People running in a marathon | Image Credits: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Australian Phil Gore won the Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship on Thursday, the last athlete standing in a feat of pain and perseverance spanning nearly five days and 500 miles.
The event in Bell Buckle, Tennessee was conceived by Laz Lake of Barkley Marathons fame and is deceptively simple: runners must complete a 4.167-mile loop — known as a "yard" — every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains.
The 39-year-old Gore completed his 114th yard alone, for 475 miles in four days and 18 hours, five yards (21 miles) shy of his own world record of 119, but a new world championship best.
"It's been an amazing event, I wanted to come here four years ago but I couldn't because of COVID. And then two years ago I had my chance but it didn't quite work out for me," Gore told Run247. "I'm happy with the third time."
Britain's Sarah Perry completed a women's world record 95 yards on Wednesday before back pain forced her to retire.
Belgium's Ivo Steyaert, 55, was the final runner of the 72-strong field to drop after 113 yards, and so was credited with an "assist" in the race that is know as much for its camaraderie as its endurance.
"When that last athlete, completes that last yard alone, it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone, the other athletes, the crews, even the race staff, everyone will contribute a part everyone will own a piece of that victory," Lake said before the race.
"And this is why the backyard has spread like a virus. It is not just the competition, it is because when we play in the backyard we are all on the same team. We are family."
The race has become a global phenomenon, with events held in 85 countries.
