When marathons aren’t enough: superfit urbanites tackle extreme running

June 12, 2012

The ultrafit can train for the UVA Jungle Marathon in London and New York this summer, before heading to the Amazon in October. — shutterstock.com picNEW YORK, June 12 — If running a marathon just isn't enough to get your endorphins pumping, why not try an ultramarathon in the murky depths of the Amazon jungle, all while training on the streets of London or New York? Announced on Monday, the UVU Jungle Marathon is launching a series of urban training sessions in London and New York this summer, so city slickers can test their limits in the urban jungle before attempting the real deal in Brazil in October.

Classes will take place twice weekly from July until mid September, with groups of 15 participants pounding the pavement while incorporating street furniture, railings, and trees into their workouts. "Make no mistake; this is not some occasional lunchtime exercise class to burn off a bit of holiday weight," say the event organizers. "UVU Jungle Warrior will be hell. Mind and body will be pushed to the limit in ways that you never thought possible."

If that doesn't scare you away, participants in the training sessions can tackle the UVU Jungle Marathon this October, a seven-day adventure race similar to the hellish Marathon des Sables in Morocco, where participants must carry their own supplies as they traverse the jungle, often running through the night. At this summer's training session, only participants who demonstrate ability and improvement will have a chance to fly to Brazil to compete. Find out more at http://www.uvuperformance.com/the-uvu-jungle-marathon.

While still a niche sport, ultramarathons are growing in popularity with more and more events springing up all over the globe. Coming up June 17, the 3100 Transcendental Race, the longest certified foot race in the world, kicks off. Every day for six to eight weeks, the entrants will race from 6am until midnight -- running around 75 miles (120 km) a day. Note: there is no payment or prize.

Or runners can attempt the 161km Western States Endurance Run in the US, which begins in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains the last weekend of June. To see a calendar of events in your neck of the woods, head to ultramarathonrunning.com.

Watch an interview with UVU Jungle Marathon organizer and ultramarathon runner Shirley Thompson: http://vimeo.com/38858441 — AFP-Relaxnews