An ultramarathon is any kind of running event that is longer in distance than a standard marathon. Typically, they range in the 50 to 100 mile range (80 to 160km). These events also can include other challenges above and beyond the distance, such as inclement weather or rugged terrain.

Take the example of the Lake Saroma ultramarathon in Hokkaido, Japan. It’s 62 miles long (100km) and is one of the pioneering ultramarathons in Japan. The lake itself is the third largest in the country and has a shoreline of 51miles (82km). The ultramarathon begins in the town of Yubetsu-cho and finishes in Tokoro. Most competitors will finish it within one day - that’s a lot of distance to run in one particular day!

 

Haruki Murakami, the Japanese author, completed the Lake Saroma ultramarathan in eleven hours forty-two minutes. That’s an average speed of 5.3 miles per hour and is, for most of us, and incredible feet of endurance. After the 47th mile, Murakami reports that he had “stepped into a different place... my mind went into a blank state you might even call philosophical or religious.” The days that followed the ultramarathon, Murakami found it difficult to walk down the stairs “as if my knees were about to give out.” He reports that, although it was physically difficult, he found the mental effects more problematic. 

 

After the ultramarathon, Murakami found himself afflicted by the runner’s blues, he felt more lethargic and less interested in running. In the end, the only way he could become interested in training again was to switch his attention to the triathlon. He puts this down to having achieved such a difficult stretch goal that, although was very painful and require a huge effort, remains an incredible achievement.

 

Exercise is surely part of a Zen lifestyle. For most people it ends there, but for some the challenge of breaking their borders of endurance can become a third pillar of their life and turn them into an ultra-athlete. Be this running, extreme fitness or some other form of focused training. What kind of exerciser are you?

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yenra/552241277 and http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/482031103