Welcome to our first annual roundup of high path cities. It is a statistical evaluation of the geographical distribution of ultramarathon races and runners in the US and Canada.
Speak to any ultramarathon runner who has been within the sport for some time, and they’re certain to have an opinion on its development and evolution. It’s a enjoyable matter of dialog. And don’t numbers make issues much more enjoyable? If we had knowledge on ultramarathon races and finishers throughout a rustic or continent, we might dig into the place the extremely scene is already well-developed and the place the untapped markets exist. Or conversely, we might contemplate the hidden gems that preserve the intimate, grassroots ambiance of the game’s origins.
The high quality people at “UltraRunning Journal” generously shared 10 years’ price of information on ultramarathon races in North America. We’re trying ahead to doing an identical evaluation later that’s international in scope, however we’ll want extra time to wrangle a dataset. “UltraRunning Journal” is incomparable for its diligent assortment of race outcomes, so we had been spoiled by getting the North American numbers served up on a silver platter. That being stated, we can not assume that each race is captured on this dataset.
The beginning of the 2019 Canyons 100k in California. Unsurprisingly, California got here out on high because the U.S. state with probably the most ultramarathon races. Photograph: Canyons 100k/Scott Rokis
Which Areas Have the Most Ultramarathon Races?
“UltraRunning Journal” counts every race distance at a given occasion as a separate race. I really like that strategy as a result of it permits us to seize the magnitude of an occasion that has three or extra race distance choices with a whole bunch of runners in every. After we rely the whole variety of races per U.S. state and Canadian province/territory, we uncover which locations are racing hotbeds. The lists beneath have the highest outcomes per nation, and the warmth maps beneath present how the states and provinces examine to at least one one other.
Most Ultramarathon Races, by U.S. State
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Washington
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Arizona
- Colorado
The warmth map above reveals the continental United States, Alaska (insert, high left), and Hawai’i (insert, backside left.) States with extra ultramarathons are darker in coloration. One occasion with a number of race distance choices is counted a number of instances, with every ultramarathon race distance thought-about a separate race. All photographs, except in any other case famous: Mallory Richard
Most Ultramarathon Races, by Canadian Province/Territory
- Ontario
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Québec
- Manitoba
The map above reveals the distribution of ultramarathons in Canadian provinces and territories. Because the be aware on methodology on the backside of this text explains, the dataset on which this text is predicated has some gaps. That is most evident with the Canadian maps, as some provinces, like Saskatchewan, appear to be a clean void when, the truth is, some ultrarunners do stay and race there.
Curiously, these maps all symbolize a one-year interval from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022. As you’ll be able to think about, social gathering restrictions associated to the COVID-19 pandemic could have nonetheless been an element throughout that timeframe. We hope to dig into this additional in a future article.
Which Areas Have the Most Extremely Finishers?
California wins this title handily, boasting 11,145 finishers. The warmth maps beneath present how the opposite states and provinces examine. These warmth maps increase some enjoyable questions well-suited for dialogue on a future. Particularly, in case your province or state has numerous finishers, is it as a result of:
- There are a whole lot of ultrarunners in your space?
- Your space is dwelling to some vacation spot races that entice members from different areas?
- The ultrarunners in your space are a very well-trained, competent bunch who execute their races properly, so finisher charges are excessive?
Most Extremely Finishers, by U.S. State
- California
- Arizona
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Oregon
- Colorado
- Maryland
- Washington
- Pennsylvania
The warmth map above reveals the continental United States, Alaska (insert, high left), and Hawai’i (insert, backside left.) States with extra extremely finishers per state are darker in coloration.
Most Extremely Finishers, by Canadian Province/Territory
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Québec
- Ontario
- Manitoba
The warmth map above reveals Canada. Provinces/territories with extra extremely finishers per province are darker in coloration.
Which Areas Punch Above Their Weight Class?
Certain, California boasted 11,145 extremely finishers in 2021 to 2022. However the state boasts a present inhabitants of 39,029,342, which is roughly 50 instances extra individuals than North Dakota, which some nice runners I do know name dwelling. To make an apples-to-apples comparability, the tables and maps beneath present the variety of extremely finishers per 100,000 residents. Wanting good, Yukon!
Prime U.S. States for Ultramarathon Finishers per 100,000 Inhabitants
- Utah
- Wyoming
- Oregon
- Arizona
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Colorado
- Virginia
- Idaho
- Maryland
The warmth map above reveals the continental United States, Alaska (insert, high left), and Hawai’i (insert, backside left.) States with extra finishers per 100,000 inhabitants are darker in coloration.
Prime Canadian Provinces/Territories for Ultramarathon Finishers per 100,000 Inhabitants
- Yukon
- Alberta
- Québec
- British Columbia
- Ontario
The warmth map above reveals Canada. Provinces/territories with extra finishers per 100,000 inhabitants are darker in coloration.
Which Areas Have the Most Attended Races? Which Have the Most Intimate Races?
Lastly, we are able to divide the variety of finishers by the variety of races. That offers a ratio of the variety of runners per race. This isn’t good, in fact. For instance, Arizona had 399 runners end the 100-mile race on the Javelina 100 Mile occasion, however the close by Desert Solstice Observe Invitational race had a a lot decrease cap and solely 18 finishers.
This time, the province of Québec stands out for attracting the most important fields per race: based on “UltraRunning Journal,” races within the Belle Province entice 117 runners per race. Relatively, I ought to say 117 finishers per race — I can say from private expertise it has its share of difficult and DNF-worthy programs. Conversely, Hawai’i leads the pack for internet hosting small and difficult races that outcome within the fewest finishers per race.
U.S. States with the Most Common Finishers per Race
- Utah
- Maryland
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Wyoming
U.S. States with the Fewest Common Finishers per Race
- Hawai’i
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- Louisiana
- Rhode Island
The warmth map above reveals the continental United States, Alaska (insert, high left), and Hawai’i (insert, backside left.) States with extra finishers per race are darker in coloration.
Canadian Provinces with the Most Common Finishers per Race
- Québec
- British Columbia
- Alberta
Canadian Provinces with the Fewest Common Finishers per Race
The warmth map above reveals Canada. Provinces/territories with extra finishers per race are darker in coloration.
Conclusion
As I created these warmth maps, I gained a deeper appreciation for some states the place I’ve raced, like Wyoming, that boast disproportionately highly effective races and operating communities relative to their inhabitants. Simply as a lot, it jogged my memory how great it feels to be a part of a reasonably tight-knit neighborhood with a whole lot of acquainted faces at each native race. There’s nothing like a warmth map to make me really feel all heat and fuzzy inside. I hope you get pleasure from them, too.
A Be aware on Methodology
“UltraRunning Journal” graciously supplied the dataset (on which this text is predicated) in November 2022. It’s a remarkably thorough historic dataset that features over 18,000 data. That being stated, “UltraRunning Journal” would nonetheless have been receiving and compiling race outcomes from late summer time and early fall of 2022 once we acquired this knowledge. Due to this fact, some races will be lacking, and a few ultramarathon finishers is not going to be included in these tallies. For the reason that goal of this column is to make use of operating knowledge as a place to begin for enjoyable dialogue and contemplation, we determined it was acceptable to run the evaluation realizing there could be some gaps.
Name for Feedback
- Any enjoyable discoveries as you checked out these warmth maps?
- Worldwide readers, do the most well-liked states and provinces to race in align with the place you race (or dream of racing) if you come to North America?
- The information we acquired solely reported the variety of finishers. Do you assume any states or provinces had been underrepresented for members as a result of their races have decrease ending charges?
- Do you have got a complete dataset, or a very good pattern set, for international extremely participation you’ll be prepared to share? “Asking for a good friend.”
Ellie Greenwood on her solution to successful the 2014 Squamish 50k in British Columbia, Canada. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
