So what exactly is ultrarunning

Ok, so most Americans equate ultra with trail. Trail is not really about times and records but about the challenge, it is only one branch of ultra running, and yes it attracts a good number of people who have absolutely no intention of running all the way, but so do marathons or even your local 10k run.

Ultra's also include road and track, with some easier flatter road courses. If, like me, you watched some of the great ultra races of the 70's and 80's in the UK on track and road you would see small fields of highly trained athletes, who were also working full time jobs running under 6 minute miles for hours on end. It's so far removed from running/walking multi terrain mountain courses that it looks to be a different sport, but it isn't, it's the wide ranging category of ultra distance running.

A close finish may be minutes apart, such as when Cavin Woodward broke the 100 mile world record, with Tom O'Reilly second in the third fastest time at that point, or it could be 7 seconds, over the London to Brighton race, but there is rarely such a thing as an unassailable lead because over those distances things can always go wrong.

Lock_N_Load wrote:

There are many sports in the world of running. Thinking your little corner of the running world is the only place that matters is akin to the thinking behind white supremacy. C'mon dude, don't be stupid.

LOL OMG!!! that's one of the stupidest things I've ever read on this board! (And this place is awash in stupid)

White supremacy??? Guess that is just where some soft headed idiots go when they have no argument, it has to be................................... racism!!! Yes I'm track fan obviously I just HATE black people. (the best track athletes are black btw)

You are such an idiot to say something like that I shouldn't even have replied.

Look this is how the Distance Running World rates

1. Track - these are the very best the sport has to offer. This is where the truly talented compete.

2. Road races- they offer big prize money and attract some the fastest and biggest names.

3. World XC/XC- Great athletes but no where near the money and XC has no real scene past college in the US.

4. trail/ultra- the guys that can't make it any where else but still want to compete.

Oh and on that ol' white supremacy thing, I could toss it back to you since there are no great African ultra runners. Maybe you're the white supremacist? You like this piece of the running world because it's virtually free of those pesky black folks that win all the other race, right?? But, I wouldn't suggest that....

It’s basically Appalachian Trail hiking.

I get what you're saying, but half of the documentaries I watched took place on the road (some at high altitude), in the desert, or on relatively flat terrain. And the top guys still walked a bunch of the way. So, I personally don't associate Ultra with trail, but that doesn't negate the fact that walking is a big part of it. And I think that's what throws off much of the running community that comes from other running disciplines where walking is frowned upon.

The cut off time in Cavin Woodwards 100 mile record run was 16 hours, meaning every competitor was to average less than 10min miles. Have a look at most marathons, plenty over that pace in them. Yes you can walk, same for every other event, so what? Yes people do walk, same for shorter events. However I didn't see much walking in the 70s and 80s in the UK, watching sub 7 hour 100km races, if you judge a sport by the rank amateurs who do it, then you are going to think it's easy,if you believe people who say they are elite when they are literally miles slower than true elite you will think it's slow, and if you think walking is part of elite ultra running on anything but trail,or massively hilly courses you are wrong. You don't see people walk in a 100m race, you see please type walk in a marathon, now increase the distance and of course more participants will walk at some point, you can't run forever, not even if you are Kouros.

Just about every great marathoner has been a great track athlete at one point or another. That is why we take the marathon seriously.

Once the best runners in the world start doing ultras we will take it seriously. Until then it is just a place for people who couldn't compete with the best of the best.

I just wish, I know I am asking a lot from LRC but for the love of god, why can't we respect all forms of running? An 800m stud couldn't hang with an elite sprinter if his life depended on it. A 1500m specialist likely won't crack sub 28 10K unless they're just a freak show who moves up in distance. Running requires unique talents that each distance demands. I believe there is something to a fast 10K/Marathoner that translates to 50k-50 mile speed, depending on the course though for sure. Past 50 miles, it's just another realm of existence, and that's the point. Look at some of the elite 100 milers, they're lean muscle bound and per pound are likely incredibly strong. They're more muscle bound than an elite road runner, because the trails and distance demand a baseline of strength and relative lean muscle mass that protect the body from decay. Tim Olson for example, idk if he's even a sub elite road runner, not entirely sure what his 26.2 time is, but if he trained his leg turnover, I am sure he's a 2:40ish guy. He held a 8:50 some pace for the Western States record. A course with over 18,000 ascent and 23,000 descent. That's wicked strength and lung power, and a mega dose of insanity. So many variables at the 100 mile distance that no other race demands. Appreciate it for what it is and just let this nonsense debate end. Can't wait to follow along at Western States this weekend.

I have never met any elite 100 mile guy who was muscle bound. Elite trail runners maybe, but no one who could beat 13 hours for 100 miles.

The guys at the top in 1978 in the UK were sub 2:20 marathon runners who decided early to run ultrasound, who knows what they would have achieved at marathon had they stuck to it. No pacemakers in their races either.

You dumb.

I was not calling you a white supremacist or a racist although I could definitely call you over-sensitive. My point clearly needed more explanation. By saying your thinking is like the thinking of a white supremacist I meant that you believe that Track is where all the talent is at to the exclusion of everything else because that is what you know in your little part of the world. In the same way a white supremacist truly believes that his or her race encompasses all that is good and virtuous. I am sure you, or any person with half a brain, would never believe in a white supremacist (or any other "race supremacist") point of view. Then why would you ever argue, in a similar fashion, that the only truly talented runners are only in one corner of the running world? You are putting on blinders and not seeing the incredible athletic AND running talent in other areas of the running world. Your ranking of "talent" is also ridiculous. Get out more. See more. Experience more...

There is waaaay more talent on the track and roads than in the ultra scene. That is a fact that would be silly to debate. No one is going to take ultras seriously until a good number of elite runners start running them while they are in their prime. I don't see this happening anytime soon.

Just an onlooker wrote:

I've watched around 15 Ultra Running documentaries on Amazon Prime over the past couple of months and was amazed how much walking they do. They stop at the aid tent, get a foot massage, eat a sandwich, catch their breath. No other running sport can you receive aid on the course like that. While I respect what they do, the name really doesn't exemplify what they actually do. Even if they called it "Ultra Endurance," it would be more accurate than Ultra Running.

Hmmm no shi* sherlock, of course other "Running Sports" don't have aid like that. If you took a cup of water from an aid station or ate a gel in a 5k you are a hobby jogger loser. If you didn't take water or any calories from an aid station in a marathon you are an idiot. Now take that to the ultra level, if you didn't stop to take care of your feet, rehydrate, eat, drink a beer you are suicidal. See how that goes?

fact. wrote:

There is waaaay more talent on the track and roads than in the ultra scene. That is a fact that would be silly to debate. No one is going to take ultras seriously until a good number of elite runners start running them while they are in their prime. I don't see this happening anytime soon.

Take all that track talent and tell those premadonnas to run thier perfect form on uneven trail and I bet all thier talent would fall right out the window. Tracks are for pussies.

If you think there's the same level of talent in the Ultra scene than the track you don't know enough about this sport for me to even waste my time.

Go learn about the sport then come back to this website. You must be a newbie.

fact. wrote:

There is waaaay more talent on the track and roads than in the ultra scene. That is a fact that would be silly to debate. No one is going to take ultras seriously until a good number of elite runners start running them while they are in their prime. I don't see this happening anytime soon.

There is way more talent in the NFL and NBA than track so track isn't a sport and nobody should take it seriously. Track is for washed up athletes who couldn't make the basketball or football team.

Captain Snowflake wrote:

John Utah wrote:

Why is this a problem?

Rich white people are inherently privileged, racist and bigoted. You can't argue this fact.

Pipe down, ni@@er.

Not at ll wrote:

hardcore like you wrote:

This is part of ultrarunning at its very core:

2. A thing for rich white people.

You have no facts to support that. Ultra running for its first 30 years or so was mainly undeground and taken up by rather poor people. Most people whjo run ultras are not rich and never have been.

Now typically people running ultras are ones with higehr education like masters degrees so yes they may make more money.

The fact is, road running is a dead sport and has been since the 1980s. Ultra trail running is way more popular now and you fanboys can’t deal with it. Fuckk off.

A "sport" for the lowest common denominator. If you can't jump high or far, can't break 13 seconds in a 100, break 2:10 in an 800 or think 57 seconds is a fast 400, then don't fret. When you turn 30 you can still dedicate 4 kabillion hours of "training" to "compete" in a "race" with "athletes" who think walking is "running"

Question: How do you know when an ultra runner is sprinting?

Answer: Don't know. No one has ever witnessed it.

If the slope is too steep, then you have to walk because running isn't sustainable, but you are still at an effort level equivalent to running on flat course.