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One More Lap
Bigs Backyard world championships is this weekend.
Quite possibly the most unique running race on earth takes place this coming weekend in the backwater town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A race like no other. A race that has very little to do with racing at all. A race that isn’t about speed or about rewarding the fastest runner. It is a race where every hour upon the hour participants run a 6.7km lap of race founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrells “Backyard.” Each time they do so, they earn the right to line up at the start again, where they reset, the playing field is levelled once more and they head out for one more lap.
Welcome to the Backyard Masters where the very best from around the world will converge in this small village to see how many 6.7km loops one person can complete. An event that has no predefined distance or finish line and a format that has little care for anyone but the ultimate winner. You see, as each hour that passes and kilometres are racked up, slowly but surely, runners will earn themselves the DNF title (did not finish) as they decide not to head out for another lap. Once all bar one runner have accepted this title, the remaining runner must complete one more lap solo to be declared the ultimate winner. In a brutal twist, failure to complete this final loop will result in no winner and a 100% DNF rate.
It is a race that came onto my radar in 2017. I wanted to see what it was all about, so I took myself off to the middle of the desert as the sun was setting to run the 6.7km distance every hour on the hour through the night. 45 mins per lap, 15 minutes to eat and rest the eyes before lining up to go again.
At the end of this training session I realised two things. One was that this style of race could literally last for days on end and participants will become addicted to the thought of just one more lap. Secondly, that from what I’d experienced through the night, this race had very little to do with the running.
Fast forward 6 years and I have the honour of coaching both the top male and top female Backyard runners in the UK & Ireland. Keith Russell and Karen Nicol. It is Keith, whom after completing 89 hours at a Backyard event in Germany in 2022 that earned him a starting place in this weekends World Championship race, the ultimate test. Since Keiths 89 hour feat, runners have gone on to complete 100, 101 and the current record of 102 hours in Australia earlier this year, a total of 683.4km over the course of 4.25 days.
No weakness this weekend my friend. Just one more lap.
Marcus
ENGINE
Using the Erg machines across varying time frames and distances to work on your endurance. This week, we will throw in some other dance moves to mix things up.
GYMNASTICS
This week, we're back on the rig for pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping and butterfly will make an appearance, followed by lat and core supersets.
HYROX
We are 5 weeks out from Sharjah, so we will break down a full HYROX into intervals to work on pacing and strategy.
MOBILITY
Since everyone enjoyed the flows so much, we will continue with this. Full body stretch routines, of course, followed with stability/activation. We need to lock everything in place after we have stretched.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we are hitting some bodybuilding work. Monday will be some full-body resistance training with a little bias towards the glutes. Wednesday, we are starting with some single leg work and core and then some arms to finish
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are breaking down the clean and jerk. Starting with clusters to work on the leg drive. A pressing complex with paused split jerks. Then, put it all together with power clean, hang clean, and split jerk. This will be a great great technique session!
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday Ride
Endurance ride with the crew! 85 or 100km options. Email rf@innerfight.com for more info.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location: BOTS
Sunday - Group Long Run
A hatta long run to practice some time on the hills. Email endurance@innerfight.com if you'd like to get involved.
Location: BOTS
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Tempo
PM Session only: This evening we will be holding tempo pace for 8mins. Tempo should feel liks a 7/10 effort. After each 8 mins you will have 3 mins easy, which can be a gentle jog or walk. Repeat 3x rounds.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Today we will be running 1000m repeats which will fluctuate between 3km and 5km pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. Today the session
is 400m repeats. Try and run these 8-9/10 effort, as you have 60 sec to recover after each one. Rep scheme is 8-12x.
Friday
Hills Start Time: 5:29am
Tempo
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will have bridge repeats for those who want elevation, and tempo for those who want to push the pace on the flat surface. The choice is yours. (If you are running Two Oceans, we recommend the hills option).
Sunday
Time: 6:59am
Location: Wadi Hub Hatta Public Parking
Session: Long Run
We will be back in Hatta this week for our Sunday long run.
Route
This is an out and back route, please ensure to carry fuel and hydration.
Here we go, people! The start of a new block! The next 12 weeks are going to be loaded with strength, some nasty but epic short workouts, lots of strongman and, every now and again, some longer conditioning pieces! Fridays will be something special. Scroll down, and you know what we are talking about! Time to get stronger and fitter!
Monday:
We are kicking the week off with some knee flexion strength work, heavy back squats, step-ups, and cyclist goblet squats. Then we have a simple sprint workout of row wall balls row. How much do you want to hurt on the final row?
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 5 Back Squats Tempo 30X1
B) Every 2:30mins x 4 - 8 Barbell Box Step-Ups
C) Every 90secs x 3 - 8 Reps 1 1/4 Cyclist Goblet Squats
Conditioning:
For Time:
500/400m row
50 Wall Balls
500/400m row
Tuesday:
Tuesday, we have an Earthquake bar bench press followed by a triset of dumbbell presses, isometric chin over ball holds and push-ups. You will need a partner for the workout as you get stuck into some kettlebell carries and assault bike efforts.
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 8 Earthquake Bar Bench Press Tempo 20X1
B) Every 75secs Alt x 12 - 1) 10-12 Seated DB Press 2) 10-20 Second Chin Over Bar Hold 3) 30sec Push Ups
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time In Pairs YGIG
15/12 cal bike
2 lengths carpark dual KB front rack carry.
Wednesday:
Wednesday is all about power from the hips. Box jumps, power cleans and a frog stance deadlifts to build the posterior chain. Then we have a short, hard effort with the sandbags and dumbbells.
Strength:
A) 5 Mins to establish a Max height box jump
B) EMOM x 8 - 3 hang power cleans
c) Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 frog stance Deadlift
Conditioning:
For Time:
30-20-10
Sandbag Over Shoulder
DB Push Press
Thursday:
Thursday's strength is focused on some upper-body pulling with a Pendlay Row, and then we have a longer EMOM conditioning workout.
Strength:
Pendlay Row
Every 2 mins x 4 - 10/10/8/8 Pendlay Row
Conditioning:
EMOM 24
Min 1 - Assault bike
Min 2 - 25 ab mat sit-ups
Min 3 - Ski erg
Min 4 - 15/12/9 burpee
Friday:
Friday, we are finishing the week with some pull-ups and Olympic lifting in the strength piece before we cap off an epic week of training with a screamer of a workout!
Strength:
Conditioning: Bring everything, including the kitchen sink! FUF are here and here to stay!
Quite possibly the most unique running race on earth takes place this coming weekend in the backwater town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A race like no other. A race that has very little to do with racing at all. A race that isn’t about speed or about rewarding the fastest runner. It is a race where every hour upon the hour participants run a 6.7km lap of race founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrells “Backyard.” Each time they do so, they earn the right to line up at the start again, where they reset, the playing field is levelled once more and they head out for one more lap.
Welcome to the Backyard Masters where the very best from around the world will converge in this small village to see how many 6.7km loops one person can complete. An event that has no predefined distance or finish line and a format that has little care for anyone but the ultimate winner. You see, as each hour that passes and kilometres are racked up, slowly but surely, runners will earn themselves the DNF title (did not finish) as they decide not to head out for another lap. Once all bar one runner have accepted this title, the remaining runner must complete one more lap solo to be declared the ultimate winner. In a brutal twist, failure to complete this final loop will result in no winner and a 100% DNF rate.
It is a race that came onto my radar in 2017. I wanted to see what it was all about, so I took myself off to the middle of the desert as the sun was setting to run the 6.7km distance every hour on the hour through the night. 45 mins per lap, 15 minutes to eat and rest the eyes before lining up to go again.
At the end of this training session I realised two things. One was that this style of race could literally last for days on end and participants will become addicted to the thought of just one more lap. Secondly, that from what I’d experienced through the night, this race had very little to do with the running.
Fast forward 6 years and I have the honour of coaching both the top male and top female Backyard runners in the UK & Ireland. Keith Russell and Karen Nicol. It is Keith, whom after completing 89 hours at a Backyard event in Germany in 2022 that earned him a starting place in this weekends World Championship race, the ultimate test. Since Keiths 89 hour feat, runners have gone on to complete 100, 101 and the current record of 102 hours in Australia earlier this year, a total of 683.4km over the course of 4.25 days.
No weakness this weekend my friend. Just one more lap.
Marcus
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday Ride
Endurance ride with the crew! 85 or 100km options. Email rf@innerfight.com for more info.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location: BOTS
Sunday - Group Long Run
A hatta long run to practice some time on the hills. Email endurance@innerfight.com if you'd like to get involved.
Location: BOTS
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Tempo
PM Session only: This evening we will be holding tempo pace for 8mins. Tempo should feel liks a 7/10 effort. After each 8 mins you will have 3 mins easy, which can be a gentle jog or walk. Repeat 3x rounds.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Today we will be running 1000m repeats which will fluctuate between 3km and 5km pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. Today the session
is 400m repeats. Try and run these 8-9/10 effort, as you have 60 sec to recover after each one. Rep scheme is 8-12x.
Friday
Hills Start Time: 5:29am
Tempo
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will have bridge repeats for those who want elevation, and tempo for those who want to push the pace on the flat surface. The choice is yours. (If you are running Two Oceans, we recommend the hills option).
Sunday
Time: 6:59am
Location: Wadi Hub Hatta Public Parking
Session: Long Run
We will be back in Hatta this week for our Sunday long run.
Route
This is an out and back route, please ensure to carry fuel and hydration.
Here we go, people! The start of a new block! The next 12 weeks are going to be loaded with strength, some nasty but epic short workouts, lots of strongman and, every now and again, some longer conditioning pieces! Fridays will be something special. Scroll down, and you know what we are talking about! Time to get stronger and fitter!
Monday:
We are kicking the week off with some knee flexion strength work, heavy back squats, step-ups, and cyclist goblet squats. Then we have a simple sprint workout of row wall balls row. How much do you want to hurt on the final row?
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 5 Back Squats Tempo 30X1
B) Every 2:30mins x 4 - 8 Barbell Box Step-Ups
C) Every 90secs x 3 - 8 Reps 1 1/4 Cyclist Goblet Squats
Conditioning:
For Time:
500/400m row
50 Wall Balls
500/400m row
Tuesday:
Tuesday, we have an Earthquake bar bench press followed by a triset of dumbbell presses, isometric chin over ball holds and push-ups. You will need a partner for the workout as you get stuck into some kettlebell carries and assault bike efforts.
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 8 Earthquake Bar Bench Press Tempo 20X1
B) Every 75secs Alt x 12 - 1) 10-12 Seated DB Press 2) 10-20 Second Chin Over Bar Hold 3) 30sec Push Ups
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time In Pairs YGIG
15/12 cal bike
2 lengths carpark dual KB front rack carry.
Wednesday:
Wednesday is all about power from the hips. Box jumps, power cleans and a frog stance deadlifts to build the posterior chain. Then we have a short, hard effort with the sandbags and dumbbells.
Strength:
A) 5 Mins to establish a Max height box jump
B) EMOM x 8 - 3 hang power cleans
c) Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 frog stance Deadlift
Conditioning:
For Time:
30-20-10
Sandbag Over Shoulder
DB Push Press
Thursday:
Thursday's strength is focused on some upper-body pulling with a Pendlay Row, and then we have a longer EMOM conditioning workout.
Strength:
Pendlay Row
Every 2 mins x 4 - 10/10/8/8 Pendlay Row
Conditioning:
EMOM 24
Min 1 - Assault bike
Min 2 - 25 ab mat sit-ups
Min 3 - Ski erg
Min 4 - 15/12/9 burpee
Friday:
Friday, we are finishing the week with some pull-ups and Olympic lifting in the strength piece before we cap off an epic week of training with a screamer of a workout!
Strength:
Conditioning: Bring everything, including the kitchen sink! FUF are here and here to stay!
ENGINE
Using the Erg machines across varying time frames and distances to work on your endurance. This week, we will throw in some other dance moves to mix things up.
GYMNASTICS
This week, we're back on the rig for pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping and butterfly will make an appearance, followed by lat and core supersets.
HYROX
We are 5 weeks out from Sharjah, so we will break down a full HYROX into intervals to work on pacing and strategy.
MOBILITY
Since everyone enjoyed the flows so much, we will continue with this. Full body stretch routines, of course, followed with stability/activation. We need to lock everything in place after we have stretched.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we are hitting some bodybuilding work. Monday will be some full-body resistance training with a little bias towards the glutes. Wednesday, we are starting with some single leg work and core and then some arms to finish
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are breaking down the clean and jerk. Starting with clusters to work on the leg drive. A pressing complex with paused split jerks. Then, put it all together with power clean, hang clean, and split jerk. This will be a great great technique session!
Quite possibly the most unique running race on earth takes place this coming weekend in the backwater town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A race like no other. A race that has very little to do with racing at all. A race that isn’t about speed or about rewarding the fastest runner. It is a race where every hour upon the hour participants run a 6.7km lap of race founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrells “Backyard.” Each time they do so, they earn the right to line up at the start again, where they reset, the playing field is levelled once more and they head out for one more lap.
Welcome to the Backyard Masters where the very best from around the world will converge in this small village to see how many 6.7km loops one person can complete. An event that has no predefined distance or finish line and a format that has little care for anyone but the ultimate winner. You see, as each hour that passes and kilometres are racked up, slowly but surely, runners will earn themselves the DNF title (did not finish) as they decide not to head out for another lap. Once all bar one runner have accepted this title, the remaining runner must complete one more lap solo to be declared the ultimate winner. In a brutal twist, failure to complete this final loop will result in no winner and a 100% DNF rate.
It is a race that came onto my radar in 2017. I wanted to see what it was all about, so I took myself off to the middle of the desert as the sun was setting to run the 6.7km distance every hour on the hour through the night. 45 mins per lap, 15 minutes to eat and rest the eyes before lining up to go again.
At the end of this training session I realised two things. One was that this style of race could literally last for days on end and participants will become addicted to the thought of just one more lap. Secondly, that from what I’d experienced through the night, this race had very little to do with the running.
Fast forward 6 years and I have the honour of coaching both the top male and top female Backyard runners in the UK & Ireland. Keith Russell and Karen Nicol. It is Keith, whom after completing 89 hours at a Backyard event in Germany in 2022 that earned him a starting place in this weekends World Championship race, the ultimate test. Since Keiths 89 hour feat, runners have gone on to complete 100, 101 and the current record of 102 hours in Australia earlier this year, a total of 683.4km over the course of 4.25 days.
No weakness this weekend my friend. Just one more lap.
Marcus
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: Tempo
PM Session only: This evening we will be holding tempo pace for 8mins. Tempo should feel liks a 7/10 effort. After each 8 mins you will have 3 mins easy, which can be a gentle jog or walk. Repeat 3x rounds.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Today we will be running 1000m repeats which will fluctuate between 3km and 5km pace.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
If you didn't run track, today we have some speed work for you. Today the session
is 400m repeats. Try and run these 8-9/10 effort, as you have 60 sec to recover after each one. Rep scheme is 8-12x.
Friday
Hills Start Time: 5:29am
Tempo
Brief time: 5:54am
Start Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
This week we will have bridge repeats for those who want elevation, and tempo for those who want to push the pace on the flat surface. The choice is yours. (If you are running Two Oceans, we recommend the hills option).
Sunday
Time: 6:59am
Location: Wadi Hub Hatta Public Parking
Session: Long Run
We will be back in Hatta this week for our Sunday long run.
Route
This is an out and back route, please ensure to carry fuel and hydration.
Here we go, people! The start of a new block! The next 12 weeks are going to be loaded with strength, some nasty but epic short workouts, lots of strongman and, every now and again, some longer conditioning pieces! Fridays will be something special. Scroll down, and you know what we are talking about! Time to get stronger and fitter!
Monday:
We are kicking the week off with some knee flexion strength work, heavy back squats, step-ups, and cyclist goblet squats. Then we have a simple sprint workout of row wall balls row. How much do you want to hurt on the final row?
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 5 Back Squats Tempo 30X1
B) Every 2:30mins x 4 - 8 Barbell Box Step-Ups
C) Every 90secs x 3 - 8 Reps 1 1/4 Cyclist Goblet Squats
Conditioning:
For Time:
500/400m row
50 Wall Balls
500/400m row
Tuesday:
Tuesday, we have an Earthquake bar bench press followed by a triset of dumbbell presses, isometric chin over ball holds and push-ups. You will need a partner for the workout as you get stuck into some kettlebell carries and assault bike efforts.
Strength:
A) Every 2mins x 5 - 8 Earthquake Bar Bench Press Tempo 20X1
B) Every 75secs Alt x 12 - 1) 10-12 Seated DB Press 2) 10-20 Second Chin Over Bar Hold 3) 30sec Push Ups
Conditioning:
10 rounds for time In Pairs YGIG
15/12 cal bike
2 lengths carpark dual KB front rack carry.
Wednesday:
Wednesday is all about power from the hips. Box jumps, power cleans and a frog stance deadlifts to build the posterior chain. Then we have a short, hard effort with the sandbags and dumbbells.
Strength:
A) 5 Mins to establish a Max height box jump
B) EMOM x 8 - 3 hang power cleans
c) Every 2 mins x 5 - 5 frog stance Deadlift
Conditioning:
For Time:
30-20-10
Sandbag Over Shoulder
DB Push Press
Thursday:
Thursday's strength is focused on some upper-body pulling with a Pendlay Row, and then we have a longer EMOM conditioning workout.
Strength:
Pendlay Row
Every 2 mins x 4 - 10/10/8/8 Pendlay Row
Conditioning:
EMOM 24
Min 1 - Assault bike
Min 2 - 25 ab mat sit-ups
Min 3 - Ski erg
Min 4 - 15/12/9 burpee
Friday:
Friday, we are finishing the week with some pull-ups and Olympic lifting in the strength piece before we cap off an epic week of training with a screamer of a workout!
Strength:
Conditioning: Bring everything, including the kitchen sink! FUF are here and here to stay!
ENGINE
Using the Erg machines across varying time frames and distances to work on your endurance. This week, we will throw in some other dance moves to mix things up.
GYMNASTICS
This week, we're back on the rig for pull-up progressions! Strict, kipping and butterfly will make an appearance, followed by lat and core supersets.
HYROX
We are 5 weeks out from Sharjah, so we will break down a full HYROX into intervals to work on pacing and strategy.
MOBILITY
Since everyone enjoyed the flows so much, we will continue with this. Full body stretch routines, of course, followed with stability/activation. We need to lock everything in place after we have stretched.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we are hitting some bodybuilding work. Monday will be some full-body resistance training with a little bias towards the glutes. Wednesday, we are starting with some single leg work and core and then some arms to finish
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting, we are breaking down the clean and jerk. Starting with clusters to work on the leg drive. A pressing complex with paused split jerks. Then, put it all together with power clean, hang clean, and split jerk. This will be a great great technique session!
Monday Ride
A skills and fitness based ride at the BikeDXB track in Dubai. Some simply structured intervals to enhance cycling ability.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Bike DXB
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. This run is currently gearing run fitness towards the incoming half marathons. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Saturday Ride
Endurance ride with the crew! 85 or 100km options. Email rf@innerfight.com for more info.
Start time: 05:59 am
Location: BOTS
Sunday - Group Long Run
A hatta long run to practice some time on the hills. Email endurance@innerfight.com if you'd like to get involved.
Location: BOTS
Quite possibly the most unique running race on earth takes place this coming weekend in the backwater town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A race like no other. A race that has very little to do with racing at all. A race that isn’t about speed or about rewarding the fastest runner. It is a race where every hour upon the hour participants run a 6.7km lap of race founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrells “Backyard.” Each time they do so, they earn the right to line up at the start again, where they reset, the playing field is levelled once more and they head out for one more lap.
Welcome to the Backyard Masters where the very best from around the world will converge in this small village to see how many 6.7km loops one person can complete. An event that has no predefined distance or finish line and a format that has little care for anyone but the ultimate winner. You see, as each hour that passes and kilometres are racked up, slowly but surely, runners will earn themselves the DNF title (did not finish) as they decide not to head out for another lap. Once all bar one runner have accepted this title, the remaining runner must complete one more lap solo to be declared the ultimate winner. In a brutal twist, failure to complete this final loop will result in no winner and a 100% DNF rate.
It is a race that came onto my radar in 2017. I wanted to see what it was all about, so I took myself off to the middle of the desert as the sun was setting to run the 6.7km distance every hour on the hour through the night. 45 mins per lap, 15 minutes to eat and rest the eyes before lining up to go again.
At the end of this training session I realised two things. One was that this style of race could literally last for days on end and participants will become addicted to the thought of just one more lap. Secondly, that from what I’d experienced through the night, this race had very little to do with the running.
Fast forward 6 years and I have the honour of coaching both the top male and top female Backyard runners in the UK & Ireland. Keith Russell and Karen Nicol. It is Keith, whom after completing 89 hours at a Backyard event in Germany in 2022 that earned him a starting place in this weekends World Championship race, the ultimate test. Since Keiths 89 hour feat, runners have gone on to complete 100, 101 and the current record of 102 hours in Australia earlier this year, a total of 683.4km over the course of 4.25 days.
No weakness this weekend my friend. Just one more lap.
Marcus
Quite possibly the most unique running race on earth takes place this coming weekend in the backwater town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. A race like no other. A race that has very little to do with racing at all. A race that isn’t about speed or about rewarding the fastest runner. It is a race where every hour upon the hour participants run a 6.7km lap of race founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrells “Backyard.” Each time they do so, they earn the right to line up at the start again, where they reset, the playing field is levelled once more and they head out for one more lap.
Welcome to the Backyard Masters where the very best from around the world will converge in this small village to see how many 6.7km loops one person can complete. An event that has no predefined distance or finish line and a format that has little care for anyone but the ultimate winner. You see, as each hour that passes and kilometres are racked up, slowly but surely, runners will earn themselves the DNF title (did not finish) as they decide not to head out for another lap. Once all bar one runner have accepted this title, the remaining runner must complete one more lap solo to be declared the ultimate winner. In a brutal twist, failure to complete this final loop will result in no winner and a 100% DNF rate.
It is a race that came onto my radar in 2017. I wanted to see what it was all about, so I took myself off to the middle of the desert as the sun was setting to run the 6.7km distance every hour on the hour through the night. 45 mins per lap, 15 minutes to eat and rest the eyes before lining up to go again.
At the end of this training session I realised two things. One was that this style of race could literally last for days on end and participants will become addicted to the thought of just one more lap. Secondly, that from what I’d experienced through the night, this race had very little to do with the running.
Fast forward 6 years and I have the honour of coaching both the top male and top female Backyard runners in the UK & Ireland. Keith Russell and Karen Nicol. It is Keith, whom after completing 89 hours at a Backyard event in Germany in 2022 that earned him a starting place in this weekends World Championship race, the ultimate test. Since Keiths 89 hour feat, runners have gone on to complete 100, 101 and the current record of 102 hours in Australia earlier this year, a total of 683.4km over the course of 4.25 days.
No weakness this weekend my friend. Just one more lap.
Marcus
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
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