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Discover the World’s Toughest Ultramarathons
For many, running a marathon is challenging enough. There’s no need to add extra distance, elevation, or other extreme elements to make it an adventure. But for others, pushing beyond their limits means going beyond 26.2, into the realm of ultrarunning, where it can feel like the race director is trying to kill you. If this is you, read on to discover the world’s hardest ultramarathons. From Everest to Antarctica, these races will take you to some of the most enthralling and adventurous places on earth, and to the ends of your endurance.
The Tor des Geants takes place in Aosta Valley, a majestic region of the Alps. It’s an epic undertaking with a cutoff time of 150 hours, so it’s no surprise that less than 60 percent of runners make it the whole way. Considered one of toughest endurance events in the world, anyone who signs up will want to be sure of their “why” – you’ll surely be questioning it as you start up your umpteenth major climb, in the middle of the night.
If you dare take on this extreme adventure through mountainous terrain, descending into green valleys and climbing steeply to snowy peaks, you will cross 25 high mountain passes and pass by 30 alpine lakes. The Tor des Geants traverses more than double the elevation of the prestigious UTMB, 78,500 feet of elevation gain in total. But at least you’ll have support from 43 aid stations plus 7 “life bases” – which are more substantial refreshment points – on your unforgettable journey.
La Ultra The High is a challenging race that takes place deep in the Himalayas of Ladakh. It features 333 km of pure cruelty, or a 555 km out-and-back for true masochists. La Ultra The High’s course profile goes straight from 11,500 feet to over 17,500 feet three times in a row, for 18,000 vertical feet of cumulative elevation gain. While other challenging ultramarathons, like the UTMB and Hardrock 100, climb more in total, their high points are at similar levels to La Ultra The High’s low points. If you think this doesn’t make a big difference, just wait until you feel the effects of altitude as you death march up to each high pass. Temperatures this high up are also more volatile, ranging between a sweltering 100°F down to a freezing 15°F within hours.
If you’re not tired of adventures after the race, Ladakh is a perfect place to explore the great outdoors in Northern India. The snow-capped Himalayas provide an amazing backdrop for all sorts of thrilling adventure sports. You can hike through picturesque valleys, trek across vast plateaus, or motorbike winding mountain roads. Motorbiking is especially rewarding in Nubra Valley, as it offers spectacular views over many high-altitude passes with unforgettable mountain views. Though after a race like this, no one would blame you for wanting to stay in the lowlands, warm and cozy in one of the area’s many charming guesthouses.
Imagine standing at Everest Base Camp, about to start an ultramarathon with the Khumbu Icefall looming behind you. At that very moment, a climber who stood atop the world’s highest summit might be descending through it. However hard it is to function in the thin air at EBC (17,500 feet), you know how much more challenging it must be 11,500 feet higher, where the air is even thinner and bitterly cold. But you’re likely to find little solace in these thoughts, if you run the Everest Extreme Ultra, as your focus will be putting one foot in front of the other for hours on end. Even downhill running at this altitude is a challenge. So don’t be fooled by the net downhill course profile – this is truly one of the world’s toughest footraces.
Getting to Everest Base Camp takes about a week and a half of trekking, best done through the official ultramarathon package, so you can enjoy the company of your fellow runners. The trail is challenging and rewarding at the same time. Each day has about 5 hours of effort, followed by rest and quiet mountain life in the afternoons and evenings. Early on, you will pass through quaint mountain villages, where you’ll have occasional summit views and might even glimpse Everest. In the later days, you will find yourself fully surrounded by Himalayan peaks, immersed in a world of rugged adventure.
The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) is notoriously difficult, yet extraordinarily beautiful race. With 33,000 ft in elevation gain, it’s no wonder qualifying is so difficult. Each year, thousands of runners enter the race lottery, which is a feat in itself, and less than a third actually get in. Those that do will experience a weeklong celebration of trail running, based out of Chamonix. In addition to the famous 106-mile UTMB, there are shorter race options (25, 35, 60, and 75 miles), which can be just as challenging to enter. Besides the races, Chamonix offers an endless web of trails where each route is strikingly different. You could spend years here without getting bored, exploring forests, glaciers, turquoise lakes, moon-like landscapes, and more.
If you have your sights set on the UTMB, know that getting to the start line is only half the battle. Along the way, there are many cut-offs points that you need to make in order not be disqualified. Runners may opt to continue running outside of the race, without any support from aid stations – but this makes the already difficult course almost impossible. The final cut-off point is reaching the finish line within 46 hours and 30 minutes. This may sound like a long time, but many runners find themselves needing every second.
Runners are put to the ultimate test in the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. With +/-33,000 feet of elevation and a highpoint over 14,000 feet, it is one of the toughest 100 mile races out there. It is also one of the most beautiful, passing through legendary Colorado mountain towns, like Telluride and Ouray. Along the course, you’ll experience the magic of the San Juan mountains, while trying your best to escape any oncoming storms or lightning strikes.
Unlucky runners have been known to hide out in caves while lightning storms pass by (and a few unlucky ones have even been struck). Temperatures can be just as volatile – dropping into single digits at night, after blazing hot days. If you plan on spending time in Colorado before or after your race – which you should – the best way to do it is in a campervan. There are too many diverse regions within Colorado to stay parked in one place. Plus, bringing your own bed buys you freedom from resort town prices.
Every June, the oldest American 100-miler is held in the Sierra Nevada. For more than 4 decades, ‘racers, runners, and survivors’ have been competing in Western States, crossing from Olympic Valley to Auburn over extreme mountain terrain (+18000 ft/-23000 ft). As part of the ‘Western Slam’ – a collection of four hardest 100-milers in the Western US – this isn’t a race to be taken lightly. It’s also not one you can easily enter. There is an annual lottery held each December, where thousands of people enter and just over 300 are chosen. Those who have entered before and were not chosen are given preference, but there are still stories of runners who try 4+ years in a row before they are selected.
What better way to rest up after such a hard race than heading to the shores of Lake Tahoe? King Beach, Incline Village, Tahoe City, and South Lake Tahoe are all great places to relax and recover, especially if you’re brave enough to soak your legs in the lake’s icy blue waters.
The Antarctic Ice 100K is the southernmost race in the world. It takes place in interior Antarctica, only a few miles from the South Pole. If you had your heart set on reaching pole itself, you can organize a side-trip there after the race. But you’ll forget all about standing at the world’s southernmost point when you see the dazzling Ellsworth Mountains from the course.
Starting at Union Glacier, the Antarctic Ice 100K takes participants through an adventure-packed part of Antarctica seldom seen by most people. From this base camp, there are mountain climbing opportunities, for those who wish to go even higher into snowcapped mountains, or ski down them. If biking is your thing, then fat biking over snow can be arranged. You can even go skydiving from Union Glacier – it’s a true adventurer’s paradise. So it only makes sense it’s also home to one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons.
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