Toughest Endurance Sports In The World
Through their hugely popular, €œThe Fittest Sport€, PledgeSports discovered which sports boast the fittest athletes on the planet. Now, we switch our focus to endurance sports and determining what are €œThe Toughest Endurance Sports€.
If youre wondering what the difference between fitness and endurance is, weve explained it here.
The Toughest Endurance Sports
In this series, they analyse the worlds toughest endurance sports to determine which sport demands the greatest level of endurance from its respective athletes.
Endurance is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to repeatedly exert force against resistance. Performing multiple repetitions of an exercise is a form of muscular endurance.
At PledgeSports theyve helped a huge number of endurance athletes from a wide range of sports raise money through crowdfunding, from amateur level to Olympic, to professional. Because of their passion for endurance sport, theyve decided to delve a little deeper and explain the science behind these sports and the endurance of their athletes.
Here are the World’s Toughest Endurance Sports.
Running
Imagine the pain of contesting the worlds most extreme ultra races like Badwater 135 €“ a 135-mile run through Death Valley in temperatures of +100 degrees; The Barkley Marathons 60,000 feet of changing elevation through Tennesees steep, unmarked Frozen Head State Park; Marathon Des Sables 150-mile run staged in the searing Sahara heat, and The Ruts 20,000 feet of elevation change over 31 miles of exposed, highly technical terrain.
Here are 5 expert tips on surviving an ultra-run
What could possibly be more demanding€”physically and mentally€”than pushing the body relentlessly mile after mile in these races?
Find out why Ultra Running is such a tough endurance sport here.
Cycling
At some point, the majority us have sat down and watched a bit of the Tour de France. The worlds top riders make it look easy as they glide through mountainous French terrain at an average speed of 25 miles per hour.
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But as many of us fail to look beyond the flawless performance of the rider in the yellow jersey, we never truly understand the level of endurance required to finish races like the 2,100 mile Tour de France, the 2,220 mile Giro DItalia, the famous Pyrenees passage of the Vuelta a Espana, or the 1,100 miles Iditarod Invitational which takes place in Alaskas -50 degrees temperatures.
Cycling endurance in detail €“ check it out.
Cross-Country Skiing
Not everyone has experienced heavy snow so let us pose this question €“ Have you ever tried going for a run on a soft beach?
Doing so exaggerates the difficulties of running and the pressure on your muscles to work hard as they wade through the heavy sand. Now, think of doing the same again, while wearing a pair of skis and feeling a mix of sharp sub-zero temperatures and high altitude pressure.
Were such big fans of Ultra Athletes that weve dedicated a section of our blog to them
We have worked with enough cross-country skiers to know that the sport demands endurance of the highest degree, but many may not fully appreciate just how tough these guys are.
Read the full article here.
Ocean Rowing
Reaching the summit of Mount Everest has long been symbolic of mans ability to conquer nature and, perhaps more pertinently, himself. But as more have stood on top of the world, the less mystique the conquest holds.
So what else? What is there to test mans courage and determination? What challenge can now push someone to the brink and beyond?
Youve seen the Top Endurance Sports €“ now check out the Most Dangerous Sports In The World
Well, lets take a look at the ultimate endurance athletes who navigate thousands of miles as they row across the likes of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Learn more here.
Open Water Swimming
Rough conditions, cold water, sharks, jellyfish, tides, currents, long distances, high altitudes and logistical considerations are the primary obstacles of open water swimming.
This tough endurance sport tests every single muscle fibre of its athletes, pushing them to the limits as they try to navigate the unpredictable nature of unprotected bays, seas and oceans.
Some of the worlds hardest races include the 72-mile, shark infested Kaieiewaho Channel in Hawaii, the monstrous 103-mile Florida Strait and the sub-zero temperatures of Lake Pumori, perched on the side of Mount Everest.
