6 Top Ultra-Trail Mountain Runs for 2017

Ultra-trail running is growing in popularity all around the world and there are a growing number of events for ultra-runners to choose from – many of them staged in stunning locations with beautiful mountain venues that both add to the challenge and give you breath taking views to enjoy as you run.

For those not-in-the-know ultra-running typically involves races that are at least twice as long as a marathon, and they can be much more with 24 hour races of no fixed length and even 1,000km multi-day events staged. Officially though an ultra run is anything longer than a 26 miles/42km marathon.  Most are 50km or 100km long and the ‘standard’ used for comparison of event is normally the 100k.

The good news for those who think they might want to try ultra-running but don’t want to dive straight in to 50k or 100k race, most events have perhaps five or six different races staged on the same few days, so you can just tackle a 10k or 15k race to start with and see how much you enjoy it.

To add to the experiences many events are offered in flexible travel packages so you can, if you wish, add in some quality time taking in the local culture around the race venue or just relaxing on a nearby beach.

If you do get hooked (or are already) you’ll be joining as rapidly growing global community of ultra-runners which has now nearly reached half a million from only an estimated 40,000 a decade ago, and the number of ultra-trail runs to participate in is growing fast too, from less than 1,000 in 2005 to nearly 4,000 choose from in 2017.

Here are 10 top choices of ultra trail runs in the mountains coming up over the coming months for 2017:

Mauna To Mauna Ultra

14-20 May 2017

Hawaii is home to the world’s tallest mountain – it’s just that about 70% of Mauna Kea lies underneath the Pacific, but the snow-capped 4200m of the volcano above sea level is challenging enough for participants to tackle in this all new ultra marathon which starts on the lower slopes of Mauna Loa, which is itself the largest mountain in the world by volume before heading up Mauna Kea. These are the two ‘Maunas’ of the race title.

Limited to 100 participants in its inaugural year this 250Km race staged in six stages over seven days will include ascending volcanoes, running at extreme altitudes including on lava flows as well as crossing lush rainforest, open grasslands and pristine beaches.

 Transylvania One Hundred

20 May 2017

A 100km ultra trail run that begins and ends at Count Dracula’s castle has something of an added novelty value – does imagining you’re running from (but ultimately returning to) the lair of the famous vampire make you run any faster, then slower?  There are a number of distances besides the 100km possible and this year, the fourth staging of the race, will see the introduction of a 20km version (along side the existing 30 and 50km variants).

“The 20km run will have a total elevation gain of 1700m, making it an ideal ‘starter’ trail/mountain run,” say the organisers.

Hardrock 100

14 – 16 July, 2017

One of the longest established ultra trail runs or ‘endurance run’ as it prefers to be called, the first Hardrock race was staged 25 years ago in 1992. 100-miles (161km) long and involving just over 10,000 metres (33,050 feet) of vertical climbing and the exact same amount of vertical descent participants have 48 hours to complete the run (most do so in an average of 41 hours from the 6am start).

Apart from the length and vertical difference on the race this run also covers high mountain terrain between a ‘low’ point of 7,680 feet (2340m at Ouray) and high point 14,048 feet (4180m Handies Peak) so possible altitude sickness, extremes of weather and tough terrain are all factors beyond ‘just’ the very long run.

Ultra Tour Monte Rosa

6-9 September 2017

Described as ‘beautiful and brutal’ the 116 km race introduced in 2016 is one of the latest additions to the growing roster of ultra-marathons.  The route begins in the Italian mountain resort of Cervinia (over the border from Zermatt), and takes racers on rough stony tracks over five high mountain passes passing several Italian villages before crossing the border to the Swiss village of Saas Fee as it circles Monte Roa, the second highest peak in Western Europe after Mont Blanc. The various ups and downs of the course involve 8,300m of vertical ascend, equal to climbing from base camp to the summit of Mount Everest twice. Entry costs €195.

VMM – The Viet Nam Mountain Marathon

22-24 Sep, 2017

Billed as “the hardest run in Vietnam!” the VMM offers trail running of 10km, 21km, 42km, 70km or 100km on small dirt roads and narrow trails past thousands of yellow rice fields in a spectacular mountain region of north Vietnam.

The trails range from the easy 10km with 600 vertical metres of gain to the very challenging 100k with 4000 metres of vertical.

In the latter category, the organisers warn, “Given the altitude and general hard conditions this cannot be your first Full or Ultra Marathon,” pointing out also that very strong sun or heavy rain is always a possibility in the mountains.

“Any participation in this unique event is completely at your own risk and you will be required to sign a waiver in order to participate.”

Ultra Trail Cape Town

2 December, 2017

Cape Town in South Africa launched its own ultra trail event four years ago, taking place in the southern hemisphere’s summer. Races options are 100km, 65km and 35km ultra trail distances. Each encompassing a route through one of the world’s most beautiful cities and on to the stunning Table Mountain.  Entry costs from around £90 for the shorter race to £200 for the 100km run but participants also have the option to raise 10,000 Rand (about £620) through sponsorship for the race’s environmental fund.  Participant categories are Open 18-39, Vets 40-49 and Masters 50+ with a maximum of 1,000 racers allowed to take part.