The Mount to Coast Guide to Ultrarunning

What is an Ultramarathon?

Running is a broad church. Athletes compete in races that can be as short and explosive as the 6sec indoor 60m, to events that cover thousands of miles over a span of months, such as the Race Across America. 

An ultramarathon is defined as any running race that is longer than the established marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.2km), although in practical terms, the shortest event ratified by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) is 50km.

Ultramarathons take place on and off road and even on tracks. They take place everywhere from flat, fast, looped courses to mountainous point-to-point routes. These days there are ultras all over the world with participation skyrocketing: in the 10 years to 2020, participation went up 345 percent according to research by RunRepeat.

There are multiple formats and distances available within Ultrarunning, but some of the most popular races are:

Common Ultra Distances:

• 50K (31 miles): The most popular ultra-distance is a relatively easy step up from the marathon.

• 50 Miles: A meaningful challenge and popular goal for experienced runners.

• 100K (62 miles): A substantial distance usually requiring significant experience.

• 100 Miles: Considered the pinnacle for many ultrarunners, especially as races often feature challenging terrain.

Other Ultrarunning Formats

• Timed Ultras: Runners complete as many laps or miles as possible within a set time period (e.g., 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours or 6-Days).

• Stage Races: Participants run a set distance each day over several days (example: Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert).

• Backyard Ultras: Competitors are required to line up on a start line on the hour, every hour to cover a course, typically four miles, until only one runner remains. This can take days.

• Multi-day Races: Races extending across several days or even weeks, with runners covering hundreds of miles, sometimes with breaks for sleep - e.g. the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race around a single block in New York City.

Choosing the Best Shoes for Ultrarunning? 

Shoes are always a personal choice, but there are a number of issues ultrarunners face when covering long distances, day after day, that we have tried to solve at Mount to Coast.

Choosing the right ultramarathon shoes is crucial for both comfort and avoiding injuries. The first and most important consideration is fit. You want a roomy toe box so your toes can splay naturally, something you will find in both the R1 and the S1. Next, check the midfoot, which should have a snug fit to keep your foot from sliding around and causing blisters. With our TUNEDFIT Dual Lacing System, you are easily able to alter the fit of the front of the shoe vs the midfoot, something we introduced after noticing that athletes often complain of swollen feet in the longest race. Your heel should feel secure in the shoe without any extra slipping to minimize chafing and blisters.

Next up you need to consider the cushioning, stack height and drop (the varying thickness of the midsole from heel to toe) of the shoe. Some runners prefer a lot of cushioning for long-distance comfort, but others like a more minimalist feel for better connection to the ground. Pace also comes into the equation here: most of the supershoes with carbon plates that have appeared in the running market in recent years are tuned for racing at 5min/mile pace, something very few people achieve in ultras. At Mount to Coast, we’ve tuned our shoes to provide their optimal ride at paces from 8-12min/mile, which is right around where most ultrarunners end up come race day. And with LightCell, we’ve made sure to use the lightest, most energy-efficient foams in the midsole so that none of your energy goes to waste.

Another question to ask here is about longevity. Most brands will tell you their shoes should be replaced after 300-500 miles, and with older EVA midsole compounds, that could be the case. We’ve found that new supercritical foams and our proprietary ZeroSag midsole insert, our shoes bounce back day after day, week after week for more miles than you’d believe possible: in the 2024 MTC JOGLE, an 854 mile race down the length of Great Britain, Mount to Coast athlete Justin Montague wore one pair of R1’s for 17 days straight, and they could have gone further. Another upside to this longevity is environmental impact: shoes that last longer are better for the planet.

Features drainage, breathability and outsole compounds are also worth considering, but perhaps the most important remaining factor is the geometry of the shoe. In an ultra where you are likely to be getting close to exhaustion, the change in gate as your muscles tire can contribute to an increased injury risk. By choosing a shoe that gently guides you naturally through your footstrike from heel-to-toe, you can help reduce injury risk, while maximizing your sensation of comfort and forward momentum. Our GOFLOW midsole geometry is designed to keep you tracking efficiently from start to finish, however long the run.

What Are Some of the Biggest (and Most Exciting) Ultras in the World?

Ultra ​​Road Races

• Comrades Marathon: A historic ultra in South Africa with a massive participation of thousands of runners. Roughly 56 miles and famously hilly, the race direction alternates between "up" and "down" runs each year.

• Badwater 135: This punishing 135-mile race through Death Valley, California is infamous for its extreme heat, making it one of the world's toughest ultras.

• Sakura Michi Ultramarathon: Held in Japan, this 250 km (155 miles!) road race circles Lake Biwa and has a strict time limit.

• Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race: looping a single New York block, the course is open to athletes from 6am till midnight for 52 days. Runners must average 56 miles per day to complete.

Ultra Trail Races

• Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB): A legendary race around Mont Blanc, traversing France, Italy, and Switzerland. 100+ miles with massive elevation gain, this is a dream race for many ultrarunners.

• Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run – One of the oldest 100-mile ultras in the US, traversing the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. It's famous for its challenging terrain and hot weather.

• Barkley Marathons: A notoriously difficult and shrouded-in-secrecy race in Tennessee. Competitors must navigate an unmarked course with a punishing elevation change. Very few runners actually finish.

• Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji (UTMF) – Japan's iconic volcano, Mt. Fuji, provides a stunning backdrop for this challenging 100-mile race.

What Are Some of the Best Books and Films about Ultrarunning?

The book Born to Run, by Christopher McDougal can take a lot of the credit for the current boom in ultrarunning. Published in 2009, it sparked debate, interest and eventually, participation in long distance running. It also led to some great books, films and podcasts. These are some of our favorites. 

Best Ultrarunning Films and Movies

• Unbreakable: The Western States 100 – This beautifully-made film delves into the iconic Western States Endurance Run, capturing the drama and human spirit of the race.

• Running For Good: The Fiona Oakes Documentary – Follows Fiona Oakes, a vegan ultrarunner, as she tackles extreme challenges across the globe.

• The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young: Unravels the mystery and intrigue of this notoriously secretive and almost impossible-to-finish race.

• Finding Traction: The story of ultrarunner Nikki Kimball and her fight to overcome mental health challenges.

Best Books about Ultrarunning

• Born to Run by Christopher McDougall – This classic explores the Tarahumara tribe of Mexico, known for their incredible running abilities.

• Eat & Run by Scott Jurek – Ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek shares his life story, plant-based diet philosophies, and training insights.

• Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes – The entertaining tales of Karnazes' extraordinary running feats, pushing the limits of human endurance.

• The Rise of the Ultrarunners by Adharanand Finn – Gonzo running journalist Adharanand Finn leaps into the subculture of ultrarunning and discovers an antidote to modern life.

Hopefully this post inspires you to learn more about ultramarathon running, and maybe even enter a 50k. Ultras tend to be incredibly welcoming and inviting to newcomers so we’re certain you’ll have a blast. Check back with the Mount to Coast Go Beyond blog to learn more about training for and fuelling for ultras, later.