American Runner Sets World Record Running Over 724km in 5 Days

The 47-year-old home athlete Harvey Lewis ran more than 724 km in five consecutive days to win the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship and break the Backyard Ultra record.

Lewis smiles after completing his 108th lap to win the 2023 Big’s Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee and break the Backyard Ultra record. Photo: X / @UltraRunningMag — Lewis smiles after completing his 108th lap to win the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee and break the Backyard Ultra record. Photo: *X / @UltraRunningMag*

Lewis completed 108 laps, covering a total distance of 724.248 km, setting a Backyard Ultra record. He broke the previous record by more than 40km, set by Australian athlete Phil Gore at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra in June 2023, with 102 laps, covering a distance of nearly 685 km.

“I have to pinch myself,” Lewis said after crossing the finish line for the 108th time and winning the title. “When you set yourself a goal that is incredibly difficult and then it all comes true, it’s one of the sweetest things in life.”

The 47-year-old Cincinnati native described the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship as "non-stop", and said he was ready to add extra days if necessary. "I'm prepared for almost every scenario," Lewis stressed.

The Backyard Ultra is an ultramarathon in which a runner must complete a closed, low-incline, 4.167-mile (6.706 km) dirt course in one hour. In total, a runner will run 100 miles in one day.

Every hour, a new lap will start and those who have not completed the previous lap will be eliminated. This process will be repeated continuously until there is the last person left on the track, the remaining people are considered DNF (did not finish the race).

Lewis (blue shoes, center) with his fellow final seven competitors on the Big’s Backyard Ultra 2023 course. Photo: Instagram / Backyard Ultra — Lewis (blue shoes, center) with his fellow final seven competitors on the Big's Backyard Ultra 2023 course. Photo: *Instagram / Backyard Ultra*

There are two courses at the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra World Championships, which will take place in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, with relatively flat trails during the day and gravel after dark. The time between completing one lap and starting the next gives runners time to refuel, change gear, shower, rest, or sleep.

This year’s event features a star-studded line-up, with Australia’s Phil Gore and Belgium’s Merijn Gertz and Ivo Steyaert all running more than 100km in previous events. However, there are doubts that a new world record will be set at the Big’s Backyard Ultra 2023, given the technically challenging trails the athletes will be racing on.

But in fact, three athletes have surpassed Gore's record of 102 laps at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra in June 2023. The Australian himself also reached the 100-lap mark at Big's, but fell and injured himself on lap 101 and was unable to continue. He had the fifth-best time at the event, running 100 laps, reaching 416.66 miles (over 670 km) in 77 hours, 17 minutes, 47 seconds.

Japan's Terumichi Morishita finished ahead of Gore, covering 420.83 miles (677 km) in 81 hours, 50 minutes and 9 seconds. Poland's Bartosz Fudali broke Gore's record by covering 429.16 miles (690 km) in 80 hours, 26 minutes and 55 seconds.

Gore (right) had to retire in the 101st round. Photo: Blackyard Ultra — Gore (right) had to retire in the 101st round. Photo: *Blackyard Ultra*

After all competitors retired, the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra championship became a two-horse race between Harvey Lewis and Canada's Ihor Verys. From lap 104, Verys clearly showed signs of fatigue, but still tried his best to compete while receiving cheers from captain Marina Striker and fans at the starting line.

About 10 minutes into the 108th lap, Verys sat down on the ground, took off his shoes, and said his foot hurt. When he got up, he returned to his resting place and did not continue. Thus, Lewis, without a rival, cruised to the finish line as champion and set a 108-lap record, covering 450 miles (about 724.248 km) in 94 hours, 16 minutes, 36 seconds.

Despite not winning, Verys was still pleased with his performance and saw many positives. "This is only my third Backyard Ultra and I did 107 laps. Not bad. This is also my third year running an ultramarathon and I think I'll continue to improve. I had a pretty good adventure and I have to focus on that," he said.

Verys ran 107 laps, covering 445.83 miles (717.542 km) in a time of 90 hours, 44 minutes and 4 seconds. The Canadian runner broke his own national record of 67 laps in less than 450 km.