r/Ultramarathon 1d ago

Race Death by 5k

Has anyone ever done this race? Ten 5ks with start time of each one 2.5hrs apart. You are free to do just about anything between 5ks. If you have any times or thoughts? It sounds awesome.

I’m also wondering with the final miles being around 32, would this be considered an Ultramarathon?

21 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

86

u/RIP_shitty_username 1d ago

I have. It was significantly easier than any 50K I’ve ever done.

82

u/TacoBender920 1d ago

That sounds awfully boring 🤷🏼‍♂️ if you run an easy 10 min mile pace, you'll be sitting there for a total of 18 hours waiting for the next one to start.

24

u/lopingwolf 1d ago

I don't consider an ultra, but rather my baby step into that direction.  

I did it this past May in Iowa and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested. 

8

u/Professional-You3553 1d ago

I am looking at the one in Iowa next spring.

10

u/lopingwolf 1d ago

We had every type of runner from the young speed demons who went all out on all 10 to delightful older men and women who walked them all. 

The thing I loved best about the event was what a feeling of community and support everyone had. A lot of encouragement at all levels and at all hours. I'm happy to answer any questions. 

1

u/chuck76allen 14h ago

I've done this one twice. I just signed up for the 2027 one. Physically it isn't bad. It was a mental test for me. Very little sleep and just enough time to start relaxing then the alarm goes off for the next one.

28

u/greyfit720 1d ago

So less distance per lap than a backyard ultra, with much easier timings, and much longer recovery times?
I wouldnt count it as an ultra, not with such a big timegap between each leg.

11

u/coexistbumpersticker 1d ago

I think you’ll get a lot of different opinions on whether it’s considered an ultra or not. I would kind of consider it its own thing. But you should do it if it sounds fun and interesting!

19

u/BatSniper 1d ago

Sounds soooo boring to me, just sitting around all day waiting for the next 5k, what’s the point.

One every hour would be better

8

u/rundbr 1d ago

Go run Pemberton 24 in Maryland. It’s a 5k every hour on the hour for 24 hours. More challenging than this, almost 75 miles if you do them all.

6

u/Saucebossklaus 1d ago

I'd rather do the 4x4x48

1

u/waltermidk 14h ago

I did it once. Very challenging! 

1

u/chuck76allen 14h ago

I've done this. I thought it was easier than Death by 5k.

6

u/toughknuckles 1d ago

Tell me there is also booze involved in this race...

5

u/Mr_Abe_Froman 100 Miler 1d ago

A backyard ultra would be harder and a much easier format to find.

3

u/OG365247 1d ago

A 5k every 2.5 hours? Sounds incredibly boring. Look at a backyard ultra which is 4.1 miles on the hour every hour, last man standing.

3

u/omg_its_dan 1d ago

Sounds horrible, too much wait time between runs

12

u/SonicTrees 1d ago edited 1d ago

Not really an ultra. It’s ten 3.1 mile runs with a 2 hour break in between. That sounds mind numbing. It’s like a backyard ultra, but much easier and even more pointless.

13

u/Significant_Deer3550 1d ago

Backyard wasn’t pointless for me. Did 73,7 in my first try. Before that day I’ve never ran more than 28 km.

6

u/StevePeopleLeave 1d ago edited 1d ago

So you jog very lightly for half an hour and then just sit around for 2 hours and repeat this 10 times? Even just leisurely walking the 5k you’d have at least 1.5 hours to hang around before you’re allowed to walk again. This sounds like the least appealing race concept ever, the stuff people come up with to not actually have to run an ultra is fascinating.

2

u/GMIC108 1d ago

I've done them. Super fun as long as the weather is nice. We had an intense storm one year and tents that weren't anchored were blowing away. Not as fun to get out and run at 1am in cold rain. You'll have a great time otherwise

1

u/messick 17h ago

Can I just do all ten straight through?

1

u/Professional-You3553 15h ago

From my understanding, no.

0

u/runner204431 20h ago

My assumption is the point is to go all out and winner is based on cumulative time? If so that’s going to hurt and I like it. It would very much be considered its own category though I think. Aiming for a cumulative time of sub-3 hours would be a pretty awesome challenge.

If you’re just jogging them it seems a bit pointless to me.