Fastest 50 Mile Run Times | World Records & Facts

Key Points

The fastest 50-mile run time is likely 4 hours, 48 minutes, and 21 seconds, set by Charlie Lawrence in 2023.
Research suggests this record, set at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile, was ratified by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) in January 2024.
There’s some controversy, as another source claimed a faster time of 4 hours and 28 minutes, but this seems unlikely and may be an error.

The Fastest 50-Mile Run

The evidence leans toward Charlie Lawrence holding the current record at 4 hours, 48 minutes, and 21 seconds, achieved in November 2023 at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile in Vienna, Illinois. This time was officially recognized by the IAU, the governing body for ultramarathon records, and ratified in January 2024. It’s an impressive feat, averaging about 5 minutes and 46 seconds per mile over 50 miles, showcasing extraordinary endurance.

However, there’s an unexpected detail: another source, Running Level, claims the fastest time is 4 hours and 28 minutes, which would be significantly faster. This seems implausible given the context of ultramarathon records and lacks supporting evidence, suggesting it might be a typo or misreported data. For now, Charlie Lawrence’s time appears to be the most reliable record based on multiple credible sources.

Detailed Survey Note

The quest to identify the fastest 50-mile run time involves navigating a complex landscape of ultramarathon records, governed primarily by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) for distances beyond standard marathon lengths. The 50-mile distance, approximately 80.47 kilometers, falls within the IAU’s jurisdiction, as it exceeds the 50-kilometer mark recognized by World Athletics. This analysis draws on various sources to provide a comprehensive overview, addressing both men’s and women’s records for completeness, though the focus is on the fastest overall time.

Background on 50-Mile Ultramarathons

Ultramarathons, defined as races longer than the traditional 42.195-kilometer marathon, include distances like 50 miles, often raced on roads, trails, or mixed surfaces. The 50-mile distance is popular in events like the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile, known for its IAU Gold Label status and USATF certification, ensuring accurate measurement for record purposes. The IAU, alongside World Athletics, ratifies world records, with the IAU handling events from 50 kilometers up to six days, including 50 and 100 miles.

Men’s 50-Mile World Record

The current men’s record, and likely the fastest overall, is held by Charlie Lawrence, who ran 4 hours, 48 minutes, and 21 seconds on November 11, 2023, at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile in Vienna, Illinois. This performance, averaging 5:46 per mile, beat the previous record of 4:50:08 set by Jim Walmsley in 2019 at a HOKA event. Lawrence’s record was ratified by the IAU on January 16, 2024, as confirmed by Denver7, solidifying its status. His effort, run without pacers on a crushed gravel rail trail, highlights the physical and mental demands of the distance.

Women’s 50-Mile World Record for Context

While the query focuses on the fastest time, it’s worth noting the women’s record for completeness. Courtney Olsen set a new women’s 50-mile world record of 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 56 seconds on November 9, 2024, also at the Tunnel Hill 50 Mile, beating the previous record of 5:40:18 set by Ann Trason in 1991. This record, pending IAU ratification as of November 2024, underscores the event’s significance for ultrarunning history (iRunFar).

Discrepancy in Reported Times

An intriguing point emerged from Running Level, which claims the fastest 50-mile time is 4 hours and 28 minutes for men and 4:56:00 for women, with no specific runner or date provided. This time, translating to a 5:22 per mile pace, is faster than Lawrence’s record and seems implausible given the context of ultramarathon records. For comparison, the marathon world record (26.2 miles) is around 2 hours and 1 minute, or about 4:37 per mile, and extending that pace to 50 miles is extraordinarily challenging. The lack of corroborating evidence suggests this may be a typo or error, possibly conflating with other distances or records.

To explore, a table of the fastest times by age from Running Level is included below, highlighting the 4:28:00 claim for men aged 20-30, which appears inconsistent with IAU records:

Age	Male WR	Female WR
10	05:20:44	05:58:39
15	04:37:33	05:18:58
20	04:28:00	04:57:54
25	04:28:00	04:56:00
30	04:28:00	04:56:00
35	04:29:29	04:57:10
40	04:36:24	05:03:13
45	04:47:50	05:15:04
50	05:00:23	05:33:38
55	05:14:04	05:55:49
60	05:29:05	06:21:09
65	05:45:35	06:50:22
70	06:03:50	07:24:27
75	06:28:48	08:05:00
80	07:09:09	09:07:08
85	08:14:17	10:55:18
90	10:05:47	14:24:29

Analysis and Conclusion

Given the IAU’s role and the ratification process, Charlie Lawrence’s 4:48:21 is the most credible current record for the men’s 50-mile run, set in 2023 and confirmed in early 2024. The 4:28:00 claim lacks supporting evidence and appears to be an outlier, possibly a data entry error. For the fastest overall time, Lawrence’s record stands, with no evidence of a faster time set between November 2023 and February 2025, the current date. This analysis ensures a thorough examination, acknowledging the complexity of ultrarunning records and the importance of official ratification.