Britain’s Sarah Perry has delivered a performance for the ages at the Big’s Backyard Ultra World Championship in Bell Buckle, Tenn. completing 95 laps—approximately 637 before choosing not to begin her 96th yard (loop) due to back pain. American runner Meg Eckert crossed 92 laps (about 617 km) before failing to start loop 93 on time. The two women shattered the previous women’s former backyard ultra record of 87 yards.
Designed by Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Laz Lake), Big’s is the original event that launched the backyard craze, known for testing runners’ endurance and patience, one 6.7-kilometre loop at a time. If they fail to start the next loop on time, they are eliminated. The race proceeds until only one runner completes a lap that no other runner can. The 2025 edition began with 75 elite runners from around the world. Among them were heavy hitters like Phil Gore, who holds the world record (119 yards) for backyard ultras, and Harvey Lewis, a previous Big’s champion (who completed 108 yards in 2023, assisted by Chilliwack, B.C.’s Ihor Verys), are both among the eight runners still persevering after 98 laps—nearly 669 km.
Perry’s and Eckert’s fierce run
Perry entered the event with strong credentials, already holding a national record and targeting big gains. Early in the race, she stayed steady while many of her rivals dropped; by the time the 88th lap approached, both she and Eckert were the only two women remaining. From then on, every hour was a duel of wills. “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,” Perry said post-race, as reported by INOV8.
When Perry crossed the finish line after loop 95, she surpassed her own British record of 59 laps and eclipsed the previous British overall best of 87. Back pain then pushed her to withdraw from attempting lap 96. Meanwhile, Eckert DNFd on lap 93 after missing the start.
Meet the only Canadian at Big’s Backyard Ultra
Canada’s lone contender
Nova Scotia’s Lee Alonzo Murphy stood out as Canada’s sole athlete competing this year in the field. Having secured his place through a strong national backyard ultra performance, he entered the event carrying both national representation and personal ambition. Murphy accomplished a stunning 74 yards and 496 km, a personal best, before returning to the corral after starting his 75th lap.
Will more records be smashed?
As the final eight runners head toward the 100-yard mark, the distance still to be covered remains to be known. With former record holders Lewis and Belgian runners Merijn Geerts and Ivo Steyaert in the mix, anything could happen. If Kazuhiro Kawahata of Japan completes his 100th lap, he will have gone farther than any Japanese runner has before.
How to follow along
Fans can tune in through the Big’s Backyard Ultra live stream and updates here and the Big’s Backyard Ultra Facebook page.
