Records fall at 2026 Black Wolf Backyard Ultra

This year's Backyard Ultra saw more runners than ever before with 50 participants ready to take on the challenge of running 4.167 miles every hour until only one was left. The trails were in great shape and the weather was beautiful for most of the day with the rain holding off until the late evening. In the start corral were 23 returning runners and 27 new runners. 14 Women and 36 Men. 2025 winner, Erica Shafer, and assist, Chad Lowery, were among the returning runners.

With such a strong field starting it was anyone's race. The first big drops came around laps 4 and 5 with those runners completing 16 to 20 miles. The course has roughly 500 ft of gain per loop so 20 miles is still a really good day of running! The next drops we saw were at the 50K (8 lap) mark with 8 runners calling it a day. 7 runners hit their 50 mile (12 lap) goal including, Scott Kline, Jack Molloy, Erica Shafer, Jacob Abrams, Coleman Ahrens, Dusty Hibdon, and Andrew McLarty. Most of the runners who remained had their eye on a 100K (15 lap) goal. For many of them that would be their longest distance ever completed. Marshall Carlyle, Emma Corby, Teri Buck, Kruz Kleewein, and Mark Snyder all finished (or should we say DNF'd) with 100K under their belt. Only six runners remained after lap 15 as we started to approach the nighttime hours. Bryce Ramler completed the 16th lap to finish with 66 miles. Cody Grzybowski and Henry Michener both went out after 18 laps (75 miles) and Isaac Kristich went one more to complete 19 total laps (79 miles). That left just two runners, previous assist Chad Lowery and California native, JJ Goodrich. Both runners had told me before the race start that they wanted 100 miles. Chad and JJ worked through the next several hours of the night together battling rain, cold, and dark conditions. Some incredible teamwork got them both their goal of 24 laps (100 miles) and broke the previous course record of 22 laps. After that 24th lap, Chad waved JJ on to complete the final 25th lap alone while taking the official assist for the second year in a row. JJ completed lap 25 (104 miles) to become the official finisher of the 2026 race. Remarkable sportsmanship was seen from both these competitors and their crews.

On a personal note, I have said many times that the Backyard is my favorite race to direct. It is the race that made me want to start directing and this year was another reason why that remains true. I love seeing runners meet and exceed their goals. I love seeing runners support one another and mostly, I love the community of crew and support that these runners bring. We had three fathers running with their adult children, a couple of brothers, and many running friends/family challenging each to other to one more loop. The Backyard brings an opportunity for runners to see what they can accomplish where there is no finish line in sight. Thank you to all of you who came out to support the race and huge congratulations to every runner that toed the line!

-Heidi