Ultramarathons Require Mental Strength and Camaraderie—Here's How You Can Conquer One

Want to take your running to the next level? Here’s what to expect from an ultramarathon.It may seem aggressive, too intense, borderline insane, but ultrarunning—that means running any distance longer than a marathon—is on the rise. In fact, it’s been consistently growing a following over the past few decades: more than 611,000 runners participated in ultras in 2020 versus fewer than 150,000 just 10 years earlier, according to a survey from RunRepeat and the International Association of Ultrarunners. 

Although the distance alone makes ultras sound hardcore—not to mention the terrain (they’re typically off-road) or the pre-dawn start times or those reported mid-race hallucinations—runners love them. And for good reason. ing up to the start of your first ultramarathon, know there will be plenty of people out there to support you. 

posted Friday January 6th
by Runner’s World