Champion ultrarunner Darcy Africa dishes on the pain and glory of her sport. Photo courtesy Pearl Izumi
What exactly is ultrarunning and who does it?
Ultramarathons are runs or races longer than a marathon, 26.2 miles. Most of them take place on trails. Ultrarunners are folks who would, without running, probably be addicted to something else. I’m kidding, but I’ve met enough who fit the mold, myself included.
You’ve won the Wasatch 100 (twice), the Bighorn 100, the Cascade Crest 100 and lots of shorter ultramarathons. What appeals to you about the sport?
It gets me far into the backcountry to see beautiful places. Also, my personality is sometimes heavy, but when I’m running in the mountains, everything falls away.
What’s your training like?
I run for at least an hour every day. On Wednesdays and Sundays, I bang out several hours. Saturdays are my big days, maybe seven hours on the trail or an ultramarathon race. When I train, I don’t look at a watch, track mileage or have much of a plan. I see it more as time in my life to just let go.
What’s your race strategy?
I prefer to start in front and stay that way. I like to race, but I don’t like to duke it out. I’m way better at competing with myself than with other women or men.
You have a two-year-old daughter, what’s more painful, ultrarunning or giving birth?
Giving birth. When I was in labor, my doula kept telling me to think about it as a 100-mile run. At one point I snapped back, “100 miles is fun in comparison.” But with childbirth, the end gift is much cooler than an ultramarathon finisher’s belt buckle.
Top Regional Ultramarathons
Bighorn Mountain Wild and Scenic Trail Runs
(50k, 50 mile, and 100 mile races)
Dayton, WY
Hardrock 100 Endurance Run
Silverton, CO
Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run
Leadville, CO
San Juan Solstice 50 Mile Run
Lake City, CO
Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Run
Salt Lake City, UT
