Ultrarunning
These are the world’s 10 toughest ultra runs
Are you finding marathons dull? Then how about an ultra-marathon through some of the most challenging conditions – snowy mountains, deserts and jungles?
Running a marathon is tough, but running an ultra in some of the races below is off the charts. Seasoned ultrarunner Fredrik Ölmqvist gives us the lowdown on some of the hardest out there.
Get ready for 300km runs with steep climbs, extreme heat, temperatures as low as -20°C, or the stifling humidity of the jungle, where the next footstep could be on a poisonous snake. Oh yes, this running is not for the faint-hearted...
1. Hardrock Endurance Run 100
- Selling point: The toughest race in America
- Distance: 100 miles (160km)
- Climb: 10,000m
- Where: Colorado, USA
- Hazards: Altitude, wilderness, storms, steep drops
Considered the toughest 100-miler in the US, the Hardrock 100 takes place at an average altitude of 11,000ft (3,500m). The terrain is technical and thunderstorms are not uncommon. “Mountaineering, wilderness survival and navigation skills are as important in this event as your endurance,” say the organisers. Runners finish by kissing 'the Hardrock', a picture of a ram's head painted on stone.
Try it: Hardrock 100
2. The Jungle Marathon
- Selling point: The best race for wildlife
- Distance: 200km+
- Climb: Not recorded
- Where: Brazil
- Hazards: Swamps, snakes, mosquitoes, leeches, crocs, mud...
Organisers describe it as the "world's most terrifying adventure" – running over 200km through the jungle. Runners have six days to battle their way across inhospitable jungle terrain, including swamp and river crossings with lurking snakes, crocs and other beasts. "They add to the excitement," says one competitor.
You may bump into jaguars, get woken up by howler monkeys, be bitten by ants and stung by wasps. Did we forget to mention the spiders, mosquitoes and scorpions?
Try it: Jungle Marathon
3. Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra
- Selling point: It's cold, very cold
- Distance: 692km
- Climb: 6,000m
- Where: Canada
- Hazards: Hypothermia, frostbite, exhaustion
This race prides itself as being the world's coldest and toughest ultra thanks to the epic conditions. Racers have to pull a sled, carrying all their mandatory equipment and food. Temperatures average between -12°C and -25°C. Just surviving is an achievement. "When the cold comes in at night you cannot make a mistake,” says 100-mile course competitor Jacob Hastrup.
Try it: Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra
4. Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race
- Selling point: It's a race with no trails
- Distance: 300km
- Climb: 15,000m
- Where: Wales
- Hazards: Technical ground, wet and cold, navigation, sheep
First held in 1992, it took 20 years for the race to make a comeback in 2012. Afterwards, one seasoned ultra runner stated that any day of the Dragon's Back Race was tougher than any of the 100-milers he'd done – and he'd done over 100 of them! Held on an unmarked course, participants have to straight-line navigate across the harshest terrain Wales has to offer, often in poor visibility.
Try it: Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race
5. The Grand Raid Réunion / Diagonale des Fous
- Selling point: It's a race for madmen
- Distance: 164km
- Climb: 9,917m
- Where: La Réunion, Indian Ocean
- Hazards: Huge drops, 10,000m of ascent, volcanic rock, extreme weather
The name tells you all you need to know – the diagonal of madmen. It's a non-stop 164km run with 9,917m of elevation. Add the tropical climate, temperatures that go from heavy rain to thick fog to extreme heat and sharp, volcanic rock that can be painful to run on and it's easy to see why the Diagonale has mythical status. "If you're prone to vertigo, pick another race, as some sections will scare the shit out of you,” says one seasoned pro.
6. Tor des Géants
- Selling point: It's an achievement if you finish
- Distance: 330km
- Climb: 24,000m
- Where: Italy
- Hazards: Extreme weather, sleep deprivation, hallucinations
The TDG, or 'the Tor' is feared even by seasoned ultra runners and the stats speak for themselves: 330km, 24,000m of ascent, 25 mountain passes over 2,000m – only 50 percent finish. Conditions are often miserable. Imagine freezing cold temperatures with strong gusts trying to push you off the mountain, rain, sleet, hail, thunder, lightning and long dark nights. Then there's the sleep deprivation and hallucinations. On the plus side? You experience incredible sunrises and nights glimmering with stars...
Try it: Tor des Géants
7. La Ultra – The High
- Selling point: The race with incredible views
- Distance: 333km
- Climb: 3x 5,000m passes
- Where: Indian Himalayas
- Hazards: Altitude sickness, lack of oxygen, massive mountains, heat and cold
This single-stage race in the Himalayas has the nickname, The High. Apart from the extreme altitude, runners have to cover 333km in under 72 hours and contend with the perils of altitude sickness, which in extreme cases can cause death. Along the way are three 5,000m passes. (Shorter options of 222km and 111km also exist.) It's so extreme, organisers discourage rivalry. The views however, are worth the sweat and pain. Maybe...
Try it: La Ultra – The High
8. Western States 100-mile Endurance Run
- Selling point: The world's oldest 100-mile race
- Distance: 161.3km
- Climb: 5,486m
- Where: California, USA
- Hazards: Ice-cold water, steep climb to start, snow
This event doesn't start lightly – expect a 777m climb in the first 7km. The route follows the historic Western States Trail, the original route used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850s, and takes in remote canyons and ice-cold rivers. Runners can expect to climb more than 5,000m and descend nearly 7,000m over the course of the race. Much of the route is only accessible by foot, horse or helicopter...
9. Montane Spine Race
- Selling point: The most challenging terrain in England
- Distance: 268km
- Climb: 13,135m
- Where: United Kingdom
- Hazards: Brutal winter conditions, sleep deprivation and exposure
One of the toughest ultra-distance races in Europe – The Montane Spine Race is a brutal 268 mile, non-stop, winter mountain marathon that encompasses the entire Pennine Way in the UK. Competitors must cover some of the most difficult and challenging terrain found in England including; the Peak District, Cheviots, Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park.
Hear the story of how Jasmin Paris beat the Spine Race record by half a day:
Try it: Montane Spine Race
10. Spartathlon
- Selling point: The race to become a legend
- Distance: 246km
- Climb: 1,200m
- Where: Greece
- Hazards: Exhaustion, scorching heat, ruthless cut-off times
The ultimate test of physical strength and endurance, Spartathlon in Greece is one of the most prestigious ultras in the world and the one that top runners want to do. Only 40 percent finish this single-stage race over 246km from Athens to Sparta. First there's the speed. With very tough cut-off times runners rarely get any time for rest – there's just 36hrs to finish. The course is part of Greek legend. Finish and you'll join the pantheon of legends.
Try it: Spartathlon