The 2023 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra witnessed extraordinary feats in the world of backyard ultrarunning, as runners defied their physical limits in this grueling competition. American athlete Harvey Lewis emerged as the ultimate victor, completing a remarkable 108 hours of continuous running and covering an astounding distance of 450 miles. The competition, known as the world championships of backyard ultrarunning, featured a unique format in which runners had to complete a 4.166667-mile loop within an hour, and the last person standing was declared the winner. This year’s event showcased the unyielding spirit of endurance athletes and pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in ultrarunning.
Key Takeaways from the 2023 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra:
- Harvey Lewis broke records, running for 108 hours and covering 450 miles to claim the title.
- Six runners exceeded 100 hours, including Harvey Lewis, Merjin Geerts, and Phil Gore.
- Fudali’s surprise withdrawal left Verys and Lewis as the final two competitors.
- Claire Bannwarth was the last woman standing, running 250 miles over 60 hours.
- The backyard ultra format’s popularity has surged, with exponential growth in participants over the years.
A Quick Guide to the Big’s Backyard Ultra
Welcome to our unique and thrilling endurance event, where runners face the challenge of a 4.1667-mile loop in two distinct settings – the trail during daylight and the road at night.
Runners complete the Trail Loop for 11 Hours during the day. And the Road Loop for 13 Hours at night.
Repeat as Necessary: The grueling cycle of trail and road loops continues until a single runner emerges as the last one standing.
Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra 2023 – Top 10 Results
Results: The results are straightforward – RTC (Refuse To Continue) marks those who cannot continue, OVER (Over Time on Loop) designates those who couldn’t complete a loop within the time limit, and DNC (Did Not Complete Loop) signifies those who didn’t finish a loop.
- Harvey Lewis – M – 450 Miles
- Ihor Verys – M – DNC 445.83 Miles
- Bartosz Fudali – M – RTC – 429.16 Miles
- Terumichi Morishita – M – DNC – 420.83 Miles
- Phil Gore – M – DNC – 416.66 Miles
- Merijn Geerts – M – DNC – 416.66 Miles
- Jon Noll – M – Over – 408.33 Miles
- Frank Gielen – M – DNC – 404.16 Miles
- Sam Harvey – M – DNC – 379.16 Miles
- Oriol Antoli Sarrau – M – Over – 370.83 Miles
Top Females
- Claire Bannwarth – W – Over – 250 Miles
- Amanda Nelson – W – DNC – 237.50 Miles
- Jennifer Russo – W – Over – 220.83 Miles
- Angelika Huemer – W – DNC – 216.66 Miles
Closing Thoughts
The 2023 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra exemplified the indomitable human spirit and remarkable achievements in the realm of backyard ultrarunning. Harvey Lewis’s record-breaking performance, surpassing 108 hours and 450 miles, symbolizes the extraordinary dedication and resilience of these athletes. While Harvey Lewis claimed the ultimate victory, the competition also showcased the outstanding efforts of Claire Bannwarth, the last woman standing, and other participants who pushed their limits. The backyard ultra format, which has steadily gained popularity since its inception, continues to challenge and inspire runners, making it a remarkable event in the world of extreme endurance sports.