Trail Ultramarathons kept rising and being widely available over the years. Runners started running marathons at first, but then ultramarathons and trail ultramarathons started being the new challenge. They are the races that exceeds the marathons distance and are usually between 50KM to 130KM distances. Runners started participating in those trail ultramarathons as the trend started growing a few years ago. Since it started becoming a trend, and runners started participating in them for the extreme challenge, a lot of ultramarathons from all around the world were introduced.
Nowadays in 2022 there are multiple ultramarathon races that are considered the big hits and the top of the trail ultramarathon’s races. They all created their own history and each one had its unique experience based on their location or the organization level or even services provided.
Now we will be introducing the top 10 ultramarathons in 2022:
Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB):
This race is one of the most known trail ultramarathons all over the world. It is extremely popular to an extent that it is difficult to be able to get a ticket to participate in this ultramarathon. This ultramarathon is considered as the world cup of ultramarathons that has a distance of 106 miles race.
This race took place in France in 2003 and created one of the most beautiful experiences through the trail ultramarathon. As the course takes place on the Alps of France then Italy and lastly Switzerland. It is the natural views and the beauty of the environment and snowy mountains that takes the credit of the popularity of this ultra.
The race usually takes place at the end of august and the beginning of September each year. It is also said that the beautiful Chamonix the small French town that resides on the Alpes has one of the best views to watch the race and be able to spectate for around, and the runners stay at this little French town that they might even lead to double the town’s population, because they go and take a good place at the starting point.
The UTMB is not just one single race but it is actually whole event that takes a whole week that includes other races than the ultramarathon, and they come out with a whole festival or runs.
Nowadays in order to be able to get into the UTMB you will need to gain points and enter the UTMB index by participating in multiple ultramarathons registered in the UTMB index in order to get a ranking and be able to join the lottery in the Ultra trail Mont Blanc.
Ultra Trail Mont Fuji:
The trail ultramarathon idea was generated by a Japanese trail ultramarathon called Tsyuyoshi Kaburaki who completed the UTMB 4 times, and from the very first time he finished the UTMB he wanted to create a similar race in his home country. He wanted to create a race that has the same purposes the same natural and environmental views as well as keeping the spirit of the race. Then it came to his mind the Mount Fuji Located in Japan, which is known for its marvellous views and nature as well as its challenging environment.
Mount fuji is the highest mountain in japan and is an extremely special mountain for all the japanese people due to its beautiful cherry blossoms and geisha, that holds great beauty and special aura.
It is also said that the Japanese have to climb to the top of the mount fuji at least once in their lifetime.
This race took place in Japan in 2011 that has a distance of 100 miles. Its purpose was said to be challenging every part of the human being, either their spirit, their physical strength and create wider knowledge regarding the Fuji mountain and the Japanese culture. This race takes place during May.
Marathon des sables (MDS):
The marathaon des sables is one of the toughest trail ultramarathons regarding the footrace, since it takes place in the Moroccan Sahara that takes place over a run over 7 days that reaches 250Km almost 21 to 82km a day.
This ultramarathon takes place under the hot heat of the morning that creates all sort of distortions for runners. Unlike any other race they need more food and water than other ultramarathons due to the high heat of the Sahara, so they provide food and water every 5 to 9 miles in order to fuel the runners.
Throughout the trail runners can meet scorpions, snakes and many other venomous creatures. The race takes place every year from April to May in the Moroccan Sahara and runners tend to register almost 2 years upfront in order to reserve a place.
Sparathlon:
The sparathlon is a trail ultramarathon that takes place in Greece. Its concept was taken from the old Greek legend of Pheidippides, as his legend say that he was a messenger that ran 245Km from Athens to Sparta in order to ask for help against the Persians in the battle of marathon.
The ultra-experience passes through a lot of Greece’s ancient cities across the country. it goes to the top of the Sangas mountain and then pass on the Mt Parthenian and lastly arriving to Sparta. It is a 250Km distance that is finished within 36 hours and is annual race that takes place in September because it is the month that the legend was reported by Herodotus.
Zegama-Aizkorri ultra trail:
This trail ultramarathon takes place in Spain they run across the mountains and taking runners to reach the summits. It is a trail that is based on multiple important concepts in our lives, such as honesty, equity and transparency. They aim to showcase the beautiful nature and surroundings that they meet throughout their run as well as enjoying the experience and the challenges that they will be facing throughout the race. Moreover, like any other ultramarathon, they aim to educate the runners about the culture and its history which crates the ultimate experience.
This race takes place during May and it took place the first time in 2006 in Spain that starts from the town of Zegama and reaching the top of Otzaurte, then going through a route of mountain tracks and the sightseeing of waters, rocks and steep land .
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