Embracing the Backyard Ultra Race Challenge
When it comes to ultrarunning, every event tests your limits, but the Backyard Ultra Race offers something truly different. This isn’t just a race against distance — it’s a race against time, the clock and of course, yourself.
Each lap of the Eastnor Castle Backyard 12 hour (50 mile) ultramarathon is 4.167 miles. Every hour, on the hour, I have to set off again. There is no banking time, no racing ahead. Finish early? Wait until the next bell. Miss the start line? You’re out. It’s a mental and physical dance of patience, endurance and resilience. Another feather I want to add to my cap!
For me, taking on challenges like the Backyard Ultra is about reconnecting with something deeply human – the need to strive, to suffer, to endure and to grow. In a world designed for comfort, choosing voluntary hardship becomes an act of rebellion. It’s about refusing to accept stagnation and proving to myself that real growth lies at the edge of my comfort zone.
Photo from Relish Running Races
Physical Preparation: Smart and Steady
Physically, the race demands a calculated approach. With the course comprising 80% tarmac and 20% stone track, durability matters. But speed will not be the goal. Instead, smart pacing is essential.
Through my training – including ketogenic endurance preparation and Rokman challenges – I’ve learned the importance of balancing energy, managing recovery and fuelling wisely. On keto, my body is conditioned to burn fat efficiently, sustaining me steadily over hours without the traditional carb crashes many endurance athletes face.
Electrolytes, hydration and a solid intake of fats and moderate protein will be key to keeping my system firing lap after lap. The body must be treated with care. Gentle consistency will outweigh reckless speed.
Photo from Relish Running Races
The True Test of the Backyard Ultra: Mental Resilience
But where this race truly separates runners isn’t fitness – it’s mindset. Though I’m sure fitness sure as fuck helps!
The repetition. The stillness between laps. The slow creep of fatigue and doubt. These are the true enemies in a Backyard Ultra.
Building mental resilience has been a huge part of my journey. Platforms like Rokman for instance, have taught me that embracing suffering is not something to fear, but to welcome. Each uncomfortable experience – whether training in bad weather, running at night, or battling mental demons – is a training session for the mind as much as the body.
Strategies like mindful breathing, breaking the race into micro-goals (‘just one more lap’ or ‘run this ‘section”), and positive self-talk will be vital. So too will staying present, refusing to think too far ahead and above all finding joy in the process, even when it hurts. I don’t need to break my balls, I just need to beat the clock on a somewhat manageable 4.167 miles. On paper, I can run this in about 30 minutes and therefore rest for 30 minutes. However, I think running a mile, walking a mile after that (x2) will work, Not over exerting and treating the walk as active recovery and take on some food without messing up the breathing. I have a plan, but best laid plans and all that…
Photo from Relish Running Races
Becoming More
Ultimately, challenges like the Backyard Ultra are not just about finishing. They are about transformation.
Every lap endured, every bell answered, every doubt overcome – they all strip away the unnecessary and reveal who you really are underneath.
For me, it’s not about beating anyone else. It’s about becoming a stronger, braver and more resilient version of myself – one lap at a time.
And when the final bell rings, no matter how far I make it, I’ll know I answered the call. I just want t0 finish it at the first time of asking!
Cheers. I’m on Insta if you want a follow back!
