ULTRA RUNNING – Then vs. Now

Ultrarunning then and now: How have ultra races changed?

We asked Lord Jens Kramer – a true veteran of ultra running – a few questions about how the sport has changed from his perspective. We wanted to know what feels different at events today, where all the hype has come from and what downsides this growing popularity might bring.

1. When you think back to your first ultra race many years ago and compare it with your most recent event just a few weeks ago, what differences do you notice at the start line and out on the course?  

My first ultra race was definitely quite a while ago – and there certainly weren’t selfies, live tracking or cameras around every corner back then. 😂 Today, the start line looks completely different. The amount of media attention is huge. There are cameras, drones and livestreams everywhere, and so much of what happens is broadcast straight into people’s homes. Of course, that’s fascinating. But at the same time, it creates a different kind of pressure. You know there could be a camera pointed at you at any moment. And naturally, that also creates the urge to present yourself a little – even though during an ultra you’d probably be better off focusing on what’s actually in front of you. Sometimes you get a little less time to simply be with yourself. Out on the course, you also notice that the overall level of competition has become much higher. Races are faster and more professional. Small mistakes with pacing, nutrition or race strategy can quickly cost you a lot of places today. But the fascination is still exactly the same. And when I’m standing on the start line surrounded by all these incredibly fit and fearless people, I do sometimes think: “What am I actually doing here?” 😂

2. Aside from the events themselves, where else do you notice differences?  

Pretty much everywhere. Ultra running has gone from being a real niche sport to something that reaches more and more people. Social media has obviously changed an incredible amount. Today, anyone can create training plans, follow races, research equipment and build up a huge amount of knowledge in a very short time. Equipment and the entire infrastructure surrounding the sport have evolved too. Things used to be simpler. You had your shoes, a backpack, some food and off you went. Today there are GPS watches, live tracking, performance data, sophisticated nutrition strategies, specialist clothing, carbon technology and what feels like another little product for every possible problem. 😂 The events themselves have grown as well. Expos, exhibitors, photography services, live tracking, entertainment and everything else that comes with it. The funny thing is, you don’t actually need that much to run an ultra. At the end of the day, you really just want to run. But in many places, it has turned into a full-blown spectacle.

3. When did you first realize that things were really changing?  

I don’t think there was one particular moment. It was more of a gradual process. With the internet, and later especially with social media, suddenly everything became visible: races, training, results, equipment, athletes and, of course, their personal lives. Then came live tracking, live cameras and drones. Suddenly, you could follow practically every step of a race. At some point, I realized there were hardly any quiet moments left. The way the races themselves developed also showed me that something had changed. The level of competition kept rising, and what had once been an adventure increasingly started to become a high-performance sport. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with that. But it does change the way the sport is perceived. And sometimes I miss that simple feeling of: shoes on, backpack on, and go. Why is ultrarunning booming – and is the hype here to stay? 4. Why do you think ultra running has become so popular? I think several things came together. Ultra running creates incredible images and stories. People run hundreds of kilometers through spectacular landscapes, through the night, across mountains and sometimes in conditions that make normal people wonder whether anyone would really choose to do this voluntarily. That’s fascinating. Then there’s social media. Today, anyone can experience these stories almost in real time. In the past, you might have found out the next day who had won a race. Today, you can practically follow an athlete around the clock. There are also new icons and personalities who give the sport a face. And of course, people love stories about pushing limits. Someone runs 100, 200 or 300 kilometers and goes beyond what they thought they were capable of – that’s simply a compelling story. So for me, the hype is completely understandable. And as long as it inspires people to get outside and experience something for themselves, I see that as a positive thing.

Why is ultrarunning experiencing such a boom, and is it here to stay?

4. What do you think caused this hype? 

I believe a combination of factors came into play. 

Ultra-running offers incredibly compelling imagery and stories. People run hundreds of kilometers through spectacular landscapes, through the night, over mountains, and sometimes in conditions that make ordinary people wonder if it’s even voluntary anymore. That is fascinating. 

Then there’s social media. Today, anyone can experience these stories firsthand as they unfold. In the past, you might not have found out who won a race until the next day. Today, you can follow an athlete practically around the clock. Add to that new icons and personalities who give the sport a face. And, of course, people love stories about pushing limits. Someone runs 100, 200, or 300 kilometers, transcending their own boundaries in the process—that is simply a story that resonates. For me, the hype is therefore completely understandable. And as long as it inspires people to get out there and experience things for themselves, I view it as a fundamentally positive thing.

5. Has ultra running genuinely changed, or is this just a phase?  

I don’t think it’s just a phase. Like every sport, ultra running continues to evolve. At some point, almost everything gets pushed to the extreme. New training methods, new technologies, new race formats and constantly improving performances – that’s probably just the natural way things develop. If you can adapt, you’ll probably be fine with it. If you can’t, you might eventually get left behind a little. But fortunately, you can also reinvent yourself again and again. I don’t have to follow every new development just because it exists. I can decide for myself what works for me and what doesn’t. And maybe that’s more important today than ever. 

The good, the bad and the bitter side of the new ultra-running hype

6. Where do you see the biggest risks in all this hype?  

For me, the biggest danger is that people confuse what they see online with reality. An ultra often looks fantastic on Instagram. Sunrise, mountains, smiling runners and a beautiful finish-line photo at the end. What you don’t see are the years of training, the experience, the preparation and sometimes all the really bad moments along the way. Mountains aren’t an Instagram backdrop. That’s why I find it worrying when people take on challenges like these without proper preparation, without the right equipment or without basic knowledge of the terrain and weather conditions. Not everything that looks easy and beautiful online actually is easy and beautiful. Some things take years of experience. An ultra is allowed to be extreme. But to me, extreme doesn’t mean switching off all common sense.

7. People are also talking more openly now about using painkillers, caffeine tablets and similar substances. What do you think about that development?  

In general, I think it’s good that people are talking about it. I talk about it too, so I don’t want to rush to judge anyone. But I do think we need to be careful about where we draw the line. If pain becomes nothing more than a signal that you simply switch off with some kind of medication, things can become dangerous. Sometimes pain isn’t the enemy. Sometimes it’s your body telling you that something is wrong. In my opinion, we should also be very conscious about how we use caffeine or other performance-enhancing substances. It should be possible to complete an ultra without completely tricking your body into doing it. The risks are simply too high. At the end of the day, we’re still talking about sport. No finish line and no position is worth risking your health – or, in the worst case, your life. The mountain will still be there. The finish line will still be there. We don’t need to be faster than our common sense.

8. Despite all that, does the ultra-running boom also have positive sides?  

Absolutely. A lot of them, in fact. I think it’s fantastic when people discover nature through this sport. When ultra running encourages someone to spend more time outdoors, to move more and to experience their own body in a completely different way, that’s a very positive development for me. The sport shows people that they’re capable of far more than they might have believed. And it doesn’t even have to be a 100-kilometer race. Sometimes it’s enough to simply get outside and go for a run, a hike or climb a mountain. Get outside and do something. Anything. Just move. Nature doesn’t care what pace you ran anyway. 😉

Is this still ultra running? And what will remain once the hype fades?

9. Can you still identify with what ultra running looks like today?  

Yes, absolutely. But perhaps with my own definition of it. I’ve actually always done things this way. I documented my first long runs with some of the earliest camera phones and took photos for myself. Back then, of course, I had no idea what all of this would eventually become. But even then, I recognized the potential to tell stories about these experiences. Today, there are obviously completely different possibilities. Social media, video, drones, livestreams and all the technical tools available today are things I sometimes find fantastic. I can take people with me who might never be able to visit these places themselves. But I still don’t want to forget why I started in the first place. I want to experience things. Not just document them. I want to run. Not just produce content. And I want to be able to put my phone away sometimes and simply stand somewhere on a mountain. Although I have to admit: even today, I don’t usually make it home without at least one photo. 😂

10. How would you like to see the sport develop from here?  

I hope the sport keeps evolving without losing its soul. I hope everyone can experience the sport in the way that feels right for them. Of course, we need rules, safety and proper preparation. An ultra isn’t exactly a Sunday stroll. But anyone who is well prepared should have the chance to pursue their personal dream of completing an ultra. I hope access to the sport doesn’t become more and more complicated until one day you can only stand on a start line if you have qualifications, points, indices, rankings and enough money. Not everyone has to be a professional. Not everyone needs a certain index. Not everyone needs sponsors. Sometimes it’s enough to have a dream and be willing to work for it. And in the end, there’s really just one thing I hope for: That someone stands on the start line, sets off, spends a few moments along the way thinking, “Why the hell am I actually doing this?” … and eventually crosses the finish line with a huge grin on their face. Because for me, that’s the feeling ultra running should never lose. The adventure still belongs to the person. Not the algorithm. Not the watch. Not the livestream. The person.