Spartathlon and the Millau 100K, which has gathered thousands of runners for the past 50 years. There are over 300 ultramarathons held in Europe each year,. This includes the Harz Run in the
Harz Mountains The Harz () is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name ''Harz'' derives from the Middle High German ...
, the Irish Connemarathon, the British Spine Race and Welsh Dragon's Back Race which covers 315 km with 15,500m of height gain. The UTMB, through France, Italy and Switzerland, has been considered the world's most competitive trail ultra. The other races in the UTMB festival, including the CCC, TDS and OCC, are also significant events in the ultrarunning calendar. In 2021 the Megarace will be held. The Megarace will be the world's longest nonstop A-B trail race. The race is 1001 km and goes on trails through Germany, Czech Republic and
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous c ...
. The runners have 13 days and 15 hours to cover the distance. Due to Covid, 2021 the course will be modified to only go through Germany. The original course will be in 2022.


Antarctica

Due to logistics and environmental concerns there are only a handful of ultramarathons held in Antarctica, and travel costs can mean entrance fees as high as $14,000. Ultramarathons in Antarctica include: The Last Desert, part of the
4 Deserts The 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series is an annual series of four 250-kilometer (155-mile) races across deserts around the globe. The races were recognized as the world's leading endurance footrace series by ''TIME'' magazine in 2009 and 2010, as the ...
Race Series, a multi-stage footrace, and the Antarctic Ice Marathon – a marathon and 100-kilometer race.


North America

There are several hundred ultramarathons held annually in North America. One of the best known is the Western States Endurance Run, the world's oldest 100-mile trail run that is still held. The race began in 1977, founded by Wendell Robie, of Auburn California. The first mountain trail ultramarathon held in the United States was the 1911 Mount Baker Race (50K), in Bellingham, Washington. Runners raced by car or train to the trailheads, ran up and down Mount Baker 10,000 feet, and then returned to the city. An early ultramarathon was held in Mexico in 1926, and at the time was part of the
Central American Games The Central American Games ( es, Juegos Deportivos Centroamericanos) are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial (every 4 years), typically in the first year after Summer Olympics. The Games are open for member federation ...
. Tomas Zafiro and Leoncio San Miguel, both Tarahumara Indians, ran 100 km from
Pachuca Pachuca (; ote, Nju̱nthe), formally known as Pachuca de Soto, is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Hidalgo. It is located in the south-central part of the state. Pachuca de Soto is also the name of the municipality of whi ...
to Mexico City in 9 hours and 37 minutes. At the time, the Mexican government petitioned to include a 100 km race in the
1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...
in Amsterdam;. In 1928, sports agent C. C. Pyle organized the first of two editions of the 3,455-mile-long Bunion Derby (the first went along
U.S. Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
from Los Angeles to Chicago before heading toward New York; the 1929 Derby reversed the route). Neither the race nor the accompanying
vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
show was a financial success. In the 1980s, Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell and Karl "Raw Dog" Henn conceived the Barkley Marathons, an annual trail race held in March or April in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. The course is approximately 20 miles long with approximately 11,000 feet of vertical climb, and runners have 60 hours to complete five laps. The run is notorious not only for its difficulty, but also for its secretive nature; entrants must undergo a selection process and entry dates and requirements are not announced, meaning entrants rely on word-of-mouth for details on how to enter. The first Barkley Marathons took place in 1986, and as of 2022, only fifteen runners have ever completed the 100 mile course. Since 1997, runners have been competing in the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, which is billed as the longest official footrace in the world. They run 100 laps a day for up to 50 days around a single block in Queens, NY, for a total distance of . The current recordholder is Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto, at 40 days 09:06:21 for a daily average of in 2015. The latest Trans-American Footrace (2015) winner was Robert HP Young (Marathon Man UK), winning in a time of 482 hours and 10 minutes. In April 2006, the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame was established by the American Ultrarunning Association (AUA). Candidates for the Hall of Fame are chosen from the 'modern era' of American ultras, beginning with the
New York Road Runners New York Road Runners (NYRR) is a non-profit running organization based in New York City whose mission is to help and inspire people through running. It was founded in 1958 by Ted Corbitt with 47 members and has since grown to a membership of more ...
Club 30 Mile race held in 1958. The Inaugural inductees were Ted Corbitt, a former US Olympian, winner of the aforementioned race in 3:04:13, and co-founder of the Road Runners Club of America, and Sandra Kiddy, who began her ultra career at age 42 with a world record at 50 kilometers, 3:36:56, and who went on to set a number of US and world ultra records.


South America

There are a small number of ultramarathons in South America, but participation in the sport is increasing. The Brazil 135 Ultramarathon is a single-stage race of with a 60-hour cutoff, held in Brazil. This is a Badwater "sister race". Several ultramarathons are held in
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
and with both local and international participation. Ultramarathons held in Chile include: *Atacama Xtreme 50K, 80K and the first 100 Miles in Chile. One loop for each distance starting and finishing in San Pedro de Atacama at an avg. of 2,400 above sea level. * The Endurance Challenge, a 10K, 21K, 50K and 80K trail running race held in the Andes mountain range near
Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...
. It is part of the global Endurance Challenge circuit. The race seeks to promote the sport, outdoor activity and the use of mountain trails, taking care to have the lowest impact possible on the environment. * The Lican Ray- Villarrica Ultramarathon, a 70 km marathon that starts in Lican Ray, climbs Villarrica Volcano and ends in downtown Villarrica. * The Atacama Crossing, established in 2004, a 250 km (155-mile) ultramarathon which takes place in the
Atacama desert The Atacama Desert ( es, Desierto de Atacama) is a desert plateau in South America covering a 1,600 km (990 mi) strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes Mountains. The Atacama Desert is the driest nonpolar desert in the w ...
, around
San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama is a Chilean town and commune in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It is located east of Antofagasta, some 106 km (60 mi) southeast of Calama and the Chuquicamata copper mine, overlooking the Licancabur volcano. ...
,
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, and crosses through the driest place on earth. There are six stages in seven days, with almost four marathons run in the first four days, then a 74 km stretch, then a rest day and a final stage of 11 km. It is part of the
4 Deserts The 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series is an annual series of four 250-kilometer (155-mile) races across deserts around the globe. The races were recognized as the world's leading endurance footrace series by ''TIME'' magazine in 2009 and 2010, as the ...
Series. The race covers rugged terrain, with a harsh climate and an altitude that averages 2500 m (8000 ft). The race uses the town of
San Pedro de Atacama San Pedro de Atacama is a Chilean town and commune in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It is located east of Antofagasta, some 106 km (60 mi) southeast of Calama and the Chuquicamata copper mine, overlooking the Licancabur volcano. ...
as its host town, and in 2012 the race began at its highest point of over 3,000m in the Arcoiris Valley. * The Patagonian International Marathon, organized by NIGSA, takes place in
Torres del Paine National Park Torres del Paine National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is a national park encompassing mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers in southern Chilean Patagonia. The Cordillera del Paine is the centerpiece of the park. It lies in a tr ...
, southern
Chilean Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and ...
. The event features four race distances: an ultramarathon (63 km), marathon (42 km), half marathon (21 km) and a 10K. Each distance has a different starting point, but everyone finishes in the same place. The event has the secondary goal of promoting the conservation of Chilean Patagonia and contributing to the sustainable development of the region through the planting of trees in the
Torres del Paine National Park Torres del Paine National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine) is a national park encompassing mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers in southern Chilean Patagonia. The Cordillera del Paine is the centerpiece of the park. It lies in a tr ...
through the "Corre y Reforesta" (Run and Reforest) campaign run by the organization "Reforestemos Patagonia" (Let's Reforest Patagonia) * The Rapa Nui GrandTrail, an 80k ultramarathon that takes place on
Easter Island Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its nearly ...
,
Valparaíso Region The Valparaíso Region ( es, Región de Valparaíso, links=no, ) is one of Chile's 16 first order administrative divisions.Valparaíso Region, 2006 With the country's second-highest population of 1,790,219 , and fourth-smallest area of , ...
,
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
. This exotic trail, far out in the
Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...
, takes in the famous
Moai Moai or moʻai ( ; es, moái; rap, moʻai, , statue) are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Rapa Nui in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but ...
statues of the island. * "Extreme Challenge Peru Ultra" at 210 km, 105 km, 50 km and 25 km. This is a race where participants run in 5 consecutive days traveling to Sierra (9,000 to 11,000 feet elevation), desert (running on top desert dunes), coast and last day at the high elevation jungle (5,900 feet elevation). Some participants also run shorter distances. Argentina There are several ultramarathon races in Argentina.
La Mision
has been going on for almost 15 years. There are different editions, one in
Villa La Angostura Villa La Angostura ( Spanish for ''Town of the Narrowing'') is a town located in the Los Lagos Department in the south of the Argentine province of Neuquén, on the northwest shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Nestled in the northern part of the ...
in Patagonia with 3 distances. 110 km with cumulative altitude gain of about 4500m, 160 km with cumulative altitude gain of about 8000m and 200 km with cumulative altitude gain of about 9000m. There is other edition of the race (Short & Half) in Villa San Javier, Cordoba with 2 distances, 35k and 70k. In April 2019 for the 1st time UTMB took place in
Ushuaia Ushuaia ( , ) is the capital of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur Province, Argentina. With a population of nearly 75,000 and a location below the 54th parallel south latitude, Ushuaia claims the title of world's southernm ...

Ushuaia by UTMB
A very tough race facing the wild Patagonia weather with 4 different distances, 35k, 50k, 70k and 130k. The race brings together in one competition all the landscapes and geographies of the southern Andes (forests, rocky terrains, mountains, hills, glaciers, lakes, rivers and wetlands, among others) The race has a technical, non-stop format and is ruled by the principle of semi-autonomy. Cerro Champaqui in Cordoba is the landscape of different races
Champa Ultra Race
with 5 different distances, 8k / 18k / 26k / 42k and 62k. Also th
UTACCH – Ultra Amanecer Comechingón
with 7 different distances, 16k, 26k, 42k, and 4 ultras of 55k, 70k, 110k and 100 miles.
Ushuaia Ushuaia ( , ) is the capital of Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur Province, Argentina. With a population of nearly 75,000 and a location below the 54th parallel south latitude, Ushuaia claims the title of world's southernm ...
, at "the end of the world" also hos
Ultra Maratón Glaciar Martial
with 3 different distances, 10k, 25k and 50k.


International Trail Running Association

Many ultramarathon organizers are members of the
International Trail Running Association International Trail Running Association (ITRA) is the governing body for trail running. It was formed in 2013, emerging from the 1st International Trail Running Conference held in 2012. Trail running was first recognised by the International Associ ...
(ITRA), an organization that promotes values, diversity, health and safety during races, as well as working to further the development of trail running and helps to coordinate between the national and international bodies with an interest in the sport. ITRA also evaluates the difficulty of specific ultramarathon routes according to a number of criteria, such as the distance, the cumulative elevation gain, and the number of loops and stages. ITRA maintains a calendar of ultramarathon events.


See also

*
Fastpacking Fastpacking is a combination of trail running and ultralight backpacking: "hiking the ups, jogging the flats, and running the downs," depending on the gradient, because of the weight carried. Participants carry a light pack with essential supplies ...
*
Fell running Fell running, also sometimes known as hill running, is the sport of running and racing, off-road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. The name arises from the origins of the English sport o ...
* List of ultramarathons *
Skyrunning Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running up to or exceeding where the minimum average incline is 6% over the total distance and at least 5% has an incline of 30% or more. The climbing difficulty does not exceed II grade UIAA. Poles, crampons and ...
*
Trail running Trail running is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running (also known as hill running). Mountain running may, h ...


References


External links


The history of ultrarunning

Official International Trail Running Association website

Ultra running
at
IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body fo ...
web site
UltraSignup
global race list and signup site
ULTRAmarathonRunning.com
Global ultramarathon calendar
RunUltra.co.uk
Global ultramarathon calendar with reviews {{Authority control * Endurance games Long-distance running Road running distances Ultrarunning