Michael Serani of Kelowna, B.C., has been named the Canadian backyard ultra national champion after a grueling 82-hour performance. Competing in Sicamous, B.C., Serani covered 549.8 kilometres to claim the title as part of the ongoing Backyard Ultra World Team Championships.

How do backyard ultra races work?

Unlike traditional marathons, these races have no fixed finish line. Instead, the competition is a test of endurance where athletes must complete a 6.7-kilometre loop every hour on the hour. The race continues until a runner can no longer complete a loop within the 60-minute window.

To support these athletes, specialized crews act much like pit crews in racing. They manage the runner's nutritional needs, monitor physical issues like blisters, and facilitate quick naps or gear changes in the short time between loops. This support is vital for managing the mental and physical exhaustion that sets in after several days of continuous effort.

Canadian performance and results

Serani narrowly won the national title by completing just one more lap than Ontario's Michael Rouleau, who finished with 543 kilometres. While the individual feats were massive, the event also focused on national rankings.

Key details from the Canadian team's effort include:

  • Canada finished ninth in the overall world team competition.
  • Seven Canadian runners remained in the competition for a significant duration, including Pier-Alexandre Beaulieu, who set a personal record.
  • The 15-person Canadian squad competed against 67 different countries participating globally.

Global competition and context

The Backyard Ultra World Team Championships are unique because they involve simultaneous races held in different locations around the world. Each participating country has its own race location, and teams of up to 15 runners compete at the same time to see which nation can log the most total kilometres.

In this format, national teams earn credit each time one of their athletes finishes a 6.7-kilometre "yard." This creates a dual challenge where runners are fighting for individual endurance records while simultaneously contributing to their country's global standing. As these international championships continue to grow, the focus remains on the extreme mental and physical resilience required to be the "last man standing."