Breaking human limits: identifying the reasons which compel athletes to run ultra distances

Abstract

This paper aimed to investigate the lived experiences of ultra trail mountain runners to make meaning of the reasons why they felt the need to run vast distances over mountain trails and endure the extreme hours and pain to reach their goal. Three experienced ultra trail runners who participated in various ultra trail races registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) were recruited. In depth interviews were conducted to answer the exploratory question: “Can you describe your experiences when running a mountain ultra trail?”. The participants verbally stated their experiences which were then transcribed. Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) was used to analyse the data collected. Significant findings which emerged from the data included the disassociation the mind from the body, where the participants even described a feeling of war between the two. They also anticipated that the ultra was going to be painful, so they devised strategies to cope with the pain throughout the duration of the race. None of the participants referred to the ultra as a race but rather as a journey and described it as a learning experience comparable to the journey of life.