Recently, I went to Waterstones looking for a plant-forward recipe book. Instead, I walked out with Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons. Naturally, I made a list of 10 ultramarathons I’d love to run before I die. That is, unless one of them kills me first.
About the Book: Ultra
Written by Jen and Sim Benson, Ultra takes readers on a global trek through the world’s greatest ultramarathons. Each race profile includes maps, elevation charts, and stunning photos grouped by continent. Since I’ve used the book for inspiration, I’ve stuck to the distances and elevations listed there. So, with that said, here are 10 Ultramarathons I’d Love to Run Before I Die.
10 Ultramarathons I’d Love to Run Before I Die
Listed alphabetically, not by preference — though if one of them does kill me, it’ll certainly leave a lasting impression.
1 Atacama Crossing – Chile
In the Foothills of the Andes – Distance: 250km / Total Ascent: 2813m
The Atacama Crossing sets the theme for this list, as it’s one of the races chosen for its location rather than its prestige. I’ve always wanted to visit South America; what better excuse is there than a 6-day self-supported race across Chile’s Atacama Desert?
It’s part of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, alongside races in Namibia, Mongolia, and Antarctica. Stage 5, aptly named The Long March, is an 81 km slog across sand and salt flats, with over 800 m elevation gain.
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth. The course includes salt lakes, salt flats with pink flamingo colonies, volcanoes, sand dunes, and ancient sacred Incan sites. It all starts in a small town at 3,000 m above sea level called San Pedro de Atacama. Arriving early to acclimatise is advised, especially for someone used to running around London.
2 Comrades Marathon – South Africa
The Ultimate Human Race – Distance: 87.6km / Total Ascent: 1238m Down
The legendary Comrades Marathon is the oldest Ultramarathon in the world, having celebrated its 100th edition in 2021. Every year, it alternates directions between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. One year, it’s a race uphill. The next, the only way is down.
And it’s no surprise that the draw for me is the downhill version. Downhill running is often seen as easy, but it hammers the legs, making this a unique challenge compared to most ultramarathons. But who knows, my best mate’s South African, so maybe I’ll be lucky enough to experience both legs of this historic race.
3 Lakeland 100 – United Kingdom
The Ultra Tour of the Lake District – Distance: 164km / Elevation Gain: 6300m
There were a few entries in this book based in the UK, and it was tempting to include them all here. Instead, I chose this one because I’ve never been to the Lake District but have always wanted to go.
Despite the total ascent, the Lakeland 100 course doesn’t encompass any of the Lakeland summits, but weaves through valleys and picturesque rolling hills. The route isn’t marked, so runners must navigate using GPS or maps. Until I started writing this entry, I hadn’t realised the race begins at 6 pm, which means running through the night. With a 40-hour cut-off, it sounds like a DNF waiting to happen. But there’s no shame in that; only 50% of starters finish.
4 Marathon des Sables – Morocco
The Adventure of a Lifetime – Distance: 240km / Total Ascent: 1814m
I wasn’t sold on this race at first. The idea of running across the scorching Sahara didn’t exactly appeal. But over time, the thought of running “the toughest footrace on earth” grew on me. And I must admit, something appeals to me about these long challenges testing the extent of my endurance.
The Marathon des Sables’ longest stage covers 84 km in unforgiving heat, burning the sand beneath the feet. Fortunately, this stage can be completed over two days, which sounds easier. In the desert, they call that a mirage.
If things go wrong, there are some severe consequences. In 1994, Mauro Prosperi strayed 300km off course and was eventually found in neighbouring Algeria. Reportedly, he’d survived by drinking his own urine. I’ll aim for a less adventurous experience.
5 Mongolian Sunrise to Sunset – Mongolia
One of the World’s Best Races – Distance: 100km / Total Ascent: 2120m
There’s something captivating about Mongolia, from its nomadic history to its vast steppe filled with remote trails. This charity-focused Sunrise to Sunset adventure takes place amid thick forests, lakes, and mountains in Khovsgol National Park.
Runners traverse flat plains and mountain passes filled with ibex, yaks, and bears. What makes this race truly special are the race marshals who patrol on horseback, adding a touch of legend to an already mythical landscape. I’m ready to go right now.
6 Salt Pans Ultra – Botswana
The World’s Flattest Ultra Marathon – Distance: 102.6km / Total Ascent: 26m
This one’s personal because I’m actually running it next year. The Salt Pans Ultra takes place on Botswana’s Sua Pans, one of the largest salt flats in the world. While it’s listed as 100km, it could take longer as you struggle to run in a straight line across the pans, depending on the rainy season. If it’s particularly wet, the salt pans could be soft and spongy, or rock solid like concrete if the season has been drier.
I’m worried it’ll be brutally hot, with no shade in sight, as a pride of lions stalk me. My friend Will, a wildlife photographer who grew up in Botswana, swears there’s nothing to worry about. It’ll be a lot cooler at that time of day and year, and lions don’t venture onto the pans. The book disagrees with him on both. So I guess we’ll find out.
7 Spartathlon – Greece
The World’s Most Gruelling Race – Distance: 246km / Total Ascent: 3579m
Storm tasked me with convincing her husband, my best mate, to run a race in Greece so she could have a holiday. However, I wasn’t too keen on the race she chose, but my new book gave me reason to convince Will that our next foreign destination should be Greece.
Spartathlon originates from the same battle that gave us the Marathon, the Battle of Marathon. It retraces the steps of Pheidippides, the ancient Greek messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta to seek help against the Persians. According to Herodotus, he covered the 246 km distance in just 36 hours.
In 1982, RAF officer John Foden questioned if the feat was actually possible and set out with a few friends to test the ancient legend. And with that, Spartathlon was born. While Foden and countless others have since proved it’s possible, is it possible for me? Let’s find out.
8 Ultra X Jordan (Jordan)
In the Land of Laurence of Arabia – Distance: 220km / Total Ascent: 2522m
Set in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert, Ultra X is a five-day stage race testing endurance across a desert nicknamed “the valley of the moon.” It’s a name derived from the stunning rock formation etched into an unrivalled landscape of red sandstone and ancient canyons.
But the true beauty of this race lies in friendship. Will and I have always planned on visiting Jordan, but we’ve never made it happen. One of those reasons lies with me and my inability to operate in the heat. Wadi Rum sees temperatures that can hit 30°C even in October, which we consider a heatwave in the UK, so this should be fun.
9 Ultra Trail Australia – Australia
The World’s Second Largest Ultra-Trail – Distance: 100km / Total Ascent: 4300m
This race runs through the Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales. It’s Australia’s most well-known trails, following ancient Indigenous trails of the Gundungurra people. It opens up thousands of years of Australian history and culture, along with significant elevation.
But honestly, I just need a good reason to travel 24 hours by plane to a country that’s always been on my bucket list. This seems like the perfect excuse.
10 UTMB Mont-Blanc – France
Ultra Running’s Most Iconic Race – Distance: 176km / Total Ascent: 9,965m
This iconic race was the first ultramarathon I’d ever come across, and it was the first race listed in the book. Starting in Chamonix, the UTMB loops around Mont Blanc, crossing into Italy and Switzerland before returning to France.
It’s one of the leading reasons for the emergence of ultra running in the mainstream. The race starts in the unofficial home of ultrarunning, as the country has more ultrarunners per 1000 people than any other country.
Entry requires accumulating “running stones” from qualifying races and holding a valid UTMB index. Aspiring competitors must compete in a qualifying event within 2 years of the main event. To run the 100 miles in UTMB, runners require four relevant running stones. This is the pinnacle.
This is Not an Exhaustive List
There’s a good chance I’ll run a few of these, especially the Salt Pans Ultra, which is already happening. Yet, it’s doubtful that I’ll ever tick them all off. But that’s fine with me. This was a bit of fun inspired by a new book about a sport that’s still relatively new to me.
Ultra-trail Snowdonia features in the book and offers the requisite running stones to enter the UTMB lottery. However, it doesn’t feature on 10 Ultramarathons I’d Love to Run Before I Die as I already have plans to hike it.
After all, this list isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about dreaming of faraway places, tough challenges, and unforgettable adventures. And doing the best way I know, one long run at a time.
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