Women dominate Rauðavatn Ultra endurance race

Women have outlasted the men at the Rauðavatn Ultra endurance race, where competitors are taking part in three, six, 12 and 24-hour events. The race is being held for the second time, mbl.is reports.

Participants try to complete as many laps as their endurance allows. Six runners have withdrawn from the 100-kilometre race, which also serves as Iceland’s national championship in that distance.

“The women are much tougher than the men. They are all still in the 24-hour race,” organiser Sigurjón Ernir Sturluson said about 22 hours after the event began at 6pm on Friday.

The 24-hour race ends at 6pm on Saturday. The half-marathon and full marathon began in the morning, and all or nearly all of those runners had finished by the time of the report.

Rain began when the race started and continued throughout the night, making conditions difficult and prompting several competitors to drop out.

Participation has been lower than last year. Sigurjón said registrations for races had generally been weaker this summer, following a record year in 2025.

“Many people are running, but fewer are competing, and I simply do not know why,” he said. He added that the upcoming Reykjavík Marathon was unlikely to explain the lower turnout, since registration for Rauðavatn Ultra had been open throughout the summer.