RUNNING INFORMATION ARTICLES

Multiday Running

Like Marathon and Ultra-Running, multi-day races are lengthy running events. As the name suggests, multi day Races take days to complete and therefore, demands a lot of endurance.

Basically, multi day races can be segmented to cover a specific time or distance within a day. It can also be a staged race wherein runners have to cover the greatest possible distance within a given time or distance. Some of the present day multi day races range from continental treks such as the Trans-Europe race to timed events like the Surgeres 48 hour race.

Most multi day races are held on tracks and measured loops which has aid stations that provide drinks or food for the runners. On the other hand, staged races can be point-to-point like the coast-to-coast Trans-American races.

The time or distance covered by multi-day races can stretch indefinitely from 48 hours or 3,000 miles and longer. The longest certified footrace in the world is the Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race which is a multi day race event.

History

The 1870s and the 1880s are the golden age for multi-day races. The most popular multi day race was the six day race. It was also the standard racing distance during those times. The Astley Belt Races which is a series of five international six day races was also created during the 1870s.

During the early 1890s, public interest on multi day races waned and had came to an end. Bicycle racing has displaced Multi-day racing from its post as the most popular racing event.

With the introduction of Trans-America races in the late 1920s, the public gained interest on multi day races. Trans-America races have pushed the limits for the distance covered by running events. But it was in 1980s that interest in true multi-day races was reawakened. The first modern era six day race was organized by a postal delivery worker named Don Choi at Woodside, California in 1980.

Today, there are numerous Multi-day races held every year. In the United States, the Sri Chimnoy holds multi day events annually. There are also multi day races in Germany, Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Some of the most widely known races are the Marathon de Sables, a seven day trek across the Moroccan desert and the Cliff Young Australian 6 Day Race that takes place in Colac, Victoria. Meanwhile, among the most notable multi day runners are Suprabha Beckjord who completed every Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race and Wolfgang Schwerk, the current 3100 mile World Record Holder.

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