Ultra Marathons

A 50K is an ultramarathon because it goes beyond the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. It measures 31.1 miles, making it the shortest standard ultra and a common next step for marathon runners. The extra five miles shouldn’t be underestimated, though. You’re likely to spend longer fuelling and may also encounter rougher ground than you would in a road marathon. If you’re not quite ready for that jump, another event from the marathon calendar will give you more time to develop your stamina and race-day experience.

The Montane Winter Spine, Dragon’s Back Race and Arc of Attrition are all serious contenders for the title. The Spine covers roughly 268 miles of the Pennine Way in winter, so cold and sleep deprivation become part of the challenge. Dragon’s Back crosses the Welsh mountains over several days. Arc of Attrition is shorter, but its steep Cornish coast paths are difficult underfoot, and the weather can turn quickly.

There isn’t a clear winner because each race tests runners differently. Whichever sort of challenge appeals to you, there’ll be another step towards it on Find a Race, including plenty of trail runs that don’t begin at the extreme end.

A single-day UK ultramarathon will usually cost somewhere around £40 to £120, with some small timed events coming in below that range. Multi-day and overseas races are much more expensive. Once an entry covers things such as overnight stays or transfers between stages, the price can rise to several hundred pounds and occasionally into four figures. Take a close look at what you’re paying for, as checkpoint supplies or baggage transport may be included at one race but charged separately at another.

Every ultramarathon is difficult, although that difficulty doesn’t always come from mountains. Some races follow level roads or canal towpaths, leaving you to deal mainly with the distance and the hours spent moving. Others head onto steep trails where climbing and uneven ground slow everything down. A flatter route will probably make more sense for your first ultra. Even then, repeated laps can become mentally draining, and an exposed towpath may feel very different once the weather turns.

For a first 50K, a runner might gradually reach around 30 miles a week. An experienced athlete training for 100 miles could cover 50 miles or more, although neither figure is a rule you have to follow. Your available time and previous mileage will shape what’s realistic, and you’ll need enough recovery between the longer sessions. It’s useful to understand the commitment before entering, even if your own training looks slightly different. If you’re only starting that build now, a race from the Spring ultramarathon calendar or later will give you more breathing room.

Many ultramarathons begin between 6 am and 9 am, giving runners a useful stretch of daylight before the course cut-offs come into play. Long point-to-point races tend to set off earliest because even the quickest competitors may be outside for most of the day. Timed and multi-lap events aren’t always as early and might not get underway until mid-morning. There are overnight races as well, so don’t assume every ultra follows the usual dawn timetable.

Most runners won’t sleep during a 50K or another ultra that finishes within a day. Once a race reaches 100 miles, 24 hours or several days, brief naps become much more common. Runners might stop at an aid station for 15 or 20 minutes, while somebody moving more quickly may decide that sleeping would cost too much time. There’s no universal approach; it depends on how long you’ll be racing and how your body handles a full night on the move.

Ultramarathon runners need regular carbohydrates, but that doesn’t mean relying entirely on gels. Sports drinks and sweets are convenient early in the race, while savoury food may become more appealing after several hours of sweet flavours in later stages of an event. Try your planned food during long training sessions first. That way, you’ll know what sits comfortably in your stomach before race day rather than discovering a problem halfway around the course. Aid stations differ from one event to another, and certain races expect you to carry nearly everything yourself.