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I’ve always thought that the distance of an ultra-marathon seemed a bit extreme. Today I found myself wondering, just how extreme is it?
The distance of an Ultra-Marathon can be anything above 26.2 miles. Whilst many ultra marathons have a specified distance, they can also be based on the most distance covered in a set amount of time.
Due to the wide range of ultra marathons, goals can vary from race to race. Different considerations need to be taken depending on which ultra marathon you are taking part in.
What’s A Good Time To Finish An Ultra Marathon?
The answer to this depends on a number of factors such as the distance you have chosen, the amount of training you’ve had, and the environment you’re in.
Once again, let’s imagine you’re attempting to run 50K. If four hours is considered a good marathon time, anywhere between 4:30 and 5:30 hours is probably a good target for someone willing to put the work in and is running across relatively flat and clear terrain. That being said, the world record for running a 50K is 2:59:54 and was run by Boston Marathon Champion, Des Linden.
You should expect to be running slower the further that you run.
Below you will find a table for the typical times across all genders and abilities that you can expect to get based on common ultramarathon distances with data taken from Running Level.
- 50 Kilometers – 04:31:44
- 100 Kilometers – 09:06:35
- 50 Miles – 07:19:35
- 100 Miles – 14:39:47
What Are Common Distances And Goals Set For Ultra-Marathons?
The common distances of Ultra Marathons are 50 Kilometers (31.07 miles), 100 Kilometers (62.14 miles), 50 miles (80.47 Kilometers) and 100 miles (160.93 kilometres).
That being said, the longest ultra-marathon in the world is the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race. This is a multi-day race where runners need to meet around 59.6 miles a day over 52 days!
There are also many common time limits used for ultra marathons. The purpose of these races is to get the most distance covered in a specified amount of time. These events tend to last anywhere around 6, 12 and 24 hours.
Time specified ultra-marathons also extend into multi-day races where runners may try to cover as much ground as possible across 3, 6 and 10 days. Many of these ultra marathons allow runners to schedule in time to eat and rest.
Rather than progressing along a single set course, some ultra marathons could involve repeatedly running around small tracks as many times as possible. Some of the distances on these tracks have been reported to be as short as 7KM. If repetition isn’t your thing, I’d think about giving these a miss!
On the other hand, many ultra-marathons are set out as a single course without runners having to complete multiple laps. For example, the Marathon Des Sables (described as the most challenging race in the world, by the way) consists of one huge route through the Sahara Desert.
If you’re interested in running your first Ultra-Marathon, it may be best to aim for a distance of 50K. If you’ve already completed a marathon, it’s easy to consider it as only a few extra miles.
Check out the table below showing just a few examples of great ultra-marathons in the UK with distances around 50km!
| Race | Location | Distance/Time |
| Ultra London | London | 55km |
| Endurancelife – Coastal Trail Series | North Devon | 50km |
| Brekon Beacons Trail Running Challenge | Brecon Beacons | 52km |
| XNRG Devil’s Light | Hampshire | 50km |
| Greensand Country Ultra Trail | Bedfordshire | 50km |
| Round Reading Ultra Marathon | Reading | 50km |
| Writtle Wround 50K | Essex | 50km |
| Rat Race Man Vs Lakes | Morecambe Bay | 45km |
| Upton Ultra | Worcestershire | 50km |
| The Ridium | Caerphilly, Wales | 48km |
Does Terrain Make A Difference?
Although the difficulty of running an ultra marathon can depend on the race’s distance and time targets, it’s also essential to bear in mind that terrain can play a big part in the ultra-marathon that you choose. The ground covered in ultra-marathons can be made up of anything from concrete to rocks and gravel, and many ultra marathons can even be a mixture of all of them.
For example, the Greenland Country 50KM ultra trail consists of public footpaths, bridleways and tracks throughout. On the other hand, East Sussex’s Trail Fleet Of Endurance involves a 7km track built off-road.
Is Elevation Also A Factor?
A shorter ultra-marathon doesn’t necessarily mean an easier one. In addition to rugged terrain along the route, it might be worth researching the different elevation levels throughout the course.
Some ultra-marathons can contain such wide variations of elevated levels that elevation then becomes the main factor. For example, the Badwater Marathon is not only an incredible 135 miles, but it also involves running from the slopes of Badwater Basin up towards Mount Whitney. This race contains an insane 1300 feet of elevation. Oh, and it takes place in July. The hottest time of year for this location.
How Long Should I Run In Training Before Taking On An Ultra-Marathon?
This is another dependable question. There’s little to no benefit in attempting to complete the total distance of an ultra marathon before race day. Check out any marathon training plan online and it’s doubtful you’ll be requested to run a full marathon as preparation for a race. The same rule goes for any ultra-marathon. Hey, if you’re interested in finding out how long it takes to train for a marathon, why not check out this blog post I made which answers just that?
The truth is that some people can complete an ultra-marathon with a few simple, long-distance runs of about 10 miles. On the other hand, some people might need to do a few of long runs that are much closer to their final target. One thing’s for sure. It’s likely you’ll need to get several long runs under your belt before attempting to run any challenging distance.
What Pace Should I Run During An Ultra Marathon?
According to Runners World, the majority of ultra-marathon runners aim for approximately 13:16 minutes per mile, which is quite slow considering that the average runner can finish a mile in around nine to ten minutes.
Therefore, a good rule of thumb might be to measure how long it takes you to complete a single mile whilst jogging at the pace you feel most comfortable with and then slow it down a substantial amount.
One of the easiest ways to fail an ultra-marathon is by getting too excited at the beginning of the race and pushing yourself so hard you burn out. Doing this makes it a lot more challenging to take those final miles at the end of the race.
It might be tempting to go fast and hard, especially at the beginning when you are feeling the most motivated. But running too fast at the beginning can easily set ultra runners up for failure.
How Do I Rest During Multi-Day Ultra-Marathons?
When taking on a multi-day race, recovery will be critical. Many ultra-marathons will have different rules and guidelines in place which help runners understand how much rest they need.
Whilst there is no set rule, it’s normal for ultra-marathon runners to usually take at least one night worth of rest for ultra-marathon that are set to be anywhere between 24-48 hours. Periods of rest tend to increase alongside the time set.
The accommodation for runners during these resting periods also varies amongst ultra-marathons. Depending on the race you choose to enter, you could be sleeping anywhere from a hotel room to a tent.
Conclusion
Although ultra-marathons can vary in length, there are several different aspects to these races, which can also impact their levels of difficulty. Terrain, rest, elevation and training are just a few examples of what any ultra-enthusiasts should consider when preparing to take on one of these races. If, however, the length of an ultra marathon is still your primary concern, it only makes sense to start aiming for the races based around 50K and working your way up.
