Here's The Reality Of Running The Burning Man 50k Ultramarathon
Hey! I'm Elizabeth; an Olympic skier, a semi-competitive runner, and a third-time Burning Man participant. Burning Man, held in Nevada's Black Rock City, transforms a desert into a vibrant city each August. It's guided by 10 principles, such as radical inclusion, gifting, and, radical self-reliance.
Many Burning Man participants are part of theme camps, each of which provide gifts, like ramen, ice cream, circus lessons, concerts, art cars, etc. This year, I helped BRC Snow Club build a ski and snowboard slope, and volunteered as a Ranger. The camp Pink Lightning gifts a 50k Ultramarathon for burners to participate in, and running it in 2023 and 2024 has been one of my most challenging and magical experiences. Here are 21 things to know if you're thinking about running it yourself.
1.It's so much better to run with a friend than to run solo.
Last year, my first year running the Burning Man ultramarathon, I ran the race solo. While a solo race provides an opportunity to meet and chat with other runners throughout the race, it's different than committing to running with someone from start to finish. I had several meaningful conversations last year, but also a lot of quiet and lonely moments out in the desert. This year, my BRC Snow Club campmate and friend Steven Gamboa (Stavi) and I ran together. Having someone to run the race with and to get to know the entire day was motivating. We both were able to encourage one another from start to finish, and that was a highlight of my Burning Man experience.
2.The course is four long laps around Burning Man.
The course mainly consists of four laps around the Burning Man Esplanade, and then a run out to the trash fence, which is one of the borders of Burning Man at deep playa. The course also runs through Center Camp, which is in the middle of Burning Man, and back through the Pink Lightning Camp. Since it happens it's early, it's nice to see the city wake up at different times of the day. While I do wish the course could also take runners through other parts of the city, it's interesting to get to know some fun spots at deep playa and on the Esplanade very well.
3.The race starts at 5 a.m. on the Tuesday of Burning Man.
At a time when most people at Burning Man are completing their long nights out or are already asleep, an activity with a 5 a.m. start is rare. So, headlamps and other decorative lights around runners are common at the starting line. The course starts at the Pink Lightning Camp, which organizes the race.
4.Having friends at the starting line is a bonus.
Having a small cheering group at the start is so motivating. The 2024 Burning Man Ultramarathon was Stavi's first race, and he encouraged some of his closest friends to cheer us on at the start and then find us throughout the race day.
5.Anything can happen with the weather, at any time.
This year's Burning Man Ultramarathon 2024 was blessed with mostly superb weather conditions and milder weather than usual. During last year's ultramarathon, pictured above, most runners experienced good weather at the start, then dusty conditions as the day progressed, as you can see by my selfies close to the start and end of the race. The dust isn't all bad though; it typically makes for a cooler and breezier day and is more manageable with a dust mask.
6.The cheering stations are fun and powerful.
It's so special to hear cheering from other participants during Burning Man. Every time I heard a cheer, it gave me a boost of energy for the race. I think cheering is powerful because, for a moment, I also feel connected to whoever that person cheering is; and at the moment, we're aligned towards that same goal.
7.The cheering is also spicy.
I never know what to expect at Burning Man, and this sign was a spicy one, but also fun and motivating. This was my favorite sign during the race.
8.Art and stages are seen from a different perspective during the day.
The course took us behind the massive eye stage, which was a unique view as it's usually seen by people in the dark during a concert. On the last lap, we needed to go in front of the eye, as construction had started on it. So we were able to take photos from both sides of it.
9.Shoes get worn out in the desert.
Shoes at Burning Man often get dusty, need cleaning, and sometimes are in need of repair because of the harsh conditions. Although the weather was mild, over 30 miles of racing in the desert in these shoes, my Nike Vaporflys — which have also gone through many other races — caused their retirement.
10.Shoeless racing is also possible.
Since Stavi ran much of the race with boots, the only type of shoes available to him during Burning Man, and my shoes were becoming a bit uncomfortable as well, we tried some sock-only running during the race. I had never run a race without shoes before, but the Burning Man Ultra seemed like the place to try it out, especially during the quieter desert parts. Here we are shoeless with lost skier art in deep playa.
11.Be prepared to run through lots of lighting bolts.
There are pink lighting bolts throughout the course (aptly named for the Pink Lightning Camp), and runners need to run through them. I enjoyed running through each bolt because it meant I had passed another marker on the course. Also, some of the lightning bolts meant that snacks and an aid station were nearby. I loved the variety of snacks at the race. Each runner was required to bring a snack item as entry for the race, and this created lots of snack options.
12.The race is on Tutu Tuesday, which means a lot of tutus.
Tutus are probably the most common outfit during the Burning Man Ultramarathon since it's on Tutu Tuesday. I wore a tutu during the 2023 race.
13.The art along the trash fence can be fun.
After four laps past much of the trash fence at Burning Man, it's easy to become super familiar with all the art it has. It's also fun to see the humor in it, and some art also made me miss my cat.
14.The art can also be inspiring.
What I love about Burning Man art is it's variety, and the Burning Man Ultramarathon provides an opportunity to see a lot of it, very closely. Participants often bike around Burning Man and maybe catch a few glimpses of certain art and occasionally take photos, but running towards and next to a piece several times helped me see it much more closely than I would have otherwise.
15.It's also possible to see miniature art
Both years, I've seen a variety of tennis racket art along the trash fence during the Ultramarathon.
16.The art can be empowering.
This unicorn art was one of my favorites at Burning Man, and the sense of movement and power through the desert also helped fuel the energy of some runners.
17.Running past earth while on earth can be wild.
I don't think there's another marathon or ultramarathon where I can say I ran past the earth, moon, and mars.
18.The Ultramarathons have helped me see myself from a different perspective.
After running 21 Marathons and three Ultramarathons, two of which have been the Burning Man Ultramarathons, this has been one of the most special races for me. I've now completed two races in the desert, in semi-harsh conditions, and I was able to inspire someone throughout the race, who equally inspired me.
19.The medals are cool.
The finisher medal was pretty cool this year. It's a rotating medal that has a different message each time the top part is moved.
20.After the race, it's back to the rest of the burn, and some soreness.
21.Finally, the Burning Man Ultramarathon can connect people both in and outside of Burning Man.
When I was in New York City earlier this year for stand-up comedy, I happened to wear a Burning Man Ultra 2023 shirt. Someone ran up to me and mentioned they had run it too last year! Considering that only 249 people finished the Burning Man Ultra all the way in Black Rock City, Nevada and that there are over eight million people in New York, I think the chances of that happening are infinitesimal. While I was running my second Burning Man Ultramarathon in 2024, just a few weeks ago, and in need of fuel, that same person biked up to me, offered Stavi and I snack, and said he recognized me from New York! A few nights later, my other friend Jeremy and I were biking around and in need of late-night food. We came across a camp offering ramen at 2 a.m., which happened to be Zach's camp! Coincidences like these are called Playa Magic at Burning Man, and it has been special to see Playa Magic come through both at Burning Man and in the default world.
Have you ever run the Burning Man Ultramarathon? Would you like to? Tell me in the comments!
