Ultramarathon


An ultramarathon is a footrace longer than the traditional marathon distance of. The sport of running ultramarathons is called ultra running or ultra distance running.
Various distances, surfaces, and formats are raced competitively. The shortest common ultramarathon is, and around is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours, but there are also longer multiday races commonly held as 48 hours,, or more, sometimes raced in stages with breaks for sleep.
The oldest and largest ultramarathons are on road, including the Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans Marathon. 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.
Ultra running World Championships are held by the International Association of Ultrarunners for 50 km, 100 km and 24 hours. The Global Organization of Multi-Day Ultramarathoners holds World Championships for 48 hours and six days. World records are ratified and recognized by World Athletics, the IAU, and by GOMU.
There is also overlap with the sports of trail running and mountain running. Some races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America. The oldest and also the largest trail race is the SainteLyon in France. Many ultramarathon organizers are members of the International Trail Running Association, an organization that 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.

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. The most common distances are, 50 miles,,, and continue up to the longest certified race distance of 3100 miles. Timed events range from 6, 12, and 24 hours to 3, 6, and 10 days. Timed events are generally run on a track or a short road course, often one mile or less.
The format of ultramarathons and the courses vary, ranging from single loops, to point-to-point road or trail races, to cross-country rogaines. Many ultramarathons have significant obstacles, such as inclement weather, elevation change, or rugged terrain. Usually, there are aid stations, whether every lap of a track, small road or trail loop courses, or extending up to perhaps, where runners can replenish food and drink or take a short break.
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. The Marathon des Sables 6-day stage race in Morocco and the Grand to Grand Ultra in the U.S. are examples.
The International Association of Ultrarunners organises the World Championships for various ultramarathon distances, including,, 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.
50-kilometer and 100-kilometer races are recognized as World Records by World Athletics, the world governing body of track and field. The International Association of Ultrarunners recognizes IAU World Records for 50-kilometers, 100-kilometers, 6 hours, 12 hours, 100 miles, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 6 days.
There are ultramarathon racewalking events that are usually 50 km, although 100 km and 100-mile "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 21 racers died from hypothermia while competing in an ultramarathon in the Yellow River Stone Forest. The government later announced a ban on "extreme" competitions.
In August 2023, a partnership between Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and Ironman Triathlon was announced and the new formation of the UTMB World Series, an ultra-distance circuit that culminates with UTMB held in August. Concerns have been raised about rising entry fees, homogenization of racing experiences, and bulldozing of smaller events.

IAU World Record and World Best performances

Until 2014, the IAU maintained lists of the world best performances on different surfaces. 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. The events considered IAU World Records are: 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours along with 50 and 100 miles. Records in the 6 day event are called World Best Performances by the IAU.
Performances exceeding the current IAU records but which have not yet been ratified include the following:
  • Ivan Zaborsky ran 1047.554 km in six days in Vallon Pont d'Arc, France, finishing on 4 May 2025. However, he broke a rule by displaying the Russian flag instead of following the regulations for neutral athletes.
  • Megan Eckert ran 970.685 km in six days at the same race in Vallon Pont d'Arc.
  • Sibusiso Kubheka ran 100 km in 5:59:20 in August 2025 but the performance was not eligible to be a world record due to the footwear not satisfying competition requirements, among other reasons.
  • Anne Flower ran the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile race in Vienna, Illinois in 5:18:57 in November 2025.
  • Caitriona Jennings ran the Tunnel Hill 100 Mile race in 12:37:04 in November 2025.
The IAU World Records and World Best Performances as of January 2026 are as follows.

Men

Women

Until 2021, the IAU also kept records for 1000 km and 1000 miles. The final records were:

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, and the IAU Trail World Championships.

Ultramarathons by regions

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

Africa

  • South Africa hosts a number of notable ultra marathon events.
  • * On road: the world's oldest and largest ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon. 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 Grand Raid de la Réunion is held annually on Réunion in October, crossing the island over with an altitude gain of. This race attracts 2,350 competitors, with 1,000 runners from overseas.
  • The Marathon des Sables is a 6-day stage race which covers through the Sahara desert in Morocco.
  • The Spanish Canary Islands off the African coast are the location of some prestigious ultramarathons, including the 46-mile Transvulcania.

    Asia

Ultrarunning has become popular in Asia, and countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea have hosted IAU World Championships.
  • In Israel, two major ultramarathon races are Mount to Valley relay race, over 215 km, from the hills of the Upper Galilee to the Jezreel Valley; and the Valley Circle race in the Jezreel valley, containing several distances, including 160 km and 200 km.
  • India's first ultra-marathon, the Bangalore Ultra, was held in 2007. Since 2010, the Indian Himalayas have hosted La Ultra – The High, a 333 km course crossing Khardung La, touted to be the world's highest motorable mountain pass.
  • Japan had its first 100 km event in 1987 as Lake Saroma Ultramarathon and hosted the IAU 100 km World Championship in 1994, 1998 and 2005. Japan hosts more than 50 ultramarathon events throughout the year, including the Trans Japan Alps Race , Hasetsune cup and the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji.
  • 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.
  • Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge is a 298 km-long uninterrupted race, the first ultramarathon-class race in Hong Kong.

    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.
In Australia, the Westfield Ultra Marathon was an annual race between Sydney and Melbourne 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. 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, 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 is 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 has a comprehensive list and links of events and their respective results.
In New Zealand, the Kepler Challenge is held on a trail through Fiordland National Park. It has been running since 1988 and is one of the country's most popular races. The Tarawera Ultramarathon is currently one of the most competitive ultras in New Zealand and part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour.