Running is the trendiest sport right now and people all over the world are signing for marathons to see just how far they can push themselves. Marathon’s are 26.2 miles of testing the limits of your mental and physical capabilities, and when you add other factors these races become even more difficult. Runners like to challenge themselves and see how far they can go, so marathons are becoming tougher and longer by adding extreme weather conditions and grueling terrain. These races are held in some of the most unfriendly and vicious regions of the planet, making them the most difficult marathons in the entire world.The Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon in Avalon, California is held on Long Beach a 22 mile long rocky island. This marathon has 4,000 feet of elevation change and a hilly, rocky terrain running on almost all dirt trails. The challenging race doesn’t attract a large crowd, and typically has a show of small committed runners due to its extreme environment.
Pike’s Peak is known to runners as one of the most challenging mountains to run in the world. This makes the Pikes Peak Marathon one of the hardest marathons in the world held in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The elevation of the race starts at a mile high, and increases as runners race to the highest peak at 14,115 feet. The uphill running on rocky terrain and the high altitudes add another dimension to this race that makes it incredibly challenging. Races at high altitudes can be found all over the world and there are even marathons on Mount Everest and on the Great Wall of China that offer the same elements as Pike’s Peak.
The Inca Trail Marathon in Peru goes through several various ecosystems in one race including mountains, deserts, and rainforest environments. This race also includes altitudes rising 10,000 feet from the starting line to the finish line. Although this is one of the hardest marathons in the world, the race course is beautiful, overseeing the ancient city of Machu Picchu and the Andes Mountains of Peru. But because of the constant incline and inconsistent environment it is one of the most strenuous in the world and only 40 to 50 runners participate in the race every year.
Another race that only attracts 40 to 50 runners every year is the North Pole Marathon in the Arctic Circle. This marathon takes place in sub-zero temperatures and it costs $15,000 to run. As one of the hardest marathon courses in the world, runners are flown onto ice floes and run 10 laps of a 2.6 mile loop around the north pole. The staff of the race surround the boundaries with arms just in case of polar bears or other wild creatures that could outrun their runners.
So if you are looking for a true challenge as a runner, consider trying one of these marathon courses that are truly strenuous and grueling to see how far you can go in these extreme conditions. Look into these marathon courses and the many others offered that include extreme terrain, environments, and weather for the ultimate challenge.
