Thinking about tackling something longer than a marathon? Here’s how to move up to ultramarathons

Ultra runner and running coach Howard Calvert on how to train for longer distances. 

Ultramarathons have never been more popular. Participation continues to hit new peaks as the trail running boom gathers momentum. The stats are impressive. In the US, 2025 saw the highest number of finishers (152,582) in the largest number of ultra races (3,225) of all time.

The 2026 edition of Comrades Marathon had more than 18,250 runners finish. And 11,328 people applied for the 2026 edition of Western States (up 1,500 on the previous year), one of the most historic, popular and hard-to-get-into 100-mile races in the world. Plus, the biggest week in European trail running has just finished in Chamonix; Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) saw thousands of runners tackling races of all distances, including 2,500+ in the 105-mile.

What is an ultramarathon?

An ultra is technically defined as any race over marathon distance – so it could be a 30-mile event or the 268-mile Spine Race. As a result, marathon runners who fancy a go at an ultra tend to look for 50k races first, or sometimes 50-mile. These are often planned 8-12 weeks after the marathon, so they can use their marathon training block towards their ultra.

Olympic bronze-winning marathon runner Molly Siedel transitioned to trail ultras this year, and won the 50k Bandera race in the US, beating all the women and all the men, too.

She’s said the trails offer more than road running:

“I enjoy trail running and being out in the mountains – it hits a different part of my brain, and I feel happier when I’m out there.”

Ultras offer a new challenge with fresh goals, in particular for masters runners if you feel like you’ve ticked all the road-running boxes.

Is Ultramarathon Training Really That Different From Marathon Training?

If you’re thinking of moving up in distance but feel anxious you’ll need to significantly increase your weekly volume to manage it, you may be surprised to learn that training could be similar to what you’re already doing for marathon blocks.

1/ An ultra is an entirely different way of racing than a marathon

Most ultras are off-road, so the first thing to consider is your trail-running experience. If you’re starting from scratch, prepare to fall in love with the new terrain, landscapes and environments. It’s hard to beat a trail run for experiencing everything Mother Nature has to offer.

The physical benefits of trail running include less impact on your body than tarmac, as well as increasing joint and tendon strength, especially in your ankles as they adapt to the uneven terrain and hills. 

You also build a truly monstrous aerobic base, as most ultras are run in zone 2 – at a pace and heart rate you can keep low and steady for miles and miles (and miles… more on this later).

To let you in on a secret – most ultrarunners aren’t obsessed with PBs in the way that road runners can be. One 50-mile race can’t compare with another, as they likely differ vastly in elevation, runnability, bogs, gates, stiles, and gravel paths. 

Most runners have a target time they’re aiming to finish in (their ‘A’ goal), but once you’ve started, there are so many variables that the course can throw at you that time goes out the window and often, your main goal becomes simply to finish.

2/ Every race is its own unique adventure

I’ve run ultras in parts of the UK and abroad that I would likely never have seen were it not for the race. They reveal incredible scenery and landscapes you simply don’t get doing the Milton Keynes Marathon.

They also provide mid-race puzzles to solve. I don’t mean literally like the Crystal Maze; rather, problems crop up involving the weather, fuelling, navigation, layering, foot problems, or often all of the above.

You have to dig deep within yourself to figure out how to carry on running; mentally, you learn ways to deal with fatigue, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and the lows that come with racing, often surprising yourself with new levels of resilience.

Every race teaches you lessons, but ultras provide lessons that stay with you for life.

3/ You’ll do more easy running with some longer long runs

If you enter an ultra, you’ll likely find training differs from a marathon block. This is because most ultramarathons are run at aerobic pace. You don’t want to hit lactate threshold or above, otherwise you’ll run out of steam by the second aid station, where your race might end.

By building your aerobic engine in training, you’ll find you can motor on through an ultra at a steady pace for hour after hour. 

4/ You’ll do more hills – including hill sprints and hill tempos

As U2 once famously crooned in their 2001 hit, Elevation: “The goal is elevation”!

It’s hard to believe they weren’t singing about running ultras. Most, but not all, contain elevation. Sometimes, a ton of it. UTMB, for example, has a total of 10,000m over 105 miles – famously more than the height of Mt Everest.

So your training will reflect how hilly the race is. 

It’s likely that interval workouts will reduce in quantity as you near race day. Instead, sessions specific to the race you’re running will be introduced by your coach. 

For example, if you’re running a hilly 50-miler in the Lake District, you’ll do hill sprints and hill tempos (for example, building from 3 x 10 mins of climbing) on terrain that’s similar to the race to help prepare your body for the rigours of race day.

5/ Volume will be similar to marathon training

One myth many new ultra runners believe is that if you want to run an ultra, you need to vastly increase your weekly volume. This puts off many potential athletes, especially those with busy jobs or young families.

But this is not the case. Weekly volume can easily sit around the same as marathon training, even for distances up to 100 miles.

It depends on how competitively you want to race, but with masters runners in particular, if you increase volume and the length of long runs is more than 4-5 hours, the risk of injury and overtraining vastly increases. Every runner will differ, but there’s rarely a requirement for two six-hour back-to-back training runs, even for 100-milers.

6/ Cross-training is encouraged; strength training is essential

Biking, swimming and hiking are actively encouraged during training. They all help build cardio and your aerobic base while giving your body a break from the repeated impact of running. 

Regular strength and conditioning is also strongly encouraged, especially for undulating ultras. Building leg and core strength will help reduce muscular fatigue later into longer races, and support your posture and form as you tire. 

If you’re thinking of moving up from marathon distance to tackle your first ultra but aren’t sure where to start, I can help. Visit loopedruncoaching.com for more information and to book a free consultation to discuss your exciting journey into ultramarathons.

Join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest UK running events, training tips, and exclusive offers on running products. Rest assured, we value your privacy and would never dream of selling your address. Sign up now…