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Marathon Monk Ultra

location_on

Hillsborough, North Carolina, United States

calendar_today 05 Jun, 2026 – 06 Jun, 2026

directions_run Running

sell $275.00

About the Event

Join us for a rare and intimate Ultramarathon gathering at Sky Maple Farm featuring Marathon Monk Mitsunaga Endo Tai-Ajari of Japan. Ajari is the 50th monk in modern history to complete the legendary Kaihogyo, the thousand-day walking meditation practiced by Tendai Buddhist monks on Mt. Hiei in Japan. This profound discipline requires monks to walk tens of thousands of miles over seven years in continuous prayer and meditation, a path so demanding that only a small number of practitioners have completed it in over a millennium.

At the heart of the experience is a one-mile forest loop where participants can run or walk alongside the Marathon Monk. Moving at their own rhythm and free from clocks or competition, participants are encouraged to explore the loop as a form of moving meditation. A Mala bead will be given for every lap completed, allowing participants to track their distance without clocks or cell phones.

When participants step off the path there will be a series of contemplative practices offered across the farm. Floating sound baths, sunset yoga, and binaural meditations will be coupled with equine-assisted meditation.

As the sun sets, the gathering concludes with a vegetarian farm-to-table dinner. The night will include teachings, meditation, and an open dialogue with the Ajari-sama.

Races Offered

108 Miles

Jun 05, 2026

straighten

Distance — 108 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

14:30

sell

$275.00

81 Miles

Jun 05, 2026

straighten

Distance — 81 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

23:30

sell

$275.00

54 Miles

Jun 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 54 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

05:30

sell

$275.00

Marathon

Jun 06, 2026

straighten

Distance — 27 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

11:30

sell

$275.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for June in Hillsborough.

thermostat Temperature

18.7° / 29.7°

wb_sunny Feels like

19.2° / 30.1°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

11h 49m

water_drop Avg rainfall

2.2 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

9.3 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

High

terrain Course conditions

Hard and dry surface

sunny Max UV Index

Very High (8.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

69.7%

wb_twilight Sunrise

05:59

nightlight Sunset

20:34

About Hillsborough

Learn more about the host city, Hillsborough.

Hillsborough is an incredibly historic town in North Carolina, important to the history of the state. Easily accessible from nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, it has a cute historic downtown and a "small town" feel.