Ultra running covers distances over distances longer than the traditional marathon length of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometres). The most common distances are 50 kilometres and 100 kilometres but races can also be over a time period, such as 24 hours.  

The International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) organises World and European Championships at 100km (from 1987) and 24 hours (from 2001), with a Trail Championship introduced in 2007 and held 2-yearly to 2015, after which it became an annual event. A 50km World Trophy race commenced in 2009, after previously being held as a European event, evolving into the IAU World Championship in 2015. Scottish athletes have won individual gold, silver or bronze medals at the IAU World Championships as follows:

Gold – Simon Pride (1999, 100km, 6:24:05), Ellie Greenwood (2010, w100km, 7:29:05short), Ellie Greenwood (2014, w100km, 7:30:30).

Silver – Donald Ritchie (1987, 100km, 6:40:51), Trudi Thomson (1994, w100km, 7:42:17), Angela Mudge (2009, Trail, 8:12:29), Joasia Zakrzewski (2011, w100km, 7:41:06), Joasia Zakrzewski (2011, w50km, 3:26:37), Joasia Zakrzewski (2014, w50km, 3:33:23).

Bronze – Lucy Colquhoun (2011, Trail, 7:57:20), Joasia Zakrzewski (2014, w100km, 7:42:02), Joasia Zakrzewski (2016, w100km, 7:41:48).

The IAU European Championships commenced in 1992 at 100km and 24 hours, with the 50km European Trophy introduced in 2004 before being converted to a World Trophy. Scottish athletes who have won individual medals at these Championships are:

Gold – Ellie Greenwood (2010, 100km, 7:29:05).

Silver - Lynn Harding (1995. 100km, 7:52:23), Rosalyn Alexander (2004, 50km, 3:55:55), Joasia Zakrzewski (2011, 100km, 7:41:06).

Bronze – Donald Ritchie (1999, 24hr, 222.454km), Simon Pride (2004, 100km, 6:48:48), Sharon Law (2013, 24hr, 226.107km), Joasia Zakrzewski (2015, 100km, 7:31:33).

Commonwealth Mountain and Ultradistance Running Championships have been held in 2009 (Keswick) and 2011 (Llandudno). Scottish individual medal winners have been as follows:

Silver - Angela Mudge (2011, 55km trail, 4:05:54).

Bronze - Lucy Colquhoun (2009, 100km, 8:19:45).

Team medals have been won by Scotland in the competition:

Silver - Lucy Colquhoun, Gail Murdoch, Isobel Knox, Sandra Bowers (100km, 2009); Angela Mudge, Lucy Colquhoun, Nathalie Christie, Claire Gordon (55km trail, 2011).

Bronze - Grant Jeans, Andrew Rankin, Paul Hart (100km, 2009); Steve Mason, William Sichel, Ritchie Cunningham (24hr, 2009); Pauline Walker, Lynne Kuz, Fiona Rennie (24hr, 2009); Debbie Martin-Consani, Sharon Law, Pauline Walker (24hr, 2011).

A British 100km Road Championship has officially been held since 1989. Scottish athletes who have won medals at these Championships are:

Gold – Donald Ritchie 1990, 1992; William Sichel 1999; Alan Reid 2001; Craig Stewart 2011; Ross Houston 2015; Robert Turner 2018. Kate Todd 1999, Sue Bruce 2005, Sophie Mullins 2019.

Silver – Donald Ritchie 1993, 1996; William Sichel 1995, 1998; Simon Pride 1997; Alan Reid 2000; Robert Turner 2019. Jackie Bird 1994, Isobel Clark 1995, Kate Todd 1996, 1997; Sandra Bowers 2007, 2008; Natalie Christie 2010; Rosie Bell 2015, Morgan Windram 2019.

Bronze - Donald Ritchie 1991, 1995, 1998; Simon Pride 1996; Alan Reid 2002; Thomas Loehndorf 2012; Donald Campbell 2013; Paul Giblin 2014; Robert Turner 2016; Kyle Greig 2019. Carol Cadger 2000, Lynne Kuz 2003, Debbie Cox 2004, 2006; Elaine Calder 2008; Gail Murdoch 2010; Sophie Mullins 2016, Joanna Murphy 2019.

The following documents give details of British team placings and the performances of Scottish athletes within the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team at each of the international championships.

The first Scottish Ultra Championship was the 100km championship, held in 1992. Don Ritchie won the men's title in 7:01:27 and that time was not bettered until 2015 when Ross Houston won in 6:43:35. In 2022, Jason Kelly set a new championship best of 6:42:23.

Stephen Moore, the English athlete from Hertford, has won the title on 4 occasions, Robert Turner on 3.

It took a while for the women's championship to gain momentum. Joanna Murphy is the only athlete to have bettered 8 hours (twice) with a CBP of 7:41:12.

Eleanor Robinson, Lynne Kuz, Deborah Cox, Sandra Bowers and Rosie Bell have each won the title on 3 occasions.

The 50km  championship commenced in 1996 and, in recent times, has been held once every 3 years. Terry Mitchell has won the title on 5 occasions with Ross Houston holding the championship best of 2:56:37.

Perth's Carol Cadger has 5 victories in the women's race with Kate Jenkins setting the best performance of 3:43:35 in 2011.