The yr 2023 was fairly a yr on the earth of ultramarathoning, and I totally count on 2024 to be yet one more eventful yr.

It’s in that context that, in my final column of 2023, I’m sharing my 5 2024 predictions for the world of ultrarunning within the yr forward.

1. Progress of Mother and Pop Occasions

Over the second half of 2023, there was appreciable consideration paid to a number of the large-scale international ultra-trail occasions. A lot of this consideration has been unfavourable and I imagine this may result in athletes returning to small, low-key occasions in an effort to “vote with their wallets.”

Definitely, I don’t see the large-scale occasions hurting in any respect, however it appears to me to be an important alternative for organizers of small occasions to capitalize on runners’ want to “go small.”

Adam Merry on his technique to win the 2022 Moab Crimson Sizzling 55k. Picture: Mad Moose Occasions

2. Professionalization of Ultramarathon Teaching

Ultramarathon teaching has come a great distance since I first started teaching Western States 100 athletes in 2010. Certainly, the proliferation of teaching firms and on-line teaching assets has exploded together with the game.

In 2024, I imagine we are going to see a rise within the professionalization of ultramarathon teaching with extra coaches transferring to full-time teaching and extra in individual conferences and workshops geared particularly to teaching.

AJW with six of the eight athletes he coached for the 2022 Western States 100 (left to proper): Dario Zea, Gina Harcrow, Theo Wirth, AJW, Tom Rauen, Matt Marino, and Andrew Messina. Picture courtesy of AJW.

3. Massive Sponsorship Offers

Earlier this yr the Hong Kong 100k, which takes place in January, introduced that Anta Sports activities could be the brand new title sponsor for the occasion.

Anta Sports activities, the third largest producer of sporting items general after Nike and Adidas, enters the ultra-sponsorship house at a time once I imagine we are going to see extra big-ticket firms leaping into sponsor occasions because the mainstream international attain of path working continues to broaden.

4. Excessive Climate Occasions

The pattern of maximum climate occasions adversely impacting path and extremely occasions has, sadly, been going down for a number of years now.

I see this persevering with in 2024 with warmth, floods, hearth, and different results of local weather change inflicting race postponements, reroutes, and cancellations around the globe. Race organizers will proceed to be challenged by these components and athletes will probably be pressured to plan for them.

Extreme flood injury on the route of the Vermont 100 Mile in 2023, which led to the occasion’s cancellation. Picture: Vermont 100 Mile

5. Progress within the Recognition of 200-Mile and Longer Races

The 200-mile phenomenon is right here to remain, with many 2024 occasions already offered out or rising exponentially from previous years.

Now, within the yr forward, I feel we’ll see a increase in occasions even longer than 200 miles. I’m predicting 300- and even 400-mile races on the horizon as ultrarunners’ want to push themselves more durable and additional continues to develop.

Sabrina Verjee on her technique to successful the 2022 Tor des Géants. Picture: KnowJack Media

There you’ve it, my predictions for 2024 in ultrarunning.

Bottoms up!

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s beer of the week comes from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. Obsidian Stout is certainly one of their unique beers first launched within the early Nineties. Deep and darkish just like the its namesake rock, Obsidian is a wealthy and creamy stout good for New Yr’s Eve!

Name for Feedback

• What are your predictions for the brand new yr?
• And what are your personal huge working targets for 2024?