The Road to the BYU World Championships

Two years ago, I stood on the start line having ran 6 loops at a Backyard Ultra in Stockholm and thought:

“This is crazy. I’m never doing this again.”

The following day and 165km later that thought had disappeared.

What replaced it was something else entirely.

Not sure what a BYU is – check this article out.

From 39km to 165km overnight

That first race at Winter Bay changed everything.

My longest run before that was 39km.

By the time I stopped, I had run 165km.

That’s the beauty of a Backyard Ultra. You don’t chase distance - you just keep showing up every hour. One more lap. Then another. Then another.

Until suddenly, you’ve gone further than you ever thought possible. Don’t get me wrong I couldn’t walk properly for days afterwards but the ultra bug was lit...

The Reality Check

Last year, I came back stronger. Fitter. More prepared. More confident.

But Backyard Ultras don’t care about confidence.

They expose weaknesses.

For me, it was nutrition and digestion. I spent too much time battling my stomach and not enough time focusing on the race.

I stopped at 25 laps with some painful blisters.

This race hurt more emotionally.

Some photos from Winter Bay BYU 2025

This Year: A Different Approach

This year is different.

• I’m aiming to be 10kg lighter 

• I’m fitter

• I’m more prepared

• And I’ll have a crew member supporting me 

That alone changes everything.

Winter Bay isn’t just another race this year.

It’s my launching pad.

The goal? Qualify for the Backyard Ultra World Championships in October.

The Bigger Picture

Winter Bay isn’t a silver ticket race, so even if I win, qualification isn’t guaranteed.

Right now, the cut-off sits around 47 laps for a Swedish qualification and 42 for a UK qualification.

That means I need to go deep. Really deep.

I’m targeting 48 hours+ if the race allows it.

But Backyard Ultras are unpredictable. You can only go as far as the last person standing with you, called the assist.

And that’s the challenge.

If the field doesn’t go long enough, even a win might not be enough to qualify.

The Backup Plan

I had thought about entering Porlhälsan's Backyard Ultra on 2nd May which is the next silver ticket event here in Sweden but I love the atmosphere at Winter Bay and it's where I did my first ultra. It's also the last one that Run Raisers will be organising due to building works in the area so I feel I need to be there to see it out. I think I'll use this one as a test to see how far I can push myself if everything goes right on the day including having a crew member.

There are three more credible opportunities after Winter Bay if I needed them.

• One on 5th June – too soon after my 171km Stockholm Metro Challenge 

• One on 1st August – Personal Records BYU (Växjö) 

• One on 8th August – not possible for me

So realistically, I have two shots:

• Winter Bay (test + opportunity) 

• 1st August (execution) 

If it doesn’t happen in Stockholm, Växjö is where it needs to happen, unless I go to the UK to try and enter a silver ticket event over there.

Training: Building the Engine

I’ll be honest - my winter training hasn’t been perfect.

But it’s been consistent enough:

• Running when I can

• Strength sessions (legs, glutes, upper body) - 30-minute focused workouts

But now, I’ve stepped into a 6-week focused block:

Weekly Structure

• Back-to-back long runs 

  • Starting at 3 hours each

  • Building to 5 hours each

  • At my easy pace (~6:00/km)

• 3 x 1 hour easy runs 

• BYU simulations 

  • Starting at 2 laps

  • Building to 10 laps next week

• 3 strength sessions per week 

• Tendon work & durability training 

This block isn’t just about fitness.

It’s about learning how to keep going.

The Real Battle: Mental Strategy

Backyard Ultras aren’t won physically.

They’re won mentally.

The training is probably already there to get me to the start line ready. But on race day, it’s about:

• Decision-making

• Discipline

• Managing the lows

• Staying present, lap after lap

The long runs and simulations will be my testing ground and they are going well so far. I'm having a few days reduced volume whilst in Estonia for a quick Easter break with the family then back to it next week.

Fixing Last Year’s Biggest Problem

This year, nutrition is non-negotiable.

Last year, it derailed everything.

This year:

• I’ll be testing fuelling in every long run

• Dialling in what works (and knowing what doesn’t)

• Making sure I’m not spending the first 24 laps close to the toilet

And yes…I’ll also be paying attention to things like blister prevention (lesson learned).

The Game-Changer: Support

One of the biggest upgrades this year is having a crew member.

Martin has offered to support me - he wants to learn more about Backyard Ultras having started his running journey very similar to me over the last few years.

I’ve got a feeling it won’t be long before he’s on the start line alongside me.

Having someone there changes everything:

• Fuelling becomes easier

• Decisions become clearer

• Energy is managed better

You’re no longer doing it alone.

If you want to know my top ten tips when it comes to running a BYU follow this link

Learning Through Experience

Even if Winter Bay doesn’t get me to qualification, it will give me something just as valuable:

Information.

The longer I go, the more I learn:

• What works after 24 hours

• What breaks down

• What needs adjusting

That experience is what will give me the best chance to qualify.

Follow the Journey

This is just the start.

If you want to follow along:

• I’ll be sharing updates on social media

• Writing blogs

• Being open about what’s working (and what’s not)

And if you’re thinking about running a Backyard Ultra yourself this year…

We’re launching DUAROK socks and we’re looking for testers.

Contact me if you want to test a pair out.

Final Thought

Two years ago, I thought I was crazy for even trying this.

Now?

I’m chasing the World Championships.

One lap at a time, sometimes one step at a time.