What is an Ultra Marathon?

A number of people have asked me this, several of whom have actually been members of my local running club. So, the moral is don't be put off of joining a running club, most people at mine simply run for fun or to keep fit. Most enjoy running but not all, for some it is simply an embuggerance that they endure in order to keep the weight off or to know they are 'doing something'. Don't think they all must be Marathon runners or are training for some difficult race. Some have no desire what so ever to push beyond that 1 hour a week that they attend with their club. Nothing wrong with that I say, they are miles ahead of the average individual who has not exercised since school PE. Do what you enjoy.

Trust me though, if you do no exercise of any description. You know not what you miss.

Where was I?

An Ultra marathon is anything longer than the 26 miles 385 yards of the standard Marathon. This is a universal distance and is the same for the great televised events held in Cities like London (apparently the best), Boston, New York or Sydney for example. There is even one you can run in the Arctic! Not surprisingly the tag line is 'the coolest marathon in the world'! I believe them! One day, one day.....

So, technically speaking an Ultra could be 27 miles but from what I can gather the ultra fraternity tend to not be interested in anything like that. 40+, 50+, even 100+ are respected and events of these distances are becoming increasingly ubiquitous.

Then there are multi day events that last for more than a day. Probably the most famous of which is the Marathon Des Sables.

What a lot of waffle for a quick definition. The end.