Ultra Marathons - more than just a marathon

An ultra marathon is a long-distance running race that is longer than the traditional marathon distance, and can take place on various terrains, including roads, trails, mountains, and deserts.

long-distance running races

They can either cover a specified distance, or take place during a specified time frame, with the winner covering the most distance in that time. Ultramarathon or Ultra-endurance events commonly cover distances of 50 and 100 miles, or 50 and 100 kilometers, though an unlimited number of distances are possible, including distances such as double marathons, 24 hour runs, or multi-day races of 1000 miles or even longer.

For endurance races of (only!) about marathon distance of 26 miles, there is a separate Marathon list.

Here is a selection of some great, challenging and unusual ultra-endurance running events from around the world.

• Atacama Crossing — Chile
• Badwater Ultramarathon, USA — 217 km starting in Death Valley.
• Barkley Marathons (Tennessee) — a unique event held annually in Tennessee in which participants attempt to complete a challenging 100-mile (160 km) course within a 60-hour time limit.
• Big Ice Race — 590km race across the Arctic Circle, Greenland
• Dingle Ultramarathon — 50 miles, breathtaking, beautiful coastal route.
• Gobi March — China
• Jungle Marathon, Brazil — 100km or 200km event.
• Marathon des Sables, Morocco — six day event the Moroccan Desert.
• Sahara Race — Egypt
• The Last Desert — Antarctica.
• UltraTrail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) — the most iconic trail race in the world, winding 166km around the Mont Blanc massif, taking in more than an Everest's worth of cumulative climbing as it rises over Alpine passes on its way from Chamonix in France to Switzerland, down into Italy and back to the finish line in Chamonix.
• Yukon Arctic Ultra, or YAU - a 690km foot race in Alaska