Any race beyond the marathon — the 50K to 100+ miles. Crossing the line is less about speed and more about not quitting.
An ultramarathon is any running race longer than the standard marathon — 26.2 miles. The most common distances are the 50K, 50-mile, 100K, and 100-mile, alongside timed events where you cover as much ground as you can in a fixed window like 6, 12, or 24 hours.
Many ultras run on trails, with aid stations stocked with food and water, and posted cutoff times. For most entrants the goal is to finish, not to race the clock, and hiking the climbs is a normal part of the day.
A long day measured in hours, not minutes. Early starts — sometimes in the dark — and a patient, settled pace from the gun. Aid stations become the rhythm of the race: refuel, reset, keep moving. Low points come and pass. Crossing the line is less about speed and more about not quitting.
Marathoners looking for the next challenge, trail runners who want to go longer, and anyone drawn to the mental side of endurance as much as the physical. A marathon — or a lot of consistent long miles — is the realistic foundation before stepping up.
A hydration vest to carry water, food, and layers between aid stations; trail shoes broken in for the distance; and a fueling plan you've actually practiced. Beyond that, the patience to keep eating, keep moving, and problem-solve on the go. Longer races often publish a mandatory gear list.
Recommended starting point
Realistically, ultramarathon athletes typically have run half marathons and marathons before training for an ultramarathon. That being said, the shortest ultra — about 31 miles, is a great starting point for the ultramarathon sport. Close enough to a marathon that a solid marathon base carries over, far enough to teach you aid stations, fueling, and pacing for the long haul. The standard first step into ultramarathons.
Why start here
If you're considering ultramarathons, the 50K rewards the marathon fitness you might already have while teaching the things that make ultras their own sport — eating on the move, managing the low points, and hiking the climbs. Get those down here, and progress over time to the longer races.
Best starting point. The shortest ultra — your marathon base carries over.
Browse 50KsThe middle distances. A long day where fueling and pacing decide everything.
The classic ultra milestone — often run overnight, with crew and pacers.
Browse 100 MilersBuild a long-run base first
An ultra rewards time on feet more than speed. Most first-timers come in off a marathon or months of consistent long runs — build that base before piling on ultra-specific volume.
Practice eating and drinking on the move
Rehearse your race-day food and hydration on long training runs so the plan isn't an experiment on race day.
Explore the pace you need to hit to reach your ultramarathon goal finish time. Endurance Grid's ultramarathon pace calculator will help you better understand what finish times equate to specific paces to help you plan your race accordingly.
Plan Your PaceEnter a city or ZIP to see the closest upcoming ultramarathon races to line up for.
Enter your email and we'll send more your way.