The World Backyard Ultra Championships are about to blow your mind

On Saturday morning at 8:00 a.a. ET, Laz Lake will blow the starting whistle for the World Backyard Ultra Championships (satellite edition), and across the world, 15-member teams will begin running laps of 6.71 km (4.17 miles) every hour on the hour, continuing until only one runner is left. There are 555 runners representing 37 countries who will all compete at satellite locations around the world.

The inaugural 2020 satellite event featured 21 teams and captured the hearts of viewers across the globe. Karel Sabbe of Belgium set a backyard ultra record (since bested by his assist, compatriot Merijn Geerts) in an astounding feat of endurance, running 75 hours/laps (called yards, in backyard ultra terminology) or 502 km. In 2022, Geerts elevated the world backyard record to 90 yards, or more than 600 km.

Team Canada’s athletes/personal bests

Eric Deshaies (50 yards)
Stephanie Simpson (43 yards)
Matt ‘Shep’ Shepard (42 yards)
Marco Poulin (42 yards)
Kevin Barata (40 yards)
Ihor Verys (39 yards)
Michel Leblanc (38 yards)
Adela Salt (36 yards)
Cédric Chavanne (36 yards)
Amanda Nelson (33 yards)
Jodi Isenor (33 yards)
Mike Huber (33 yards)
Erik Bird (33 yards)
Brian Bondy (32 yards
Stewart Wyllie (30 yards)

This year’s Canadian satellite site will be in Summerland, B.C., and the team is organized and directed by GrassRoots Racing, made up of  Stephanie Gillis-Paulgaard and Sharon Hernandez. We caught up with Gillis-Paulgaard to give us some insight pre-race.

CR: For our readers, can you explain how this event works?

The world team championships are set up so that we as a country will achieve points. We will gather as many points as we can to win the team championships, so each and every time a runner crosses the line to finish a loop, they get another point. Once the team winner is determined, then, of course, it’s head-to-head [within the team] until only one runner is left.

CR: What qualities do you think Team Canada has that will keep them running for hours and days on end?

We have some experienced runners and experienced crew that can jump in and lend a hand when the going gets tough. This team is deep. They are hungry. Many people are thinking this may be the year we see 100 hours (yards).

CR: What do you think will be the toughest part for your runners?

I don’t think the challenges will be unique to Team Canada–once you start going without sleep for that long, it can have an impact. So for Team Canada, in particular, being able to set themselves up with a  sleep strategy is important. That always seems to be one of the biggest challenges in the backyard.

CR: In your experience, what makes these events so special?

There is something magical that happens in a backyard ultra. These runners are doing this loop over and over again, and the bonds that are made during this type of race format, where they’re out there for 4.17 miles (6.71 km) and are sharing so much time together… I look at previous backyards ultras, and lifetime friendships have been formed.

CR: Any predictions on how long our athletes will be running out there?

No predictions, but it’s been stated several times with the world record sitting at 90 [yards/hours] right now–which was unthinkable a few years ago–that 100 hours might be achieved. I know Team Canada has big numbers in mind, and I know some runners who simply have the goal of being present with the team each loop.

How to watch

This year’s satellite edition of the World Backyard Ultra Championships will be streamed on Youtube, and the Canadian team will be featured in hour 28 of the stream (12 noon ET on Sunday, Oct. 16). You can also check GrassRoots Racing Series‘ social media, and the Canadian Trail Running Twitter feed for updates.