What's the Ultimate Distance for an Ultra?

With this month having a lot of high profile 50ks like Way Too Cool and Chuckanut (both with around 700 runners and high quality fields), I wondered what people think the true test of ultrarunning is, in terms of distance. Obviously it's harder to finish a 100 miler than to finish a 50k, but running a 50k really fast seems to get punished in the general consensus of what's the most 'impressive'. Leor Pantilat is a good example as he is almost unbeatable at 50k and showed last year he can run a 50 miler with a 6:00 CR at Quicksilver 50 with something like 7,000ft of climb (probably the most impressive ultra performance of the year but sadly overlooked in general).

So I've added a poll to my site - what's the true test of an ultrarunner? Running any ultra distance hard and fast is tough but I personally think the shorter distances deserve more respect. There's no time to walk or go easy for a few miles in races under 100 miles for the fastest guys and girls, but in a 100-miler you can slow down for a bit and recover with it barely affecting your result.

UPDATE: Here are the results of the poll:

What's the true test of an ultrarunner (not just finishing, but finishing well)?

131 votes

- Over 100 miles 9%
- 100 miles 38%
- 100k 17%
- 50 miles/double marathon 32%
- 50k 1%
(percentages don't add up to 100% due to rounding)

I expected 100 miles to win it by more. But I think it shows that any distance for ultras can be considered the ultimate test if you give it your all.

What races are exciting people for 2012?

From a small sample in a poll on my blog for the past week, it looks like most people who voted aren't all that excited about the biggest ultras in the world, possibly because they aren't doing them...I doubt many who got into Western States in the lottery aren't overly excited about it. But in general WS still seems to be capturing the attention of the (mainly US-based) people who occasionally flick through my blog. I wonder if this would be different in a year's time after some of the newer races have become more established.

Anyway, here are the non-indicative results.

17% Western States 100
10% Steamboat (Run, Rabbit, Run) 100
 7% UTMB
 7% Comrades
 3% UROC 100k
 3% TNF Endurance Challenge San Francisco
50% Something else

(doesn't add to 100% due to rounding)