While marathons are the talk of the town and a major goal for most runners and fans of running, for some, they're simply not enough. These running super-athletes crave more, and want to push themselves to new limits. As such, ultramarathons - marathons that are significantly longer and more strenuous than a normal 26+ mile marathon - have come into existence.
For the average person, simply completing a 26-mile run seems to be an almost impossible task. But for some, once they have completed that goal, they seek an even greater challenge, and that comes in the form of ultramarathons and multi-day marathons.
Ultramarathons are simply any race that is longer than the standard 26-mile marathon, usually coming in around 50 miles or so. A true multi-day marathon, however, is no less than 48 hours in duration, and can be as long as 3,000 miles - or even longer.
There are many different types of multi-day marathons. Some are divided into multiple events over the course of a few days - with more than one event that is 26 miles or longer. These races will generally be 50-100 miles, and the specific number of races and amount of days they will span is race-specific. These sorts of events are not for the weak or faint of heart - only the truest runners can even begin to consider taking on such a test of their strength, endurance, and ability.
Many multi-day races choose to use specific measured courses or tracks, due to the need to assistance stations to aid the runners who are taking on the task at hand. These are far easier to manage, as well as to keep an eye on the participants. However, there are myriad races where runners cover huge distances. The best known are the Trans-American race, the Gobi March, the Trans-Europe race, and The Self-Transcendence 3100-mile race. All of these are the most intense races one can enter, with the Self-Transcendence 3100 being officially named the longest on-foot race in the world. Hence the title, as entering such a race is truly transcending any ideas of limitations a person may have on themselves.
Because ultramarathons and multi-day races are so strenuous, there are no novice runners in these races. There is actually support available to people who want to participate in these races, in the form of the International Association of Ultra Runners. The group organizes, regulates, and sanctions international races that are 42 miles or longer.
In order to train for this sort of race, a runner must be in superior condition and used to marathon running. Only the most elite runners can even consider this sort of race, given that it is such a strain on the body and the mind. The event's organizers also have to be sure that adequate safety precautions are taken to endure that racers are able to get sleep, food, hydration, and have access to health care should they need it over the duration of the race. This is especially true of longer races that run thousands of miles. The runners need to be observed and checked for signs of various illnesses and injuries that can come up in the duration of any marathon - but particularly in the ultramarathon or multi-day marathon.
As you can see, the multi-day marathon is the pinnacle of the marathon runner's life. That said, very few people will ever be able to run such a marathon, and really, people shouldn't feel bad about this. It is not something that the average, or even most skilled, athlete even contemplates for the most part... it's wildly difficult and not remotely common as sporting events go.
