July 13, 2025 • 6 mins
Backyard ultra running.
If you don't know what a backyard ultra is - it's an ultra marathon where runners repeatedly run a 6.7 kilometre loop starting on the hour every hour until only one runner remains.
The last runner to complete a loop is declared the winner.
A recent backyard ultra was held at Spencer Park in Christchurch's north. The winner of that event was Connor Aldridge who joined Nick Bewley to talk about his achievement.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Hey, thanks for taking the time for a chap.
Forty three loops for you at the Spencer Park. Crazy
winter backyard ultra that shakes out to be what two
hundred and eighty eight killing me? This's goodness me just
talk us through your race experience. How was it? It
was good?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It was pretty good conditions from midwinter backyard. You know,
the week leading in it looked like we were going
to get some pretty pretty wet and solemn conditions, but
the weather held. Often we seem to have pretty good
conditions out there, so it was you know, chili being winter,
but pretty good conditions all around.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So you start on the Saturday about midday and finish
Monday morning. Can you just talk us through? I mean,
how do you prepare for such a grueling test of
endurance both physically and mentally?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, preparation. I guess it's just you know, getting used
to time on feet and you know, spending doing those
back to back days of running, and mentally, I guess
you just preparing to be out there for a long time,
getting used to chatting to people while you're running just
to try and pass some time, and making sure you've
got a good crew to help you keep motivated and
(01:10):
keep you going.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
What is your strategy particularly early on? As mentioned at
the top, you've got to complete a six point seven
k loop within the hour, So early on, talkers through it,
do you go out a little bit quicker to get
more time off your feet?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
For me, I was just trying to stay pretty consistent
that this one was my sixth backyard, so I've done
a few and sort of count with a bit of
a strategy that works for me, and so I sort
of sit around just under fifty minute mark right from
the start and just sort of figure out the course
and where where I can run and we only need
to walk, and try not to get too far behind
(01:48):
in my nutrition and fatigue and stuff like that, and
just try and stay on top of that right from
the start.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Okay, So what does that ten minutes then look like
that you've got up your sleeve?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, pretty much just back and meet crew depending on
the weather and the conditions and stuff like that, but
pretty much just sit down in my chair for a bit,
put my feet up if it's wet and cold, change clothes,
eat some food, drink some water, and get my nutrition
sort of for the next lap. Swopping over water bottles
or whatever it may be, and then just relax and
(02:20):
if there's a bit of time for shut eye, close
my eyes, wait for those whistles, and off you go again.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
For me from the outside looking in Connor, I feel
like one of the tougher challenges for me to wrap
my head around if I was personally to do a
half marathon or a marathon, is the repetitive nature of it.
It's the same loop over and over and over again,
and it must you know, you must get sick of
seeing the same sights and surrounds. How is that as
(02:46):
a mental challenge to know, A you're going to be
doing exactly the same thing over and over again, and
B you don't know when it's going to finish.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
There's two parts there right there doing the same thing
over and over again. You need to have that willingness
to just chat to people and try and you know,
we had two hundred and sixty odd people at the
start line on that first lap, so just trying to
chat to someone you or chat to the same people
on each lapse, because once you start chatting to people,
you just find that the time disappears and you're less
(03:15):
worried about the scenery that you're seeing over and over again,
and you're just more focused on the conversations you're having
and the people you're getting to meet, which I think
is one of the great parts of this format because
you know, like a half mouth on, you're probably running
with your lungs burning for most of the race, but
for a backyard it's much lower intensity. But obviously with
that no finish line, that in itself is a mental barrier, right,
(03:37):
you need to figure out how you play that and
how you focus on just the next loop rather than
what is the finish line.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So you mentioned earlier Connor that that was your sixth
Backyard Ultra. Talk us back to the moment when you
decided to sign up to your first one. What was
the appeal it was Back.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
In twenty twenty three, I'd been away on a running
trip with a few mates and a couple of the
guys we're doing Riverhead Backyard Ultra that year. I just
thought they were mad, and then obviously when the event
came around, I started following it and you just get
addicted to checking it every hour just to see if
they're still going. And one of my friends ended up
(04:18):
getting the assist which is second to last person standing.
And I just thought, man, that it was an amazing effort.
So I need to give one of those a crack.
And so signed up just after that for the Craziest
Backyard in christ Church and enjoyed it, and obviously here
did a few more after that.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
And is it fair to say in your time in
the sport you've seen the interests grow, Like you mentioned,
was it about two hundred and sixty people there last week?
Like numbers are just getting bigger year on year.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah. Yeah, when I did Crazies, I think we had
maybe five backyards in New Zealand annually. I think this
year they're up to about fifteen. So you know, the
numbers are growing at each event, but also the number
of events on offers it is growing too.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah. See one's popped up for Handmah Springs next month
as well. You're going to be there for that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I won't be at Hannah, I think that's just a
bit too close to this one. But there's one in
Timoru in September which I'm arming and erring and potentially
going to line up for that one.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Good stuff. And just lastly kind of there'll be a
lot of listeners intrigued as to how the days after
a backyard ultra are for you. We're a few days
removed now from the Spencer Park events, So how long
does it take to get somewhere near normality again? In
terms of both, I guess your body clock getting into
a normal sleep routine and back into the swing of
(05:38):
things at work, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
A various person to person, But I think for me,
you know, you need those next couple of days at
least just to try and catch up on a bit
of sleep and get back into a bit of normality.
I think your body that first day, at least, I
found my body. I just wake up. I can't sleep
for more than a couple of hours at most. You know,
you just wake up and everything's hurting, and you need
to eat more and you need to drink more. So
(06:00):
those first couple of days are pretty heavy on the
rest and trying to get as much sleep as you can.
But obviously, you know, life goes on around you, so
you sort have to deal with the kids and all
those sorts of things. But once you catch up on sleep,
I think your body starts to feel a bit better
and you can you can start to move around a
bit more, and you get out and try and be
active again and get that body moving and the blood flying,
(06:21):
and it all starts to become a bit bit better.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Well, fascinating insights kind of Ordrege, really appreciate your time
here on the Canterbury All Sports Breakfast and we look
forward to seeing what's next with you in the backyard
ultra space. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Awesome, Thank you for that. Cheers for more from News Talks,
there'd be listen live on air or online and
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
Good morning, Hey, thanks for taking the time for a chap.
Forty three loops for you at the Spencer Park. Crazy
winter backyard ultra that shakes out to be what two
hundred and eighty eight killing me? This's goodness me just
talk us through your race experience. How was it? It
was good?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
It was pretty good conditions from midwinter backyard. You know,
the week leading in it looked like we were going
to get some pretty pretty wet and solemn conditions, but
the weather held. Often we seem to have pretty good
conditions out there, so it was you know, chili being winter,
but pretty good conditions all around.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So you start on the Saturday about midday and finish
Monday morning. Can you just talk us through? I mean,
how do you prepare for such a grueling test of
endurance both physically and mentally?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, preparation. I guess it's just you know, getting used
to time on feet and you know, spending doing those
back to back days of running, and mentally, I guess
you just preparing to be out there for a long time,
getting used to chatting to people while you're running just
to try and pass some time, and making sure you've
got a good crew to help you keep motivated and
(01:10):
keep you going.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
What is your strategy particularly early on? As mentioned at
the top, you've got to complete a six point seven
k loop within the hour, So early on, talkers through it,
do you go out a little bit quicker to get
more time off your feet?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
For me, I was just trying to stay pretty consistent
that this one was my sixth backyard, so I've done
a few and sort of count with a bit of
a strategy that works for me, and so I sort
of sit around just under fifty minute mark right from
the start and just sort of figure out the course
and where where I can run and we only need
to walk, and try not to get too far behind
(01:48):
in my nutrition and fatigue and stuff like that, and
just try and stay on top of that right from
the start.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Okay, So what does that ten minutes then look like
that you've got up your sleeve?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, pretty much just back and meet crew depending on
the weather and the conditions and stuff like that, but
pretty much just sit down in my chair for a bit,
put my feet up if it's wet and cold, change clothes,
eat some food, drink some water, and get my nutrition
sort of for the next lap. Swopping over water bottles
or whatever it may be, and then just relax and
(02:20):
if there's a bit of time for shut eye, close
my eyes, wait for those whistles, and off you go again.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
For me from the outside looking in Connor, I feel
like one of the tougher challenges for me to wrap
my head around if I was personally to do a
half marathon or a marathon, is the repetitive nature of it.
It's the same loop over and over and over again,
and it must you know, you must get sick of
seeing the same sights and surrounds. How is that as
(02:46):
a mental challenge to know, A you're going to be
doing exactly the same thing over and over again, and
B you don't know when it's going to finish.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
There's two parts there right there doing the same thing
over and over again. You need to have that willingness
to just chat to people and try and you know,
we had two hundred and sixty odd people at the
start line on that first lap, so just trying to
chat to someone you or chat to the same people
on each lapse, because once you start chatting to people,
you just find that the time disappears and you're less
(03:15):
worried about the scenery that you're seeing over and over again,
and you're just more focused on the conversations you're having
and the people you're getting to meet, which I think
is one of the great parts of this format because
you know, like a half mouth on, you're probably running
with your lungs burning for most of the race, but
for a backyard it's much lower intensity. But obviously with
that no finish line, that in itself is a mental barrier, right,
(03:37):
you need to figure out how you play that and
how you focus on just the next loop rather than
what is the finish line.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So you mentioned earlier Connor that that was your sixth
Backyard Ultra. Talk us back to the moment when you
decided to sign up to your first one. What was
the appeal it was Back.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
In twenty twenty three, I'd been away on a running
trip with a few mates and a couple of the
guys we're doing Riverhead Backyard Ultra that year. I just
thought they were mad, and then obviously when the event
came around, I started following it and you just get
addicted to checking it every hour just to see if
they're still going. And one of my friends ended up
(04:18):
getting the assist which is second to last person standing.
And I just thought, man, that it was an amazing effort.
So I need to give one of those a crack.
And so signed up just after that for the Craziest
Backyard in christ Church and enjoyed it, and obviously here
did a few more after that.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
And is it fair to say in your time in
the sport you've seen the interests grow, Like you mentioned,
was it about two hundred and sixty people there last week?
Like numbers are just getting bigger year on year.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah. Yeah, when I did Crazies, I think we had
maybe five backyards in New Zealand annually. I think this
year they're up to about fifteen. So you know, the
numbers are growing at each event, but also the number
of events on offers it is growing too.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah. See one's popped up for Handmah Springs next month
as well. You're going to be there for that.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I won't be at Hannah, I think that's just a
bit too close to this one. But there's one in
Timoru in September which I'm arming and erring and potentially
going to line up for that one.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Good stuff. And just lastly kind of there'll be a
lot of listeners intrigued as to how the days after
a backyard ultra are for you. We're a few days
removed now from the Spencer Park events, So how long
does it take to get somewhere near normality again? In
terms of both, I guess your body clock getting into
a normal sleep routine and back into the swing of
(05:38):
things at work, et cetera.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
A various person to person, But I think for me,
you know, you need those next couple of days at
least just to try and catch up on a bit
of sleep and get back into a bit of normality.
I think your body that first day, at least, I
found my body. I just wake up. I can't sleep
for more than a couple of hours at most. You know,
you just wake up and everything's hurting, and you need
to eat more and you need to drink more. So
(06:00):
those first couple of days are pretty heavy on the
rest and trying to get as much sleep as you can.
But obviously, you know, life goes on around you, so
you sort have to deal with the kids and all
those sorts of things. But once you catch up on sleep,
I think your body starts to feel a bit better
and you can you can start to move around a
bit more, and you get out and try and be
active again and get that body moving and the blood flying,
(06:21):
and it all starts to become a bit bit better.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Well, fascinating insights kind of Ordrege, really appreciate your time
here on the Canterbury All Sports Breakfast and we look
forward to seeing what's next with you in the backyard
ultra space. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Awesome, Thank you for that. Cheers for more from News Talks,
there'd be listen live on air or online and
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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