March 15th 2025, Abbotsford Exhibition Park
Thanks to Sarah McWhirter for the race report….and quite some admiration too, this is a tough one!
This race sounds much easier on paper hahaha.
Racers and crew could arrive at 7am to set up their tent in tent city. It was a gravel parking lot with roughly 50 tents set up. You can't survive more than a couple laps ( 6.7 km per lap) without a tent set up and an experienced crew. I was so lucky to have my son who is no rookie at helping me at ultra races, he was a rock star.
Race started 9am sharp and you had to be back and in the starting zone before the next hr and lap started. There was a whistle at the 3-minute mark, 2 minute and 1 minute. If you planned it out it was ideal to be back with no more than 8 minutes until the next lap started (this was my plan, and I followed it strictly) and your crew waiting with what you previously had let them know you would need for that lap.
The weather was brutal, rain, snow, wind and a few minutes of sun. That aside the atmosphere was competitive but super fun and supportive. Race director Eric and his amazing family put on unreal races. They rock and all the volunteers.
The food choices (if you choose to eat them and not your own) looked delicious.
I got in 10 laps and just felt like trash, also gets boring fast and being mostly pavement with a few very muddy spots, it was hard on the body if you are used to mostly trail.
This race is set up to get whatever distance you want to achieve, very little elevation and not technical at all.
Had a great time and happy I tried a back yard ultra.
I'd recommend this race to anyone who wants to get their first ultra distance or push to get the most laps and win it.