ultramarathon
C1Formal, Technical/Specialized, Sports Journalism
Definition
Meaning
Any foot race longer than the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles).
An extremely long-distance endurance event, often conducted over rough terrain, requiring exceptional physical and mental stamina; can also metaphorically refer to any task or situation of unusually long duration or difficulty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is strongly associated with extreme endurance sports and a subculture of athletes pursuing limits beyond conventional marathons. It implies a significant step-change in distance, not just a slightly longer marathon.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling and usage are identical. The community and event names are international.
Connotations
Identical connotations of extreme endurance, wilderness, and personal challenge in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general language but standard within the niche context of endurance sports in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] runs/completes/finishes an ultramarathon.The ultramarathon [takes place/covers] [distance/location].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for this technical noun]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The merger negotiations were an ultramarathon of conference calls.'
Academic
Used in sports science, physiology, and psychology papers studying extreme endurance.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Used when specifically discussing endurance sports.
Technical
Standard term in sports training, event organisation, and equipment marketing (e.g., ultramarathon shoes).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Not a standard verb. The activity is 'to run an ultramarathon'.]
American English
- [Not a standard verb. The activity is 'to run an ultramarathon'.]
adverb
British English
- [Not a standard adverb.]
American English
- [Not a standard adverb.]
adjective
British English
- She is a dedicated ultramarathon athlete.
- They discussed ultramarathon training regimes.
American English
- He's aiming for an ultramarathon qualifying time.
- Ultramarathon culture is growing in the US.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Not typical for A2 level]
- A marathon is 42 km, but an ultramarathon is longer.
- She is very fit because she runs ultramarathons.
- After several marathons, he decided to challenge himself with a 50-mile ultramarathon.
- Training for an ultramarathon requires careful planning for nutrition and hydration.
- The famed Spartathlon ultramarathon retraces the historic 246-kilometre route from Athens to Sparta.
- Physiological adaptations in ultramarathon runners include remarkable fuel efficiency and pain tolerance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ULTRA means 'beyond' (like ultraviolet). An ULTRAmarathon is BEYOND a marathon.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A DIFFICULT TASK IS A LONG RACE (e.g., 'Getting my PhD was an academic ultramarathon').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'ультрамарафон' in contexts where 'сверхмарафонская дистанция' or 'сверхдлинная дистанция' might be more natural in sports reporting.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a standard marathon. Incorrect: 'He ran the London ultramarathon.' (Unless referring to a specific, longer event).
- Misspelling as 'ultra-marathon' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
Practice
Quiz
What is the minimum distance that typically defines an ultramarathon?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no single most common distance, but 50 kilometres (31 miles) and 50 miles (80 km) are very standard entry points into the sport, along with the popular 100-kilometre and 100-mile events.
It is most commonly written as one word ('ultramarathon'), though you may occasionally see it hyphenated ('ultra-marathon'). The one-word form is considered standard in modern sports terminology.
No, it is a noun. The activity is described using the verb 'run' (e.g., 'to run an ultramarathon'). While some might colloquially say 'to ultramarathon,' it is non-standard.
An ultramarathon is strictly a long-distance running event. An Ironman triathlon is a multi-sport event consisting of a 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle ride, and a 42.20 km marathon run. While both are extreme endurance challenges, they are distinct sports.