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MULTIDAYRUNNING
Athlete profile · Sources reviewed Oct 12, 2026

Wolfgang Schwerk

Former 3,100-mile world-record holder and M60 record setter

Wolfgang Schwerk held the 3,100-mile world record. The IAU lists his M60 48-hour record and six-day world-best performance.

GermanySolingen, GermanySri Chinmoy Marathon TeamM70–74
41d 08:16:293,100-mile bestFormer world record · 2006378.916 kmIAU M60 48-hour recordCurrent official record · 2016874.254 kmIAU M60 six-day bestListed world-best performance · 2016
01 · Athlete overview

The record so far

Wolfgang Schwerk is a German multiday ultrarunner whose competitive record extends from the 1980s into the M70 category. His results include landmark performances at 24 and 48 hours, six and seven days, and 3,100 miles.

Schwerk won the 3,100 Mile Race in 2002 with a world record of 42 days, 13:24:03, then improved it to 41 days, 08:16:29 in 2006. The latter mark stood until Ashprihanal Aalto ran 40 days, 09:06:21 in 2015.

At age 60, Schwerk covered 378.916 kilometers at the 48-hour split and 874.254 kilometers over six days in Balatonfüred. The IAU lists the 48-hour mark as the M60 world record and the six-day mark as an M60 world-best performance, while his continued 48-hour racing in 2026 illustrates an unusually long competitive career.

02 · Career highlights

Defining performances

2016

IAU M60 48-hour record and six-day best

Recorded 378.916 kilometers at 48 hours and 874.254 kilometers after six days in Balatonfüred; the IAU lists a category world record at 48 hours and a world-best performance at six days.

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2007

1,010.080 km in six days

Won the Erkrath race outright and became one of the few runners to surpass 1,000 kilometers within six days.

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2006

3,100-mile world record

Won in 41 days, 08:16:29, improving his own record by more than 29 hours.

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2002

First 3,100-mile victory

Won in a then-world-record 42 days, 13:24:03.

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03 · Selected results

Performance history

Selected results, not a complete race history. Rankings and record descriptions reflect the cited sources at their review dates. Distances may use different rounding conventions.

Selected ultramarathon results for Wolfgang Schwerk
DateEventPerformanceResultSource
Borne To Run 48-Hour Charity Run48-hour road200.541 km1st M70 · 23rd manView ↗
Borne To Run 48-Hour Charity Run48-hour road270.630 km1st M70 · 8th overallView ↗
EMU Six Day World TrophySix-day road874.254 kmIAU M60 world-best performanceView ↗
EMU Six Day World Trophy — 48-hour split48-hour road378.916 kmIAU M60 recordView ↗
Sri Chinmoy Ten-Day RaceTen-day road1,334.146 km1st overallView ↗
Athens International Ultramarathon FestivalSeven-day road1,012.000 km1st overallView ↗
Erkrath Six-Day RaceSix-day track1,010.080 km1st overallView ↗
Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race3,100-mile road41d 08:16:29Winner · former world recordView ↗
Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race3,100-mile road50d 03:04:394th overallView ↗
Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race3,100-mile road42d 13:24:03Winner · former world recordView ↗
04 · Keep exploring

Related coverage

Format guide

Six-Day Racing

Explore the discipline behind Schwerk’s 1,010-kilometer performance.

Runner profile

Yiannis Kouros

The benchmark multiday athlete whose records frame Schwerk’s era.

Runner profile

Tsai Wen-Ya

The current women’s 3,100-mile world-record holder.

Training

How to train for a 6-day race

A 24-week framework with an example training week.

Race strategy

Sleep strategy for multiday races

An individual sleep plan with safe locations and clear stop criteria.

Runner directory

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