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These are some of the world’s most extreme outdoor endurance challenges. Would you try them?
From ultramarathons, mountaineering to canoeing, these are some of the world's most extreme endurance challenges. Would you try them?
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This challenge sees mountaineers climbing the tallest mountain in every continent, with two in Australia.
Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, Aug. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
The peaks include: Denali in Alaska, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Everest in Asia, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia and Jaya Peak in Oceania.
The highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, looms in the background as a team from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) prepares to fit elephants with GPS-tracking collars at the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary next to Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya, near the border with Tanzania, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Mount Vinson or Vinson Massif, the highest peak in Antarctica, at 4,892 metres, Dec. 8, 2009. (Christian Stangl / Wikimedia Commons)
The Everest marathon is the highest marathon in the world, and commemorates the historic first ascent by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953.
Marathon runners run under a banner at the start of the 'Everest Hillary Marathon' at Everest Base Camp, May 29, 2006. (BIKASH KARKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The full marathon starts at Everest Base Camp and ends at Namche Bazar, but runners climb Kala Patthar landmark, a view spot at 5,545 metres before the race.
A Nepalese runs with his national flag during a marathon to mark the first conquest of Mount Everest, at Lobuche, near Everest base camp, Nepal, Monday, May 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Tashi Sherpa)
Participants in the Everest Marathon line up for the start off from Everest base camp, Nepal, May 19, 2003. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)
Swimmers journey from Asia to Europe in the iconic Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim, beginning in the Asian part of Istanbul, and ending in the European part of the city.
Competitors swim in the Bosphorus strait during the Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race, in Istanbul, Sunday, July 23, 2017. (Ali Aksoyer /DHA-Depo Photos via AP)
The 6.5-kilometre open water swim began in 1989 and now hosts thousands of participants each year. It is organized under the International Olympic Committee.
An athlete gets out of the water after he swam from Asia to Europe in the Bosphorus strait during the Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race in Istanbul, Sunday, July 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Athletes swim from Asia to Europe in the Bosphorus strait during the Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race in Istanbul, Sunday, July 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
This triathlon held in Norway includes a 3.8-kilometres swim in a fjord, a gruelling but scenic 180-kilometre bike ride with 3,000 metres of climbing, and a 42.2-kilometre run with an ascent to Mount Gaustatoppen.
Athletes perform in the swim during the Isklar Norseman Extreme Triathlon on August 3, 2019 in Eidfjord, Norway. Today 250 athletes participate in the 3.8 kilometers swim leg, 180 kilometers bike leg and the 42.2 kilometers run leg up to Mount Gausta. (Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
According to the event website, this event 'is for people with fight. Resilience. And minds tougher than their bodies.'
Laura Zimmermann of Germany competes in the bike leg at the Zalaris Norseman Triathlon on August 3, 2024 in Eidfjord, Norway. (Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
German TV host, Thorsten Schroeder, finishes at Mt. Gustatoppen during the Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon 2025 on August 2, 2025 in Eidfjord, Norway. (Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)
Founded in 1982, the Race Across America is the world’s toughest cycling race - 4,800 kilometres across the United States west to east starting in Oceanside, Calif., to Atlantic City, N.J.
Star of Race Across America in 2007. (Kayvz / Wikimedia)
According to the event website, the challenging event is a 'unique opportunity to discover diverse landscapes' as riders will pass through 'lush forests, mystical deserts, and breathtakingly beautiful coasts.'
Attendees and fans cheer as racers of team RAAM Fireflies from the United Kingdom start the 3,000 mile Race Across America Powered by Trane, on Saturday, June, 15, 2013 in Oceanside, Calif. (Jeff Bottari/Invision for Trane/AP Images)
Pippa Middleton and James Middleton are seen at the Race Across America event in Oceanside, California on June 14, 2014 in San Diego, Calif. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
This might be one of the most extreme challenges in the world. Participants run seven marathons in seven days on seven continents.
The first marathon takes place in Antarctica and crosses the Antarctic Circle. The second is in Cape Town, South Africa, and the third in Perth, Australia.
(The Great World Race)
The fourth marathon takes place in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., and the fifth marathon Happens in the Algarve in Portugal.
(The Great World Race)
The sixth marathon takes place in Cartagena, Colombia, and finally, the seventh 42.2-kilometre run takes place in Miami.
(The Great World Race)
A lot of mystery surrounds the Barkley Marathons, a 160-kilometre course that is considered one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world. Only 20 people have competed it since 1995.
Gary Cantrell (centre) addresses the competitors moments before the start of the Barkley Marathon on March 31, 2007 at the Frozen Head Lake State Park in Caryville, Tenn. (Preston Keres/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The date and start time of the race is shared at the last minute, and no GPS or running watches are allowed. Runners must navigate the course with a map and compass, and have 60 hours to complete the entire route.
David Horton, a past participant in the Barkley Marathon checks the map where contestants will make their way through the woods Saturday, April 1, 2006 in Wartburg, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
French ultra-trail runner Aurelien Sanchez runs during a training session on the outskirts of Toulouse on Jan. 24, 2024. (ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
This 230-kilometre self-sufficient ultra marathon takes place in the Amazon Rainforest through Manu National Park in Peru.
(Beyond The Ultimate)
The race takes place in five stages over five days through jungle and rainforest.
(Beyond the Ultimate)
This race is ‘choked with mud and humidity' and the 'thin air doubles the effort required to move testing all of your physical and mental resilience,’ according to the race organizer.
(Beyond the Ultimate)
The marathon, held every year in Morocco, is a 250-km ultra-trail that takes part over six stages in extremely gruelling conditions.
Competitors take part in stage 5 of the 33rd edition of Marathon des Sables, in the Sahara desert, near Merzouga, southern Morocco, Friday, April 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The event includes an 11-day program with nine days spent in the Sahara Desert.
Competitors cross sand dunes as they take part in the final stage of the 33rd edition of Marathon des Sables during a sandstorm in the Sahara desert, near Merzouga, southern Morocco, Saturday, April 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Participants will discover a strength they never knew they had 'through the heat, the wind, the sand and the endless kilometers,' according to the race organizer.
A sandstorm sweeps across as competitors take part in the 33rd edition of Marathon des Sables, in the Sahara desert, near Merzouga, southern Morocco, Saturday, April 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
This unsupported 90-kilometre trek through the Scottish Highlands passes through Glen Nevis and the Grey Corries mountain range.
(Ramsay's Round)
Ramsay’s Round is not an official organized event, but the challenge must be logged and completed within 24 hours and in a specific way.
(Ramsay’s Round)
Participants must start and finish at Charlie’s Bench, Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. They must do the route either clockwise or anti clockwise, and they must visit all summits in the correct order, depending on the direction of travel.
Binnein Mor (1130 metres) at Glen Nevis, Fort William, Scotland, U.K., March 2, 2008. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
This 260-kilometre mountain bike race takes place from Costa Rica from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean coast over three days.
Racers climb up a hill during day 2 of La Ruta de Los Conquistadores on November 2, 2018 in Terramall, Costa Rica. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The route cross five mountain ranges climbing a total of 8,840 metres.
Juan Gabriel Valerin Machado of Costa Rica crosses a river with his bike during Day 1 of the La Ruta de Los Conquistadores on Nov. 1, 2018 in Jaco, Costa Rica. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Josep Betalu Constantino of Spain carries his bike across a railroad bridge during Day 3 of La Ruta de Los Conquistadores on November 3, 2018 in Limon, Costa Rica. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
This 160-kilometre-long challenge in Greenland is considered the world’s toughest cross-country ski competition.
(Arctic Circle Race)
Participants in this three-day adventure spend two nights in a camp surrounded by the white mountains and beautiful wilderness of Sisimiut, Greenland.
(Arctic Circle Race)
(Arctic Circle Race)
This 201-kilometre challenge is a canoe race from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in central London.
Two paddlers starting for the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon in Devizes Wharf, 2007. (Richardlai / Wikimedia Commons)
The gruelling three-day challenge, which started in 1948, also includes 77 portages.
(dwrace.co.uk)
(dwrace.co.uk)
The Absa Cape Epic is a ‘physically gruelling and mentally demanding mountain bike stage race’ in South Africa’s Western Cape, according to the organizer.
USA's Christopher Blevins (R) and teammate South Africa's Matthew Beers ride on trails during the prologue stage of the 2022 Cape Epic mountain bike stage race, which is a 24-kilometres time-trial, in the mountains above Somerset West, about 60 km from Cape Town, on March 20, 2022. (Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images)
The 707-kilometres route for 2026 includes 15,900 metres of climbing that will ‘humble the unprepared and honour the relentless.
Riders ride up Table Mountain during the prologue stage, which marks the start, of the 2018 Cape Epic African Mountain Bike Race in Cape Town, on March 18, 2018. (Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images)
Riders in the Elite group race up a track during the final stage (7) of the 2026 Cape Epic mountain bike race in the mountains above the town of Stellenbosch, on March 22, 2026. (Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images)
This 246-kilometre ultramarathon held annually in Greece has a 36-hour time limit – that’s more than six marathons per day.
Athletes set off at the starting line of the Spartathlon ultramarathon at the foot of the Athens Acropolis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2022. (Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The Spartathlon runs over muddy paths, vineyards, olive groves, steep hillsides and a 1,200 metre ascent and descent of Mount Parthenio at night.
Athletes compete during the Spartathlon ultramarathon in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2022. (Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Athletes compete during the 39th edition of Spartathlon, an ultramarathon race, at the foot of Acropolis in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 24, 2021. (Marios Lolos/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The annual 217-kilometre ultramarathon passes through three mountain ranges in Death Valley, Calif., in extreme mid-summer heat.
Competitors appear to shimmer as they run on the 62-degree Celsius pavement, in the 2008 Badwater Ultramarathon, in Death Valley, Calif., on July 14, 2008. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
The event begins in Badwater Basin, 85 metres below sea level, and finishes at the summit of Mount Whitney, at 2530 metres.
Mount Whitney is seen in the distance (R) as David Ploskonka of Baltimore, Maryland approaches the town of Lone Pine after completing more than 100 miles of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, Calif. (David McNew/Getty Images)
The first wave of runners leaves Badwater Basin during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 15, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (David McNew/Getty Images)
The Iditarod Trail Invitational is the world's longest running winter ultra-marathon, with participants biking, running and skiing through the Alaskan wilderness.
(Iditarod Trail Invitational)
Distances of 241 kilometres, 563 km, and a whopping 1,609 km require self-sufficiency and resilience, and considerable experience with tough winter challenges.
(Iditarod Trail Invitational)
(Iditarod Trail Invitational / Facebook)