INOV8 athlete Sarah Perry ran 316 miles (509km) over more than three days to be the last woman standing at Legends Backyard Ultra.
She battled sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion and oppressive heat to complete 76 loops (called ‘yards’ in the sport) of the 4.167-mile trail course.
It was the joint-fourth best result by a woman since the sport of backyard ultra running started in 2011. Sarah holds the women’s world record (95 yards), set last year at Big’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee, US.
A total of 104 runners from across the world competed at Legends in Belgium. They ran a yard every hour, on the hour, until each could run no more.
Sarah’s 76 yards placed her 10th overall and the last woman standing. Next best was French runner Irene Kinnegim with 37.
Between the hourly loops, which Sarah ran at an average of 48mins 46secs, she slept and refuelled in a tent manned by her support team.
Early in the race, when Sarah was running faster, she had 15-20 minutes of rest between loops. Towards the end, with the race into a fourth day, it was less than five minutes.
Eventually the physical and mental exhaustion, combined with the heat, took its toll and an emotional Sarah tapped out.
We were with Sarah every step of the way, supporting and documenting. In this new blog post, just 24 hours after she finished, Sarah answers our questions.
How do you reflect on your performance at Legends?
I'm obviously disappointed. There's a lot of work, time and effort that goes into these events and I really felt like everything was in place to go big this time. But it doesn't matter how good your plan is if you don't have it in you to execute it on the days that matter most.
Nothing is a given in endurance racing and there are so many factors to consider, especially when you are hoping to run for 100+ hours in a backyard format.
I had an incredible experience and am glad that I got to enjoy the hospitality of the Legend's team and run with Team Belgium on their home course. I’ve made new friends and memories.
76 yards is the joint-fourth best-ever by a woman. You have two of the top-four results. You must be proud of that?
Yes, and I'm very happy to share the fourth spot with my backyard friend Edit Furesz. We shared a tent at Big’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee last year and it was incredible to watch her run 76 yards. Hopefully we will both be back in Tennessee next year and set new PBs together.
You set the goal high, aiming for a world record and potentially 100 yards. Did this approach impact you?
Yes, I've never chased numbers in a backyard before, and it felt impossible. I usually stay present and just run one lap at a time but chasing a number made this very difficult. Every race is a lesson, and I've got lots of new learnings to use in my next race.
You said pre-race you wanted to ‘find your limits’. Did you find them in this specific race?
I reached my limits in some ways, in trying my best to work through all the problems that came my way. You always wonder if you could go one more yard and I'll never regret my decisions or let myself think too much about it. I still haven't reached my limits, in that I know I have more to give in this race format.
You could have honourably tapped out earlier, what drove you on to keep going back to that start line?
I don't remember feeling any panic about the time between loops, and I knew I was able to take food and drink out on the loops with me. In a backyard race it's inevitable that you will have ups and downs, you expect it. When it comes, you are prepared for it. You keep lining up because your desire to go further is greater than your desire to stop, until it tips the other way.
What were the biggest challenges you overcame?
The biggest challenge to overcome in any backyard is the battle in your head, whether you will line up again when the whistle blows.
The Legends course is renowned as flat and fast. What did you think of the course?
It's a great course, there is some variety to it and the lack of elevation gain makes it perfect for getting round in time, even if mixing in some walking. As someone who spends a lot of time training in the hills, I'm possibly better suited to a course with a little bit of elevation.
What were your top highlights and hardest moments?
There were a lot of low moments, but I shared a lot of time with other runners, especially Jan Vandekerckhove (88 yards) and Ivo Steyaert (84 yards), and we had lots of laughs. There were also lots of quiet laps when we simply moved forward together.
I've met some incredible people through running backyard events, and the kindness of others is often the thing that drives you forward when you're not sure you can continue.
Do you still retain the ambition to try and break 100 yards?
Absolutely, there's something so interesting about the backyard format and I can't wait to come back to race, but next time I will not set a target and just enjoy the experience with no expectations.
What were your favourite pieces of INOV8 kit used and why?
ROADFLY MAX shoes – super-comfortable on the compact trail.
AIRLITE PRO SHORTS – Light and comfortable for hot days.
AIRLITE TEE LONG SLEEVE – Light, breathable and kept the sun off my arms.
RACEPAC 10 – Stored all the essentials I wanted to take out on the course – gels, drinks and spare kit.
RACE ELITE HEADBAND – Kept my hair out of my face.
Photos by: Jack Taylor, Jacob Zocherman.
