The Ultramarathon Boom

I used to think a marathon displayed the peak of human endurance. It's the longest Olympic distance and the only distance with "world majors." The distance is designed for the runner to "hit a wall" and find a way through. It is no easy feat.

Around 2018, as podcasts grew, stories emerged that minimized 26.2 miles. Badwater 135, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Moab 240, and the Barkley Marathons are some to name. These were the new 'ultramarathons,' ranging from 50 to 3,100 miles (a race fittingly named Self-Transcendence).

The athletes for these races were passionate. David Goggins, Courtney Dauwalter, Sally McRae, and Cameron Hanes were all over podcasts, motivating the general public to challenge themselves. I would say it worked.

Back in the year 2000, there were 189 ultramarathon events (anything greater than 26.2 miles). In 2024, there were 1816 events. An increase of 862.434%.

Based on data gathered from the Ultra Running Magazine.

It's possible humans may be able to endure more now than ever. Or perhaps we're becoming a little more fearless.

Works Cited:

Best ultramarathons in the world. Ultra X. https://ultra-x.co/best-and-most-beautiful-ultra-marathons-in-the-world/

Courtney Dauwalter. (n.d.). https://www.courtneydauwalter.com/

David Goggins. Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. (n.d.). https://davidgoggins.com/

North American ultrarunning participation. UltraRunning Magazine. (n.d.-a). https://ultrarunning.com/calendar/stats/ultrarunning-finishes

Sally McRae. (n.d.). https://www.sallymcrae.com/