There is also a significant increase in the % of people who run 2 races a year, 17.2% (from 7.7% to 24.9%) and 3 races, 6.7% (from 2.8% to 9.5%). In 1996, only 14% of runners participated in multiple races a year, now 41% of participants run more than one event per year. More ultra runners are competing in multiple events per year.There have never been more ultra runners.

Participation has increased by 1676% in the last 23 years from 34,401 to 611,098 yearly participations and 345% in the last 10 years from 137,234 to 611,098.

25%, and above 195 miles, women are actually 0.6% faster than men. In 5Ks men run 17.9% faster than women, at marathon distance the difference is just 11.1%, 100-mile races see the difference shrink to just. The longer the distance the shorter the gender pace gap.

Female ultra runners are faster than male ultra runners at distances over 195 miles.

We have analyzed 5,010,730 results from 15,451 ultra running events, making this the largest study ever done on the sport. In this study, we explore the trends in ultra running over the last 23 years.

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