ARAL ULTRA 2026: Uzbekistan’s First 100 km Ultramarathon Held by the Aral Sea
Uzbekistan
The international ARAL ULTRA 2026 ultramarathon has concluded in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Held from October 1 to 3, the event marked Uzbekistan’s first-ever 100 km ultramarathon, with runners crossing the Ustyurt Plateau before finishing on the shores of the Aral Sea.
A total of 757 people took part in the ARAL ULTRA programme, including participants from 13 countries. International runners came from Russia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Andorra, Serbia, France, Türkiye and Belarus. Women accounted for 36% of participants and men for 64%.
The first two days were held in Nukus and featured KIDS RUN, a 2K race, running tours, plogging and a lecture programme at the I.V. Savitsky Museum. The 2K race attracted 333 participants, while 94 children took part in KIDS RUN.
The main race took place on October 3, with four trail distances: 100K, 50K, 25K and 15K. The 100K started at 04:00, followed by the 50K at 11:00, the 25K at 15:00 and the 15K at 16:30. All four distances finished at the same point on the Aral Sea shore. The 100K finishers became the first ultramarathon runners to complete the distance at a race in Uzbekistan. Strong winds and light rain added to the challenge.
A total of 270 runners finished: 25 in the 100K, 24 in the 50K, 99 in the 25K and 122 in the 15K. The average age of 100K participants was 36.
Nurzіyad Begaliyev won the men’s 100K in 09:54:19, while Irina Masanova took the women’s title in 10:57:18. The 50K winners were Alexey Kozlov and Elena Dubinina; the 25K winners were Daniil Sorokin and Valeria Korchashko; and the 15K winners were Shokhrukh Khujamshukurov and Nigora Tajibayeva.
ARAL ULTRA is part of the Samarkand Marathon Series, which follows sustainable development principles based on World Athletics recommendations. The series also directs funds toward building children’s sports grounds. ARAL ULTRA is included in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) calendar, with participants receiving ITRA points for completing the distances.
The first two days were held in Nukus and featured KIDS RUN, a 2K race, running tours, plogging and a lecture programme at the I.V. Savitsky Museum. The 2K race attracted 333 participants, while 94 children took part in KIDS RUN.
The main race took place on October 3, with four trail distances: 100K, 50K, 25K and 15K. The 100K started at 04:00, followed by the 50K at 11:00, the 25K at 15:00 and the 15K at 16:30. All four distances finished at the same point on the Aral Sea shore. The 100K finishers became the first ultramarathon runners to complete the distance at a race in Uzbekistan. Strong winds and light rain added to the challenge.
A total of 270 runners finished: 25 in the 100K, 24 in the 50K, 99 in the 25K and 122 in the 15K. The average age of 100K participants was 36.
Nurzіyad Begaliyev won the men’s 100K in 09:54:19, while Irina Masanova took the women’s title in 10:57:18. The 50K winners were Alexey Kozlov and Elena Dubinina; the 25K winners were Daniil Sorokin and Valeria Korchashko; and the 15K winners were Shokhrukh Khujamshukurov and Nigora Tajibayeva.
ARAL ULTRA is part of the Samarkand Marathon Series, which follows sustainable development principles based on World Athletics recommendations. The series also directs funds toward building children’s sports grounds. ARAL ULTRA is included in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) calendar, with participants receiving ITRA points for completing the distances.
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