# Multiday race
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Multiday_race
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Multiday_race.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiday_race
> Source revision: 1356326754
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Running event across multiple days}}
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=October 2013}}
{{more footnotes|date=October 2013}}
}}
{{About|multiday races in running|multiple day races in other sports that are split into stages|race stage}}
'''Multiday races''' are [ultramarathon](/source/ultramarathon) running events which are typically either segmented into daily events of a specified distance or time, or staged so that runners can run as far as they want, at their own discretion, over a set course or over a set number of days. Multiday races can range from continuous 48-hour track events to staged transcontinental treks.
==Beyond the marathon==
Very long endurance running events can be divided into three broad categories: the traditional {{convert|26.2|mi|km|adj=on}} [marathon](/source/marathon), the ultramarathon, defined as any event longer than the marathon, and true multiday events, which begin with the 24-hour event and can stretch out almost indefinitely, often ranging from [six days](/source/6_Day_Race) to {{convert|3100|mi|km}} or longer.
Multiday events are usually timed races such as 48-hour, 72-hour and 6 day races. Set distance races depend on the ability of the runner to complete and what may be a multiday for slower runners may be an ultra to faster athletes. For example the [Badwater Ultramarathon](/source/Badwater_Ultramarathon), a {{convert|135|mile}} race, has a 48 hour time limit, but winners typically finish in under 24 hours.
==Types of courses==
Many multiday races are held on tracks or measured loops, which eases provision of aid station support for runners. Stage races are the alternative; these include point to point races such as the [Trans-American races](/source/Trans-American_Footrace), which traverse the [North America](/source/North_America)n continent coast to coast, and the [Gobi March](/source/Gobi_March),[{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/02/ultrarunner-ultramarathon-racing-100-miles|title=When 26.2 miles just isn't enough – the phenomenal rise of the ultramarathon|website=[TheGuardian.com](/source/TheGuardian.com) |date=2 April 2018 |access-date= 13 February 2019 |last1=Finn |first1=Adharanand |author-link=Adharanand Finn}}]
==The past==
The golden era of multiday races stretches back to the 1870s and 1880s, when they were held on indoor tracks and offered substantial prizes. Known as [pedestrians](/source/Pedestrianism), these athletes established records which in some cases have stood until recently. In summer 1809 in [Newmarket](/source/Newmarket%2C_Suffolk), [England](/source/England), [Robert Barclay Allardice](/source/Robert_Barclay_Allardice), better known as Captain Barclay, ran/walked one mile (1.6 km) for each consecutive hour, each consecutive day, totalling {{convert|1000|mi|km}}.
The most common multiday race of the era was the six-day race, which ran from Monday to Saturday with Sunday being observed as a rest day. In 1878, Sir [John Dugdale Astley](/source/Sir_John_Dugdale_Astley%2C_3rd_Baronet) was inspired to create a series of five international six-day races, in which competitors vied for the [Astley Belt](/source/Astley_Belt). Two early competitors were the American [Edward Payson Weston](/source/Edward_Payson_Weston), who covered {{convert|500|mi|km}} in 6 days. The Englishman [Charles Rowell](/source/Charles_Rowell) covered 241 km in the first day of a 6-day races in the 1880s.[[https://www.amazon.com/Six-Day-Race-Ultrarunners-Pedestrians-Ultrarunning/dp/B0CW6B53QD/ The Six Day Race, Part I]]
By the early 1890s, public enthusiasm for such events had moved into bicycle racing, and the multiday running craze came to an end. Interest grew again in the late 1920s, with the advent of Trans-America races. These events were transcontinental stage races that inspired a new generation to challenge the huge distance.
==The recent past==
There was little reward for these races in the long run, and it was not until the 1980s that interest re-awoke in true multi-day races. In 1980, [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California) postal delivery worker {{ill|Don Choi|fr}} organized the first modern era six-day race, on a track in [Woodside, California](/source/Woodside%2C_California).
In recent years, several multiday races have stood out, among them the [Australia](/source/Australia)n Westfield [Sydney to Melbourne races](/source/Sydney_to_Melbourne_Ultramarathon), which were run from 1983–1991, and the [Colac](/source/Colac%2C_Victoria) (1983–2005) race which is no longer being held. August 2012 will see possibly the final 64 stage Trans-Europe race organised by Ingo Schulze.
[Sri Chinmoy](/source/Sri_Chinmoy) Races hosts several multi-day events annually in the US: [six- and ten-day races](/source/Self-Transcendence_6_%26_10_day), a [3,100-mile (5,000 km) race](/source/Self-Transcendence_3100_Mile_Race), and several [24](/source/24-hour_run)- and 48-hour events in [Europe](/source/Europe), [Asia](/source/Asia), [Australia](/source/Australia) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand).
==The present==
[Sri Chinmoy](/source/Sri_Chinmoy) Races continues to host several multi-day events annually in the US: [six- and ten-day races](/source/Self-Transcendence_6_%26_10_day), a [3,100-mile (5,000 km) race](/source/Self-Transcendence_3100_Mile_Race), and several [24](/source/24-hour_run)- and 48-hour events in [Europe](/source/Europe), [Asia](/source/Asia), [Australia](/source/Australia) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). Other regular 48 hour to 10 day events are held in the US at Across the Years in Arizona and 6 Days in the Dome, which includes a ten day option at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee WI.[[https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Ultrarunning-10-Day-Race-Ultraracing/dp/B0D9W1TW8T MASTERs of Ultrarunning - The 10-Day Race]] Other international multi-day races include [Trans-Gaule](/source/Trans-Gaule), Trans-[Germany](/source/Germany) - the Deutschlandlauf, Trans-[Korea](/source/Korea) as well as occasional Trans-Am and Trans-Australia races plus several 6 day events in Europe and [South Africa](/source/South_Africa). The RacingThePlanet's 4 Deserts Race Series and the Marathon des Sables are among the most popular multiday races taking place today.
==Notable pedestrians==
* [Edward Payson Weston](/source/Edward_Payson_Weston)
* Daniel O'Leary
* [Foster Powell](/source/Foster_Powell)
* [Charles Rowell](/source/Charles_Rowell)
* Fred Hitchborn
* [George Littlewood](/source/George_Littlewood)
* [Robert Barclay Allardice](/source/Robert_Barclay_Allardice)
==Notable multiday runners==
* [Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto](/source/Ashprihanal_Pekka_Aalto)
* [Sandy Barwick](/source/Sandy_Barwick)
* [Suprabha Beckjord](/source/Suprabha_Beckjord)
* [Patrycja Bereznowska](/source/Patrycja_Bereznowska)
* {{ill|Don Choi|fr}}
* [Dipali Cunningham](/source/Dipali_Cunningham)
* [Serge Girard](/source/Serge_Girard), trans-USA (1997), trans-South America (2001), trans-Africa (2003/2004) and trans-Eurasia (2005/2006) record holder
* [Camille Herron](/source/Camille_Herron)
* [Al Howie](/source/Al_Howie)
* [Rimas Jakelaitis](/source/Rimas_Jakelaitis)
* [Yiannis Kouros](/source/Yiannis_Kouros)
* [Achim Heukemes](/source/Achim_Heukemes), trans-Australia record holder
* [Surasa Mairer](/source/Surasa_Mairer)
* [Lorna Michael](/source/Lorna_Michael), first woman to complete trans-USA (1993)
* [Stu Mittleman](/source/Stu_Mittleman), US record holder for six-day race (578 miles)
* [Stine Rex](/source/Stine_Rex)
* [Wolfgang Schwerk](/source/Wolfgang_Schwerk)
* [William Sichel](/source/William_Sichel), World #1 for 6-day race in 2009, World M55 record holder
* Samuel Thompson, Ran {{convert|1310|mi|km}} in 50 consecutive marathon races (August 19, 2006)
* Kobi Oren
==Well-known multiday races==
*[4 Deserts](/source/4_Deserts) Atacama Crossing, Gobi March, Sahara Race, The Last Desert
*[https://australian6day.com.au/ Australian 6 Day Race]
*[Antibes 6 Day Race](/source/Antibes_6_Day_Race)
*[Across The Years](/source/Across_The_Years)
*6 Days in the Dome (now in Milwaukee, USA)
*[Athens International Ultramarathon Festival](/source/Athens_International_Ultramarathon_Festival) (24/48/72h, 6 days, 1000k, 1000m)
*[Cliff Young Australian 6-day race](/source/Cliff_Young_Australian_6-day_race)
*[Marathon des Sables](/source/Marathon_des_Sables)
*[Self-Transcendence 6- & 10-day Race](/source/Self-Transcendence_6-_%26_10-day_Race)
*[Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race](/source/Self-Transcendence_3100_Mile_Race)
*[Surgères 48 Hour Race](/source/Surg%C3%A8res_48_Hour_Race)
*[Trans Europe Foot Race 2009](/source/Trans_Europe_Foot_Race_2009)
*[Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest Supermarathon](/source/Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest_Supermarathon)
*[Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon](/source/Kalahari_Augrabies_Extreme_Marathon)
*[UltraCentric](/source/UltraCentric)
*[World Marathon Challenge](/source/World_Marathon_Challenge)
*[Yukon Arctic Ultra](/source/Yukon_Arctic_Ultra)
==See also==
* [International Association of Ultrarunners](/source/International_Association_of_Ultrarunners)
* [Ultramarathon](/source/Ultramarathon)
* [Beach Walking](/source/Beach_Walking)
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://deutsche-ultramarathon-vereinigung.de/en/homepage-duv-website.html German Ultramarathon Association]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} News results and statistics
* [http://www.irunfar.com I Run Far] Ultrarunning news
* [http://www.multidays.com Multidays.com] - 'A resource for the multiday runner: Multiday and Ultrarunning news.'
* [http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/ Sri Chinmoy Races.org] - 'The worldwide home of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team' (hosts of multiday races around the world)
* [http://www.ultramarathonrunning.com/ ULTRAmarathonRunning.com] Global Ultramarathon Races & Events Calendar
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311133057/http://www.yanoo.net/index.php4?cat=12&id=272%2F Yanoo.net] - French ultrarunning news and home of the 'Transe Gaule' (trans-[France](/source/France) event)
{{Athletics events}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Multiday Race}}
Category:Multiday races
Category:Running by type
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Multiday race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiday_race) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiday_race?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.