Backyard

The principle is simple, it's an elimination race: runners set off on a 6.7 km (or 4.2 miles) course every hour 🕝, starting each new loop at the exact hour. Runners must finish 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 who can finish the loop in the allotted time 🏅. If a runner fails to complete a loop, they are eliminated 👊. The last one to keep up the pace and finish a loop in time is declared the winner. This discipline not only requires good physical abilities but also consistency and strategy. You have to be clever to learn how 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 achieve up to 100 miles, or 160 km, yes we told you it's not a joke! 🥊 And the records are chilling (and warming your legs)! The male record is held by the Belgian Merijn Geerts who has covered 737.7 km in 110 hours! For the women, it's the American Megan Eckert who holds the record with 583.4 km completed in 87 hours. Impressive, isn't it? 🔥

Moreover, there are several ways to get eliminated: the most likely being finishing the loop beyond the allowed time, but it's not uncommon to be unable to start the next round (due to fatigue) or even drop out during a loop 🙁. But since it's not just a silly discipline, you can still find moments to rest! Yes, let's say you complete the loop in 44 minutes, you then have 16 minutes to rest before the next start, not bad, right? No? … 😂

The format has evolved a bit over time, and it is now possible to participate in races that use the base Backyard but with a twist! For example, the Poker Trail Mont Garrot allows you, for example, to run on a loop of 5.5 km to be completed up to 10 times 😋. A more playful format at the heart of Brittany 🥧. Conversely, if the initial format interests you but you're looking for a change of scenery, backyard races are available internationally! There is the Austria Backyard Ultra Seekirchen in Austria 🇦🇹, the Schinder-Trail Backyard Ultra in Rettert in Germany 🇩🇪. If you want to leave Europe, you can get your ticket for Morocco 🇲🇦, to take part in The One Backyard Ultra in Sidi Ettaïb Bled Dendou or even go directly to the nerve center in 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 sign up for a race? 🔋