Ultrarunning Doubled in a Decade. Here's Who's Running.
North American ultra finishers went from 53,000 to 103,000 in ten years. Four in ten are first-timers, most are 30 to 49, and women's share has slipped since 2018. The numbers behind the boom.
Training tips, race strategies, nutrition guides, and stories from the trails. Expert content for trail runners and ultramarathon athletes.
North American ultra finishers went from 53,000 to 103,000 in ten years. Four in ten are first-timers, most are 30 to 49, and women's share has slipped since 2018. The numbers behind the boom.
Blisters are the most predictable injury in ultrarunning. Why they form, why you stop at the hot spot, and the Compeed-plus-Leukotape combination that holds up for 100 miles. Plus when to drain, when not to, and the kit to carry.
76% of runners blistered by day four of a stage race, and 65% of those blisters were on the toes. But toe socks have never been tested in a trial, merino vs synthetic is unsettled, and the one thing with a measured 40% effect isn't a sock at all. 23 socks compared on price, fabric, thickness and rating — every figure sourced.
100 miles and 23,000+ feet in the central Cascades. The Trail from Hell at mile 69, a 2,800-foot climb at mile 75, and six climbs called the Cardiac Needles from 81 to 89. Every aid station, every cutoff, and the crew rules that decide your day — built from the race's own GPX and runner's manual.
You train your aerobic engine. You dial your nutrition. You study the course. But the one thing that keeps you moving at mile 40 isn't fitness — it's what you did before and after every run. The six stretches every ultra runner needs.
Every pole worth carrying — from the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z to the Leki Ultratrail FX.One. Types, pros and cons, where the sport is trending, and a sortable comparison table. 14 poles compared.
Every vest worth carrying on long days in the mountains — from the Salomon ADV Skin to the Dynafit DNA 8 to the Nnormal Race Vest. Sortable by volume, weight, price, and bounce. 16 vests compared.
Not all gels are created equal. From maltodextrin workhorses to dual-source super gels and hydrogel technology, here's the science of race-day fueling — including how David Roche consumed 152.5g of carbs per hour to set the Leadville 100 course record.
Every shoe worth considering for long days in the mountains — drop, stack, grip, lug depth, key sponsored athlete, lifespan, and price. 25 shoes compared and sortable. Built for Mount to Coast, DC Peaks, Wasatch, and beyond.
One goal pace in, a full mile-by-mile race plan out — every mile grade-adjusted for your course's real elevation. No spreadsheet required. Here's how the new Race Time Estimator works.
After 100+ miles in the Speedland RX:LDVL — included carbon plate, single BOA, supercritical TPEE — here's why it's my trail shoe of the year.
Mileage is the number runners quote. Vert is the number that decides a mountain race. How to set a weekly climbing target from your race, ramp to it without breaking, and measure it honestly.
Most people who don't finish were fit enough to. They ran out of a resource nobody trained them to manage. How intermediate cutoffs actually work, and the arithmetic to do before race day.
Ultras are won on your aerobic engine — but the anaerobic one gets you up the climbs and to the finish. Here's how the two energy systems work, why you need both, and how to train them without wasting a week.
The world's toughest foot race: 135 miles of pavement from 280 ft below sea level in Death Valley to the 8,300 ft Whitney Portal, in 120°F+ July heat. GPX-driven segment breakdown, time stations, cutoffs, and a heat-management race plan.
One of the toughest 50s in the northern Rockies — 50 miles, 12,000+ ft of climbing, six big climbs through Montana's Elkhorn Mountains. GPX-driven segment breakdown, aid stations, cutoffs, and a cinematic 3D flyover.
A 50-mile loop above Logan with ~10,000 ft of vert that never drops below 5,900 ft. GPX-driven segment breakdown, aid stations, cutoffs, and where the race is won — the crux climb to White Pine Lake.
I run to help cope with my hurt. That's it. That's the whole sentence. No apology. No explanation. If you've ever laced up at 4 AM in the dark, you already know exactly what I mean.
The definitive course recon for Run the Rim 50K — May 31, 2026, Arnold, CA. Real GPX route, segment-by-segment race strategy, aid stations, elevation profile.
Not all running belts are the same. This guide breaks down every belt type, top picks for ultramarathons, and how to choose the right one for your race.
CTL, ATL, and TSB tell you if you're getting fitter or just more tired. Learn how ultra runners use the Performance Management Chart to peak on race day.
The most demanding 100-miler in North America. 102.5 miles through the San Juan Mountains averaging 11,000 feet. 33,197 ft of gain. Handies Peak at 14,048 ft on 60-mile legs. Segment-by-segment strategy, aid station logistics, and the moves that define your race.
103.7 miles through the San Juan Mountains. 25,127 feet of climbing. A high point at 12,468 feet. Never drops below 8,428 feet. 11 aid stations across some of the most remote terrain in American ultra running. The name is a joke — this is one of the hardest 100-milers in the country.
52.5 miles through the Oquirrh Mountains west of Tooele. 14,000 feet of vertical. 98% mining roads and ATV trails. Two summits of Porphyry Hill. A 10,006-foot Bald Mountain East summit at mile 45. The Lion Hill Loop — hit three times.
51.66 miles through the Wasatch Mountains above Provo. 13,580 feet of climbing. Five major climbs, snow patches in June, and a 4,000-foot descent off Windy Pass. Utah's oldest 50-miler with a 90% finish rate — 30 years running.
63.5 miles through the Tushar Mountains of southern Utah. 16,085 feet of climbing. Never drops below 8,855 feet. Every aid station, every descent, every rest section happens above the elevation where most races reach their hardest climbing. One of the toughest 100Ks in North America.
100 miles from Memory Grove Park below the Utah State Capitol to North Salt Lake. 20,869 feet of gain. A 5,768 ft overnight climb to Francis Peak with no crew for 34 miles. The newest 100 on the Wasatch Front — and already one of the hardest.
100 miles point-to-point from Logan, Utah to Bear Lake in Fish Haven, Idaho. 20,364 feet of gain. A 4,013 ft opening wall before sunrise. The tightest crew logistics of any Utah 100 — and the most beautiful fall colors you'll ever run through. Here's how the numbers break down.
100 miles point-to-point across the Wasatch Range. 26,000 feet of gain. A 4,400 ft wall in the first 7 miles. A high point at 10,462 ft that doesn't arrive until mile 72. The tightest cutoffs in Utah ultra running. Here's what the data says and how to race it.
100 miles with 26,000 feet of gain, averaging 8,700 feet the entire way. A high point at 12,272 feet on Mann's Peak. Temperature swings of 60+ degrees. The highest race in Utah — and one of the most underestimated. Here's what the data shows and how to race it.
101.78 miles. 21,600 feet of climbing. Two summit zones above 9,000 feet. A mandatory shuttle. No crew access for 40 miles. 2025 finishers called it harder than Bear and harder than Wasatch. Here's everything you need to know about the Goat Rattler 100.
Everything your crew needs to know. GPS tracking, cutoff management, nutrition handoffs, and what to say at mile 70. The complete guide from HARDN.
A complete course recon breakdown of the DC Peaks 50 — 50 miles through Davis County's best trails with 11,000 feet of gain. Segment-by-segment strategy, aid station planning, cutoff analysis, and gear recommendations using HARDN's Course Recon tools.
There are races. And then there is Western States. Not because it's the hardest — because it means something most races never will. A complete course breakdown, segment-by-segment race strategy, and the history behind the race that defines ultra running.
CTL, ATL, TSB — the three lines on your Performance chart look intimidating, but they're the most useful numbers in HARDN. Here's what they mean, what good numbers look like, and the one thing most runners get wrong.
The entire endurance technology industry is obsessed with getting you to the starting line. The moment you actually need help the most, you’re on your own.
Most ultra runners obsess over training plans, gear lists, and nutrition strategies. And they should. But there's an entire half of race execution that gets almost zero attention from the tech world: crewing.
Most training apps assume you just started training. You haven't. When you set your training start date in HARDN, everything changes — your plan, your progress, your HARDN Score, and your AI Coach all reflect the work you've already done.