There are so many types of runs and races out there in the world. A number of races will even say ‘Fun Run’ and this distance may be a mile or a 5k. Races exist where you can dress up as green as a Leprechaun to complete the St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shuffle or you can deck out in Lederhosens to celebrate a local Oktoberfest event.

Who wouldn’t want to participate in these wonderful races? It makes this sport fun and being able to walk comfortably the next day is a fantastic feeling that too many take for granted.

Another group of runners may see the joy in these events but it may not scratch their itch. They turn to 10ks, half marathons, and marathons to find fulfillment. Nothing is wrong with these races. There is only less opportunity to walk comfortably the next day and chafing is very likely to occur if you wear a fun outfit during one of these races.

As the races get longer, we see fewer and fewer runners, finishers, and people who we may not even consider human. This rare breed of athletes welcome events where the joy turns into how much suffering one can endure. Welcome to the world of ultramarathons.

Ultramarathons naturally are some of the hardest events in the world due to the distance and time it takes to just finish. Some of the races ultra runners compete in are mind-blowing. And there are a few, in my opinion, that are the most challenging races in the world. I do recommend that you try them out before you are no longer able to! And by try them out, I highly recommend you do so as a volunteer or spectator. If you were to run these, best of luck and go read another blog for actual advice.

Number Five: The Tunnel in Bath, UK

• Another name for it: ‘Hello darkness my old friend’
  • Starting with number five, and you can certainly argue it is the hardest, goes to the tunnel in Bath, UK. I did a tunnel run myself a few weeks ago that was about 199 miles shorter than this event and multiple days less in time. According to cockbainevents.com, this is a 200 mile ultra marathon where runners run back and forth a tunnel all day and night long. The tunnel is just over a mile in length resulting in athletes running the length over 200 times. Another catch is that violin music plays while you run and you are not allowed your own headphones. You probably could sing super loud though if you were really motivated to listen to your own music. I’d recommend to have a few world problems stuck in your head to think of to keep the mind occupied. If you think you have a chance to win this, it would take roughly around 43 hours of running to be at the top spot. It’s a lot easier to cheer on the side for this one. And you could listen to your own music too! Last fact, in 2024, there were only 7 finishers out of 40 runners. I would be one of the other 33 runners if I tried that year or any.

Number Four: Badwater 135

• Another name for it: ‘The Devil went Down to Georgia’
  • Coming in at number four is the Badwater Ultra Marathon. This race, 135 miles long, averages temperatures between 110°F-120°F and goes from the lowest point in the continental USA to end later to the top of Mt. Whitney. It is ran during the summertime where the weather is constantly in the triple digits. Did I mention the temperature? 110°F-120°F!! Hot. H-O-T-T-O-I NEED ICE. Like “I got 99 problems and they are all butt sweat” type of hot. In 2024, the fastest runner took over 23 hours to complete the distance and there is a rumor that you could you could probably fry an egg on their skin after. Runners get 48 hours to complete this event and fun fact, the road gets so hot that if you run off the painted line your shoes start to melt.

Number Three: The Barkley Marathons

• Another name for it: ‘Where quitting never felt so good ‘
  • At number three we have the Barkley Marathons. One documentary called this ‘The Race that Eats its Young.’ A name like that certainly sets a high bar and often not even a single person finishes this race. Runners have 60 hours to cover 100 miles in the wilderness of Tennessee. The runners will also tell you that the distance is closer to 120 miles. The race consists of five loops where runners find pages of books that are hidden along the route to verify they stopped at the different stations. On top of that, the start time ranges from midnight to noon. The director gives a heads up by blowing a conch shell an hour before and then people are off to one of the most brutal adventures known to mankind. I bet walking on legos feels better than running the Barkley. If you feel like this is your chance to win a race, you better set aside at least 55 hours of running so put that PTO request in early.

Number Two: Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000 miles.

• Another name for it: ‘Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr’
  • The race website calls this the the world’s longest and toughest winter race. This weather even looks brutal to a Midwestern and that statement has some creditability to it. This race is 1000 miles long. OOF-DA. Gods, I mean, running participants have to carry all their own supplies the 2nd half of the race. Imagine running 500 miles only to earn the luxury of needing to run more 500 miles with a sled now tied to your back. A chiropractor’s nightmare. The last year winner came through the finish line in just under a month. That was Jon Richner posting a time of 26 days, four hours, and 21 minutes. I can’t even think of any activity, even sleep, that I could do for that long. Maybe popcorn eating. You may not even want to honestly watch this one as a spectator though because your chances of getting frostbite are going to be higher than the actually racers.

Number One: Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

• Another name of it: ‘And I could walk 500 miles and I could walk 500 more…x6’
  • The Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race is the longest certified footrace in the world. To give a Texas context, that would be like me telling my wife I am running across 9 countries TO Peru over the next couple of months. Sounds like a good way to end up single. In order to complete this race, runners have to average about 60 miles a day for 52 days. That is the minimum standard if you want to come in last. There are many, many shorter races to run to come in last place if someone were wanting to. Winners finish the race in just over 40 days. During that time I may average 100 miles of running vs. their 3100 miles.
  • The biggest catch to this race; it is run completely around a city block in Queens, New York. You have to dodge normal people going about their day, high schools going to class, and your friends and family texting you asking if you are done with ‘that run thing’ yet. The big grand prize for winning is a pat on the back, only if you request it.

Although there are many grueling races out there, these five certainly give the title for world’s hardest ultra marathon a run for its money. If you find yourself competing in one of these events, know that you were recommended to view them as a spectator. And if you end up finishing one of these events, I’ll give you the pat on the back and a high five that you deserve.

Tell me what you think! What do you consider one of the hardest ultra marathons? Any changes that you would make?

Average Runner Paul