


Several decades ago, ultra races were limited to just a few. Where are the Most Exotic Ultrarunning Locales? This is definitely not a race for the faint of heart. Taking place in the Sahara Desert, this race asks runners not only to contend with sand, rocks and heat over the course of 151 miles and 6 to 7 days of grueling competition, but also to carry their own camping gear and prepare their own food. Honorable Mention: The Marathon des Sables Winding through Death Valley, considered to be the hottest place on Earth, competitors try to run on the white line in the middle of the road to keep their shoes from melting in the 120-degree heat! Most ultrarunners generally agree that the title of hardest ultrarunning race belongs to the Badwater Ultramarathon, where participants climb 19,000 feet through 135 miles of desert. Though with four major world events, and thousands of elite athletes entering the sport each year, it's possible these record times may soon be eclipsed What is the Hardest Ultrarunning Race? Two of the fastest recorded times ever in the sport belong to Thompson Magawana, who completed a 50K road race in 2:43:48, and Takahiro Sunada, who was able to finish a 100K road race in 6:13:33. Also known as the "Running God," Kouros holds every outdoor road world record for men from 100 to 1,000 miles, and every road and track record from 12 hours to 6 days. Greek ultramarathoner Yiannis Kouros is widely regarded as the greatest the sport has ever seen. More: Ultra Running Gear Must-Haves Who's the Best Ultrarunner of All Time?
