schinder-trail backyard ultra 2024
Into a new year - a rollercoaster ride with looping
At the end of 2023, it was already clear that 2024 would be a ‘looping year’, according to the motto ‘Just one more loop’. In other words, I signed up for my first Backyard Ultra, the Schinder-Trail Backyard Ultra. This race is organised annually by Alex Holl and was scheduled to take place on 4 October 2024 in Rettert.
A Backyard Ultra has an open end, the principle is ‘The last human standing’. A loop of 6.706km will be completed on each hour and the aim is to run until no one is left in the race. You have to cross the finish line before the start of the next loop, otherwise you can't start the next round anymore. There is only one finisher in a Backyard Ultra, all the other runners are considered DNF - ‘did not finish’.
Sounds easy, doesn't it? 6.706km in one hour is easily achievable! In a Backyard, the distance is set so that you cover 100 miles in 24 hours. Sure that it’s easy? We'll soon find out...
I finished the year 2023 with 3.500 running kilometres and started a new running year fully motivated, but already with heavy legs. In addition to the Schinder-Trail Backyard Ultra, I planned the Pfälzer Berglandtrail, a stage run that I wanted to tackle for the fourth time, a 100-mile run in the Vosges mountains and the 112 km distance of the Ultra Trail Mullerthal (my 7th edition).
But my motivation turned to frustration at the beginning of January. My right leg started to hurt more and more, so I had to take a forced break. It became February, March... but no improvement. After long weeks of uncertainty, despair and alternative training, I was diagnosed with pes anserinus at the end of March/beginning of April. I had chronic tendonitis on the inside of my right leg/knee. After a treatment, things finally started to look up again at the beginning of May. Unfortunately, I had to cancel all my previous runs, but I was overjoyed to be able to train normally again and was optimistic about taking part in the Backyard Ultra.
#cancerisanasshole
When I looked at the Facebook page of race director Alex Holl to get some information about the race, I learnt about the tragic cancer of his wife Roxy. Even though I didn't know these two people personally (and unfortunately haven't been able to get to know them yet), I was touched by their fate. My own memories also came to mind, as I was diagnosed with a boderline ovarian tumour in 2017. My gynaecologist at the time wasn't particularly empathetic and was very harsh. Fortunately, I listened to my gut feeling and got a second opinion. Although the diagnosis was not confirmed, it was still somewhat suspicious and I had an ultrasound and tumour marker test every few weeks. I only got the cysts under control after about two years, which involved surgery and hormonal treatment. Thankfully everything is still fine today. I wish Roxy all the luck in the world that she beats cancer.
Due to these circumstances, the Backyard Bell was handed over to Katja from Katjas Laufzeit, who took over the organisation of the Schinder-Trail Backyard Ultra 2024 together with Andreas. First of all, the two of them did an absolutely fantastic job. Respect!
From the top of the Sierra Nevada to Rettert
I restarted my training in May, did a lot of interval and tempo training, ran lots of trails, cycled and spontaneously signed up for my first vertical race in Andalusia in August. The Subida al Pico Veleta is an international 50km ultra run that involves running up 2700 metres to the top of the Sierra Nevada, the Pico Veleta at an altitude of 3396 metres. In addition to the altitude, the high temperatures pose a further challenge. But anyone who knows me a bit would know that I only feel really comfortable at temperatures of 30 degrees and above and that I am a passionate heat runner. The 38 degrees on race day didn't bother me at all. However, I realised that the temperatures in Rettert during night in October would probably be different.
Already looped today?
I mentally adjusted completely to ‘loops’. I looped my way through the following weeks. My first specific BYU training consisted of 10 loops (67km) on a trail route with 120 metres of elevation gain. This came very close to the conditions of the Schinder-Trail. There, a loop also has around 100 metres of elevation gain and the route runs mainly through the forest on gravel and forest tracks. I packed a chair, spare clothes and plenty of drinks (it was reported to be over 30 degrees that day) in my car and started my first lap in the dark. However, I realised that it is NOT as easy as it sounds. From lap 8 onwards, I started to run behind the clock. According to the backyard rules, I would have completed 9 laps. So is it closer to 24 laps? Or rather 20...15...?
But I really enjoyed the training and mentally I was truly focussed. I liked the concept of thinking in ‘loops’ as it allowed me to just be in the moment and only run for an hour at a time. I always put a lot of pressure on myself in races over +100km, as the aim is to run from A to B as quickly as possible. This is much more difficult for me mentally than ‘running loops’ over a very long, albeit indefinite, time. And then I probably made the fatal mistake. I started at the Ultra Trail Mullerthal because I wanted to do another 100km run (3200 metres of climbing) at night as a training run. It didn't feel right from the start and just didn't fit. My heart wasn't in it and my head as well as my whole body were on strike. I literally tortured myself through the night for 10 hours and ended the race at kilometre 65, my second DNF in my 12 years of running. I felt really liberated and made this decision because, firstly, I wasn't enjoying the race at all and I was completely focussed on the backyard. I didn't want to fully use up my batteries and my reserves, I still had another week of training ahead of me and then the race. I already have 6 UTML medals (the race takes place practically on my doorstep...), but I didn't have a Backyard Ultra medal yet.
I also completed my last week of training with 130 kilometres in the ‘backyard rhythm’. But after the UTML, my old friend Pes anserinus crept up on me again. I tried to ignore it, but I had to face the facts. Barely 2 weeks before the big day of the Schinder-Trail, my leg started to really hurt again. I decided to simply rest for the last few weeks before the run, stretched a lot and put all the lotions and home remedies I could find on my leg. My body probably needed a rest now and it was telling me so. But I didn't even want to think about it and there was no question of cancelling. Mentally, I was so well prepared and strong. And then came the next bad news.
Travelling backwards to Rettert on the Deutsche Bahn
The plan was to travel to Rettert by campervan with a running friend on Friday. My partner Mike was supposed to come to Rettert in the late afternoon. I had booked a hotel room for two nights. But then everything turned out differently. My running buddy cancelled, Mike fell ill. And in addition my leg! I was so frustrated at first that I lay in bed, pulled the covers over my head and damned the whole world. But I tried not to lose my focus and looked for a solution. I decided to take the train to Rettert a day earlier. According to the timetable, the journey should take 4h19. But how would I get all my stuff to Rettert? Mike couldn't get there until the evening and I had to set up my ‘camp’. But what's a nice big pink suitcase for? My suitcase was so full and heavy that I could hardly lift it. I could probably have survived in the wilderness for a few weeks, I even had an air mattress with me. The only thing missing was my backyard chair.
Working in the morning, off to the railway at 12 noon. Motorway closed. But I made it to the station in time. After 40 minutes, the train stopped somewhere in the middle of nowhere. After about 30 minutes of standing still, the announcement came: The train is damaged! It is not possible to continue. We had to wait for authorisation to reverse back to the last station. After just under an hour, we were back at the original station, where a regional train to Koblenz was waiting. The journey took over two hours, and of course I missed all the connecting trains. When I arrived in Koblenz, I had to take another train and a bus to Rettert. Up stairs, down stairs with my suitcase weighing tonnes. After 7 hours I finally arrived in Rettert. It was already dark and deserted - the last woman standing in Rettert?
After Eight (NEU!) - The Krautrock beat
The 4th of October: Day X! I wasn't nervous at all. Normally I have stage fright days before a race. But as I said, I didn't feel that pressure during the Backyard format. And self-doubt? None. And my leg? Better some more salve. I tried not to think about my leg. Of course, the pain hadn't gone away, but it wasn't any worse either. I had no expectations. No matter how the run ended, it would be right and good. I was just looking forward to it.
I picked up my race number around midday, it was number 12. I was already starting to set up my little camp and then wanted to get some sleep, but I didn't manage it. Then Mike arrived with my chair and the camp was complete.
Katja then sent us off at 8pm... Ringing the bell - Loop 1. It was already dark and there were a lot of people on the route at the start. I ran at my usual pace and concentrated fully on the here and now. And so the night passed:
3X whistle... 2X whistle... 1X whistle... ‘One more minute!’... Ringing the bell... GO. And again from the beginning. During the night it got colder and colder, it barely reached 3-4 degrees. But the sky was incredibly clear and the stars were clearly visible. I tried to keep up my pace so that I always had a break of about 8 minutes. My playlist with Krautrock, the so-called ‘Klaus Dinger beat’, help[ed] me through the night (lyrics of After Eight from NEU!). This worked really well for the first 10 laps, but I realised that I had to work harder to keep up my pace. The breaks became increasingly shorter, so I had to set myself precise priorities. What do I need most urgently? Drink, eat, change clothes, headlamp, toilet, rest, ...? At some point, the question of resting briefly no longer arose. I finished lap 10 in 56 minutes, lap 11 in 58 minutes... 2X whistle... 1X whistle... quickly grab some water and biscuits for the next loop... Ringing the bell! - One more loop.
I had already realised that Loop 12 would be my last one. I was just running behind the clock, my leg no longer allowed my previous pace and I had to switch to walking more often. I was also the last one on the course, there were no other runners to be seen and the headlamps were moving further and further away. When do you know if or that it's over? When the time is so short that peeing can result in a DNF? But perhaps this is precisely the point that needs to be overcome.
As I almost finished the 11th lap and turned the corner towards the finish line, my watch still showed me a few seconds. But I already heard the bell... I crossed the finish line 30 seconds too late. DNF. Officially, I finished 11 laps because I didn't make it across the finish line before the hour. But I actually had 83.70 kilometres and 12 loops in my legs.
I describe this Backyard Ultra as my first attempt at this particular form of ultra running. It was the best first attempt as I felt very well looked after by Katja, Andreas and all the helpers and runners. It was just right, even if the circumstances weren't perfect. But when is that true for a run? I'm sure there's still a long way to go to last human standing, but I think this type of race suits me and matches my nature. Kind of crazy, but still very structured. I ran this race consciously, with joy and composure. Of course I would have been happy to do a few more loops, but my leg wasn't fit enough for that. I'm satisfied for a first taster run. And after starting my running year with an injury, I don't want to end it with another injury.
My leg is fine, at least it hasn’t got any worse. There are still a few weeks left in the year… who knows, maybe my almost annual, self-organised 24h run will take place again in December and I’ll still run +100km in 2024.