Table 1 A comparison of ultra-endurance walking and running events

1977

N/A

1 male

N/A

20 h

Running and walking

160

9600 kcal

10,720 kcal

−1120 kcal

Temperature range: 12–20 °C Wind speeds range: 15–17 km/h

N/A

Fluid stations

None

[16]

1993

N/A

9 female

N/A

7 days

Running

N/A

14,270 kcal

20,940 kcal

−6670 kcal

N/A

N/A

N/A

Food: ad libitum

Liquids: ad libitum

[23]

1994

N/A

1 male

Sydney to Melbourne, Australia

199 h

Running

1005

5972.57 kcal/day

N/A

N/A

Temperature range: 8–25 °C

Accumulated altitude: 900 m Ascent: 1000 m Descent: 100 m

Food and beverage provided every 15–20 mins. Fluids: carbohydrate supplemented beverage  Food: Potato, rice, pasta, and bread

N/A

[21]

2000

Australian run

1 male

Australia

217 days (data compiled over 2 weeks of this time)

Running

14,500

N/A

6321 kcal

Negative

N/A

N/A

None

Food: ad libitum

Fluids: ad libitum

[12]

2002

N/A

26 (21 male, 5 female)

New York, USA

26.2 ± 3.6 h

Running

160

7050 kcal

14,340 kcal

7290 kcal

Temperature range: 21–38 °C

N/A

37 food stations

None

[8]

2004

Marathon Des Sables

1 male

Sahara Desert

6 days

Running

229

17,572 kcal

33,776.75 kcal

–16,204.745 kcal

Temperature range: 5 °C(night)–50 °C(day)

N/A

None

Food: ad libitum (dehydrated meals)

Fluids: ad libitum (carbohydrate supplemented drinks)

[195]

2005

Tour des Dents du Midi

42 (39 male, 3 female)

Switzerland

7 h 3 min

Running and walking

44

219–2405 kcal

N/A

−1889 to −2470 kcal

Temperature range: 18–30 °C Humidity range: 34–61% at the lowest altitude, and 57–92% at the highest altitude Wind speeds range: 1–21 km/h

Total ascent:2890 m Ascent and descent range: 860–2494 m

15 support stations

Fluids:water, sweet tea

Food: Banana and orange slices, dried fruit mix, cereal bars and grape sugar cubes

Food: ad libitum

Fluids: ad libitum

[7]

2010

100 km Biel

11 female

Biel, Switzerland

12.7 h ± 91 min

Running

100

570 ± 230 kcal

6310 ± 1340 kcal

−5750 ± 1170 kcal

Temperature range: 8–15 °C

N/A

17 aid stations

Fluids: isotonic sports drinks,tea,

soup, caffeinated drinks and water Food: bananas, oranges, energy bars and bread

Fluids: ad libitum

[17]

2011

N/A

1 male

Atcama Desert, Chile

23 days

Walking

593

40,733 kcal

110,791 kcal

–70,058 kcal

Described as: temperate climate

Average altitude: 3103 ± 704 m

None

Food: freeze-dried foods, snacks

Beverages: coffee

[13]

2011

100 km Biel

27 male

Biel, Switzerland

11.5 h ± 119 min

Running

100

760 ± 300 kcal

7420 ± 1660 kcal

–6660 ± 1650 kcal

Temperature range: 8–18 °C

N/A

17 aid stations

Fluids: isotonic sports drinks, tea,

soup, caffeinated drinks and water Food: bananas, oranges, energy bars and bread

Fluids: ad libitum

[20]

2013

MSUM

74 (46 male, 28 female)

Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, Spain

5 days

Running

225

16,740 kcal

19,155–24,995 kcal

–2415 to –8225 kcal

Described as: hot ambient environment

N/A

Aid stations situated 10 km apart

Food: fruit (oranges and watermelon)

Fluids: plain water, electrolyte supplementation.

Fluids: ad libitum

[15]

2013

MDUER

1 male

North Scotland to Moroccan Sahara desert

78 days

Running

4254

5541.2 ± 764.3 kcal/day

N/A

N/A

Described as: extreme weather conditions (maximum range: 2.8–45.0 °C)

Altitude of ascent and descent ranged between 0 and 2400 m above sea level, with 7 days at altitude ³1500 m

Food and liquid provided daily

N/A

[9]

2014

Glenmore24 Trail Race

25 (19 male, 6 female)

Cairngorms National

Park, UK

24 h

Running and walking

122–208

4776.9 ± 2627.3 kcal

13,136.5 ± 2627.3 kcal

–8359.6 kcal

Temperature range: 0–20 °C in 2011 and 3–19 °C in 2012 Humidity range: 54–82%

Average altitude: 342 m (SD 303 m)

Plain water and electrolyte

supplementation every 3 km

Food: ad libitum

Fluids: ad libitum

[14]

2014

N/A

6 unspecified

Sierra de Gredos, Spain

14 h 6 min

Running

54

5124.6 ± 531.2 kcal

9856.6 ± 859.8 kcal

–4732 kcal

Temperature range: 8–26 °C Temperature average: 14.9 ± 8.7 °C

Maximum altitude : 2484 m Minimum altitude : 1149 m

None

Food: energy bars

Fluids: water from various natural sources

[10]

2015

South Pole Race

13 (12 male, 1 female)

Antarctic

22.5 days

Running

800

Faster finishers: 5332 ± 469 kcal/day Slower finishers: 3048 ± 1140 kcal/day

N/A

N/A

Temperature average: −24.0 °C Humidity: 59.3% Wind speed: 6.6 ms

Altitude range: 2000–2615 m

Snack bags provided (contents: macadamias, chocolate bars, cheese, candy, biltong, muesli, freeze-dried meals, noodles, soup, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, milk)

Food: ad libitum

Fluids: ad libitum

[11]

2016

N/A

11 unspecified

Castles of Cartagena, Spain

6 h 44 min ± 28 min

Running

54

1493.1 ± 491.5 kcal

5197.1 ± 488.8 kcal

–3704 kcal

N/A

Accumulated altitude: 5391 m;

None

Food: energy bars, glucose tablets and fruit

Fluids: Water and energy drinks

[33]