2021 Baby Backyard Ultra 5k-50k
The beginning of our philanthropic adventure, and dipping my toes into the ultra running world.
It all started with a wild idea. “What if we hosted a race at our house?” Elliot asked one day.
Elliot (my husband) has a lot of great ideas. Many of them sit in the notes on his phone, or in his memory banks for another day. I’m never quite sure which ones will come to fruition or not. But he held onto this one hard, and it kept coming back up in conversation. “We could post it on UltraSignup, and donate 100% of the registration fees to Children’s MN.”
I’ll admit, I was skeptical. “Who the hell will want to come run a race in our neighborhood?” I pondered. But he was insanely passionate about the idea, and as a good wife should, I supported him as best I could. “Instead of the traditional backyard race,” he explained, “we’ll do a ‘baby backyard’ version.” This meant that instead of 4.167 miles on the hour last man standing style, we’d run a 5k on the hour every hour for 10 hours. Registrants can come do as many loops as they want, and start at the top of whatever hour they want, keeping it super flexible, beginner friendly, and kid friendly.
I loved the concept. What a great format for runners (like myself) that are ultra-curious, but hesitant to take the leap at a larger event. With a home base for food, water, and facilities, and shorter loops allowing for generous recovery time between laps, it was the perfect recipe for a day of pushing ourselves to new limits with time to socialize and build community. The decision was made, the race posted, and the wait began.
We didn’t do much in terms of advertising. We shared amongst our friend groups, posted on social media, and put flyers in our neighbors’ mailboxes. And then, we waited. We ended up with 9 officially registered participants, including Elliot and I. We knew one other participant, a neighbor of ours. Other than that, we were ready to open our home to 6 strangers for the day. Here goes nothing!
Your friendly neighborhood race director
Our set up was simple. A single canopy by the mailbox with a folding table displaying the Children’s MN logo underneath it. We stocked the table with snacks, electrolytes, and water. We had giveaway bags for any kids that showed up and camo buffs for the runners. Elliot and I wanted to treat this like a real race, too, so we packed a cooler of food for the day and brought it down to the canopy so we could hang outside the whole time. Our start/finish line was drawn with chalk at our mailbox line. And with so few participants, we decided we’d welcome them into our home to use the bathroom when needed.
By 6am, the first couple of vehicles arrived, and they looked serious. They pulled out chairs, supplies, and food. They were going to be here a while. Awesome. We had 4 in total show up at the start of the event with the intent to complete the full 50k. This being my first attempt at the 50k distance, I was super excited to have a group to complete it with. Let the day begin!
Elliot kicked things off with a brief, heartwarming speech to remind us all of why we were there that day. All of the funds raised would be donated to the cancer fund at Children’s MN, which goes directly to the patients and their families to be used on things like groceries, gas, bills, Christmas presents, or other expenses that can be difficult to afford when you are also paying steep medical bills. It’s a cause that anyone can get behind, and has been the catalyst for the growth we’ve seen with this event over the years.
Now let’s switch gears a bit to my personal experience as a runner in this event. This was my first ultramarathon attempt ever. I had completed two marathons prior, but it had been over three years since my last one. And while an additional six miles doesn’t seem like much when you’ve already done 26.2, I was still pretty nervous and unsure about it. I was doubting myself, and particularly concerned about my knee cooperating. I had been rehabbing an IT band issue for months, and was worried it would flair up on me. But I couldn’t let that hold me back from trying.
Our weather couldn’t have been better. Running on neighborhood streets, there isn’t much cover to protect from the sun. We were blessed with overcast skies, some light rain at the start, and temps in the low 60s. This was an extra special blessing as we were expecting temps in the 90s the following week! After a few more words from El, we were off on our first leg. The field was so small, Elliot was also able to join in on running as well (the only year that this was the case). I kept it nice and easy, knowing I had a full day ahead of me. Everyone settled into their preferred paces, and chatted with whomever they settled in with. I knew from that first lap that it was going to be a great day.
There were many highlights I could share, but to name a few…
The baby backyard format allowed for about 30 minutes between each lap to refuel and shoot the shit. Slowly but surely, the strangers we welcomed to our home became friends. The intimate group made it easy for everyone to share in one big conversation and get to know each other.
I ran with different people during each lap, which allowed me to get to know the other runners one on one. We had a lot of deep, meaningful, and elevating conversations, making the experience that much more enriching.
The legend of “Denim Dave” was born. Our neighbor showed up in a pair of denim jeans to walk a 5k and ended up walk/running 3 laps (15k), untrained, in his jeans and basic ass shoes. He has since fully owned this nickname, coming back in subsequent years wearing denim shorts and rocking a “Team Denim Dave” t-shirt.
Another neighbor knocked out 4 laps (20k), also untrained, just pushing through on the adrenaline of everyone else getting back out there.
One of the 50k runners (whom we’ve now had the pleasure of running with at multiple events over the years) crushed it with an average pace of 7:44 min/mile. His relentless push throughout the day was inspiring to say the least.
The forecast was predicting a downpour at 5pm, just in time for the last lap. We had all accepted it, decided it would be an epic way to end the day. Well, Mother Nature changed her mind and gave us SUNSHINE instead! It hung out until we all came in to the finish to sit down and soak in our accomplishments.
Denim Dave, just crushing it The guys having a little fun
I was also thrilled with my own performance that day as it was truly a day of experimentation and testing my boundaries. I had just transitioned to a vegan diet at the beginning of the year, and fueled throughout the day with plant-based whole foods - sweet potato/banana puree, homemade date balls, mixed nuts, cherries, blueberries, and cantaloupe. I stuck to plain old water and didn’t have any issues with cramping. I felt strong all day, never really hit a wall. In fact, my last leg ended up being my fastest! And, I felt like I could have kept going, which helped me build confidence in myself and realize that I may be capable of pushing even further. It also helped that my knee held strong - no pain! For anyone who’s dealt with an injury, you know how great a feeling that is.
Me boasting my hard earned 50k patch Fuel of champions
And then, before we knew it, the day had officially come to a close. Our new friends made their way home, and we soaked in the glory of the day while clumsily cleaning up on tired legs. I had successfully completed my first ultramarathon, and I knew it wouldn’t be my last.
I’m so proud of and thankful for Elliot for acting on his dream and making the day a reality. It was a small but mighty event, a seed that would blossom in the years to come. This event was Elliot’s way of driving more donations to a fund he has seen benefit families firsthand for many years. But it did so much more than that. It brought new friendships, new PRs, and new found confidence. A seed was also planted in me that day. I had just scratched the surface of what it is to run an ultra, and I wanted more. Let the journey begin!
The 50k finishers (and my dog)
It all started with a wild idea. “What if we hosted a race at our house?” Elliot asked one day.
Elliot (my husband) has a lot of great ideas. Many of them sit in the notes on his phone, or in his memory banks for another day. I’m never quite sure which ones will come to fruition or not. But he held onto this one hard, and it kept coming back up in conversation. “We could post it on UltraSignup, and donate 100% of the registration fees to Children’s MN.”
I’ll admit, I was skeptical. “Who the hell will want to come run a race in our neighborhood?” I pondered. But he was insanely passionate about the idea, and as a good wife should, I supported him as best I could. “Instead of the traditional backyard race,” he explained, “we’ll do a ‘baby backyard’ version.” This meant that instead of 4.167 miles on the hour last man standing style, we’d run a 5k on the hour every hour for 10 hours. Registrants can come do as many loops as they want, and start at the top of whatever hour they want, keeping it super flexible, beginner friendly, and kid friendly.
I loved the concept. What a great format for runners (like myself) that are ultra-curious, but hesitant to take the leap at a larger event. With a home base for food, water, and facilities, and shorter loops allowing for generous recovery time between laps, it was the perfect recipe for a day of pushing ourselves to new limits with time to socialize and build community. The decision was made, the race posted, and the wait began.
We didn’t do much in terms of advertising. We shared amongst our friend groups, posted on social media, and put flyers in our neighbors’ mailboxes. And then, we waited. We ended up with 9 officially registered participants, including Elliot and I. We knew one other participant, a neighbor of ours. Other than that, we were ready to open our home to 6 strangers for the day. Here goes nothing!
Your friendly neighborhood race director
Our set up was simple. A single canopy by the mailbox with a folding table displaying the Children’s MN logo underneath it. We stocked the table with snacks, electrolytes, and water. We had giveaway bags for any kids that showed up and camo buffs for the runners. Elliot and I wanted to treat this like a real race, too, so we packed a cooler of food for the day and brought it down to the canopy so we could hang outside the whole time. Our start/finish line was drawn with chalk at our mailbox line. And with so few participants, we decided we’d welcome them into our home to use the bathroom when needed.
By 6am, the first couple of vehicles arrived, and they looked serious. They pulled out chairs, supplies, and food. They were going to be here a while. Awesome. We had 4 in total show up at the start of the event with the intent to complete the full 50k. This being my first attempt at the 50k distance, I was super excited to have a group to complete it with. Let the day begin!
Elliot kicked things off with a brief, heartwarming speech to remind us all of why we were there that day. All of the funds raised would be donated to the cancer fund at Children’s MN, which goes directly to the patients and their families to be used on things like groceries, gas, bills, Christmas presents, or other expenses that can be difficult to afford when you are also paying steep medical bills. It’s a cause that anyone can get behind, and has been the catalyst for the growth we’ve seen with this event over the years.
Now let’s switch gears a bit to my personal experience as a runner in this event. This was my first ultramarathon attempt ever. I had completed two marathons prior, but it had been over three years since my last one. And while an additional six miles doesn’t seem like much when you’ve already done 26.2, I was still pretty nervous and unsure about it. I was doubting myself, and particularly concerned about my knee cooperating. I had been rehabbing an IT band issue for months, and was worried it would flair up on me. But I couldn’t let that hold me back from trying.
Our weather couldn’t have been better. Running on neighborhood streets, there isn’t much cover to protect from the sun. We were blessed with overcast skies, some light rain at the start, and temps in the low 60s. This was an extra special blessing as we were expecting temps in the 90s the following week! After a few more words from El, we were off on our first leg. The field was so small, Elliot was also able to join in on running as well (the only year that this was the case). I kept it nice and easy, knowing I had a full day ahead of me. Everyone settled into their preferred paces, and chatted with whomever they settled in with. I knew from that first lap that it was going to be a great day.
There were many highlights I could share, but to name a few…
The baby backyard format allowed for about 30 minutes between each lap to refuel and shoot the shit. Slowly but surely, the strangers we welcomed to our home became friends. The intimate group made it easy for everyone to share in one big conversation and get to know each other.
I ran with different people during each lap, which allowed me to get to know the other runners one on one. We had a lot of deep, meaningful, and elevating conversations, making the experience that much more enriching.
The legend of “Denim Dave” was born. Our neighbor showed up in a pair of denim jeans to walk a 5k and ended up walk/running 3 laps (15k), untrained, in his jeans and basic ass shoes. He has since fully owned this nickname, coming back in subsequent years wearing denim shorts and rocking a “Team Denim Dave” t-shirt.
Another neighbor knocked out 4 laps (20k), also untrained, just pushing through on the adrenaline of everyone else getting back out there.
One of the 50k runners (whom we’ve now had the pleasure of running with at multiple events over the years) crushed it with an average pace of 7:44 min/mile. His relentless push throughout the day was inspiring to say the least.
The forecast was predicting a downpour at 5pm, just in time for the last lap. We had all accepted it, decided it would be an epic way to end the day. Well, Mother Nature changed her mind and gave us SUNSHINE instead! It hung out until we all came in to the finish to sit down and soak in our accomplishments.
Denim Dave, just crushing it
The guys having a little fun
I was also thrilled with my own performance that day as it was truly a day of experimentation and testing my boundaries. I had just transitioned to a vegan diet at the beginning of the year, and fueled throughout the day with plant-based whole foods - sweet potato/banana puree, homemade date balls, mixed nuts, cherries, blueberries, and cantaloupe. I stuck to plain old water and didn’t have any issues with cramping. I felt strong all day, never really hit a wall. In fact, my last leg ended up being my fastest! And, I felt like I could have kept going, which helped me build confidence in myself and realize that I may be capable of pushing even further. It also helped that my knee held strong - no pain! For anyone who’s dealt with an injury, you know how great a feeling that is.
Me boasting my hard earned 50k patch
Fuel of champions
And then, before we knew it, the day had officially come to a close. Our new friends made their way home, and we soaked in the glory of the day while clumsily cleaning up on tired legs. I had successfully completed my first ultramarathon, and I knew it wouldn’t be my last.
I’m so proud of and thankful for Elliot for acting on his dream and making the day a reality. It was a small but mighty event, a seed that would blossom in the years to come. This event was Elliot’s way of driving more donations to a fund he has seen benefit families firsthand for many years. But it did so much more than that. It brought new friendships, new PRs, and new found confidence. A seed was also planted in me that day. I had just scratched the surface of what it is to run an ultra, and I wanted more. Let the journey begin!
The 50k finishers (and my dog)
