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An ultra marathon (also called ultra distance) is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometers (26.21875 miles, 46,145 yards).
There are two general types of ultra marathon events:
Those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time (with the winner covering the most distance in that time).
The most common distances are 50 and 100 miles, or 50 and 100 kilometers. Other distances/times include double marathons, 24-hour races, and multiday races of 1000 miles or even longer.
The format of these events and the courses covered are quite variable, ranging from single or multiple loops (some as short as a 400 meter track), to point-to-point road or trail races, to cross-country rogaines. Many ultra marathons, especially trail challenges, are characterized by severe course obstacles, such as inclement weather, elevation change, or rugged terrain.
Many of these races are run on dirt roads or mountain paths, though some are run on paved roads as well. Usually, there are aid stations every five to fifteen km apart, where runners can replenish food and drink supplies or take a short break.
Timed events range from 6, 12, and 24 hours to 3 and 6 days (known as multi-day events). Timed events are generally run on a track or a short road course, often one mile or less.
The International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU) organises the World Championships for various ultra marathon distances, including 50K, 100K, 24 hours, and 48 hours.
These events are sanctioned by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body of track and field. Many countries around the world have their own ultra running organization, often the national athletics federation of that country, or are sanctioned by such national athletics organizations.
World records for distances, times and ages are tracked by the IAU.
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