Are Ultramarathoners Just Built Different?

Ultramarathoners can run with what seems like superhuman stamina. But are their bodies much different than the rest of ours?

‘Tis the season for exercise resolutions. For a select few, an ultramarathon—a race of 50, 100, or even more miles—may be on the table for 2026. But is there a limit to what our bodies can endure? And what makes ultramarathoners capable of these tremendous feats? 

Joining Host Flora Lichtman are sports medicine expert Brandee Waite and biological anthropologist Andrew Best.

Guests:
Dr. Brandee Waite is the director of UC Davis Health Sports Medicine in Sacramento, California.
Dr. Andrew Best is an assistant professor of biology at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

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