“The Last Man Standing on Earth” - Canada at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship

Oct 17, 2024

On October 19, Edmundston, NB, will resonate with the rhythm of the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship at Big Wolf's Backyard. This event promises to be one of the most formidable and intense in the realm of ultra-endurance! The top 15 Canadian runners in this discipline—3 women and 12 men—will face off against the 15 best athletes from over 60 countries in a thrilling simultaneous competition until exhaustion.

The basic principle of this extreme race is simple yet daunting. Every hour, runners will set off for a 6.7 km loop to complete in under 60 minutes. The remaining time, from a few seconds to a few minutes, is their precious moment to eat, change clothes, and sometimes take a quick nap. Caution: those not ready at the starting line on time will be disqualified! The event only ends when a single runner remains on the course to complete one last lap: “The Last Man Standing.” No matter how long it takes, the battle will be fierce!

Running 6.7 km per hour may seem manageable, but after 24 hours, those 6.7 km turn into 160 km! It’s the true agony of the drop of water—a final test of endurance and mental strength, often without sleep.

 A Major Goal for Team Canada: Solidarity and Support!

At the heart of this competition, Team Canada will emphasize mutual support and solidarity. The primary goal is to run as long as possible to become the last team standing. Traditionally, participants display unyielding strength and apparent invincibility to discourage others from following them hour after hour, but here, teamwork will be the key! While the winner will receive a “Golden Ticket” for the individual world championship in 2025, every runner will know they can count on the unwavering support of their teammates, encouraging each other to push through difficult moments. Every loop completed together will count double, and it is through camaraderie that the team will reach new heights!

In 2022, Team Canada finished fifth in total laps in British Columbia. This year, we theoretically start in seventh place worldwide according to the individual records of each athlete. This represents an impressive total of 749 laps—5019 km for our 15 Canadian runners, with an average of 334.5 km—equivalent to 50 hours of running for each! The United States, leading the pack, has 1030 laps—6902 km at the start for their runners. With veteran members and a strong organization, Team Canada has high ambitions and aims for a top-three finish among over 60 countries.

A Dream Venue for the Championship

The Big Wolf's organization is proud to partner with the city of Edmundston, its local organizers, partners, and volunteers to provide an exceptional site for the athletes! A Backyard event typically takes place in a “backyard” with tents as shelters and rudimentary logistics. Big Wolf’s has always elevated the concept to create an unforgettable experience. Canada will benefit from ideal conditions to aim for victory, competing against countries like Japan and Belgium, known for the quality of their courses, organization, and infrastructure. This global race will take place simultaneously, whether it’s day or night, fall or spring. In the past, thunderstorms or storms have caused interruptions for safety reasons, and some countries had to drop out of the race!

Here, individual heated shelters and meals will be provided to athletes and support teams for the entire duration of the race. A beautiful wooded course has been designed to be as flat, easy, and comfortable as possible to preserve strength over the long term. A dedicated team of volunteers will ensure logistics, safety, and medical coverage to give our team every chance to succeed!

Mr. Éric Marquis, Mayor of Edmundston, expresses his enthusiasm: “To you, members of the pack, you have all my admiration. I can’t even imagine the physical and mental preparation that allows you to undertake such races. I wish you a wonderful time in Edmundston, without too much pain (!), a ton of loops, and that you leave with a bag full of beautiful memories.”

A Bit of History

The Big Wolf’s concept is directly inspired by the Big’s Backyard Ultra, created in 2012 by Lazarus Lake, the famous race director of the Barkley Marathons, on his property in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. This challenge does not determine who the fastest runner is, but who is the most enduring: the one who remains standing while all others have given up.

The team championship is held every even year, and for the first time, in eastern Canada. The individual championship takes place every odd year in Tennessee, bringing together the winners from each country.

The Gathering of Canadian Elites

Here are the selected athletes, chosen solely for their performances in Backyard format races over the last two years in Canada. Big Wolf’s is proud to have contributed to forming the largest delegation from Quebec to date:

Quebec (8): Éric Deshaies (66 laps – 442.3 km) from Gatineau; Marco Poulin (53 laps – 355.2 km) from Sherbrooke; Nicolas Poulin (52 laps – 348.5 km) from Saint-René; Cédric Chavanne (51 laps – 341.8 km) from Rimouski; Pierre-Alexandre Beaulieu (50 laps – 335 km) from Matane; Stéphanie Simpson (47 laps – 314.9 km) from Montreal; François Decelles (46 laps – 308.2 km) from Châteauguay & Sébastien Roulier (45 laps – 301.5 km) from Sherbrooke

Ontario (3): Amanda Nelson (57 laps – 382 km); Viktoria Brown (49 laps – 328.4 km) & Justin Wright (47 laps – 314.9 km)

Nova Scotia (2): Lee Murphy (54 laps – 361.8 km) & Tim Fitzgerald (44 laps – 294.8 km)

Saskatchewan: Preston Schaffer (35 laps – 234.5 km)

Alberta: Matt Shepard (53 laps – 301.5 km)

Years of Preparation

Yvan L’Heureux from Rivière-du-Loup, instigator of the challenge in Quebec and race director, is delighted and honored to welcome Canada’s elite with his team. “We are more than happy to experience this unique adventure in an enchanting site. We are fortunate to have 15 extraordinary athletes, their 30 crews, and many engaged and enthusiastic volunteers. It is a great pride and a colossal task of expertise beforehand. Team Canada is ready to shine together on the world stage!”

A Unique Race with Stratospheric Numbers

In Canada, six “Silver Ticket” races allow winners to access the Canadian Championship directly. Canada, along with the United States, is the only country with six races of this caliber. The other nine athletes are selected based on their performances in this format here or elsewhere in the world.

The second world record is currently held by a Canadian, Ihor Verys, with 107 hours—laps, or 717.5 km, just behind American Harvey Lewis, who set a record of 108 hours—laps and 724.2 km. These stratospheric figures represent more than 4 days of continuous racing! Among women, American Jennifer Russo holds the record with 74 hours—laps and 496.2 km.

Follow This Epic Race

The Big Wolf's Backyard can be followed through posts and real-time updates on its Facebook page, thanks to a camera at the starting site and another on the course. Those wishing to experience the event in person can go along the course near the Carré des Artisans in Edmundston to cheer on the athletes. However, spectators cannot provide any assistance to the runners. To learn more about Big Wolf's Backyard, visit bigwolfsbackyard.com

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CONTACT: Carole Fournier, Local Race Director, carolemariefournier@gmail.com, 506.737.0702

Ressources for the Media:

Images, athlete photos, logos, etc.: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rrNR0Z1drND_3QN5MTNtqDuSg3paR7Db?usp=drive_link

Website: bigwolfsbackyard.com

Athlete Biographies: https://www.bigwolfsbackyardultra.ca/can-champ2024/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063770551482

YouTube [Trailer Link] Backyard Ultra: Individual World Championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJAvnhXrJMM&t=1s