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 in October we were both in good shape. Our stories of the race are intertwined as you’d expect so we thought the best way to share both sides of it was to talk though the event in an interview style… even if we’re only interviewing ourselves, I’m sure it will all make sense! If not then we’ll blame it on (🚨 spoiler alert 🚨) the 350 miles we ran between us 🤣!
How did you feel your preparation went leading up to the race?
Julie: My training over the winter had gone really well. In the run up to Christmas I had added in hill reps and some speed work by attending parkruns. After Christmas I fell back into my normal routine of slower steady runs, which was feeling really comfortable and then in the final few weeks before Rasselbock I switched to run/walks to make sure my walking was up to speed as I knew I would be doing a lot! The only negative thing was in February my Ménière’s disease flared back up and I was having an attack every week. This meant I was having to be flexible in my running to ensure I was hitting my monthly mileage. Unfortunately each attack leaves me wiped out for about 24 hours which isn’t ideal. Despite this I was feeling really prepared for Rasselbock and looking forward to seeing how far I could go.
Iain: I’d also put in a solid training block with no big races since the Team Champs and was generally feeling good. Not 100% niggle-free but definitely in decent shape as I’d done some speed work before Christmas, setting a new 5k PB (18:45 in case you wondered 😉) and then doing consistent volume including plenty of run/walk practice. I’d also switched to a low GI diet (maybe a topic for another post?) since the New Year, which helped me lose a few kilos and generally feel good. You can never tell when a great race day is going to come along, but all the groundwork was there.
Did you manage to get a good night’s sleep ready for the start?
Julie: Last year I struggled with sleeping the night before as it was so cold and I was in a little bivvy bag. This year we were sleeping in the car and we came well prepared for cold temps. The week running up to Rasselbock had been a tricky one as I had started a new job as well as getting everything ready for being away. This meant my sleep hadn’t been great and I was very aware of this.
After pizza in the marquee we retired to the car and were tucked up in sleeping bags by 9.30pm. It was really comfy with a duvet, sleeping bag, duvet sandwich and I was soon asleep. I actually woke a couple of times because of being too hot and stripped off several layers during the night! All in all it was a good nights sleep and I woke about 7am ready for the day.
Iain: After a pretty hectic few weeks leading up to the race, including quite a bit of work travel it was actually nice to be able to leave home (with the kids in the capable care of my parents) and just enjoy some time together. The journey down passed quickly and although we arrived at Sherwood Pines after dark it was great to see a few friendly faces waiting there on site… although they were mainly waiting for the pre-ordered pizza delivery rather than to see us I expect. It was bitterly cold (about -2C overnight), but I slept like a baby in the back of the van and woke pretty well rested for the day(s) ahead.
Some people say that the race doesn’t really start until 24 hours at a Backyard, but that doesn’t mean the first day and night are easy! How did it go?
Julie: The start of the race was fantastic with so many lovely people around. The laps passed by chatting to old friends and new runners – I love hearing everyone’s stories. I knew the course from last year and was pleased to find the underfoot conditions were actually better this year and instead of one of the muddier paths we were using a parallel track which was much more pleasant. The sun was shining and it was a really nice afternoon. My only real concern was I was feeling very bloated and suspected me period was going to show up mid race rather than wait until the end. However this was completely out of my control so I just got on with it.
The first night also went fine. I reminded Iain to get in his fast laps for a nap when he got tired and otherwise just got on with it. I was maybe slightly more tired than I had hoped but thankfully not sleepy! The legs were a bit tired but nothing really unexpected so I just took it lap at a time. The nights do seem long in March and even for me, who likes night running, I was glad when it got to morning!
Iain: As usual at a backyard, the first few laps I spent getting used to the course – where to run and where to walk, where the climbs were, and where to watch out for trippy roots. It felt really easy and I settled in to a 13 min/mile pace, aiming to complete the loop around 52 minutes. At least on my watch, the course measured a bit short but this could be due to poor signal due to the wiggly section through the woods on the second mile. I do remember on the very first lap feeling some twinges in my right hip and thinking to myself it might be a long and difficult race. By the end of the first day my legs just settled into a rhythm – everything hurt a little bit, but that’s what you expect after 30 miles, and after than it never got any worse.
Julie and I mostly ran separately (didn’t want to waste our chat on each other 🤣) and the day passed really quickly, with loads of different people to talk to on each lap – both old friends and people I was meeting for the first time. We had formed a little bit of a pre-race alliance with Luke Carter, Andy Imms and Eleanor Gallon, so it was nice to see them from time to time on the loop and check in that they were doing OK. On yard 3, I took my phone out to take a photo recce of the route – the results are scattered through this post to give you a flavour of what to expect on the course.
The first night was actually surprisingly difficult for me. Not so much physically but I was really sleepy. Julie kept me right and I used my pre-planned “fast lap and sleep” strategy twice, once at 11pm (41 minutes) and then again at 5am (44 minutes). Both times I was able to get roughly 15 minutes of solid sleep, and it got me through to the morning where as usual I perked right up and continued strong through to the 24 hour mark.
33 Runners completed 24 yards / 100 miles, but by the end of Sunday afternoon there were only about 10 left! How did the second day go for you?
Julie: Things started to go wrong for me at about the 24 hour mark. I was feeling really tired and beginning to get sore knees – this isn’t unusual for me and usually I manage it well as I know they clear up within a couple of days of finishing the race. I think the hardest thing was that my legs felt like lead and I felt like I was running through treacle. I said this to Iain a couple of times but there wasn’t really anything I could do about it. I kept heading out on each loop but as we headed into the afternoon my heart just wasn’t in it and then I became really emotional and kept crying uncontrollably on several of the loops (not something I have experienced mid race before). Iain tried to help but it was actually making it harder as I just needed some headspace to try and sort myself out. He headed off and I ran with several different people. Thanks to all those who listened to me and supported me on those loops, I know I wasn’t much fun but I really appreciated those around me being so supportive. I was really struggling with knowing what to do as I could still easily get round the loops but mentally it was becoming harder and harder – and I don’t quit on races. I ran a loop with Eleanor mid afternoon and had a caffeine gel. Chatting with her (and the gel) really picked me up and I came back in at the end of the lap and said to Eric “I am back in the game!” as I felt so much better.
Unfortunately it didn’t last long and a couple of laps later I was back wading through treacle. I decided I was going to get to the first night loop and see if that perked me up as I love the night loops. Also in the back of my mind was the fact it was hard without a crew as we weren’t really able to switch off between loops, if I stopped soon I would be able to support Iain who was looking so strong and focused. I started the first night loop and told myself I would make a decision at the bottom of the first long down hill. When I got there I was averaging a 15min/mile pace. I could have got round but I decided it was not my day to get the big distances I had hoped for. I was a bit emotional as it was a hard decision to make and I felt like I was letting people down. But I also knew it was the right decision for me on the day. I walked back up to camp and discovered my period had started – explaining the heavy legs, slow pace, tiredness and emotionalness.
Once back in camp I had a bit of a cry, but once I had let go of all the emotions I was really happy with the decision I made as I had made the right decision for me on the day. I was then able to switch to crewing Iain which I was super excited to do and really happy to be able to support him through the rest of the race.
Iain: The second day continued in much the same vein as the first for me – I was still keeping a steady pace, and just enjoying every single yard. It certainly didn’t hurt that it was another lovely sunny day! I was a bit surprised that “only” 33 runners completed their hundred miles – between us I had guessed at 50 and Julie and 40, so we were both overly optimistic.
The afternoon was a the most difficult part of the race for me, as I had a front-row seat to see Julie starting to struggle. Even worse, I wasn’t really able to help her. After a few more laps together, she asked me to run at my own pace and give her some space to figure things out. It looked by late afternoon like she had turned a corner, but as I know from previous races it’s possible to dig yourself out of a hole for a while but really hard to stay out of it! Julie was behind me on the first night yard, so I didn’t see she had dropped until I got to the end of the yard and saw she was back in the marquee. We had a big hug, but I was so happy to see that she was content with her decision and she already had her “crew hat” on so I was looking forward to continuing to race together, just in different roles.
The second night of a backyard has a fearsome reputation (and Iain has failed to complete it before). What was different this time?
Julie: For the second night I quickly swapped into crew mode and was able to have Iain in his chair with his eyes shut within 30s of finishing the lap. He would then have a quick drink, grab a couple of gels and be on his way. All in all it worked great. While he was out on the loop I had a lovely time chatting to other crews, Eric and Jonathan, Karen who was doing the timing and even the medics! It wasn’t until a few hours after I stopped that I remembered to properly look after myself and grab some food and drinks and the odd power nap! The night was really cold for crewing so I just kept adding on my layers Iain did amazingly well and only started struggling with sleep demons in the last few hours of darkness when we swapped onto the caffeine gels and Kendal Mint Cake which perked him right up! By this point I knew he had the win as he was looking so strong, it was just a case of how long it would go on for.
Iain: I really expected the second night to be really hard, especially as I had been feeling sleepy on the first night already! In reality, it was the opposite and turned out even better than the first. I’m not sure if it was having Julie crewing me, the sense that we were getting to the sharp end of the race as runners kept dropping, or a combination of things, but I had a distinct sense of clarity and focus that carried my right through till the early hours of the morning. I remember running through the forest trail section on mile 2 and seeing every twig and root in sharp detail like I had HD vision – I’ve never experienced anything like that before. I also remember there were a couple of photographers and bikers out and about the night which was a bit of a surprise! I’m convinced they were real too – no hallucinations this time 🤷♂️
Around 3am I did finally start to get tired. I was still hitting my target pace, but my run had slowed down a lot and it was starting to feel just a little bit hard. I thought about trying another fast lap to get some proper sleep (up to that point I was managing on 5 minute power naps each loop), but my legs didn’t have the speed to make it worthwhile. In the end I decided to finally go full caffiene – after all I only had 3 hours to make it through till dawn. A combination of a caffiene gel at the start of the loop, and then a sugar boost from a chocolate-coated Kendal Mint Cake bar half way round worked a treat, and I was even able to pick up the pace a little. Within a few hours it was morning!
By morning there was only Iain and Lizzie left running, but lots of people returning to the campsite to watch the race unfold. Tell us what happened on the third morning!
Julie: Monday morning was great as a good number of runners and crew returned to camp to pack up and watch the end of the race. It was great to have so many friends around and the atmosphere was fantastic. I loved chatting with everyone and it was lovely when the sun came out. The amazing lady from Walkers catering also returned to site and did an amazing job feeding us all. The hash browns were particularly awesome and I ended up eating four 😋. Iain requested a cheese toastie which was kindly prepared ready for him at the end of one of the loops. It was great to see Iain and Lizzie get to the 48 hour mark and then the 50 which was the Scottish record. Iain was focussed on each lap at a time through the morning. He was super strong, had no real niggles and was enjoying himself. I loved seeing him have such an amazing race. Apart from a blister to deal with crewing was straightforward. Late morning I sat in the sun and promptly fell asleep for a lovely half an hour with the sun on my back. I made sure to set an alarm for quarter to the hour every hour just in case I fell asleep!
When we heard Lizzie had turned back on the 51st lap I wasn’t surprised as she had looked like she was having a tough time for quite a while. I had no idea if Iain would know he was on his final lap but suspected he probably would. So it was just a case of waiting for his return. All the spectators clapped Lizzie back into camp – she had had an amazing run smashing her PB and finishing as the assist on 50 yards. Impressive stuff.
It was brilliant to see Iain run strongly into the finish line as the winner of the 2025 Rasselbock Backyard Ultra on 51 yards. I couldn’t be prouder of him. He ran the race brilliantly and was strong throughout. What a start to the year 💪❤️🏃🏻
Iain: I always get a huge boost when the sun comes up and I describe it as feeling like I’ve got new legs! Combined with the fact that I was still feeling physically great, and we were now down to two runners, I just continued having a great time. Some people don’t enjoy being along on the loop, but for me I was just having some happy time in my own head. Compared with Saturday and Sunday which were really busy with walkers, dogs and bikers, I enjoyed having the trails mostly to myself, and having a bit of banter with Andy the marshal as I passed him on each lap. Having seen some video footage and Lizzie’s podcast it seems she was really starting to struggle at this point, but I wasn’t really aware of it. I was really motivated to make it to 48 hours (matching Julie’s PB) – this was a real milestone for me, and a few yards later setting a new Scottish record was just icing on the cake. At the start of lap 51 I passed Lizzie on the first downhill, looking back she was walking more than usual and looked like she was on her phone (not sure!). Anyway, this was the first time I really tried to play any games, and I put in a fast first mile with the aim of being out of sight by the time she reached the gravel road. I slowed down after that as I still wanted to conserve energy for many potential future laps. When I emerged from the forest trail section, marshal Andy told me that he’d heard on the radio that Lizzie had DNF’ed and was returning to camp.
The feeling you get when you know you’re on the final lap – I can’t put it into words. I just loved every second of the last few miles, and everything felt effortless, even running up all the hills. I even gave a final honk at the “silly goose” sign for good measure. Passing the Go Ape, Kit the race videographer met me, clipped on a mic and followed me in with a camera. I think I gave him a bit of a challenge keeping up with me 🤣 Running into camp and across the line was just the greatest feeling as a decent little crowd had come back to watch the end of the race. The finish of a backyard can be a bit anti-climatic as often the camp site has cleared out and there is hardly anyone left, but that wasn’t the case. The sun was shining and I shook Lizzie’s hand before trying to say a few coherent words and accepting the magnificent trophy. I think I was enjoying the moment so much that Julie had to remind me eventually to sit down!
How have you recovered from the race?
Julie: Once the race finished the exhaustion hit. I sorted our stuff and loaded the car as quickly as possible while Iain booked us a room in the closest Premier Inn. By mid afternoon we were all checked in and having a lovely afternoon nap – getting up for dinner was an effort but worth it to replace some calories! and then back to sleep for a lovely 11hrs. I had some dizziness from my Ménière’s Disease but managed to sleep it off, only bouncing off a few walls, without full blown vertigo thank goodness!
Since then my legs recovered really quickly, but it is taking a bit longer to get over the tiredness. I will gradually up my running over the next couple of weeks and get back to full training for the next race. I did manage pilates on Thursday which was tough!
Iain: After two complete nights without proper sleep, I was shattered! I was capable (barely) of driving but not navigating and made an accidental turn onto the M1 causing a 10 mile out and back detour on the way to the hotel 🙈. Anyway, a night of solid unconsciousness and a major dent in the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet sorted me out and the drive home the next day was a good chance to relax and talk through the events of the last few days.
After a couple more days with my feet up (at work 😉) my legs are feeling good. I did a 5k walk and the only real issue remaining is a blister on the base of one of my toes that hasn’t fully healed yet. I’m used to taking a full week off after an ultra, so I’m feeling ready to get back to some easy running next week.
Every race is a learning experience – what did you take away from this one? And what’s coming next for you both?
Julie: There is lots for me to think about from this one. I have realised that day one of my period on race day is always going to affect my race performance and I need to think about how I mitigate that. I have also realised that I find it harder to perfom at my best when Iain is also racing – I become too invested in his race and don’t focus on my own. We both also agree if you want big numbers at a backyard having a crew makes all the difference. So in future we are planning to run different races and crew each other when we can. We will run the same events if it is a team event (e.g The Highlander BYU in July for Team Scotland) but will be mindful of how we run them.
For me nutrition and hydration went well and for this race I taped my toes for the first time and had no foot issues during the race and found only one small blister at the end. This is a big improvement for me as I usually have to manage multiple nail bed blisters in long races. I will be continuing with the taping for future races.
I have also realised that I need to work on my mental drive for Backyard Ultras. I have the mental strength but don’t always have the driving factor that you need to push through. I need to work on my self belief and confidence as I find when you get towards the sharp end of the race, starting all together on the hour every hour I find it incredibly hard not to doubt myself, especially if most of the others are completing their laps faster. I am the person that gets psyched out by the mind games! But as with all aspects of running this is trainable and knowing it is a weakness it is something I can work on. Interestingly it isn’t a problem in point to point races where I am usually on my own and don’t have to see the other runners around me.
Iain: Every so often a performance comes along that you always dream of, but never quite know when it’s going to happen. I had taken quite a lot of points for improvement from by last BYU as well as some new mental strategies and it’s really gratifying to have put them in to practice and finish with quite a lot left in the tank. I’m planning to run at the Highlander BYU / 4 Nations / Scottish Championship in July and also GOBYU in October. Neither of those courses is an “easy” one to do a PB, but you never know. At least I can go into both of them with confidence! Before that there’s the small matter of Cape Wrath Ultra in May – while I love BYU I also love long point-to-point races too. The Cape Wrath trail is 250 miles from Fort William to the Cape Wrath lighthouse at the far Northwestern point of Scotland, and the event tackles it over 8 days of racing with a camp between each days. Lots of off-trail and hilly training planned for the next few months.
Any final thoughts?
Julie: Rasselbock BYU is a fantastic event and I had a brilliant weekend even though my race didn’t go to plan. The reason for that was all the amazing, inspiring and all round awesome people that were there – other runners, crew, Race Directors, marshals and medics – everyone helped make it a super special weekend.
Iain: While I was on top form, I couldn’t have finished in good style without Julie’s crewing in the second half of the race. We’ve definitely learned that we do best when we’re supporting each other rather than competing. I’m not saying we won’t take to the start line together ever again, but I’m looking forward to returning the favour and crewing her later in the year!
We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we did writing it! If we haven’t said it enough already, the ultra-running community is such a great bunch of people, and Backyard Ultras just bring out the best in that. Thanks to Eric, Jonathan and the whole Rasselbock crew of volunteers and marshals for an epic weekend. We love you all, and look forward to seeing you again soon at another event 👋
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