Some of the most extreme runners from around the country — and the world — will be running into Bristol next week for an “unapologetically difficult” race that will challenge the endurance of even the most finely tuned athletes.

The Anchor Down Ultramarathon is scheduled to begin in Colt State Park Aug. 19 at 7 p.m., and won’t end until Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. This is no relay race; there is no rest for the weary. Runners in the top race will continue taking laps around the park for a full 24 hours.

“It’s you against the clock; it’s whoever can cover the most distance in that time,” said race organizer and Warren resident Jason Paganelli. “It’s a no apologies, tougher-than-you-can-imagine race. These are the races I’ve always been attracted to… races that make no apology for being really, really hard.”

Runners will race along a 2.45-mile course along the park’s waterfront, out to Poppasquash Road, and back. Not all of them will be the most extreme athletes, though that doesn’t diminish their impressive feats. There will actually be four races going on at once — a 6-hour, 12-hour and the ultimate 24-hour run, as well a race to 100 total miles, which, obviously, only the 24-hour runners will have a chance at.

“The rules are simple. Run as many loops of the 2.45 mile course as possible in the allotted time,” the Anchor Down website reads. “Take a break when you want to, rest when you must, or keep pounding the pavement. You can drop out at any time during the race when and if you've had enough.”

The extreme athletes not only accept the difficulty of the run, but seem to embrace, and even revel in it. “In the August heat, we expect this to be a difficult accomplishment. Cheers to the challenge.”

About 200 runners will be competing in the three races, plus the 100-mile challenge, traveling from all over the country, and even from all corners of the globe to compete. Athletes from as far away as France, China and Thailand have registered. 

“I’m really happy with the response form the international ultra running community,” Mr. Paganelli said, adding he’s thrilled to be able to expose the athletic tourists to the beauty of the state, specifically Colt State Park. “Rhode Island doesn’t have a lot of mountains or hills, but we have the most beautiful coastline. I looked for what I thought would be a highlight of Rhode Island.”

Not all of the athletes are international travelers. Some local runners have registered for this second Anchor Down Ultramarathon, including Mike Proto of Bristol, who will compete in the 6-hour race, and Greg Sorez of Barrington, who will go all out in the 24-hour run.

Residents are welcome to visit the park at any time during the race to cheer the runners on, free of charge. Signs will be posted around the park, letting unaware visitors know what’s going on. Mr. Paganelli encourages the public to come check out the amazing feat of endurance, not just to encourage the runners, but hopefully to be inspired themselves.

“Seeing these athletes, all of a sudden running that 5K seems like something you can do. It’s interesting to know the human body can do that,” Mr. Paganelli, himself an extreme runner, said. “We would love for the community to come out. By the end of the second day, people will be going crazy for them.”

As one might expect, the training for such an extreme race is intense. Mr. Paganelli said he typically runs five to eight miles a day during the week, stepping it up on the weekends to upwards of 30 miles a day. His personal best is 102 miles in a single day. Understanding the training is time-consuming, he tries to fit running into his life routine. 

“If my wife wants to go to the beach, I’ll just say, see you there and I’ll run instead of driving,” he said. 

And, believe it or not, he said, anyone can join the adventure. He, himself is proof of that. Formerly overweight and out of shape, Mr. Paganelli began running to shed some weight, eventually dropping more than 100 pounds and beginning to compete in marathons.

“The training is intense, but attainable to everyone. You just have to work up slowly to it,” he said. “You just make it an adventure.”

For more information on the event or to register for next year’s race, visit anchordownultra.com or the Anchor Down Ultra page on Facebook.