What are the best ultramarathon records? (Sponsored by HOKA)

custard wrote:

Based on your article today, surely the goat has to be that Littlewood chap doing 1003km in 6 days - in EIGHTEEN EIGHTY EIGHT.

Untouched for almost a hundred years

Even if not that many people had a go at it in the interim, the performance is incredible. At the time men were winning Olympic marathons in three hours, i.e. distance running has sped up by ~50% over the century. By that measure, Kouros should be covering more like 1500km nowadays, not 1037.

My same thought exactly, what a beast!

The 24-hour record write up put together by letsrun omitted the number 2 all-time performer, Yoshi Hara (JP):

statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultevent.php?event=24688

The site is blocking the posting of the link above.

Soochoo is an IAU gold label event. The weather in Taiwan is not exactly optimal for distance running, even in December.

Hara Yoshikazu ran 285.366 miles.

https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultperson.php?runner=141710

https://www.irunfar.com/2018/12/this-week-in-running-december-10-2018.html

Yho, as a South African, I am quite fascinated that the community have not gained more respect for the race that is deemed as the "Ultimate Human Race" aka Comrades Marathon - the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race.

So many runners to choose from:

Bill Rowan who finisher the first one in 1921 of 08:59 (around 6 mins/km). Forty-eight runners entered the first race in 1921, but only thirty-four elected to start. The course at the time was tarred only for the final few kilometres into Durban. A time limit of 12 hours was set and Bill Rowan became the inaugural winner, clocking 08:59 to win by 41 minutes ahead of Harry Phillips. Of the 34 starters, only 16 completed the race.

Bruce Fordyce as one of the most notorious runners that won Comrades a consecutive 8 times (this will never be broken in my opinion). Also, Jim Walmsley only broke his 50mile record by 14 seconds (not taking anything away from Jim).

Wally Hayward that became the oldest finisher at the age of 80 to finish the Comrades Marathon.

Then you have the current records (this is for a distance between 86 and 93km) - Crazy speeds:

Down: Men: David Gatebe: 5:18:19 (2016) - 3:35 min/km

Women: 5:54:43 (1989) Frith van der Merwe - 4:00/km

Up: Men: 5:24:49 (2008) Leonid Shvetsov - 3:44/km

Women: 6:09:23 (2006) Elena Nurgalieva - 4:16/km

I know everyone is looking more to the 100 milers, but then there is no mention of the Washie100, probably one of the most brutal runs in mid July (winter in SA).

Johann van der Merwe's record of 13:39:45 is also to keep standing for a while.

When looking at the times, you can't just say that Track is faster than Road Running. When looking at ultra distance, all records up until and including 100 km is where Road is faster than Track. Then only the distance makes a difference and that can be imagined as there is a lot less strain on the body going on a flat surface that going up or down.

Yes there are notable records, and Yiannis Kouros is certainly on of the greats, but the only others one I've really noticed and heard of is Camille Heron (setting the 24Hr record at 262 km, and aiming at 280 km in the future), and Johann van der Merwe.

Camille is by far not even close to ending her career and the "Smiling Ultra runner" even holds the record for the fastest marathon dressed as a superhero (female) in 2 hr 48 min 51 sec

Then again Pete Kostelnick is inventing his own ultra marathons and multiday races (holding the record for running across America, or as they call it, fastest coast-to-coast crossing of the United States by foot, in 42 days, six hours and 30 minutes), as well as his insane 5,300-Mile Run From Alaska to Florida (Ke2Key) averaging over 55.3miles (89km - a Comrades) every day for 98 days (97 days, 6 hours, 57 minutes).

Giannis Kouros

According to him, his best race was in Sidney, Australia, 1011km in 5 days and 2 hours in 1989.

He said that in greek documentary, which is on youtube, even with english subtitles, Γιάννης Κούρος αενάως κινούμενος - for ever running.

There is also his personal website

yianniskouros.gr

The documentary is on youtube

Yiannis Kouros - Forever Running (English subtitles)

Uploaded by blazremic

The most detailed documentary about Kouros.

I do see that Comrades gets a lit more accolades on the “What are the World’s best Ultramarathons?” https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=9359827&page=11

Mike Morton! Don't forget about Mike Morton!

Thanks!

But my vote goes to Yannos for either his 24 hour or 6 day records.

Yiannis spellcheck got me...

Well Comrades last weekend witnessed something many thought was impossible. Gerda Steyn running 5:58 on the UP run placing 17th overall breaking the record by over 10 minutes. This was 29 minutes faster than Camille 2 years ago when she won. Gerda would have smashed the 50 mile WR running 6000 feet of vertical but there is no timing mat on Comrades. She has stated she is however now focusing on the marathon and a wish to run sub 2:25.

CapeEpic wrote:

Well Comrades last weekend witnessed something many thought was impossible. Gerda Steyn running 5:58 on the UP run placing 17th overall breaking the record by over 10 minutes. This was 29 minutes faster than Camille 2 years ago when she won. Gerda would have smashed the 50 mile WR running 6000 feet of vertical but there is no timing mat on Comrades. She has stated she is however now focusing on the marathon and a wish to run sub 2:25.

Well CapeEpic, I doubt LR'ers want to know about a real race and real performances...unless of course...

....has Gerda any American in her ancestry? Has she run in Hokas? Does she run trail races? How did she go in Marathon du Sable, UTMB, Pikes Peak etc

True but it's American based so that's to be expected as I predicted on here a few weeks ago she did beat Sage who was wearing the CarbonX but he was not the only one who was "chicked" A bit sad that Camille after being destroyed by the leading women didn't finish the race. Comrades is about struggle in the face of adversity she would have got much more respect if she had finished even walking.

Since the race has been moved to mid-June vs late May (further into winter), the past 2 years have provided cooler temps and faster times. This year's Comrades was exceptionally cool, overcast, a light breeze, and even foggy for most of the race. 2 years ago it was 15-20 degrees hotter and sunny with fires in the area that reduced the air quality and made for slower times.