Ultrarunning is booming. Twenty-one percent of respondents to a 2024 Runner’s World survey have run an ultramarathon, with 55 percent having run their first ultra in the past five years. In addition, 33 percent of respondents said they were planning to run an ultra in the next two years.
‘It definitely feels like more people are running trail and ultra, certainly post-Covid,’ says ultrarunner and RW columnist Damian Hall. ‘The scene is really exciting with more races (and more accessible races), more brands, more sport-specific media, more younger, faster runners, and more women – but they're still a minority. Black Trail Runners and others are doing great work to make the scene more diverse. It'd be great to see more diversity, more accessibility and gender equality.’
But when it comes to choosing an ultra, where should you start? There are so many amazing options out there that choosing the right one can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where this list comes in. The recommendations come courtesy of RW editors and an esteemed panel of experts (see below).
While there are plenty of far-flung items on the list, we’ve also celebrated some homegrown successes. And with so many brilliant races to be enjoyed in the UK, there were plenty to choose from.
It’s in every sense an eclectic list. We have races over sand, stone, trail and track. We've included world-renowned showpieces as well as under-the-radar gems. So whether you’re new to racing or an old-hand looking for their next challenge, we trust you’ll find something here to get you excited and heading for a new start line. Trail running shoes at the ready...
Published: 07 November 2024
Damian Hall
Record-breaking ultrarunner and author Damian has raced – and won – events around the world. Recent successes include a fastest known time for the 182-mile Coast to Coast route.
Renee McGregor
A leading sports dietician and best-selling author, Renee has worked with some of the world’s top distance runners. Alongside this, she’s a keen ultrarunner who loves taking to the trails.
James Poole
There may be a high-profile race in the world that James hasn’t run, but we’re yet to find it. He is, quite simply, a racing aficionado, having tested himself in the gnarliest races on the planet.
Adharanand Finn
Author of the bestselling Running with the Kenyans and Rise of the Ultra Runners, Adharanand’s passion for running and racing has seen him travel to the four corners of the globe. With a sub-three marathon under his belt, alongside a finish at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, he’s certainly earned his racing stripes.
Robbie Britton
Elite-level coach and runner Robbie has been featuring at the action end of races for more than a decade. He’s prepared runners for some of the world’s most challenging races, and recently distilled some of this advice into his book, 1,001 Running Tips.
50 Best winter running gear (<80k)
South Downs Way 50
Location: West Sussex, UK
12 April 2025, centurionrunning.com
One of the most popular and highly-rated of Centurion’s ultra offerings, the South Downs Way 50 starts in Worthing and ends in Eastbourne, taking in some of the best that the South Downs has to offer. You’ll enjoy panoramic views at the top of Chanctonbury Ring and plenty of rolling hills on a course that’s equal parts punishing and picturesque.
Ultra X 50 England
Location: Derbyshire, UK
13-14 September 2025, ultra-x.co
Recommended by Renee McGregor: ‘You can opt for 125K over two days or 50K over one, both with big elevations. I did the 50K and it’s one of the friendliest races I have ever run.’
Regardless of which event you choose, you’ll be running with like-minded people on some of the best trails in the country. The Great Ridge from Lose Hill to Mam Tor is a highlight, as is the tough ascent up Kinder Scout on the first day.
Lakes in a Day
Location: Cumbria, UK
11 October 2025, durtyevents.com
Lots of races only explore small sections of the Lake District and leave you craving more. This race, on the other hand, covers the entire length of the district from north to south. It’s 80km in total, with 4,000m of ascent and is only waymarked when passing through towns. Up on the fell, it’s just you, your map and your compass.
Ecotrail de Paris
Location: Paris, France
22 March 2025, ecotrailparis.com
Yes, it’s a trail race, and yes, it’s in Paris, right in the city. It finishes at the Eiffel Tower. How is this possible? Well, the organisers have the remarkable talent of planning a route for the 80K that starts near Versailles and winds carefully from one park to another all the way to the centre, highlighting just how much green space there actually is in the French capital.
100 Best winter running gear (<160km)
Comrades Marathon
Location: South Africa
8 June 2025, comrades.com
Recommended by Adharanand Finn: ‘Standing on the start line as 20,000 people sing the beautiful, stirring Shosholoza together at dawn, as you all prepare to tackle 56 miles of road, is possibly the most goosebumps moment in running.’
The single most recommended race among our panel of experts. Strict cut-offs and 101 years of heritage, 90-ish kilometres between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, alternating directions each year. Indisputably a classic.
Western States Endurance Run
Location: California, USA
28 June 2025, wser.org
Recommended by James Poole: ‘This is where the whole crazy idea to run 100 miles began, way back in 1973. Once a horse race, now one of the most coveted prizes in ultra running.’
With a limit of just 369 runners, the WSER annual lottery for entry – with complicated rules to increase your chances every year you’re not successful – is almost as avidly viewed as the race itself. Once you’re in, you’re in for a special treat. There’s a lot of noise surrounding this race but once you’re running, you’ll find that this part of western California is incredibly beautiful and surprisingly quiet in places.
Highland Fling Race
Location: East Dunbartonshire, Scotland
20 September 2025, highlandflingrace.org
This event – 85km with an elevation of 2,300m in the beautiful but unforgiving Scottish countryside – has gone from strength to strength since it started in 2006, powered by an incredible team of volunteers who are dedicated to its not-for-profit status. Every penny of the very reasonable entry fee is invested to making this outstanding race even better.
Chicamocha Canyon Race
Location: Colombia
20-23 June 2025, chicamochacanyonrace.com
San Gil, a town in the Andes north of Bogota, is Colombia’s king of outdoor sports, and this 100-mile ultra is the jewel in its crown. It’s in the Chicamocha Canyon and is surrounded by dramatic mountains and abundant vegetation, and if you’d rather save some energy to enjoy the region’s other activities – such as rafting, caving, kayaking or hiking – there’s also a half-marathon, marathon or 100K ultra to choose from.
Ultra-Tour de Monte Rosa
Location: Switzerland
3-6 September 2025, ultratourmonterosa.com
Recommended by Damian Hall: ‘More rugged, wild and challenging than neighbouring UTMB, with fewer cowbells and hullabaloo, just around the corner in Switzerland and Italy.'
Also recommended by Renee McGregor: ‘The course is phenomenal, real rugged mountain trails, very different to the groomed trails of Chamonix. Definitely a race to test yourself on.’
Run back and forth over the Swiss-Italian border in this four-stage event, including stunning views of the most iconic mountains in the Alps, crossing the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge and steep uphills galore.
Lavaredo Ultra Trail
Location: Italy
25-29 June 2025, ultratrail.it
Recommended by Adharanand Finn: ‘It would be hard to find a more spectacular setting for a race than the other-worldly Dolomites. The last 10km of this race is all downhill, which is one fun way to finish a mountain ultra.’
Over a quarter of all entrants don’t manage to finish this onerous 120K ultra – but those that do reach the end within the tough cut-off of 30 hours have one seriously impressive feather in their cap.
Ultra-Trail Snowdonia
Location: Gwynedd, Wales
16-18 May 2025, snowdonia.utmb.world
Three events in the rugged north Wales mountains here, ranging from ‘incredibly tough’ to ‘are you sure humans can do that?’ The latter is a 165km endeavour, with an Everest-smashing elevation gain of 10,200m, so perhaps the easier one looks more attractive: a mere 50km with just 3,100m of elevation.
Madeira Island Ultra Trail
Location: Madeira
26-27 April 2025, miutmadeira.com
Recommended by Damian Hall: ‘Traverse this magnificent Portuguese island via tunnels, cliff-top single-track and fairytale rocky peaks to finish by the beach before hitting the poncha.’
On the flagship 115K ultra, you’ll summit Pico Ruivo, the highest point on this island of high points – and it comes with around 75kms of rough terrain already in your sore legs. The consolations: Madeira is fiercely, relentlessly beautiful and there are also a couple of shorter events.
More than 100 miles (>160km)
Self-Transcendence 24-hour track race
Location: London, UK
Date TBC (London), srichinmoyraces.org
Recommended by Adharanand Finn: ‘There is something uniquely challenging about running around a track for 24 hours. And the last five minutes, when everyone shares in the cathartic madness of what they've just done, is just wonderful.’
At some point, running for this long becomes a different sport entirely. This race leaves the competitive element to one side and the (usually small) field of runners focuses on encouraging each other regardless of whether they’re flying or crawling. Events take place around the world.
Coastal Challenge
Location: Costa Rica
8-15 February 2025, thecoastalchallengecostarica.com
This six-day event is one of the world’s best multi-day trail events. Choose between the 236km Expedition run and the 155km Adventure run, both of which follow Costa Rica’s stunning Pacific coastline over mountains, along beaches, through jungles and across rivers to finish in a tiny fishing village near the Panama border. With all your gear transported between camps, you’re free to enjoy the run without the drudgery of lugging a heavy backpack.
Spartathlon
Location: Greece
September 2025, spartathlon.gr
Recommended by James Poole: ‘A race of myths and legends. At 246km, this race is as fierce as the Persians and not for the faint hearted. Those who make it from Athens all the way to Sparta must kiss the foot of King Leonidas to stop the race clock.’
Remember Pheidippides and his 480km run before he tackled the Athens marathon? This is the first half of the great Greek messenger’s final week, an arduous slog over different terrains with plenty of altitude too. At least you won’t have to turn around and run back like poor Pheidippides did.
Manaslu Trail Race
Location: Nepal
9-21 November 2024, manaslutrailrace.org
Recommended by Renee McGregor: ‘The mountains of Nepal are like nothing you’ve ever experienced. This is a journey both physically and emotionally, an opportunity to learn about yourself, humanity and Mother Nature. Words really can’t do it justice.’
Set aside two weeks for this incredible odyssey – 220km over 8 stages with altitudes over 5,000m as you run around Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. With some walking stages built in, this event is more about the journey than the race.
Ice Ultra
Location: Sweden
18 Feb 2025, beyondtheultimate.co.uk
Recommended by Robbie Britton: ‘Running across frozen lakes, through knee-deep snow and camping out in the wild below -20°C is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’
This is actually four ultras (plus a cheeky 12K to finish) on consecutive days, a total of around 241km through some of the most challenging conditions on earth – while carrying all of your kit yourself. With such low temperatures, things can go bad quickly, but the team behind this event are relentless when it comes to safety and have a team of local experts to make sure everything runs smoothly.
TransRockies Run
Location: Colorado, USA
4-9 August 2025, transrockies-run.com
Recommended by Andy Dixon, editor-in-chief: ‘A six-day, 120-mile trail run across some of the most spectacular (and mountainous) terrain in Colorado. You do it in teams of two and are required to cross checkpoints together, so it’s all about teamwork and pulling together. You camp and eat in tent villages with all the other runners after each stage, so the sense of camaraderie, from the elites to the backmarkers, is amazing.’
Ultra X Tanzania
Location: Tanzania, Africa
17-21 February 2025, ultra.x.co
Recommended by Ali Ball, e-commerce editor: ‘An epic, five-day, 220km race set in the seldom travelled backcountry of northern Tanzania around Mount Kilimanjaro. Around 20% of competitors are first-time ultrarunners and the cut-off times are some of the most generous going. Elevation gain is around 5,439m across the week.’
