Backyard Ultra

[R4inbow]

Has anyone ever done a backyard ultra? There's one I'm looking at towards the end of the summer, quite local to me and I have to say I'm tempted.

4.17 miles an hour, starting every hour on the hour. This one is 'only' 12 hours, so if you get to the end you've done 50 miles. From what I've read, the hardest part is making it to the starting point each hour, which I can well imagine.

I'm not entering just yet, but it did kind of sound fun. I've had a look at a few training plans for ultras and they do vary quite a bit, so any advice there would be greatly appreciated.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I’ve never done a backyard.

I suspect that having a good support crew would help a lot.

The 12 hour limit would seem to make it less brutal than the standard format. Makes it more of a speed challenge than a push through to exhaustion!

Your race report would be interesting!

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to SkiMonday]

I think the fact it's finite and not infinite is very appealing to me, it would take some mental strength to keep going with infinite loops!

At least on paper this doesn't seem impossible. We shall see what happens.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to R4inbow]

I see what you mean about it being a limited duration.

Just looked at the web page for a 12 hour backyard; the winner is the first to finish on the 12th lap. So, for the first 11 laps, the aim is to complete each lap within the time limit.

Strategy must be interesting for this! I’m guessing that a lap could be completed comfortably in about 45 minutes (for the first few laps, anyway). So, is it better to go slightly quicker to get more recovery time or take a more leisurely pace but have less recovery time? My guess would be that, as with so many things, compromising by picking a moderate pace is probably the way to do it.

As with any long distance event, nutrition is going to be important. I think the trick is to experiment with different foods during your training runs so that, by the time of your race, you know what you’re planning to eat. From what I’ve read, some competitors prefer to eat on the run so that they can use their downtime for recovery etc.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Gosh that still sounds brutal R4inbow! Think you’ll go for it? 👊

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Right now I'm very keen, but my very sensible friend has told me not to enter it until a few weeks after my marathon this weekend, just in case it takes me a while to get back at it. It's a good job I have sensible friends and don't just enter things on a whim! But yes, as long as I'm still feeling keen in a month I think I'll enter 🤞

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to R4inbow]

Yep. Waiting until a few weeks after the Marathon does seem to be a sensible approach.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I have not, but I also am tempted! Maybe next year...

Looking forward to your race report!!

[Cmoi Marathon]

I certainly haven't done an event like this, and think you're incredibly brave even contemplating it R4inbow . I just can't imagine doing the same lap over and over again for 12 hours. If I'm going to spend 12 hours running, I'd like to get somewhere and see things in the process.

Not to mention the stress of having to finish every lap within a time limit! You and SkiMonday might well be able to do 4.17 miles comfortably in 45 minutes then use the time for recovery, but that's way beyond my pace over longer distances.

Good luck for your marathon!

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Cmoi]

I was just speculating about how it might go over the first few laps! It’s obviously going to be harder towards the end. I’ve seen a great quote about an unlimited backyard ultra: “It’s easy ‘till it’s not”.

The 12 lap limit does seem to make it a lot more achievable.

Training could be interesting! Do you find a route from home and sit on the sofa eating between laps? For that matter, is there scope to have some kind of portable sofa in your race camp?

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to SkiMonday]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound critical SkiMonday , it's simply that I'm coming at it from the point of view of someone for whom laps and time limits make events less achievable, not more.

Oddly enough the idea of being on my feet for 12 hours doesn't bother me, even though I haven't even run a HM for months, let alone a FM. All the other aspects, though, put me off completely. Hence my admiration for anyone who'd take it on.

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon in reply to Cmoi]

Hi Cmoi , I didn’t think you were being critical so no worries there.

I think I’d approach an event like this one on a “see how it goes” basis although I’d want to do a fair bit of training.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Wayyyyy beyond my capabilities too Cmoi ! 😅

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Yes me too, although my regular marathon is 7 laps

I’ve just turned down a race on a similar theme which is six hours. I’ll leave it for now. I can barely walk as it is 😀

[nowster Metric Marathon]

That's brutal!

You need a decent strategy for that. Given it's "only" 12 hours, there's no sleep problem.

Covering 6.7 km in under an hour is not impossible, but doing it twelve times is going to become progressively more difficult as the day wears on.

If you didn't stop at all, it's the equivalent of a fast walk (8.9 min/km). But there will be a need for food breaks, loo breaks, rest breaks, etc.

Doing a consistent 6 min/km would allow about 20 minutes of rest per hour.

As you get more tired you need more rest, but conversely you need to run the lap faster to get more rest time.

And then the final lap determines your place!

I don't know whether to doff my hat to you or order a straitjacket. 🤣

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

Probably the straitjacket 😂😂

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I have looked at them, and whilst on paper they sound like an easier way to hit 50 miles, spending 12 hours (mostly) on your feet is hard. My 2 50k runs were 7 hrs each. I did have more in the tank, but without the views and seeing the miles I covered on the map (on my own) I'm just not sure I would have kept going.

I think if you had a dedicated running mate it would help a LOT. Getting up again for the next lap after say 8hrs is going to be really hard but if there were two, or even 3 to help motivate each other it could be a great day. Plan loads of little treats for the later hours. Be silly, even dress up/ silly hats/ whatever motivates you. There is no question that the body can do it, it's just a huge mental battle.

I kinda want to do a 24hr similar style one day... but I know how much I would struggle after 8 or 10 hrs.

Looking forward to hearing how it goes! 👍🏻😁

[R4inbow Ultramarathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks, I think you're right. I don't think it's going to be an easier way in reality, but I do like a challenge.

I've done a 36 mile walk that was around 12 hours, so I know I can do that time on my feet. I've also done a 24 hour run, but as part of a team. It did have the repeated loop in it, so I've got an idea of what that will be like - but obviously I didn't do it 12 times!!

A running mate is a very good idea, I will see who I can tempt into doing it with me.

[misswobble Marathon]

I haven’t. I’m not sure what one is though ☺️

[Katnap Marathon]

Wait until after your marathon.Cheering and support can be a massive help but even the fans will get tired over that much time and there's unlikely to be as many attending a 'smaller' event.

But never say never!

🐱 Katnap 🐱