For most of us mere mortals the idea of running 26.2 continuous miles is herculean. However, for more and more runners the classic marathon is simply not far enough. This has led to the advent of the “ultra-marathon”, which is defined as any foot race longer than a marathon. That said, most ultra-runners would say it’s any distance over 50k or 31.07 miles.
This unique sport has also seen a dramatic increase in participants following the COVID-19 pandemic according to Ultra Running Magazine. Their study revealed that in 2020 there were around 35k unique ultrarunning participants in North America, compared to 2025’s whopping 100k.
Ultra marathons vary greatly in distance. For start-to-finish ultra distance races, where the clock never stops, races are often 50 or 100 miles, but some races can be as long as 200+ miles. These races often take place in remote areas with drastic elevation changes, which significantly increases a course’s difficulty.
I talked with Whitman computer science professor Dr. Wirfs-Brock, who ran a similar race to the famous ultra marathon the Moab 240, called the Cocodona in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Wirfs-Brock, with around 15 years of ultra-marathon experience, told me why she found the sport so rewarding.
“It’s about finding the point of failure. After my first 100 miler, the question I asked was how far could I go,” Wirfs-Brock said. “The mind set is much different than shorter races like road marathons, where time is the goal … for many ultra runners it’s not about speed, but just about finishing.”
Even for elite and experienced ultra-runners like Dr. Wirfs-Brock, the threat of getting a DNF (Did Not Finish) always looms.
“Everyone who runs ultras has experienced DNFing, the variability is one of the challenges of the sport. The fact that each course or set of conditions is a puzzle, and a reason I enjoy the sport,” Wirfs-Brock said. “Recently I’ve been drawn to races with their own quirks or conditions beyond the running itself.”
Ultramarathoning presents a unique logistical challenge due to both the length of events and the locations in which they take place. Races that can last 100 hours or more require meticulous planning around nutrition, hydration and gear, leaving ample room for mistakes that can have serious consequences. Beyond the physical demands of training to run 100 miles, these logistical risks and the extensive preparation required have historically acted as a significant barrier to entry, making the sport feel even more daunting to prospective runners.
In recent years, a new ultra format has been popularized that intentionally alleviates these barriers. Now dubbed “the backyard ultra”, this race format involves running repeatedly on a 4.17 mile loop to a timed buzzer. The goal? Run one loop every hour until you’re the last person standing, almost like a grown-up’s pacer test. 4.17 miles is the perfect distance such that after 24 hours a runner will have gone 100 miles.
In an email interview, Walla Walla ultramarathoner Joe Nvshenal told me about his experience with backyard ultra marathons.
“These are different challenges that are both accessible (you can do whatever amount of four mile loops you want) and it is not a race in a traditional sense. I like them because it doesn’t reward speed, it rewards grit, pace, patience, determination and preparation,” Nvshenal said.
The benefit of this format is that it requires far less logistical preparation from race organizers. In more traditional ultramarathon events, planners must establish multiple aid stations along the course, each stocked with water, electrolytes, food, first-aid supplies and sometimes even beds, depending on the race’s length. Backyard ultras, by contrast, require only a single aid station at the end of each loop.
This format also increases runner safety. If a participant is injured, faints or becomes too disoriented to continue, they are never more than two miles from assistance. Additionally, because runners must check in at the completion of every loop, any missing participant or developing issue is identified almost immediately. That said, this does not make backyard ultras any less punishing on the body. In 2025, Australian ultramarathoner Phil Gore completed an astonishing 119 laps at a backyard event, totaling an almost unimaginable 495.8 miles.
Various factors have contributed to the sport’s rise, including the invention of “the backyard ultra” and online tools. Returning to the sport’s increased participation following COVID-19, Nvshemal told me over email why he thought the sport has increased in popularity.
“I think COVID caused a lot of people to stay sedentary for a long time, so when COVID finally started to lift many people just wanted to ‘get out’. The great thing about running is its accessibility,” Nvshemal said. “You need shoes and you can pretty much go do it […] And just like, say, pickleball, as it becomes more accessible, and more people see it, and start dabbling in it, it becomes a bigger thing. Ultra-running is interesting because there is this stigma of ‘there is no way I can do that’ but people challenge themselves and can suddenly see how capable their body and mind are.”
The contagious inspiration of ultramarathoning was a sentiment also echoed by Walla Walla teacher and ultramarathoner Christy Wall.
“So much of it is seeing other people do it. I know for myself that I’ve been inspired by those around me and have hopefully done the same. A lot of people are under the impression that they don’t ‘look like a runner’ or don’t have a pedigree like running in college, but when they see people like themselves run ultras they get inspired,” Wall said.
This, for many, is the core of the ultramarathoning community. The shared experience that everyone around you is pushing themselves to the brink just like you are — and from this a unique connection between ultrarunners forms.
But if I may interject a bit of speculation as someone who has now dove deep into researching the ultrarunning community, I also think that for many, the sport is a remedy to a certain cultural moment. Jasmin Paris, the first female runner to ever complete the legendary Barkley Marathons in 2024 spoke on this in her documentary “The Finisher”.
“For many the modern world feels safer, all the technology and cities help us feel secure. For me, I feel safest when I’m out in the wild, that’s where I want to spend my time,” Paris said.
For many, the COVID-19 pandemic reignited the longing to be on the edge. Seeing how fragile the world was, and how quickly all the things we took for granted could be taken away, people needed an escape. Ultramarathoning for the runners who commit to its harsh embrace is the escape from a controlled environment both physically and mentally. Almost all ultrarunners talk about “finding themselves” when they are deep in a race, that when all safeguards and cushions are ripped out, you see a version of yourself unmediated. Ultrarunning seems to belie a similar notion as ‘everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face.’”
A unique challenge, a place of self-discovery, a world of smiling faces and deep connections, this is the world past 26.2. It should be no wonder why increasingly people are lacing up their shoes, and bringing an extra pair for when blisters appear at mile 60. Christy Wall, an accomplished academic, professional and mother, sees her ultramarathoning ability as something very special in her life.
“My running is one area of my life where I can truly say I’m proud,” said Wall.
