Ultra runners are often asked what is the most difficult ultramarathon in the world. There's no simple answer. Indeed, many races lay claim to being 'the toughest footrace on earth', including ones that scarcely deserve the title.
The famous Marathon des Sables originally had this tagline and its race template has been copied by many event organisers, i.e., self-sufficiency over 6 stages totalling 150 miles. The Marathon des Sables is the original and probably the best of the desert stage races. The race is now a magnet for many hundreds of runners, including several elite racers. It can be a formidable challenge to complete at any pace and the hundreds of runners with no experience of other ultra challenges will naturally call it 'the toughest race on earth'. However, there are many challenges out there that would contend to be tougher.
Consider, in terms of distance alone, ultramarathon races across continents. Competitors in the Trans-Europe 2009 covered 4500km in 62 stages. In other words, they raced a daily average of 72km (45 miles) to run the equivalent of over 100 standard marathon distances in a mere two months. If we look at a standard 24-Hour road event, many of the international runners can run between 5 and 6 marathons, or 140-150 miles in that single day period. In the Spartathlon, an annual race between Athens and Sparta, competitors must run 154 miles straight. If they do not reach checkpoints within certain time periods they are disqualified.
Surely these races are tougher?
Perhaps, but longer distances do not make events tougher in every case. One must take stock of other variables such as the terrain and environment in which competitors find themselves. For example, the desert can obviously be hot: it has sand and difficult terrain underfoot. In many stage races, competitors must also be self-sufficient. This is not always the case in ultra-distance races over 100 miles.
But what about single stage races through the desert such as the Trans 333 or Trans 555 where competitors must run 333km or 555km in one stretch? Surely they are more difficult than a multi-stage race of equivalent length?
Again, the answer isn't entirely clear-cut because one must consider the intensity of effort required in a stage race. Athletes are normally pushing themselves hard in each stage, especially if they are truly racing, compared to if they were to run the combined distance in one go. But on the other hand, running very long ultra distances in one effort demands substantial mental resources that are not required in a stage race. It's a different type of effort.
And what about combining heat with humidity in a stage race? The Jungle Marathon in Brazil dishes out such a combination, along with a very cruel Amazon terrain, all kinds of wildlife to contend with, and it requires self-sufficiency.
So is the Jungle tougher than a stage race with just heat and desert terrain? Most likely.
Nevertheless, in all cases one should not overlook the specific attributes and talents of the individual competitor. Some athletes can contend with heat but not the combination of heat and humidity. Some are unable to cope with cold, thereby ruling out races such as the Antarctic 100k. Others might have problems with altitude and are thereby less suited to events such as the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race.
In short, one cannot say definitively what the toughest race on earth might be. Each event has its own unique challenges that cannot always be compared with other events. At best, we may be able to categorise races by style and length and reach conclusions within each category.
The more appropriate question might be "which category of race is the toughest?" - trans-continental, one-week stage races, etc.
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