Last weekend we saw the backyard ultra world record be beaten by 5 yards by two runners, Merijn Geerts and Ivo Steyaert, who ended the Bigs Backyard Ultra World Team Championship together. For those unfamiliar, a backyard ultra consists of running 4.167 miles (6.706 km) every hour (this is called a yard). The reason for this distance is that 12 yards equals 50 miles (clearly this race format was invented by an American; I may have to do a piece detailing the origins of this type of race sometime, since it is highly unique).

The team championship was won by the US, who came back from down over 50 yards to surpass Australia. Mark Dowdle hung on long enough to outlast Jon Noll to best all Americans with 107 yards. Belgium came in 3rd place, led by Geerts and Steyaert. 

One media outlet disputes a world record being set because there wasn’t an outright winner between Geerts and Steyaert. Though an outright winner is desirable in all races and especially backyard ultras, I think denying a record for finishing together would simply mean you don't understand how sports work. It is, however, somewhat contingent on the whims of Lazarus Lake (real name: Gary Cantrell), who invented the format and operates the championship.

Regardless, what Geerts and Steyaert did cannot be overstated: they ran 516.7 miles (831.6 km) over 5 days and 4 hours, with very little sleep. It’s almost unfathomable. Maybe it is unfathomable.

Featured photo credit: Jacob Zocherman