There are thousands of American foot races, from local 5Ks and 10Ks to half-marathons, marathons, and ultramarathons, but why are there no options available for the millions of people who don’t want to run, or can’t run, but still want to be part of a challenge? That’s what Michael Mitreuter, a German-born professional in the active lifestyle and endurance industry, wondered to himself in 2020.

The result is MammothMarch, a series of twenty- and thirty-mile hikes that push your mental and physical endurance limits. Inspired by similar events that are popular in Europe, Mitreuter planned and held his first US-based versions in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic—a time when Americans were rediscovering their love of nature. Two years later, there are fifteen events being held from Michigan to Florida.

The ultimate hike

The mindset of MammothMarch is summarized well by one of its taglines: not your average hike. You have two options: doing a twenty-mile hike in eight hours or, at some locations, trying a thirty-mile hike over twelve hours. True to the hiking mindset, the events are held rain or shine. (“A lot can change weather-wise over eight or twelve hours,” Mitreuter notes.)

If you’re already thinking There’s no way I can do that, think again. “A lot more people can finish our event than a marathon,” Mitreuter states. “Still, putting one foot in front of the other for eight hours straight is more of a mental challenge than people realize. But that’s where the hiking community has a huge impact on the event. Hikers bask in the great outdoors. And rather than competing, everyone is cheering for each other to get to the finish line.”

The organizers also do everything humanly possible to turn a potentially taxing challenge into an enjoyable one. As opposed to road races, the hikers are sent out every thirty seconds in groups of five so, as Mitreuter says, “they can enjoy some breathing room with their group during the hike.” The route is clearly marked throughout the hike, and you can also use your phone’s GPS to make sure you stay on track. Food and drinks are offered at refreshment stations along the trail and at the finish line, as are portable toilets. Safety is also a top priority: medical assistance is available at each march, and you’re given an emergency number if you require help at any time.

Need a little more time to complete your hike? No worries—representatives wait an extra few hours after the scheduled end time for everyone to finish. Mitreuter cites an example of a pair of hikers who took thirteen hours to finish a twenty-mile march. Darkness had fallen, everything was packed up except for the final participants’ medals, and the parking lot was empty—and yet “they were the happiest people crossing the finish line.”

Benefits abound

Once you cross the finish line, you’ll have a feeling of accomplishment like no other—and the MammothMarch organizers hammer home that feeling by giving you both a finisher medal and a spot on their wall of fame. And every participant, finisher or not, gets a personalized certificate to show that they gave it a go.

But there’s another important benefit to spending your day in the great outdoors: the organization partners with a reforestation nonprofit to plant a tree for every registered hiker. In 2022 alone, this resulted in over 5,400 trees being planted thanks to MammothMarch participants. “That’s been part of our mission from the get-go,” Mitreuter explains. “We want to not only promote the trails and parks we use but also conduct low-to-zero-waste events. We also pride ourselves on having a ‘leave no trace’ mindset: leaving our venues better than we found them. We have a sweeper crew, which walks behind the last group of hikers to remove both our signs and any trash—whether or not it’s from our event.”

The sky’s the limit

The bottom line is that you’ll discover something about yourself over the course of the day during a MammothMarch hike. “Unlike a race, you don’t strive to be faster than anyone at our events. You walk at your own pace, and everyone gets the same medal for finishing,” Mitreuter concludes. “So each participant has to find out for themselves what they get out of it. For one person, it may be a big achievement to finish within eleven hours, and for someone else, it’s seven. But no matter your situation, you’ll find out what you’re capable of and feel like you can go well beyond what you ever thought possible.”

For more info, visit mammothmarch.com