Race Report by Greg Plier
A Backyard Ultra (BYU) is a format where competitors must run a 6.71km course (known as a yard) on the hour every hour. The race continues until there is only one runner left, the last one standing. My understanding of why each yard is 6.71km (4.17mi) is; it is an easily achievable distance within an hour, and running for 24 hours (24 yards) a runner will have completed 100 mile.
So recently I headed to Shepparton with friends, crew, and fellow runners, to run the GV Last One Standing BYU. On Saturday morning we headed over to Victoria Lake Park to set up for the event. The park turned into a tent city with everyone setting up their own marquee or tent to use in between each yard to rest and refuel. At midday 137 runners were in the starting corral, and we were off for yard 1. The initial yards are about taking it easy, conserving energy and settling into the run. I had a goal to run over 30 hours, which would have me complete my first ever 200km run. As I figured out the course and my run/walk strategy, I found myself coming back into the corral generally in 46-48 minutes. This gave me time to sit down, take on nutrition, change clothes etc. before heading back to the corral to do it all again. There is a warning siren at three minutes, two minutes, and then one minute before the next hour. All runners must be in the corral before the start of the next hour or they will DNF, all runners must move out from the corral immediately when the starter’s horn sounds or they will DNF, in fact everyone except the last one standing will eventually be credited with a DNF.
The course was an out and back course. Around Victoria Park Lake, alongside the Goulburn River and out to the Shepparton Botanical Gardens and back. My first few hours were relatively easy and enjoyable. Run a yard, back to the marquee to put my feet up, touch base with my crew, eat some chips or lollies, grab a flask of Tailwind, head back to the starting corral to do it all again. The first change in routine was at 5pm when we had to take a head torch out as it would get dark during that hour. Even without realizing, in the dark on the 6pm yard I slowed down to run a 50 min yard. Still, plenty of time, and only about 3 to 4 minutes slower, but it showed the impact the sun setting can have on your pace. I got straight back into my 46-48 rhythm as I settled into the night. The night loops continued on, I grabbed a small meal at about 7pm, and then we found ourselves at midnight and 12 hours of running. During these twelve hours about 50 runners had dropped from the race.
Yard 15 arrived at 2am Sunday morning, this was the 100km milestone. Such a big achievement, so much so that after yards 15 and 16, a massive sixteen runners decided to call an end to their race. To manage fatigue overnight, I had planned my caffeine intake. I skipped the daily morning ritual of my double shot soy latte and I would only start taking caffeine when I felt it was required. At 4am after 16 hours this was the time. The night yards began to take their toll, so I took a No Doze, I would then continue to take caffeine every four hours (including a morning coffee).
By 7am we’d seen the sunrise and left the darkness behind. It’s amazing how good this makes you feel after a night of running. The next milestone would be yard 22, the tutu yard. It has become a fun BYU tradition for all remaining runners to wear a tutu out on yard 22. Everyone has been running through the night, you’ve made it to the next day, this yard provides a fun pick me up. Then after one more yard another milestone arrived, 24 hours of running and 100 mile complete. Many people at GV were completing their first ever miler, another huge achievement, and again a large number called it a day with 10 runners deciding they’d finish on this high note. My main goal was still six hours away, and whilst still confident, it was about the 24 hour mark that the legs started to rebel. The soreness in my quads that had been present for a while started to grow, and my right achilles was beginning to hurt. In between yards the massage gun, anti-inflammatory cream, and paracetamol came into the mix.
As I completed yard 27 I had achieved a new BYU PB and at that time my furthest run. This was also the time that the legs were now needing a bit of a run up, some skipping, and shuffling to get running again at the start of each yard. Then came the start of yard 30 and what would be my first 200km run. I had my Midday Milers t-shirt on to mark the occasion, and to show my appreciation of the training the group had provided to help me reach this goal. It’s funny how as things start to hurt and each yard gets harder, that yard 30 was a breeze. With the goal now so close, the mind took over and I coasted to the finish line extremely happy to reach my goal. The end of that yard was fantastic with hugs all round, from my crew (great mate Mark), my Dad, and friends Rose and Pete from the running group the Mornington Misfits. But as Rose gave me a hug she also said, “Congratulations, now get your arse out there for one more, yeah”. Ten minutes later when I walked into the starting corral for yard 31, previous GV winner Matt Dube came over to me, put his arm around me, and said “well done Greg, you’ve elevated to the next level”. This was awesome, Matt has represented Australia in the BYU Satellite World Championships, won GV BYU three times in a row, had a PB at that time of 57 yards (382km), and still made the time to come over and congratulate me. What a guy and what a community, this is part of what makes BYU’s so great. No matter your speed or experience, everyone starts each yard together, and it does create an inclusive fun event, and builds community.
My goal now was not to stop at 200km but to get out of the chair and each hour try to do one more yard. I wonder if it was the high of the 30 yard achievement, or now not having a big goal to focus on, but that the next hour became significantly harder. My pace was still in range, but everything was hurting much more by now. On yard 32 the wheels fell off at an alarming rate. It was hard to get going, my pace was very slow, even small declines had to be walked, and my right achilles was sore and significantly inflamed. I came in at the end of yard 32 in just under 56 minutes, convinced I was done. I sat down in my chair, as the three-minute warning sounded. But Rose again stepped in. “Come on you’ve had one slow yard, get back out there and try again, who cares if you time out, go until you can’t go anymore, that’s what this event is all about”. So I got up and headed back to the start line for yard 33. By this time it was dark again, my legs were saying no more, I wanted to walk, so to keep moving I joined in with a group of five other runners (there were 15 left on course at this stage). They helped keep me moving to ensure I made it around in time, but with 1k left and with time to spare, I was back to walking. I came in again in 55-56 minutes, still with time, but spent. I did make it back to the corral for yard 34 but only went fifteen meters past the start before heading back and telling the Race Director I was done. I was one of five that DNF’d on yard 33. These last few yards were tough, as can happen in an ultra, I questioned my life choices and wondered if I ever wanted to do an event like this ever again (spoiler alert).
When I DNF’d there were 10 runners remaining out on yard 34. I headed back to the hotel to get some much needed sleep. In the morning I headed back over to the event village to pack up and check in on the race. There were now four runners left, and all four made it past 200 mile and to yard 50. By the time I was home back in Melbourne, there were still two runners on course. The race finished at midnight on Monday night. Joel Sexton timed out on yard 60 (finishing with 59 yards and the assist), Matt Dube had already finished yard 60 and took out the win. 60 yards and 400km for the win, a GV BYU four-peat, and a new PB. The winner of this event also won a ‘silver ticket’, a spot on the Australian Backyard Ultra team in 2026.
I’d had a great time out on course, pushing myself to a new PB and longest ever run. I’d enjoyed meeting new people, chatting on course, and sharing the times in between yards with my crew and friends. I enjoy the mental and physical challenge provided by ultra running and backyard ultras. Whilst I did question myself during the event, it only took two days and I had signed up for Melbourne Frontyard Ultra in May 2026. A Frontyard is the same as a Backyard, but takes place in a city rather than a rural setting or on trails/paddocks. Melbourne FYU’s takes place in Fairfield alongside the Yarra River and the Eastern Freeway. If you’re interested (it’s nice and close) come along and check it out – or maybe enter and every hour head out for just one more yard.
Greg Plier
