Been reading a book recently on this stuff, just wanted to share some knowledge about a sport you might not know.
Ultra Running and Ultra Marathons are defined as any event in which the distance is over a typical marathon length (over 26 miles). They really got a start in the US around the 70's, with the oldest race, the Western States Endurance Run starting around 1974 for the following reasons:
"The Western States Endurance Run was first completed in 1974 by Gordy Ainsleigh. Ainsleigh had finished the Western States Trail Ride (Tevis Cup) in 1971 and 1972 on horseback, but in 1973 his new horse was pulled with lameness at the 29-mile checkpoint. In 1974, with the inspiration and encouragement of Drucilla Barner, first woman to win the Tevis Cup and Secretary of the Western States Trail Foundation, Gordy joined the horses of the Western States Trail Ride to see if he could complete the course on foot. Twenty-three hours and forty-two minutes later Gordy arrived in Auburn, CA, proving that a runner could indeed travel the 100 miles in one day."
What. The. Fuck. Shit gets even crazier. Just read this article about Colorado's Leadville 100.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadville_Trail_100
Matt Carpenter finished in 15 hours, 42 minutes. What.
And if thats not enough, enter the Badwater Ultramarathon. Starting in Badwater Basin at -282 ft below sea level and ending at the Mt Whitney trailhead around 8000 ft. 135 miles. Through Death Valley.
http://www.badwater.com/route/description.html
17 miles in you pass Furnace Creek, which holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in North America, 134 degrees F. The asphalt gets so hot that runners stick to the white lines on the road to keep their shoes from melting. The ground in the afternoon sun gets baked to 200 degrees, the temperature that you slow cook prime rib at.
I think the most amazing thing reading about the people that do this is that they're really out there on their own. They're pushing the limits of what the human body can do and discovering new frontiers just for the fuck of it. Because they like it. Theres little fame, money, sponsorships, or anything. The best woman in this field, Ann Trason, who set the Leadville 100 womans record in 94 of 18:06, is a teacher at a community college. If this isnt one of the purest forms of sport or human achievement, I dont know what is.
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