Let’s just say we had an absolute blast at Rasselbock this year. After Julie ran there in 2024 we knew it was going to be a great event and we were not disappointed. Both of us entered to run this year and after four months of solid training since the BYU Team Championship race inContinue reading “Rasselbock Backyard Ultra 2025”
Author Archives: Julie & Iain
Training for the mind – Book Reviews
It’s said that running an ultra is 90% physical, and the other 90% is mental! However you choose to do the maths, it’s clear that there is a huge mental component to ultra running. We all spend lots of time training our bodies (and I wrote a post about my training approach last year), butContinue reading “Training for the mind – Book Reviews”
The Road to Big’s
If you’ve heard anything about Backyard Ultras you’ll know there are two races that are the highlight of the Backyard calender. First is Big’s Backyard Ultra, the original race in laz’s literal back yard in Tennessee and now the World Individual Championship Race. Second, the World Team Championships, first held during COVID travel restrictions inContinue reading “The Road to Big’s”
Year in Review: 2024
We’re writing our 2024 year-end post from the comfortable position of taking a little bit of a break. Both of us took on run streaks up to Christmas and arrived there feeling flat-out knackered, so a good rest was definitely overdue. It’s been nice to put our feet up for a few days and justContinue reading “Year in Review: 2024”
Backyard Ultra World Team Championship 2024
As we sit down to start writing this, we’ve now had two full night’s sleep and been home for over a couple of days, while three Belgians have only just finished setting a new World Record of 110 yards – inspiring stuff! In the end it took us another week to finish writing 😴 EvenContinue reading “Backyard Ultra World Team Championship 2024”
Mapledurham BYU 2024 – A Crew’s Eye View
Going to Mapledurham was a bit of a last-minute plan, but we’re glad we did! After the Cow Shed Backyard Ultra was cancelled due to short notice, Julie had a bit of a gap in her schedule before her next race in June and was still looking to find a few extra yards to secureContinue reading “Mapledurham BYU 2024 – A Crew’s Eye View”
Year in Review: 2023
2023 was a whirlwind of a year! We’re just back from a proper good break over the Christmas and New Year period… including both taking a few days off from running 😱 It’s always fun to look back on what we got up to last year, take stock of what went well and look aheadContinue reading “Year in Review: 2023”
Interview: Heather & Geoffrey
If you’ve spent any time reading this blog you’ll know we’ve done some unusual races. Escape From Meriden is a rather unique event where, starting from the village of Meriden (allegedly the geographical center of England), you have 24 hours to “escape” as far as you can. You can take part as an individual, aContinue reading “Interview: Heather & Geoffrey”
GOBYU 2023
Went to Leeds, ran 31 yards, DNF’ed, went home again. That’s pretty much what our weekend at God’s Own Backyard Ultra amounted to, but at the same time it was so much more than that! Hours spent on the trail, time in camp catching up with our “backyard family”, seeing many people smash their ownContinue reading “GOBYU 2023”
Interview: Allan & George
We first met father and son combo Allan and George Parkin at God’s Own Backyard Ultra last year, and since then we keep bumping in to them at events from the tip of Wales to Orkney (where we randomly ended up on the same campsite as them for several days after the event too 😲).Continue reading “Interview: Allan & George”