Marathon des Sables
Marathon des Sables is a six-day, 251 km (156 mi) ultramarathon, which is the equivalent of six regular marathons. The longest single stage (2009) is 91 km (57 mi) long.This multiday race is held every year in southern Morocco, in the Sahara desert. It is considered the toughest foot race on Earth. The first event of the Marathon started in 1986.
Grand to Grand Ultra
The Grand to Grand Ultra takes runners over coral-colored sand dunes, through slot canyons, and past alien hoodoos on this 147-mile, seven-day self-supported race, which climbs 19,000 feet along the way.
It is the first stage race to start from the awe inspiring north rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and finish on the summit of the Grand Staircase, one of the world's most iconic geological formations. The course takes you through a desert landscape of sand dunes, red rock canyons, buttes, mesas and hoodoos. You will navigate compelling slot canyons and cross a tributary of the Virgin River. Experience the remotest part of continental America in the way of the earliest settlers, Navajo and Paiute Indian tribes. This is where Montezuma's gold is still reputed to be buried.
Observe nature up close in an environment rich in flora and wildlife – from unusual and threatened cacti to big horn sheep to the endangered California Condor, the largest bird in America.
Challenge yourself in the company of an international group of participants who are all eager to complete a world class course, one which has been experienced by very few people.
It is the first stage race to start from the awe inspiring north rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and finish on the summit of the Grand Staircase, one of the world's most iconic geological formations. The course takes you through a desert landscape of sand dunes, red rock canyons, buttes, mesas and hoodoos. You will navigate compelling slot canyons and cross a tributary of the Virgin River. Experience the remotest part of continental America in the way of the earliest settlers, Navajo and Paiute Indian tribes. This is where Montezuma's gold is still reputed to be buried.
Observe nature up close in an environment rich in flora and wildlife – from unusual and threatened cacti to big horn sheep to the endangered California Condor, the largest bird in America.
Challenge yourself in the company of an international group of participants who are all eager to complete a world class course, one which has been experienced by very few people.
The Jungle Ultra
The wettest, hottest and most beautiful Jungle Ultra in the world. A race from the Andes to the Amazon. 230km of tough jungle trails, mountain roads and village tracks leading their way down from 10500ft in the Cloud Forest to Amazon Jungle below.
For the race itself you will be self-sufficient carrying your own hammock, sleeping bag, food, and supplies for the entire race, replenishing your (minimum) 2.5 litres of water along the way at check points and base camps. As you are in the jungle you will face humidity levels reaching near 100%, making sweating useless in maintaining your core body temperature, leaving you saturated for extended periods of the race, and indeed when you finally reach camp.
Badwater Ultramarathon
The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as "the world's toughest foot race". It is a 135-mile (217 km) course starting at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney. It takes place annually in mid-July, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over 120 °F (49 °C), even in the shade, are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultramarathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race.
Hardrock 100
The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run is an ultramarathon100.5 miles (161.7 km) in length, with 33,000 feet (10,000 m) of climb at an average elevation of over 11,000 feet (3,400 m). The race is held on a loop course on 4WD roads, dirt trails, and cross country in Southern Colorado's San Juan Range, USA. The race is dedicated to the memory of the miners who settled in the area and who built the mining trails on which much of the race is run.
Spartathlon
The Spartathlon aims to trace the footsteps of Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. The race starts at 7:00 am, usually on the last Friday of September, at the foot of the Acropolis. It runs out of Athens toward the coast and along the coast towards Corinth via Elefsis, Megara, and Kineta. The route reaches the Corinth Canal at 78.5 kilometres and the runners hit the first of six major check points at 81 kilometres.
After Corinth, the race heads toward Ancient Corinth, Nemea, Lyrkia, and at 159 kilometres reaches the top of Mount Parthenio. From there, it continues south toward Nestani and Tegea, before reaching the main Sparta highway just before the 200 kilometer mark.
Runners must pass through 75 checkpoints along the way and each checkpoint has a cut-off time. Runners outside the cut-off may be pulled out of the race, although tardiness in the first half of the race is generally tolerated. This tolerance begins to fade after sunset, and in the last third of the race organisers may pull out runners who are either outside the time limit or who display extreme fatigue.
After Corinth, the race heads toward Ancient Corinth, Nemea, Lyrkia, and at 159 kilometres reaches the top of Mount Parthenio. From there, it continues south toward Nestani and Tegea, before reaching the main Sparta highway just before the 200 kilometer mark.
Runners must pass through 75 checkpoints along the way and each checkpoint has a cut-off time. Runners outside the cut-off may be pulled out of the race, although tardiness in the first half of the race is generally tolerated. This tolerance begins to fade after sunset, and in the last third of the race organisers may pull out runners who are either outside the time limit or who display extreme fatigue.
H.U.R.T 100
The race, which takes place in the mountains outside of Honolulu, runs 100 miles with 24,500 feet of elevation gain on gnarly, root-encrusted single track. There are only a handful of sections where you can run consistently for more than a few hundred yards. On top of that, there are mosquitoes, 20 rocky stream crossings, and vast stretches of impenetrable jungle that makes running at night like traveling through a wild-boar-haunted, pitch-black cave with a floor of slick rocks and roots.
Fat Dog 100
Considered the most scenic ultra race in Canada, it is a challenging point to point race that straddles three stunning provincial parks and one recreational area in British Columbia, Canada. Despite the pain, the August scenery here is sublime: trails cutting through meadows full of lupines, creeks trickling through the woods, and alpine lakes glittering in the sun.
6693 Ultra
Also called the Yukon Arctic Ultra, it is a series of non-stop multiday races that take place concurrently beginning in Whitehorse, Yukon at the beginning of February each year. The marathon, 100/300/430 mile races follow the course of the Yukon Quest. The longer races have three disciplines: mountain bike, xc-skis or foot. The race is billed as the toughest ultramarathon in the world where the temperatures can drop to -50 degrees plus wind chill. The race was founded in 2003 and has run every year since except 2010.