From Petra Bijsterveld…
I had a go at my first ever backyard ultra this weekend. For those unfamiliar with the concept: the backyard ultra is a form of ultra race where competitors must consecutively run laps (called ’yards’) of 4.167 miles in under one hour, starting a new lap on the hour, every hour. If you are not in the starting pen when the hour ticks over you are out. If you don’t get back from your lap in time, you are also out. The somewhat odd-looking distance makes sense when you realise 24 laps make 100 miles. The race is over when only one runner remains to complete a lap.
I entered the Pig on the Hill backyard Ultra Wales, organised by Pen Llyn Ultra on the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, knowing that it is held on a course with substantial elevation (around 600 ft per lap) and that it is regarded as one of the hardest if not the hardest backyard course in the UK. I had decided to run it as a training run as I am not a peak fitness. The course was actually even harder than I expected so in the end I stopped after 6 laps which is 25 miles, this was plenty for me on the day. I really enjoyed it though, the scenery was great and we had fantastic weather. I have written it up in my blog here if you are interested in reading more and seeing some photos. 70 runners took part and the race was won by backyard ultra legend Iain Bethune who ran 28 laps which was a new course record. I was 57th. I did really like the backyard format and think I could possibly do much better on an easier course so I will definitely try and do another one at some point.