Ultramarathon facts for kids
Ultramarathoners compete at the Sahara Race 2011 (4 Deserts).
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| Highest governing body | World Athletics |
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| World Championships | 1987–present |
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26 mi 385 yd). Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 31 miles (50 km) to over 200 miles (320 km). 50 km and 100 km are both World Athletics record distances, but some 100 miles (160 km) races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America.
Around 100 miles (160 km) is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours, but there are also longer multi-day races of 200 miles (320 km) or more, sometimes raced in stages with breaks for sleep. The largest ultras are on road, including the Comrades Marathon (over 10,000 finishers annually) and Two Oceans Marathon (over 6,000 finishers annually). There is also overlap with the sports of trail running and mountain running.
Contents
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 (with the winner covering the most distance in that time). The most common distances are 50 kilometres (31.07 mi), 100 kilometres (62.14 mi), 50 miles (80.47 km), and 100 miles (160.93 km), 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 (IAAF), the world governing body of track and field.
Other ultramarathon races include double marathons, 24-hour races, and multiday races of 1,000 miles (1,600 km) or longer. The format of these events and the courses vary, ranging from single loops (some as short as a 400-metre (1,300 ft) track), to point-to-point road or trail races, to cross-country rogaines. Many ultramarathons, especially trail events, have significant obstacles, such as inclement weather, elevation change, or rugged terrain. Many of these races are run on dirt roads or mountain paths, though some are run on paved roads as well. Usually, there are aid stations, perhaps every 20 to 35 kilometres (12 to 22 mi), 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 US.
The International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) organises the World Championships for various ultramarathon distances, including 50 kilometres (31 mi), 100 kilometres (62 mi), 24 hours, and ultra trail running, which are also recognized by World Athletics. 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 Record performances for distances, times, and ages are tracked by the IAU.
Racewalking 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. The government later announced a ban on "extreme" competitions.
IAU World Record performances
Until 2014, the IAU maintained lists of the 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 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 have not yet been ratified are as follows:
- At the Jackpot 100 US Championship in February 2022, Camille Herron set 12-hour and 100-mile marks of 151.111 km and 12:41:11, respectively. However, there were problems with the course arrangement and distance.
- In October 2022, CJ Albertson ran 50 km in 2:38:43.
- Aleksandr Sorokin ran 100 km in 6:05:35 in May 2023.
- In May 2023, Satu Lipiäinen ran 153.6 km in 12 hours.
The IAU World Records as of September 2023 are as follows.
Men
| Event | Record | Athlete | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 km | 2:40:13 |  Stephen Mokoka (RSA) |
6 March 2022 |  Gqeberha, South Africa |
| 50 miles | 4:50:08 |  Jim Walmsley (USA) |
4 May 2019 |  Sacramento, US |
| 100 km | 6:05:41 |  Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) |
23 April 2022 |  Bedford, UK |
| 100 miles | 10:51:39 | Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) |
7 January 2022 |  Tel Aviv, Israel |
| 1000 km | 5d 16:17:00 |  Yiannis Kouros (GRE) |
26 November–2 December 1984 |  Colac, Australia |
| 1000 miles | 10d 10:30:36 | Yiannis Kouros (GRE) |
20–30 May 1988 | New York City, US |
| 6 hours | 98.496 km | Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) |
23 April 2022 | Bedford, UK |
| 12 hours | 177.410 km | Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) |
7 January 2022 | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| 24 hours | 319.614 km | Aleksandr Sorokin (LTU) |
17 September 2022 |  Verona, Italy |
| 48 hours | 473.495 km | Yiannis Kouros (GRE) |
3–5 May 1996 |  Surgères, France |
| 6 days | 1036.800 km |  Yiannis Kouros (AUS) |
20–26 November 2005 | Colac, Australia |
Women
| Event | Record | Athlete | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 km | 2:59:54 | Desiree Linden (USA) |
13 April 2021 | Dorena, Oregon, United States |
| 50 miles | 5:40:18 | Ann Trason (USA) |
23 February 1991 | Houston, US |
| 100 km | 6:33:11 |  Tomoe Abe (JPN) |
25 June 2000 |  Yubetsu-Saroma-Tokoro, Japan |
| 100 miles | 12:42:40 | Camille Herron (USA) |
11 November 2017 | Vienna, IL, US |
| 1000 km | 7d 16:08:37 |  Paula Mairer (AUT) |
29 September-6 October 2002 | New York City, US |
| 1000 miles | 12d 14:38:40 |  Sandra Barwick (NZL) |
16–28 October 1991 | New York City, US |
| 6 hours | 85.492 km |  Nele Alder-Baerens (GER) |
11 March 2017 |  Münster, Germany |
| 12 hours | 152.633 km |  Dominika Stelmach (POL) |
5 January 2023 | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| 24 hours | 270.116 km | Camille Herron (USA) |
26–27 October 2019 | Albi, France |
| 48 hours | 435.336 km | Camille Herron (USA) |
24-26 March 2023 | Hackett, Australia |
| 6 days | 883.631 km | Sandra Barwick (NZL) |
18–24 November 1990 | Campbelltown, Australia |
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, and the IAU Trail World Championships.
Record holders
The following is a selected list of world or international-record-holding, or world-championship-winning, ultramarathon runners.
- Al Howie, record holder for the trans-Canada, 7295.5 kilometers in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes
- Aleksandr Sorokin, IAU World Record holder for 6h, 12h, 24h, 100 kilometers and 100 miles; Winner of the IAU 24 Hour World Championship and Spartathlon
- Ann Trason, fourteen-time winner Western States 100; 2-time winner of the Comrades Marathon; World 50 mi record holder (5:40:18), American 100k record holder (7:00:48)
- Anna Frost, 2-time winner Hardrock 100, 2-time The North Face Endurance Challenge, Transvulcania, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy
- Arthur F. H. Newton, 5-time Comrades Marathon winner, former world records for 50 and 100 miles and 24-hours
- Bongmusa Mthembu, 3-time winner of the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon, the African record holder for 100 km
- Bruce Fordyce, 9-time Comrades Marathon winner, former world records for 50 miles and 100 km
- Camille Herron, Only athlete to win the 50 km, 100 km, and 24 Hour world championships; Spartathlon Champion and course record; Comrades Marathon and JFK 50 Mile Champion; holds the 50 miles World Best and IAU World Records for 100 miles, 24h, and 48h
- Caroline Chaverot, winner of the 2016 Trail World Championships, 2016 Skyrunning World Championships Ultra, also winner of UTMB, Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix, 2-time Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Transgrancanaria, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy, Hardrock 100, Eiger Ultra Trail, Madeira Island Ultra Trail (cr), and Festival des Templiers
- Carolyn Hunter-Rowe, world record 40 mi, 2-time IAU 100 km World Champion, winner Two Oceans.
- Courtney Dauwalter, former American 24-hour record holder; 2-time winner and course record of UTMB, Western States 100, and Hardrock 100; winner and FKT of the Transgrancanaria; winner of the Moab 240, Tahoe 200, and Grand Raid
- Don Ritchie, world record 100 miles for 25 years, world record for 100 km for nearly 40 years
- Edit Bérces, 24-hour treadmill world record; several Hungarian records
- Ellie Greenwood, 2-time IAU 100k Championship winner, Comrades Marathon winner, winner of Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix and Festival des Templiers, former course records at the Western States 100, JFK 50 Mile, and the Canadian Death Race
- Fotis Zisimopoulis, 3-time winner of Spartathlon and course record holder
- François D'Haene, 3-time winner of UTMB and course record holder, 3-time winner of Grand Raid, 2-time of Madeira Island Ultra Trail and course record, Maxi-Race du Lac d'Annecy
- Frith van der Merwe, set 50k world record en route to winning the Two Oceans Marathon, downhill course record at Comrades Marathon
- Gerda Steyn, 2-time winner of the Two Oceans Marathon; set an uphill course record in winning the 2019 Comrades Marathon
- Ida Nilsson, 3-time winner Transvulcania and course record, 2-time The North Face Endurance Challenge, Swiss Alpine Marathon, and Ultravasan
- Jim Walmsley, World record for 50 miles, World Long Distance Mountain Running champion; course records: Western States 100 (3-time winner), JFK 50 Mile, Tarawera Ultramarathon and 100k; Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim FKT, winner Ultravasan
- Jo Zakrzewski, 2023 women's 48-hour world record distance of 411.458 km (pending ratification)
- Jonas Buud, 2015 IAU 100 km World Championships winner and 4-time silver medallist, 8-time winner of the Swiss Alpine Marathon, Ultravasan course record, 2nd at Comrades Marathon
- Kilian Jornet, Course record for UTMB (4-time winner), Hardrock 100 (5-time winner), and Zegama-Aizkorri skymarathon (10-time winner), winner of Western States 100, 3-time Buff SkyRunner World Series champion, FKT ascent + descent for Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, former FKT for Kilimanjaro, Denali, Aconcagua, and the Bob Graham Round
- Lizzy Hawker, 5-time winner of Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, 2006 IAU 100 km World Championships winner, Spartathlon winner, former 24h world best holder
- Mami Kudo, former women's 24h track world record holder (255.303 kilometres (158.638 mi), Soochow TPE, 2011), 2013 female winner of IAU 24 Hour World Championship
- Ollie Garrod, set 40 mile world record en route to winning the Barry 40.
- Patrycja Bereznowska, 2017 IAU 24 Hour World Championship 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)
- Pau Capell, winner of the Ultra Trail World Tour (2018), UTMB, 3-time Transgrancanaria
- Pete Kostelnick, best known for the overall coast-to-coast FKT of the United States in 42 days, 6 hours, and 30 minutes, 2-time Badwater Ultramarathon
- Ragna Debats, gold at the 2018 and bronze at the 2016 Trail World Championships, winner of Marathon des Sables, Transvulcania, Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix, and 2018 Skyrunning World Championship Ultra
- Ryōichi Sekiya, four time IAU 24 Hour World Championship World Championship winner, two-time winner of Spartathlon
- 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
- Scott Jurek, 7-time winner of Western States 100, Hardrock 100, 2-time Badwater Ultramarathon, 3-time Spartathlon, former American record for 24-hour
- Shingo Inoue, 2010 winner of IAU 24-hour run World Championship (273.708 kilometres (170.074 mi))
- Sumie Inagaki, current women's 48-hour track world record holder (397.103 kilometres (246.748 mi), Surgeres FRA, May 2010), 2-time female winner of IAU 24-hour run World Championship, two time female winner of Spartathlon
- Takahiro Sunada, former men's 100 km Road world record holder (6:13:33, Lake Saroma Ultramarathon, 1998)
- Ted Corbitt, "the father of American ultrarunning"; 1952 US Olympic team member; former American world record holder at various distances
- Tomoe Abe, current women's 100 km Road world record holder (6:33:11, Lake Saroma Ultramarathon, 2000)
- Wally Hayward, multiple winner of the Comrades Marathon, London to Brighton, and many other ultramarathons; set early world records
- Xavier Thévenard, only trail athlete to have won all four Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc races including 3-time winner of UTMB
- Yiannis Kouros, often considered the best ultrarunner in history for the longest track and road races, holder of numerous world records from 24-hour to 1,000 miles, course record holder of the Spartathlon since its inception in 1983
Images for kids
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View from the Atacama Crossing 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Ultramaratón para niños
