Over 300 Continuous Trail Miles
Towards the end of last month, I participated in a very special race that takes place annually on the trails of the BLM managed Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area. The name of the race is the Capital Backyard Ultra and it is not your typical point to point race. It is an elimination style race format known as a “backyard” race. Basically, it is a race of attrition without a set distance. The race continues until only one runner remains. Hence, these races are also referred to as “last person standing” races. So how are runners eliminated? By not completing a 4.167 mile lap every hour on the hour. Every hour all runners start a lap and must finish before the end of the hour. If they finish early, they must wait until the start of the next hour to start their next lap. With that caveat, this race prevents any runner from building a lead, more or less taking away the advantage of speedy runners. The cycle of on the hour lap starts continues indefinitely until all but one runner has opted to not continue running or has timed out. The last runner remaining must run one complete lap more than all other runners within the hour time limit before being named the winner. This leaves the possibility that there could be no winner (which has happened) if several runners go out for a lap and they all time out.
I ran the race last year and covered 254 miles over the span of 3 days and 2 nights which got me the win and the honor of being the last person standing. Yes, these races run continuously through the night. Your only opportunity to eat, rest, or sleep is the few minutes from the time you finish your lap until the top of the hour when you must go out to run the next lap or be eliminated. I returned this year with high hopes of going farther and being the last one standing again.
During the course of the race, we were treated to beautiful weather and smooth trails that meandered through the woods. One other runner and I ran through 3 entire days and nights; we saw the sun set and rise 3 times during our run. We both covered over 300 miles by foot on the trails and were in the same place as where we started when we finished. But the experience we gained changed us. We were competitors and comrades; the race format forces a strange dichotomy of wishing success for your fellow runners while at the same time knowing that your success is only possible at their failure. And after over 70 hours of sharing the trails, it is painful to see that runner fail, even if it means you have achieved the ultimate goal of the race.
After nearly 75 hours of running loops slightly over 4 miles long, every hour on the hour, the race finally came to an end. I completed 312.5 miles for the win as the second to last runner standing timed out on her final lap. Although the clock ran out on her 75th lap, she had still achieved something extremely impressive, a new female backyard world record. Rather than celebrate at the finish line, the Race Director and I walked back on the course to congratulate her. She was about a half mile from the finish when we reached her. We hugged and I told her how impressive the run she had put together was and how much I love how much fight she has in her to never quit even when it gets ridiculously tough after 50, 60, or 70 some hours.
I can only imagine what the trails of Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area may have in store for next year’s race!