What is an Ultra Marathon

In simple words, Ultra-Marathon is a footrace that is longer than 42.195 KM, i.e., longer than the distance of a marathon. Ultra-marathon is one level up than the marathon and can go upto 3100  miles, i.e. around 4990 KM (World's Longest foot-race).

Types of Ultra-marathons:

There are two types of ultramarathon events:

1) Specific Distance Ultramarathons

2) Timed Ultramarathons 

3) Last Man Standing Ultramarathon

1) Specific Distance Ultramarathons

The most common ultramarathon distances are 50 KM (31.069 miles), 100 KM (62.137 miles), or 160.9344 KM (100 miles). These are just common ultramarathons, while these can be of 220 Km, 555Km, 1600 Km or 3100 miles ((World's Longest foot-race).

As per the International Association of Athletics Federations(IAAF), the longest official world record event for distance ultramarathons is 100 km. 

2) Timed Ultramarathons 

In these type of ultramarathons, runner's focus is to cover as long distance as possible in the predetermined time period. Some examples of timed ultramarathons are: 3 Hr, 6 Hr, 12 Hr, 24 Hr, 72Hr and so on. Some timed ultramarathons can go even for weeks where the runners are required to make camp, hike or navigate their way through stretches of wilderness.

3) Last Man Standing Ultramarathon:

The Last Man Standing Ultramarathon is a different type of Ultra Marathon in which a new "race" is started every hour on the hour. These is no 2^nd or 3^rd in this type of race, there is only one winner, that is, The Last Man Standing. Typically the course is of 4.2 miles loop.