Jonathan Basham

About

Jonathan Basham is an American ultrarunner and husband of fellow ultrarunner Amanda Basham, best known for setting the supported Fastest Known Time on Vermont's Long Trail in 2009 — completing all 273 miles and 66,000 feet of elevation gain in 4 days, 12 hours and 46 minutes, averaging more than 60 miles per day while sleeping fewer than five hours in total. He told Runner's World that the Long Trail "simply destroys the human body at that pace," describing the challenge of pacing through Vermont's oldest footpath with a support crew stationed at trailheads and shelters. On the race circuit, Basham was a fixture at the Mountain Masochist Trail Run 100K in Virginia across more than a decade (2005–2018), recording a career-best 5th place in 2006 (7:39:16). He finished 2nd at the Promise Land 50K in 2011 (4:40:55) and completed the Hardrock 100 in 2012 (18th overall, 31:58:00), the 161km high-alpine loop in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. A steady, determined presence at demanding mountain events, Basham represents the generation of American ultra runners who built careers on hard mountain terrain before the sport's social-media era.

Notable Wins

• — Vermont Long Trail FKT 2009 (supported
• — 273 miles
• — 4 days 12h 46m)
• — Hardrock 100 finisher 2012

Race History