If you've ever run a marathon, you've probably had a non-marathon colleague jokingly tell you, “I would never drive that far.” and get a look of surprise.
No doubt, running 26.2 miles is an impressive athletic feat; most common estimates suggest that only 1 percent of the population ever completes the distance. But the annual endurance race held on the indoor track at Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Center elevates the marathon to the status of the 100-meter sprint.
Participants in Pettit's 6 Days in the Dome event are challenged to run as many miles as possible over six consecutive days. The winner is the runner who completes the most laps of the 443-meter track within the 144-hour time limit. Last year, Nicolae Buceanu won, covering approximately 499 miles – more than 1,811 laps.
Sounds superhuman, right? But these competitors don't run nonstop for six days. Walking breaks are common, and participants can stop at any time to eat or sleep. Runners sleep in a hall of fame room on the second floor of Pettit. Unlike the track, which is adjacent to the speed skating rink, this room is kept at room temperature. Three meals are provided each day, plus a late-night snack. Electrolyte drinks, candy, cookies, salty snacks, soups, ramen and more are always available at aid stations just off the track, race organizer Mike Melton said.
New this year, 6 Days in the Dome will also feature a 10-day race, which Melton said organizers hope to make every two years.
The 10-day race begins Thursday, June 13, while the six-day race begins Monday, June 17. Spectators are welcome to watch the races, ask race organizers questions and learn more about a niche sport filled with participants with “deep passion” and knowledge, Melton said.
“It's really interesting,” said Melton, who has been a runner for more than 50 years and has completed six-day races. “For other people, it's like watching paint dry, but this is interesting paint.”
But why do people run for six or ten days?
The Six Day Dome Race debuted at Pettit in 2019. The race was started by Joe Feiges, the American record holder for the Six Day Race, who completed 606 miles in six days in 2013.
Just running this far is physically and mentally demanding, so Fejes wanted to control all of the external conditions of the race to simplify logistics and optimize performance: an indoor loop course means athletes don't have to carry anything while running and has easy access to food, water and supplements.
“The Pettit Center is always 55 degrees with 30 percent humidity,” Melton said. “There's no wind, no rain, no hail, and it's the exact same at 3 in the afternoon as it is at 3 in the morning. It takes away everything you can't control so you can just focus on running and executing your strategy.”
Ultra-endurance athletes have had great success at Pettit. During the first year of 6 Days in the Dome, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point grad Zach Bitter set then-world records in the 100-mile and 12-hour runs. Bitter completed the 100 miles in 11 hours, 19 minutes (under 6 minutes, 50 seconds per mile) and then ran an additional 41 minutes to set the then-12-hour record of 104.8 miles.
Numerous age group and national records have been set at Pettit during the various multi-day races. In addition to the 6-day and 10-day races, 6 Days in the Dome will host an invitation-only 24-hour race for elite athletes. This race, held on Saturday, June 15, is exclusively for athletes looking to set a record or earn a spot on the USA 24-Hour Running National Team.
Melton says people often assume that runners will get bored after running the same course literally hundreds of times, but in his experience, if you chat with fellow runners, take walks together, or take food breaks, you'll never get bored. In fact, friendships often form during the race.
Race organizers also plan to have runners change direction every six hours (again, to help reduce the physical strain) and play music to break up the monotony.
There are also shorter options for the race
The six-day Dome race isn't just for elite athletes: While the six- and ten-day races are already sold out, anyone (brave enough to take on the challenge) can sign up for the event's multiple 12-, 24-, 48- and 72-hour options.
These shorter races have multiple start dates: the 12-hour races will take place daily from June 17th to 22nd; the non-invitational 24-hour races will take place daily from June 16th to 22nd; the 48-hour races will take place daily from June 16th to 21st, and the 72-hour races will take place daily from June 16th to 20th.
Currently, there are about 100 people registered for the entire race, Melton said. Participants range from up-and-coming elites to older runners who want to complete the 100-mile distance but have a longer time limit than most races. Melton said the event is a great example of not judging people by their appearances.
“There's an incredibly diverse range of people. It's not just what you see on TV running in the Olympic marathon. We're a bunch of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Some are tall, some are skinny, some are fat, some are short. Some are young, some are old.”
When and where will 6 Days in the Dome 2024 take place?
The 6 Days in the Dome races will be held at the Pettit National Ice Center, 500 S. 84th St. in Milwaukee.
The event will kick off with 10 days of racing starting at noon on Thursday, June 13th. Other races will start at various times throughout the 10 days. All racing will conclude on Sunday, June 23rd. The full schedule can be found here.
How to register for 6 Days in the Dome 2024
Registration is still available for the 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour runs. For more information and to register, visit UltraSignup.com.
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