If you've run a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon, got the t-shirt and worn the medals then you may have run the longest race of your life right? Possibly not, while running any of those distances is something to be incredibly proud of, if you are up for the challenge, there is something more...

A marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards, it's hard, it's an amazing experience and if you're looking for more there is the world of Ultras, an Ultramarathon is any distance longer than a marathon and they come in a wide range of distances.

Common Ultra's are 30 to 100 miles in length (one thing that surprises most people used to rigid distances is that 100-mile races are never 100 miles, they are 100+, some even go up to 107 miles) and there are even longer races too, up to 250 miles and beyond!!!

Sometimes there are time limits too, most 100 milers have cutoffs at around 32 hours, some are generous with 38 hours and cut offs at each aid station.

Runners are a friendly bunch, they understand the effort it takes to train for a race, they understand that a mile is a mile, no matter how long it takes and that we can't all run six minute miles, runners and volunteers at ultras make you feel like family

If you're interested in competing on trails, your options in the SW Minnesota are surprisingly limited, which is where Pound the Mound comes in, with a 10-mile loop course you have the perfect opportunity to build up to your first ultra distance while running through the incredible tallgrass prairie in beautiful Blue Mounds State Park.

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Need some inspiration? Check out these great documentaries on Youtube! 

1. The Source: Courtney Dauwalter