12 differences: marathon vs ultra running

Learning by doing, that’s usually what it comes down to with me. For my first ultra race I didn’t prepare particularly well. I basically prepared as if I was going to run another regular marathon. Sure, I got the mandatory race kit. But I didn’t decide on the (110K) distance until three days before the event, or specifically prepare for running up hills or on rough terrain. I hoped my heat training in The Gambia, plus one recent trail marathon, would be enough.

I justify my lack of preparation for my first “ultra” by telling myself that it’s more adventurous that way. And for running an ultra race in Rwanda last week, this approach actually worked fine. Still, there are a few things I wish I’d known in advance so I could have approached the race with more confidence.

Location. Road marathons are usually in or nearby major cities, or in well known parks and tourist sites. Ultras are typically in wilder and more remote locations. It’s a good idea to check routes, amenities, terrain, and altitude specific to the location!

Event size. Ultras tend to be far, far smaller events than marathons. A massive ultra run might have up to 2,000 runners, but it’s usually a lot less. Sometimes there are merely a few dozen participants. In comparison, major city marathons easily reach 50,0000 runners nowadays.

Navigation. You can’t really get lost during regular road marathons. They tend to be well marked and the courses are often physically cordoned off. At an ultra, you have to rely on a few markers along with your own GPS watch to make your way through wild areas.

Nutrition. You need to eat and drink during both, but exponentially more at an ultra run. Makes sense, given that you are running the bigger part of the day.

Speed. Marathons are about speed for most people. You even have to estimate your time when registering. Marathon training usually focuses on careful timing based on heart rate or perceived effort. For ultras, all bets are off. The running is far slower most of the time, and it may involve a lot of (uphill) walking.

Aid stations. Marathon aid stations usually only supply water and sports drinks, though they may offer snacks here and there. There are often many of them so you don’t even have to carry water. With ultras, aid stations are a lot more spaced out, but they feature better stuff! Think: fizzy drinks, fruit, cookies, and savory snacks. For safety, you carry at least a liter or two of water at all times.

Terrain. Ultras are off-road, and the terrain can be very challenging. For the Ultra X Rwanda the technically was only rated 2/5, and it involved a lot of steep uphill, running over loose rock, and a few other obstacles. I can’t imagine how tough races with a higher technicality rating are!

Entry cost. Ultras are not the massive, company-sponsored events that big city marathons usually are. As a result, you typically have to pay more to participate.

Gear cost. For a marathon, you only need running shoes and a handful of gels. For ultras, there’s a mandatory kit list that includes things I definitely didn’t have lying around the house: survival bag, head torch, and sealed rain jacket, to name a few things.

Night running. Marathons rarely take place at night, and even ultras tend to take place during the day. But ultras are so long that some runners inevitably wind up running in the dark. Hence the mandatory head torch.

Goals. I think a lot of people run marathons and ultras ‘just to finish.’ That said, with marathons it’s very easy to get swept up in the time-improvement frenzy. Many runners have a fairly clear time goal. That’s totally different with ultras. It really depends on the length and difficulty of the course, so it’s hard to predict.

Cameraderie. Marathons being one-day events, I usually only make one or two new friends there. Usually someone who runs at the same pace as me. With ultras it’s much easier to run in groups and talk a lot, hang out at aid stations, and get to know each other, particularly if the race involves multiple days of running (and camping!).

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