The first race of my 2026 season is in the books, the Yellow Belly Backyard Ultra, set deep in the rolling farmland of the Lincolnshire Wolds. True to Backyard Ultra style, the beauty of the landscape is only half the story; the rest is a mental and physical grind of patience, pacing, and holding your nerve long after your body wants to stop.

The 4.167‑mile loop wound through grassy trails, dried mud tracks, and tight technical sections with rocks, ruts, and holes waiting to catch a tired foot, particularly once darkness arrived. With around 125m of elevation per loop, it wasn’t monstrous, but it demanded constant attention and hard work.

Below is how my race unfolded, what I learned, and what I’ll take forward into the season.

What Exactly Is a Backyard Ultra?

If you’re new to the format, Backyard Ultras are beautifully simple and brutally effective:

• Run 4.167 miles every hour, on the hour.
• Be back before the bell.
• Start again at the top of the next hour.
• Repeat until only one runner completes a solo yard.

There’s no finish line. No set distance.
Just relentless forward motion until everyone else stops.

It’s a test of pacing, logistics, discipline, and stubbornness more than speed.

Race Day

Arriving at the Start Village

For me, it was a very early start. Alarm at 3:45am. On the road well before dawn.
I arrived and pulled in to the farm at around 6:30am, registered, and staked out a pitch near the starting corral, my mini‑base for the weekend. Some runners had camped overnight; others rolled in with the morning chill and a nervous buzz.

The briefing was at 7:50am. At 8:00am sharp, the bell rang, and off we went.

Yards 1 to 6: Finding My Rhythm

The morning was bright but deceivingly cold, with a fierce wind battering the first half of the loop. Foot placement needed full attention. I kept things deliberately slow, chatting with a few runners, getting a feel for every section of the course.

My first mini‑objective was simple: Complete the first 6 yards. Then change socks, shoes, and clothes, a reset I planned to repeat every 6 yards.

A handful of runners dropped early, but my legs felt good, my pacing consistent.

Yards 7 to 13: Settling Into the Grind

Fresh kit after yard 6 gave me a noticeable boost, though the quicker yard times weren’t intentional, I still focused on low effort and staying steady and consistent.

Between loops, I stretched, ate, drank, and generally kept to myself. Consistency was my whole strategy.

By yard 11 or 12 the wind had eased and darkness crept in. From here, the race changed.
I teamed up with Carrie and Pete for yards 11 to 13, great company through the tricky first hours of night running as I witnessed them both smash their previous distance milestones.

Another full reset at yard 12 (50 miles) kept me feeling strong.

Yards 14 to 16: Cold, Quiet, and Deep Into the Night

Yard 14 matched the old course record I was told, and all six remaining runners completed it. Temperatures dropped sharply. The sky cleared. The campfire became a temporary lifeline between yards.

By yard 16, only five of us remained. Ruth had been timed out on Yard 14, leaving Karen as the last female; brothers Ash & Phil; Martin; and me.

The cold between yards was brutal, but my consistency in routine meant the running still felt smooth for me.

Ash called it a day at yard 16, and Karen bowed out proudly at the 100km mark.

Only four remained.

Yards 17 & 18: The Business End

The clocks jumped forward between yards 17 and 18, a surreal Backyard moment where 1am becomes 2am mid‑race.

Still, all three of us, Phil, Martin, and myself, held strong. After yard 18, Phil declared it was the end for him. I chucked another layer on. Routine still intact. Two runners left.

Yards 19 to 21: The Final Battle

Yards 19 and 20 went as smooth as they could on my side. I still felt surprisingly good.

Martin, gritty, determined, self-sufficient and solo like me, was still battling away. Returning from yard 20 with only four minutes to spare, I sensed a small dent in his resolve.

At the start of yard 21, we congratulated each other yet again. I climbed the first hill, glanced back, and saw no bobbing headtorches behind me this time. It felt like I was running into emptiness, somewhat peaceful, no noise, no light, just the moon and the bitter cold. For the first time, I felt I was out there totally alone.

As I approached the final hill, Ally the race director was waiting to greet me and confirm what I suspected. This was my solo yard. Martin had called an end to his race.

I completed yard 21 just before 5:45am and claimed the win.

Final Thoughts

Overwhelmed with joy and relief, I felt immense gratitude towards the organisers, volunteers, and fellow runners who dug deep through the night. This was not just my first race of the 2026 season, but also my very first win, a milestone I’ll never forget.

I’m already looking forward to the next challenge.

Key Takeaways for Fellow BYU Runners

1. Preparation is Everything

Make sure your setup is tidy and well organised, particularly if you’re running solo with no crew. Everything should be within easy reach so you can grab what you need instinctively .

2. Have a Strategy — and Trust It

My approach was straightforward, yet it worked remarkably well. In the first three yards, I focused on familiarising myself with the route, adjusting where I placed my feet, and settling into my planned mix of running and walking. After every six yards, I took a complete break to change kit and refresh, fresh clothes meant a fresh mindset. For me, maintaining a steady rhythm was far more important than chasing speed.

3. Build a Repeatable Routine

Each yard, I stuck to the same running sections, walked the same parts, and followed my recovery routine without fail. Yard after yard, repetition was key for me. Success in backyard ultras comes from sticking to established habits, not flashy feats.

4. Be Completely Consistent

Consistency doesn’t just happen; it’s something you have to consciously commit to throughout every stage. When fatigue sets in and motivation wanes, sticking to your routine will carry you forward. It’s the small, repeated actions that ultimately make the difference, especially in the toughest moments.

5. Eat & Drink Every Yard

Fuel is your foundation in a backyard ultra. Eating and drinking regularly, even when you don’t feel like it, helps maintain energy levels and keeps your mind sharp. A steady intake of fluids and simple snacks on every yard is crucial, miss a round and you’ll pay for it later, so make fuelling part of your unbreakable routine.

The Stats

Result: Winner

Total Yards: 21

Total Moving Time: 15:03:08

Average Pace: 6:31/km

Total Distance covered 140km / 88 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 2,604m

Yard 1 – 41:22 / Yard 2 – 41:49 / Yard 3 – 40:36 / Yard 4 – 40:59 / Yard 5 – 40:44 / Yard 6 – 41:21 / Yard 7 – 38:04 / Yard 8 – 38:04 / Yard 9 – 38:54 / Yard 10 – 38:04 / Yard 11 – 40:56 / Yard 12 – 42:01 / Yard 13 – 41:24 / Yard 14 – 39:27 / Yard 15 – 39:19 / Yard 16 – 40:10 / Yard 17 – 40:13 / Yard 18 – 41:25 / Yard 19 – 41:39 / Yard 20 – 42:29 / Yard 21 – 43:40