Ultramarathoners compete at the Sahara Race 2011 (4 Deserts).
Highest governing body
World Athletics, International Association of Ultrarunners, and the Global Organization of Multi-Day Ultramarathoners
Presence
World Championships
1987–present
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is a footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26 mi 385 yd). Various distances, surfaces, and formats are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 31 miles (50 km) and up to 3100 miles.[1] World Championships are held by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) for 50 km, 100 km, 24 hours, and ultra trail running. The Global Organization of Multi-Day Ultramarathoners (GOMU) holds World Championships for 48 hours and 6 days.[2] World Records are ratified and recognized by World Athletics (50 km and 100 km), the IAU (50 km up to 6 days), and by GOMU (48 hours up to 5000 km).[3][4][5]
Around 100 miles (160 km) is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours, but there are also longer multiday races commonly held as 48 hours, 200 miles (320 km), or more, sometimes raced in stages with breaks for sleep.
The oldest and largest ultramarathons are on road, including the Comrades Marathon (over 10,000 finishers annually) and Two Oceans Marathon (over 6,000 finishers annually).[6] The world's longest certified Footrace is the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. Many ultras have historical significance, including the Spartathlon, based on the 246 km run of Greek messenger Pheidippides from Athens to Sparta during the Battle of Marathon in a day and a half to seek aid against the Persians.[7][8][9]
Runners waiting for the start of the 2023 Comrades Marathon
There is also overlap with the sports of trail running and mountain running. Some 100 miles (160 km) races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America.[10] The oldest and also the largest trail race is the SainteLyon 78km in France (over 5,000 finishers annually).[11]
^"The 27th Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race - 3100 Mile Race". 3100.srichinmoyraces.org. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^"GOMU - Global Organization of Multi-Day Ultramarathoners - World Championships". www.gomu.org. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
^"World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^Bedkowski, Jacek. "Rankings & Records". IAU - International Association of Ultrarunners. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
^"GOMU - Global Organization of Multi-Day Ultramarathoners - Results & Records". www.gomu.org. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^"DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics". statistik.d-u-v.org. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
^Spartathlon (28 August 2015). "Ιστορικά Στοιχεία". Spartathlon Ultra Race (in Greek). Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^"Spartathlon Part 1 (1982) - The Birth | Ultrarunning History". 19 September 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^Holmes, Katie (30 September 2022). "Eleanor Adams and the first Spartathlon". RunYoung50. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^"First Finishers of Western States 100 Trail on Foot". 9 February 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
^"DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics". statistik.d-u-v.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is a footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26 mi 385 yd)...
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Constantinos Karnazes; August 23, 1962), is an American ultramarathon runner, and author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, which details...
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race in a time of 24:51:47. On September 15, 2018, Graglia started the ultramarathon across Chile's Atacama Desert. The translation company TransPerfect...
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skyrunning discipline. Mountain running Mountaineering Trail running Ultramarathon Dwyer, Olivia (25 July 2019). "What in the World is Skyrunning?". Retrieved...
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