Update 22/10/25 (12 midday UK time): Sarah Perry has finished her incredible race with a new Backyard Ultra Women’s World Record of 95 laps.

Competing at the 2025 Big's Backyard Ultra Individual World Championships, she exceeded the previous world record of 87 laps, set by Megan Eckert last year.

Sarah has also set a new UK national record, bettering Matt Blackburn’s previous record of 87 laps, and was the last woman standing in the race.

She eventually finished her race after completing lap number 95 with an increasingly sore back injury.

72 runners started the race on Saturday, completing a lap of 4.167 miles on the hour, every hour. Eventually there will be just one runner left standing. Right now, just nine remain.

The men’s world record stands at 119 laps.

Sarah’s final stats: 95 laps (Women’s World Record), 395.83 miles (637.032 km), Av lap: 51:13, Last lap: 57:38.

Speaking shortly afterwards Sarah said: "I've got mixed emotions. I'm quite disappointed that my back went when everything else was working so well. I had it in my legs and my head on reaching 100 laps, something I was really fixed on, but that's ultra running.

"It's going to take a while to process it all. I just need to catch up on sleep and then process what I've achieved."

It’s simple: run a 4.167 mile loop on the hour, every hour, until only one person is left standing. As soon as the second to last person drops out, the winner runs one more yard or lap.

Founded by the legendary Lazarus Lake, of Barkley Marathons fame, the Backyard Ultra is a growing sport with a reputation for being both unpredictable and gruelling. 

The mixture of an ever-changing finish line, sleep deprivation and competitor tactics are just some of the factors that make this niche sport so fascinating. Another interesting element of the event is that you can only run as far as the race that you are in allows. 

The current world records are as follows: 

• Men: 119 laps (495.8 miles) run by Australian runner Phil Gore in June 2025.
• Women: 87 laps (362.5 miles) run by Meg Eckert in 2024.

You must be in it to win it! So, whether you are just beginning your Backyard Ultra journey or looking for some last-minute preparation to help you ace your upcoming BYU, here are my best tips to help you succeed: 

Backyard Ultra courses can vary greatly. Some courses are known for having huge amounts of elevation and others are pancake flat. Knowing your strengths can help you choose your ideal BYU course. 

You have a whole hour to complete the 4.167 mile course but don’t forget that you need to factor in time for any ‘admin’ also: eating, foot care and outfit changes all need to be accounted for. You may choose to run each loop as quickly as you can to allow you to ‘rest up’ between laps. Personally, I like to take it easy out on the course and opt for allowing for a short amount of time to tick off any jobs. 

The format means that time could be limited at the end of each lap. This means you need to have a well-planned strategy for fuelling. Focusing on whatever works for you within an ultra is a good idea, I personally recommend lots of savoury foods such as pretzels, salted potatoes, noodles and of course any sports nutrition that works for you. If you are short on time, you may need an "on the go" strategy such as a carbohydrate drink and food that you can take with you whilst you move. 

My first two Backyard Ultras kicked off in the blazing sun, which meant that I had to prioritise hydration and electrolytes. I also took full kit for all eventualities - you never know what you might need and being able to access kit regularly is one of the advantages of having a checkpoint every 4 miles. 

Having support is a major advantage. Unfortunately for them, it's not all BBQs and beer. They will need to ensure your needs are catered for promptly as time is precious. Choose your support crew wisely as it is not an easy job, they could be supporting you for several days!  

Have a great time on course chatting to your competitors, it's likely you will meet some brilliant, like-minded (and crazy) new running friends. You may be running along time with these people and may help to distract you from the monotony of running loops. 

Think carefully about the race that you choose to do. If your aim is to get onto the BYU team then look for races that runners are known for getting distance PBs at. These courses are usually flat with lots of very runnable sections, they may also be bigger events that are known to attract the best Backyard runners. 

With an uncertain finish line, you need to be prepared to run for numerous days. Depending on your goal, a 100 mile or 200 mile training plan could be your best option. At the very least, get your long runs in. Even if you're not going for the win, it's a great format to stretch yourself and get a distance PB. 

There’s nothing worse than your race being impaired by the looming dread of having to return to work on a set day. If you’re serious, block out a good amount of time and run, run and run until you can’t run anymore! 

Although most of us love ultrarunning because of the beautiful views, I can still highly recommend having a go at the Backyard Ultra format. It’s a great way to challenge yourself and is as much a test of the mind as much as your athletic abilities. Remember, you don’t have to be speedy either, it evens the playing field for men and women meaning that it really could be anybody’s game!

*All photos by Jacob Zocherman, taken at the 2025 Big's Backyard Ultra Individual World Championships

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