About 12,000 to 15,000 people compete in ultra runs in North America each year, says Don Allison, editor of Ultrarunning magazine in Weymouth, Mass.
"There are probably 300 or 400 different events around the country," said Allison, whose magazine includes a comprehensive calendar of ultra runs.
The Kansas Ultrarunners Society sponsors five major events each year.
Races are held on the same weekend each year. The 2003 events:
Feb. 28-March 2 _ The Houston (Texas) ultra weekend, with races lasting six, 12, 24 and 48 hours and a 100-kilometer race. While Texas may seem an unlikely location for a Kansas running group to hold a race, KUS member Scott Demaree moved there several years ago and serves as race director.
April 5 _ The Rockin' K Trail Runs, a marathon (actually 28.05 miles) and 50-mile run at Kanopolis State Lake, southwest of Salina.
April 26 _ Ad Astra Ultra and Relay in Wichita, with races of 50 and 100 kilometers, 50 miles and a 100-kilometer relay.
Sept. 27 _ The Flat Rock 50-K and 25-K trail races, at Elk City Reservoir near Independence. It's an extremely rugged trail, and the race motto is "If you look up, you're going down."
Oct. 11 _ Heartland "Spirit of the Prairie" 100-mile and 50-mile runs, at Cassoday, northeast of Wichita.
"What we really wanted to achieve was to be able to host races at all ultra distances," said Eric Steele, a KUS founding member. "We've basically got it covered."
The Heartland races follow an out-and-back course across the prairie.
"You could be on the other side of the moon when you're out there in the middle of nowhere," says Nancy Davis, a KUS member who is a volunteer worker at the Heartland runs.
Jonathan Beverly, editor of Running Times magazine, said that trail running is where road running was in the 1970s.
"Fields are small, races are no-frills, local runners win, and even the 'heroes' of the sport are locals," Beverly said. "Everyone at a trail race is there because they love running, they love the difficulty and the feeling of being different. It's a bit strange, a bit edgy, and very tough."
Kansas may seem an unlikely place for ultra runs and trail runs compared with mountainous states like Colorado and California but it does have advantages, says Dann Fisher, of Manhattan, a KUS member.
"Kansas is actually a great place to train," Fisher said. "Other than altitude, you have everything else: heat, humidity, rain, cold, snow. You get to a race, and you don't see anything you haven't seen before."
The typical ultrarunner is middle-aged, Allison said, but many are retired and can afford to travel.
"Travel is part of the appeal," he said, "that and the opportunity to run in the mountains."
But he notes that some people of limited means also take part.
"Running is easy in that respect," Allison said. "You can drive, sleep in a van, and you just need a pair of shoes."
Beverly said Running Times readers are showing increasing interest in ultra runs and trail runs.
"I think the core running population is aging, and thus looking for different challenges as they move past their (personal records)," he said. "In addition, many young runners, and the population in general, are more nature oriented and seeking avenues to enjoy parks and wilderness areas."
