Never Heard of Ultrarunning? Here's the quick 101
How long does it take to run 100 miles?
There are cutoff times for nearly all ultra events and 100 mile races. These times can vary based on difficulty of terrain. Many 100 mile races take place in mountainous areas on trail, and cutoff times are typically around 30 hours.
At trail 100 milers, in addition to a cutoff to finish the entire race, there are also cutoff times at each aid station. This means you have to reach certain "checkpoints" by certain times, or you DNF (“did not finish”).
Other 100 mile races take place on road or track surfaces. As of 2024, the 100 mile world record at a sanctioned IAU (International Association of Ultrarunners) race is 10 hours 51 minutes 39 seconds. This record is held by Lithuanian runner Alexsander Sorokin. This is at an astounding 6:31 mile pace. Sorokin set the record in 2022 at the Spartanion 12-hour race in Tel Aviv, Israel, at the age of 40 years old.
Based off this data from 2014, the average finishing time for 100 mile races was about 28 hours. Note that this varies greatly depending on the course, season and terrain. Typically, finishing under 24 hours is seen as a milestone for many runners, similar to the sub 3-hour marathon barrier.
Do you run the whole time?
Even the best ultrarunners power-hike and walk sections of 100 mile races. It is common to power-hike uphill/steep trails, while making-up time on downhills. If you've never seen an ultra event, you'd probably be surprised at how "slow" runners are going. Most people are not busting out 6-minute miles, but that doesn't mean we don't train with speed!
Most (although not all) ultra races are on trails and through mountains, not run on pavement. This is generally-speaking, as there are exceptions.
Running 100 miles is all about energy conservation; if you can save energy to run later in the race, instead of walking, you will end up with a faster time. But, the short answer is "no", you do not run for 100 miles at your PR mile-pace.
It’s a personal choice. Once in a while I will throw on headphones for a long run.
Listening to music during some ultras is banned. For example, music is banned in the Vermont 100, since it’s also a horse race. Runners need to communicate with the riders, particularly at night when it is harder to see.
Do you listen to music?
Most runners in a 100 mile race do not sleep. If you are having a rough day, some runners might take a few-minute power-nap. However, due to cut-off times at many aid stations, 100 mile events are not conducive for long periods of rest since you'll eventually miss a cut-off time and get disqualified.
Do you sleep?
I want to run 100 miles!
Where do I start?
Awesome! You might want to consider getting a coach. Click below to see the options I offer.