Fastest Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

What to remember

The Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race spells out its challenge in its name: 3100 miles on foot. In 2015, Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto finished it in 40 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes and 21 seconds, the reference time for the race. That works out to a daily average of 76.776 miles, or 123.559 km.

To put that effort in context, start with the marathon and its 42.195 kilometres. An ultramarathon is any footrace longer than that. The shortest common ultra is 50 km, and 100 miles (160 km) is typically the longest course distance raced in under 24 hours.

Beyond that come multi-day races, commonly held over 48 hours, 200 miles or more, sometimes in stages with breaks for sleep. The Self-Transcendence sits at the far end of that scale: Aalto's daily average alone is well beyond a marathon distance, day after day, for more than 40 days.