ULTRA Magazine: Issue 22

ULTRA means "going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme". In a world obsessed with speed, the ultrarunner chooses distance, demanding presence, humility, and endurance. This issue documents that quietly radical spirit, exploring stories that dig deep into the psychology of effort, reflections on solitude, and the joy of shared suffering. Ultrarunning, after all, is a conversation between body, mind, and landscape.

Inside, you will journey across terrains that test the limits:

• Yukon Quest: Join Dr. Mark Hines on his 1,000-mile trek across the frozen Yukon Quest trail, navigating Arctic temperatures that drop below -50°C. Read his firsthand account of hauling a heavy sled up near-vertical walls of snow and ice, a procedure requiring "starting momentum, grunt, fury, misplaced optimism, and a fair spread of denial".

• The UK Ultrarunning Hall of Fame: We celebrate three pioneers who defined the sport:

  • Arthur Newton: A pioneer whose intellect and endurance transformed long-distance running. He set a 100-mile world best that stood for decades, proving that age was no barrier to athletic achievement.

  • Pietro “Pete” Gavuzzi: One of the greatest long-distance runners of the 1930s who embodied the purest spirit of ultrarunning, setting a 1,000-mile record in Scotland.

  • Joss Naylor MBE: The "King of the Fells," whose monumental feats, such as linking 72 peaks in the Lake District in under 24 hours, demonstrated that running is about becoming part of nature.

• Race Directing at the End of the World: Discover how Stjepan Pavicic organizes events like Ultra Paine in Patagonia, seeking to reverse the culture of extractivism by aiming for zero plastic usage and fostering transnational relationships—his events have brought together 88 couples.

• A Mid-Life Less Ordinary: James Adams reflects on finding opportunities for growth, noting that it’s "never too late to grow" and that renewed optimism can be found through tough experiences, whether at a 50-mile race or a challenging Cubs Camp (growth can be felt from 8 to 80+).

Plus, find essential advice on Performance Layering (explaining the 7 essential layers)—including the critical fact that water conducts heat 24 times faster than dry air—and Danny Gomme's lightweight, mountain-ready kit in WHAT’S IN MY BAG?.

Whether you are training for your first 50K or recovering from your tenth 100-miler, this space is for those who find clarity in the long miles.

See you out there, somewhere between the rain and the horizon.