Backyard

The principle is simple, it's an elimination race: runners start on a course of 6.7 km (or 4.2 miles) every hour 🕝, starting each new loop at the precise hour. Runners must complete each loop within the hour to continue, and the remaining time between each loop is used to rest 😴. The competition continues until there is only one runner left capable of finishing the loop within the specified time 🏅. If a runner fails to complete a loop, they are eliminated 👊. The last person to keep pace and complete a loop in time is declared the winner. This discipline not only requires good physical capabilities but also demands consistency and strategy. You have to be clever to learn to manage your pace to be as consistent as possible 🏃‍♂️. 

The Backyard was invented in the United States in 2011 by Gary Cantrell, a running event organizer. In one day, you can complete up to 100 miles or 160 km; yes, as we told you, it's no joke! 🥊 And bear in mind that the records are chilling (and also hot in the legs)! The men's record is held by Belgian Merijn Geerts who covered 737.7 km in 110 hours! For the women, it's American Megan Eckert who holds the record with 583.4 km covered in 87 hours. Impressive, isn't it? 🔥

Even more so because there are several ways to get eliminated: the most likely being finishing the loop beyond the allotted time, but it's not uncommon to be unable to take the next lap (due to fatigue) or even to give up during a loop 🙁. But since it's not just a cruel discipline, you can still find moments to rest! Yes, say you complete the loop in 44 minutes, you will then have 16 minutes to rest before the next start, not bad, right? No? … 😂

The format has evolved slightly over time, and it is now possible to participate in races that use the basic Backyard by revisiting it a bit! For example, the Poker Trail Mont Garrot allows you to run on a loop of 5.5 km up to 10 times 😋. A slightly more playful format in the heart of Brittany 🥧. On the contrary, if you're interested in the initial format but looking to change scenery, backyard races are held internationally! There’s the Austria Backyard Ultra Seekirchen in Austria 🇦🇹, the Schinder-Trail Backyard Ultra in Rettert in Germany 🇩🇪. If you want to venture outside Europe, you can book your ticket to Morocco 🇲🇦 to participate in The One Backyard Ultra in Sidi Ettaïb Bled Dendou or even go directly to the heart of it to Conway in the United States where the mythical Bubba’s Backyard Ultra is organized! 🇺🇲

Well now that you've reviewed your lesson on the discipline, will you have the courage to register for a race? 🔋