As we begin to think about making the leap from standard distance running to ultra-distance running most people follow a pretty standard progression which always begins with a single question: “What’s 5 more miles?”. Thus, the journey from 50k to 100-miles and beyond begins; however, one crucial event is seemingly always overlooked in the beginning of one’s ultrarunning journey: the timed event.
The concept is simple: run as far as you can in a given amount of time. The standard timed events are as follows (please note the options are endless, these are just a few of the most popular): 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and 6-day.
The one race that we are all infatuated with and not only has an illustrious and intriguing history filled with all sorts of characters which are slowly turning into legends but embodies the ultrarunning soul is the 100-mile endurance run. Believe it or not though this has not always been the case; at one point and time in our history the most sought-after records and races where not the 100-mile race but that of the 24-hour timed event.
As a matter of fact, Yiannis Kouros holds the 24-hour world record of 303.306 kilometers, or 188.68 miles, which was set in 1997 and to this day is often referred to as the greatest ultramarathon record of all-time! Arguably one of the greatest ultramarathon runners of all-time, Kilian Jornet, gave the record a shot in November of 2020 and even he couldn’t figure out the 24-hour puzzle and get it done.
(link in footnotes to articles on both Yiannis’s record and Jornet’s attempt).
The beauty of the timed event is that there is no certain distance that is required to be covered for the completion of the race; you are literally allowed to run as much or as little as you would like during the specified times of the event. This takes the pressure of finishing a certain distance off the table. Moving from the marathon distance to the 50k or 50-mile distance is not quite as simple as it may appear and, particularly during one’s first attempt at an ultra-distance, there are going to be countless unforeseen issues that can frustrate and exasperate even an experienced runner. Thus, attempting to break into the ultra-distances at an ultra-distance race can add a stress that can be alleviated through a timed event.
I passionately believe that to break into the ultra-distance territory for the first time a 12-hour timed event is perfect. I like the 12-hour because it leaves a lot of time to handle unforeseen issues and problems which will inevitably arise on your quest to 50 kilometers and beyond whereas a 6-hour event narrows the window a little too much for comfort. As an added bonus, ultra-running is just as much about “time on feet” as it is “distance covered” so gaining the experience of a 12-hour event is irreplaceable.
With that in mind, we would love to invite you to our next event: Endure 12 & 24-hour Endurance Run will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021 in the stunning Mueller State Park of Divide, CO. This is the perfect place to dip your toes into the ultra-waters and if you aren’t quite up to the challenge of running quite yet then coming out and volunteering is the perfect way to get an inside look into these life-changing events and gain invaluable knowledge and exposure that will enhance your ultra-experience!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Yiannis Kouros 24-hour record
Kilian Jornet’s 24-hour record attempt
https://www.salomon.com/en-us/blog/kilian-24h-attempt-ends-after-10h