Is ultra-running a sport?

A sport is a physical challenge. Whether it's an ultra long log carrying, rifle carrying log rolling dirt slinging contest, ultra short all out sprint, ultra long excruciating run through woods that you would rather pave after 50 miles, or a super fast road race to win a prize in your age division (I won a bike from Taiwan or something that the pedals fell off and had to be welded on again). Some people run through a desert, one person went off course and drank their own pee to survive. There are different kinds of crazy to non-running people, and to them we are all crazy anyways.

well,. wrote:

Ataglance wrote:

Just about everyone I've know that got into ultras used it as an activity after they were done competing or just couldn't handle racing any more.

It's something to do, there's a big community and no pressure to perform at a certain level. You just go out in the woods and jog around and hike and take in good views. Also, most of the ultra crowd is OLD like not 40 yrs old, more like 60+.

I guess that makes it the retirement home of the running world.

The WR for 100 km road is 6,13. That´s 3,43/km. I suggest you go out for a 100 km jog and see if you beat that time, retard.

That's what he said. It's too slow a pace to win a marathon, so, run longer than a marathon. When you lack speed, compensate with distance.

Ultra's are just one-up-man-ship for those wanting to impress people who don't know better. Running a very long way sounds impressive to the ordinary coach potato. To somebody who runs, it just sounds like you were never a good runner.

When you lack speed, compensate with distance.

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Isn't that the point of everything over 100 meters?

1. Very little price money - if any.

2. Not suitable for mass media consumption (ESPN,NBCSports) in any form.

3. It's not really ultra-RUNNING, there's quite a bit of walking involved (and plenty of sitting).

4. More emphasis on finishing rather than time - more of the "everyone wins" mentality by surviving.

By definition sport involves competition and #4 eliminates it as a true sport. Maybe a sport amongst the elite ultra guys though.

I think ultra running should be in the same thought as hiking. It is just glorified hiking. Nothing wrong with that if it's your thing. I am sure you get plenty of health benefits from it.

What I think is a sport, though, is Mountain running (like Mt Washington Road Race) or that crazy ass one in Alaska. Often times shorter mountain races draws the ultra crowd and get lumped into the "ultra" scene but it's not. That is a true sport and some do get televised.

My 2cents -

No

that's what he said wrote:

...When you lack speed, compensate with distance.

Ultra's are just one-up-man-ship for those wanting to impress people who don't know better. Running a very long way sounds impressive to the ordinary coach potato. To somebody who runs, it just sounds like you were never a good runner.

OK, we both run. I've done some ultras and you apparently have not. Can you run a steeple under 9? Can you run a 5000 in the mid 14s? I'm guessing that I could probably beat you at a lot of distances even though I've run a couple ultras (and yes, I know that those times are not all that impressive).

48+9 wrote:

No

Yes

Ultrasaurus, Ultra zone

Alternate altered growth

Alter-G, All terns stoned

Ulster Ulta beauty bones

Uber fresh ultra gold

You're an old time youthful soul

Ultra music festival

ultimatum metrical

Ultramodern ultra high

Definition alibi

Ultimate frisbee team

Spinning ultra ornery

Ultra violet Delaunay

Colors more than I can say

just run fool wrote:

Anything that requires a "strategy" is not real running.

Ryan Hall races with no strategy. Discuss.

Physical prowess plus competition = sport. Therefore, ultra running is a sport.

Do make seahorse care for their young?

Does a muskrat enjoy aquatic vegetation?

Does Apple make iPhones?

Did Phineas Gage suffer injury to his orbitofrontal cortex?

Did Paul Klee make caricatures?

Did the Ottomans lose many veteran boatmen in the Battle of Lepanto?

Jetson67 wrote:

While I concede that some ultra runners are decent athletes, I don't think of ultra-running as a legitimate sport -- it's more like a general test of will/perseverance. Thoughts?

Because 1500m runners are such great athletes?

Yes, it is a sport.

just run fool wrote:

josephfishkin wrote:

Ultra running is like race walking or those color runs -- a recreational diversion, definitely not a sport. Please don't confuse it with real running.

Anything that requires a "strategy" is not real running.

Like the 1500m?

Like I said above: the 100 km WR is 6,13. I can assure you he neither walked nor sat during that race, but I guess reading comprehension isn´t your strong side.

sc42 wrote:

OK, we both run. I've done some ultras and you apparently have not. Can you run a steeple under 9? Can you run a 5000 in the mid 14s? I'm guessing that I could probably beat you at a lot of distances even though I've run a couple ultras (and yes, I know that those times are not all that impressive).

I think think this pretty much sums up letsrun mentality. That anyone who runs slower than 9 for the steeple or mid 14s for 5K (or equivalent at other distances) is not impressive, therefore a jogger.

That said, little or no interest in running ultras (other than maybe a 50K trail race), but somewhat intrigued by the new wave of cross over runners who shorter distance races, mountain races, and XC, as well as ultras. As for the 4 hr marathoners/25 min 5K runners who train on 25 miles of jogging a week and also do the ultras, no they are not the star athletes that they purport themselves to be.

It's a race over a specified distance, just like any other running event. Just because it's not as competitive doesn't mean it's not a sport. It's weird that some people think all ultra runners are just avoiding competition, as if there is no possible way a person could actually be doing it because they enjoy it more. I certainly see the appeal of spending hours on mountain trails over track intervals. It sounds like most people disparaging ultras are just upset that their peers arent as impressed by their mediocre 80 mpw training regimines and 15 flat 5ks as they are by the self-aggrandizing participants of ultras.

locksley wrote:

That's Great! Keep us updated!

That joke is played out like "that's what she said". No one laughs anymore so just stop.

That means 99% of all people posting here are joggers.

giant johnson wrote:

It's a race over a specified distance, just like any other running event. Just because it's not as competitive doesn't mean it's not a sport. It's weird that some people think all ultra runners are just avoiding competition, as if there is no possible way a person could actually be doing it because they enjoy it more.

I think the problem is that some ultra runners claim they are better runners because they race longer distances. You get more respect as a competitor by winning tougher competitions, not by racing longer distances.