The Backyard Blister- River Road, The Branch (near Stroud) NSW – Jack Hewitt
Race Date: September 6th
Pre-race
The Backyard blister is inspired by ‘Big’s backyard ultra’ hosted by Lazarus Lake in Tennessee. (Article1, Article2)
The Summary of this event is as follows;
The Summary of this event is as follows;
- Runners will start a 6.71 km (4.17 mile) on the hour, every hour
- Runners must finish each lap within 1 hour
- The next lap starts on the hour every hour after that
- This continues until only one runner can complete the lap within the 1-hour time limit
- Runners are called into the starting corral at 3 minutes to the hour
- Any runner not in the starting corral for any lap is not eligible to continue and is recorded as DNF (did not finish)
- Any runner who fails to finish a lap is recorded as DNF (did not finish)
Course description
This course is mostly single trails, The event organisers have tried to make it as easy underfoot as possible so it conforms to the original concept of the Backyard Ultra’s as in it is more a mental challenge rather than physical. They have also tried to keep the elevation as close the original Big’s Backyard (145m) as possible, total elevation per lap of the Blister is 120m.
This course is mostly single trails, The event organisers have tried to make it as easy underfoot as possible so it conforms to the original concept of the Backyard Ultra’s as in it is more a mental challenge rather than physical. They have also tried to keep the elevation as close the original Big’s Backyard (145m) as possible, total elevation per lap of the Blister is 120m.
Why the backyard blister?
So this event appeared on my Facebook feed and really spiked my interest. I signed up for it about 3-4 weeks out from the event and was defiantly doing it on a whim! I had been looking for a race to participate in and this just seemed to tick all the boxes for me. I wouldn’t say that I was race fit but I have been consistently running and working on strength since UTA50 earlier in the year, although the weekly mileage had definitely dropped.
I had been feeling strong running in the blue train and wasn’t particularly worried about my overall physical condition.
So this event appeared on my Facebook feed and really spiked my interest. I signed up for it about 3-4 weeks out from the event and was defiantly doing it on a whim! I had been looking for a race to participate in and this just seemed to tick all the boxes for me. I wouldn’t say that I was race fit but I have been consistently running and working on strength since UTA50 earlier in the year, although the weekly mileage had definitely dropped.
I had been feeling strong running in the blue train and wasn’t particularly worried about my overall physical condition.
The Race
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I decided to drive to the event on the morning of race day being only 1 hour away and a race start of 11am I knew I would have plenty of time to be prepared. I set off around 7-30 and on arrival set up my tent/ crewing area and made sure I had as many things prepared as I could as I was crewing myself.
I was feeling pretty anxious, I felt I was in way over my head. There had been Facebook introductions of the 8 other runners (yes this was a very small event!) stating their goals for this event and previous achievements. Having only been running for 18 months and UTA50 as my longest ever run I found out I was up against people that had done several 100k and even 100 mile events, I was shitting myself! |
I had a chat with the other runners as they arrived and my nerves slowly began to dissipate. You could definitely tell there were a couple of runners who were taking this very seriously and the rest just out to have a good time a see what their bodies could manage.
Now I know you can’t always have perfect conditions to run in but Friday the 6th September will go down for me as possibly the worst!
Now I know you can’t always have perfect conditions to run in but Friday the 6th September will go down for me as possibly the worst!
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Lap 1 – 11am
I was excited to get the event underway I had no real expectations but from what I could tell everyone’s number one goal was to not DNF first! The temperature was sitting around the 31-32 mark and everyone one was feeling it before we even set off, I do not particularly like running in the heat but my mentality was just to get on with it as everyone else is in the same boat. I had decided to run with a handheld bottle to try and keep myself cooler by not wearing a hydration pack and being a 6.71km loop 500mls of liquid should be sufficient. So I finished lap one in 38 minutes giving me 22 minutes until the next lap and probably 10 minutes ahead of the next competitor to finish lap 1 and now questioning if I had gone out to quick. I was feeling good but decided to slow the next one down as 22 minutes felt too long to be sitting around for anyway. 6.71km complete |
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Lap 2 – 12pm
Lap 2 was slower I completed it in 48 minutes and was really enjoying the course the ladies from tail runners had created an awesome loop. You do double back on yourself on one part of the course but it’s still very interesting consisting of mainly single track, which is my favourite! This lap set my timing as I felt 10-12 minutes was a perfect break between loops. 13.42km complete Lap 3 – 1pm
So the thermometer is now reading 36 degrees and waiting to start lap 3 I can see people are not enjoying themselves. I must say I was wasn’t overly enjoying myself it was so hot! But as they say the show must go on. This was a slower lap completing in 52 minutes and giving myself just 8 minutes to regroup. Two of the other runners had looked strong in this loop and it put a little bit of doubt in my head although there where people in worse shape than me. 20.13km complete |
Lap 4 – 2pm
So I was really feeling the effects of the heat I had soaked my hat in my ice cold Esky and tried to cool myself down as much as possible before starting this loop I had drank another 500mls of liquid in the 8 minutes I had between loops and was as ready as I could be to go again!
Much of the same on this loop a lot of comments about how hot it was and eventually another 6.71kms ticked off in around 50 minutes.
26.84km complete
So I was really feeling the effects of the heat I had soaked my hat in my ice cold Esky and tried to cool myself down as much as possible before starting this loop I had drank another 500mls of liquid in the 8 minutes I had between loops and was as ready as I could be to go again!
Much of the same on this loop a lot of comments about how hot it was and eventually another 6.71kms ticked off in around 50 minutes.
26.84km complete
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Lap 5 – 3pm
So waiting in the corral for lap number 5 is where DNF number 1 was taken the runner was timed out on their 4th lap crossing the line several minutes after we had started lap 5. DNF number 2 was also taken by another runner deciding to not start lap 5 as the heat was too much. These two guys have completed some serious runs and it goes to show how difficult these conditions really were! I must say it really put a spring in my step just knowing I wasn’t going to come last and it had the same effect for other runners too! We all seemed to be talking and having fun again! I ran another steady lap in 48 minutes and you could feel a slight breeze picking up, relief from the heat was on its way! DNF number 3 was taken out with another time out with the runner crossing the line seconds after lap 6 had started. 33.55km complete |
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Lap 6 – 4pm
Lap 6 went by without any real trouble I was feeling a little worse for wear as the heat had really taken its toll on my energy levels but I knew if I could make another lap the cool change wouldn’t be far away and I could try and regroup. Another 50 minute lap and the change had arrived the breeze was amazing.
DNF number 4 was taken out with the runner deciding to not start lap 7.
40.26km complete
Lap 6 went by without any real trouble I was feeling a little worse for wear as the heat had really taken its toll on my energy levels but I knew if I could make another lap the cool change wouldn’t be far away and I could try and regroup. Another 50 minute lap and the change had arrived the breeze was amazing.
DNF number 4 was taken out with the runner deciding to not start lap 7.
40.26km complete
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Lap 7 – 5pm
Lap 7 I was feeling good! I felt strong and I ran hard I could see everyone else was struggling and it put the wind in my sails (it may also have been the 2 Panadol I had taken washed down with a red bull) but regardless I was running and running well. It was a real mental boost for me knowing that I felt good and coming in with a 37 minute lap. It was good timing to have a quick lap as I needed that bit of extra time to have something real to eat as the sweet tail wind and gels where starting to taste very average! I also learned on my arrival that DNF number 5 had been taken by a runner deciding to not continue after starting the 7th lap. 46.97km complete |
Lap 8 – 6pm
Completing this lap would mean breaking my distance PB, I was happy to have got this far but I had no doubt in my mind of completing this lap.
It was now dark and I was still feeling alright, however I had never ran in the bush in the dark before so I took my time making sure of all my foot placements. The course seemed very different in the dark and although I had already completed the same loop 7 times it was almost like I hadn’t run it before.
I had another decent lap. My Distance PB broken and I felt I still had plenty left in the tank.
53.68km complete
Completing this lap would mean breaking my distance PB, I was happy to have got this far but I had no doubt in my mind of completing this lap.
It was now dark and I was still feeling alright, however I had never ran in the bush in the dark before so I took my time making sure of all my foot placements. The course seemed very different in the dark and although I had already completed the same loop 7 times it was almost like I hadn’t run it before.
I had another decent lap. My Distance PB broken and I felt I still had plenty left in the tank.
53.68km complete
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Lap 9 – 7pm
DNF number 6 was claimed with the runner deciding to take no further part after stepping across the line and walking back to his camp chair. This was surprising as this runner had seemed to be running strong on several previous laps. This did now mean I was in the final 3. The start of this lap was not the best for me I was feeling fatigued and the runner in front of me was looking good. That was until about 40% through this lap I had caught this runner had a bit of a chat and realised he was not in a great place and I then began to increase a gap between us…. And then the cyclonic winds hit, the wind had been steadily increasing throughout the evening but in the blink of an eye it went crazy the dust was insane and I had to lean into the wind with force to keep moving forward. I had just entered the back section of single trail where you double back on yourself the trees are dense and braches began to fall from the sky I was honestly worried that I was going to take one on my head however with nowhere to go other than forward I continued with the beam of my head lamp leading the way. I ran on finding a couple of smaller trees now laying across the track I made it out and continued down the last section to the finish line. 60.39km complete |
And now we wait…
On arriving back at the finish line (I think they were glad to see someone emerge from the bush) we discussed the conditions and once the other 2 runners were back it was decided a 2 hour pause would take place to give the wind a chance to pass. In hindsight I wish we had just continued as stopping is often my downfall and I knew that after sitting idle for 2 hours I was going to struggle to get my body going again. But the safety of all the runners had to come first.
I really should have rugged up straight away but I didn’t and I got cold and to top it off it started to pour down with rain. Again looking back I would have changed a lot of things at this point I should have gone and laid down in my tent for the 2 hours and kept myself warm and dry but I didn’t I sat out In the wind and rain under a tarpaulin that leaked and got really cold, damp and tired.
Surprisingly the time went relatively quickly the wind had died down a little and the course had been checked and cleared of fallen trees and branches unfortunately when I rose out of my chair I knew it was game over for me I was hunched over and not moving well but I managed to gather my things and drag my sorry self to the start line
On arriving back at the finish line (I think they were glad to see someone emerge from the bush) we discussed the conditions and once the other 2 runners were back it was decided a 2 hour pause would take place to give the wind a chance to pass. In hindsight I wish we had just continued as stopping is often my downfall and I knew that after sitting idle for 2 hours I was going to struggle to get my body going again. But the safety of all the runners had to come first.
I really should have rugged up straight away but I didn’t and I got cold and to top it off it started to pour down with rain. Again looking back I would have changed a lot of things at this point I should have gone and laid down in my tent for the 2 hours and kept myself warm and dry but I didn’t I sat out In the wind and rain under a tarpaulin that leaked and got really cold, damp and tired.
Surprisingly the time went relatively quickly the wind had died down a little and the course had been checked and cleared of fallen trees and branches unfortunately when I rose out of my chair I knew it was game over for me I was hunched over and not moving well but I managed to gather my things and drag my sorry self to the start line
Lap 10 – 10pm
The bell rang for lap 10 and I was not in a good place I ran/hobbled roughly 700m and decided I was done. Another competitor had also decided the same just before me taking DNF number 7 and I took the last DNF number 8!
Now I felt slightly bad because having started this lap meant that Geordie the last remaining competitor had to complete this lap + finish another solo to take out the title of last man (women) standing. She did fantastically and ran both laps with a spring in her step! Taking out the title deservedly.
Total 61km
The bell rang for lap 10 and I was not in a good place I ran/hobbled roughly 700m and decided I was done. Another competitor had also decided the same just before me taking DNF number 7 and I took the last DNF number 8!
Now I felt slightly bad because having started this lap meant that Geordie the last remaining competitor had to complete this lap + finish another solo to take out the title of last man (women) standing. She did fantastically and ran both laps with a spring in her step! Taking out the title deservedly.
Total 61km
Reflection
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There are definitely things I would have done differently now looking back on the event. However given the conditions on the day I gave as much as I could have and although I am kicking myself for not keeping warm and continuing I am happy that I stuck it out for as long as I did and although technically a DNF I will take it as a second place!
Although this could possibly be the shortest last man standing event ever, it was also one of the toughest with the conditions that we faced. Would I do it again? Well I won an entry into next year for coming second so I suppose so! Honestly this was a really fun event with an interesting format and a real challenge. The course was fantastic and I can’t thank the tail runners enough for a great time and the effort that they put into the day. |
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And also congratulations to Emma-Leigh Heighway winning the 12-hour event:
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