Endurance events are getting pretty popular these days. The number of endurance events and participants are growing everywhere. A whole lot of people are really getting into fitness and doing things they normally didn’t do.
Some fitness experts say that training for endurance events helps motivate people to stick to their fitness programs. Having an end goal other than just wanting to look good apparently helps push people to continue with their fitness regimes. And after they finish an endurance event, people feel even more motivated to level up and start eyeing tougher races or endurance events.
These are probably just some of the reasons why people have come up with endurance events that seem totally insane. Just take a look at this list below of the eight most insane endurance events that were ever invented.
The 8 Most insane endurance events in the world
Here are some of the most insane endurance events ever on the planet. We already featured one of the events on this list. See if you know which one!
8. Lake Balaton Supermarathon
The Lake Balaton Supermarathon is a four-day race around the Lake Balaton, Hungary’s famous lake. The course is 195 km with participants running around 48 km per day.
Solo runners or relay teams of four runners can join this supermarathon. Runners can run all four stages (Supermarathon), just the last two stages (Half Supermarathon) or just one stage (Marathon+).
7. Spreelauf
The Spreelauf is an ultramarathon in Germany. Participants must run 420 km (261 miles) in six days. The race starts in Spandau in Berlin, follows the river Spree upstream to one of its three sources in Eibau (Upper Lusatia).
6. Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 Day Race
The Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 Day Races are held in conjunction with each other. In these races, runners from all over the globe test their own capabilities by running for six or ten days with minimal sleep and try to get in as many miles as they can. These two races are tests of endurance and skill.
For video interviews from last year’s 6 and 10 Day Races, visit this link.
5. The Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail in Ontario, Canada is over 800 km and goes from Queenston on the Niagara River to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula in Lake Huron. This trail runs along the course of the Niagara Escarpment, usually along the edge. It is the oldest and longest trail in Canada.
Running the Bruce Trail from end to end would take about ten to fifteen days. Many runners have done group or solo runs of the Bruce Trail. The current record is held by Charlotte Vasarhelyi with 13 days, 10 hours and 51 minutes. Running the Bruce Trail can be one of the toughest endurance events a runner experiences.
4. Trans-Gaule
Trans-Gaule is a race across France. The race includes 18 stages in 18 consecutive days, totaling 1,150 km, from Roscoff in the English Channel to the Mediterranean. This is definitely one of the craziest endurance events.
3. The Bunion Derby
The Bunion Derby was actually a nickname given by newspapers to the Transcontinental Footrace organized by sports agent and promoter C.C. Pyle in 1928. This was a race created partly to promote the newly constructed Route 66 that runs from Los Angeles to New York. Pyle gathered runners from around the world to run the 3,455 miles from LA to New York. Almost 200 men were at the gun start. Only 55 made it to the finish line eighty-four days later.
The Bunion Derby was one of the most historical endurance events in the world. It was held again the year after, but the next run similar to it would be held several years after. In 1992, Runner’s World held a similar race, the Trans America Footrace, which was a 3,000 mile and 64 day race across America.
2. Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race
The Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race is a race that involves running 5,649 laps of a .5488 of a mile course within fifty-two days. This race is held in Queens, New York each year around June to August. Participants of this race must run around 60 miles a day to finish within the time cap.
This race is the world’s longest certified footrace. I think that’s enough to put it among the most amazing endurance events on earth, doesn’t it?
1. Trans Europe Foot Race, top of the most insane endurance events in the world!
You could say the Trans Europe Foot Race is Europe’s very own Bunion Derby. It’s a race across Europe.
For this year, runners will be running past Denmark, Germany, France, and Spain until they reach Gibraltar. The course is an estimated 4,200 km. I think that earns it the top spot in the craziest endurance events.
Just the mere concept of endurance events seem insane in itself, but these events make it possible for people to know just how far they can go.
Let us know what you think about these endurance events by posting below! Would you ever do any of these crazy endurance events?
Well, I never heard of these foot-races and have to imagine that these participants have to be in the best physical condition. I’m in awe of the Tour de France and feel that it is truly an unbelievable endurance race in the professional bike-riding community. What are the rules of the Foot races and is it a timed race? Would love to learn more about it.