They say that to run far, you need strong legs. But it seems to me that an ultramarathon does not begin with your legs. It begins somewhere much deeper — with character, inner discipline, and the ability not to stop when an ordinary person would have told themselves long ago: enough.
Mykola Taran is an ultramarathon runner, a five-time Ukrainian record holder, an organizer of charity runs in Europe and the United States, a writer on running, and a pacer. He is a young man in whom talent, endurance, strength, and, it seems, a constant desire to test where human limits really end have somehow come together.
He calls himself an amateur, even though he has been running for more than ten years. He says running entered his life by accident but stayed forever. At first, it was a way to travel and see the world. Then it became a remedy for a bad mood. And eventually, it turned into a long conversation with himself.
For some, a 42-kilometer marathon is the ultimate goal. For Mykola, that is no longer enough. He calls ultramarathoning his superpower, a celebration, and a chance to truly feel alive. And while others pay for rest and relaxation, he pays for the right to run more than 50 kilometers, push through fatigue and pain, and overcome his own doubts.
Recently, Mykola Taran won the Kenai River Marathon in Alaska, finishing first among men. In doing so, he once again sought to draw attention to the war in Ukraine and supported UNITED24’s “Development of Sports” initiative.
Who is Mykola Taran: a person who simply loves running, or someone who rediscovers himself through running again and again? Where does he find the strength not only to cover great distances, but also to inspire others and turn every race into a way to help those in need? Mykola Taran spoke exclusively to Vilni Media about his experiences, emotions, and plans.
— How did running enter your life? Was it accidental, something you had done since childhood, or a way to escape from something difficult?
— Officially, I have been running for more than ten years. I am an amateur, although I did track and field for five years at university. You could say running came into my life by accident, but it stayed forever.
I was always active, and perhaps it was that childhood energy that eventually led me to running. Running also came into my life when I developed a strong desire to travel. It was through running that I began turning my running trips into reality.
For example, there was a time when I could never have imagined that I would run the Los Angeles Marathon twice and see with my own eyes the places where movies we once watched on television were filmed.
— Why ultramarathons specifically? What does a person need to have inside them to voluntarily run 50, 100, or 250 kilometers?
— For me, an ultramarathon is a kind of superpower because not everyone is capable of covering such a distance. A 42-kilometer marathon is, of course, great, but that is no longer enough for me.
And the most interesting part is that we actually pay to run. Registration for marathons and ultradistance races, including those longer than 50 kilometers, costs money.
But for me, these are emotions you simply cannot experience on an ordinary day. It is like a celebration. A chance to truly feel that you are alive. An ultramarathon is a long journey during which you can talk to yourself and understand where the limits of your abilities lie.
— At what point did running stop being simply a sport and become a mission?
— Probably after I achieved the goal I had been working toward for two years — running the Los Angeles Marathon. I spent two years moving toward that goal. I achieved it, but instead of stopping, I realized that running itself had helped me get so far from home and see a completely different world.
— One of your main ideas is to organize charity runs for Ukraine. Was it difficult to put this into practice in Europe and now in America, far from home?
— The charity runs began when I got the opportunity to travel outside Ukraine and saw that almost no one wanted to organize them. It is volunteer work that requires a lot of time and effort, and finding support is not always easy.
At the same time, I realized that such runs are a great opportunity to bring Ukrainians abroad together, support their morale, and remind the world about Ukraine.
Since I had already represented Ukraine at many races in Europe, I decided to combine my own runs with charity work. I usually contacted charitable foundations, and they helped spread the word. Fundraising also took place through social media: if people wanted to, they could donate directly to the accounts of charitable foundations and organizations.
I also organized my own fundraising campaigns. In 2022, I ran 250 kilometers to raise money to repair a vehicle for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I sold my running training sessions through online auctions, organized running meetups, involved well-known people in races, and worked with the presidential fundraising platform UNITED24.
— Alaska is the region where you run most often now. What makes it special?
— Alaska is a very attractive state. The nature here is completely different — wild, vast, and sometimes harsh. The climate is cool and challenging, and in summer there is another distinctive feature: the white nights.
I had run at night in other places before, and there it was truly dark. In Alaska, everything is different — even your perception of time changes because the nights remain light.
Running here also fits very naturally with my love of mountains and hiking. Alaska in general makes you move a lot while constantly reminding you how small a person is beside nature.
— Which race was the most emotional for you?
— Probably my first marathon. It was in Vilnius. I really wanted to visit the city as a tourist, but in the end I arrived as a representative of Ukraine at the marathon. I was also very curious: what actually happens after the 21st kilometer?
At that point, I had already run several half marathons, but I still did not know what a full marathon distance felt like. So the emotions were very special.
— What do people most often ask when they see Ukrainian flags at races in the United States or Europe?
— For me, the Ukrainian flag is a way to show that Ukrainians run everywhere, not only at home. It is an opportunity to draw attention to Ukraine and remind people that Ukraine is a separate country with its own identity.
Abroad, there were times when people associated Ukraine with Poland or even with Russia. That is why at my charity runs I always recommend that Ukrainians bring flags with them. It is a very simple way to make us visible.
People mostly react positively: they support us, ask questions, and sometimes join in. They often ask why we are running with flags and what idea stands behind the run. And that creates an opportunity to talk about Ukraine.
It is also important to me to talk about the Ukrainian language. I explain to Ukrainians why it is important today to switch to Ukrainian and why language is also part of our identity.
So for me, running with a flag is not only about sport. It is another way to speak about Ukraine.
— Were there moments when you thought: “That’s it, I can’t keep doing this anymore”?
— Almost after every race I think it is the last one. And then the next day I ask myself: how could I possibly live without running? It is part of my life.
And perhaps that is the whole answer. For him, running has long been about more than kilometers, medals, or a finish line. It is a way to keep moving forward, discover new places, test himself, and at the same time remain useful to Ukraine. Because sometimes one personal passion can turn into something much greater — a voice, a way to help, and a personal form of presence in the world.
Author: Tamara Zayats
