The format is great and backyard absolutely has its place. Kicking off the event off with a post featuring a US Border Patrol patch turned a lot of people off. My DMs were full of responses along the lines of “would you expect anything else from BPN”. I think a divide, if there is one, is across values in the sport not race formats.
Totally. I feel this was a values based divide over format, but I wonder if runners can see past the politics to see what the other side brings? It’s fascinating to see politics play out in a sport that for a long time has ignored its existence.
Sports are inherently political. Right now there are high-profile genderqueer and immigrant ultrarunners who are largely embraced by the "mainstream" ultra community - would "conservative" races be available to them in the same way? I doubt it, and because of that I would argue that these races shouldn't be embraced or supported by the community.
My opinion is that the ultra community has not been strong enough in announcing their political beliefs of inclusivity, and because of that is susceptible to a conservative takeover from adjacent communities such as those interested in BPN.
Yea, I agree it didn’t look accidentally placed there. But, I at least commend them for taking it down and recognizing afterward that it’s not something they were willing to stand behind. I did notice a comment from the moment the photo was shared on Reddit on day 1 of the event saying a participant put it there, so it’s at least an argument that’s been in place since then.
I've considered Nick Bare to be the biggest influencer in ultra for a few years now. I think it was Rocky Raccoon where he did his first 100?
I'm an RD. There is not a single other race, company, personality, influencer, etc. that has as much apparel presence on our runners as BPN. And from talking to finishers, a lot have heard about ultras and signed up for them because of people like Nick Bare (or some other random influencer who did their first 50k , etc.) I don't know if Free Trail or Singletrack have merch but I can say I've never seen it or heard any runner talking about those platforms during or at the finish line of my races.
I would hope those who consider themselves abreast of the media, or a part of it, would be aware of who actually influences runners. Did people in the sport not post this event because they were genuinely unaware or were they upset at having their position disrupted?
That’s tally’s with what I’ve noticed too - more people at ultras mention to me that influencers convinced them to race rather than the sport or its media. I guess that makes sense given influencers often have more reach and are speaking to a more general audience, rather than only people who follow the sport.
"People like us do things like this". I'd argue the appeal of most runfluencers is that it's easier to relate to an individual than to a particular brand because folks see themselves in the person they follow, or at least aspire to have something they see in them.
I volunteer every year at a backyard ultra at Elm Creek in Minnesota every year. It's a great format! And no one knows about it. But anyone who can run fast enough to make the hourly cutoff can train to be the last person standing. In other words, kind of inclusive, in a sport that not always seems that way.
I NEED to sign up to one, it’s such a unique format. You ever given it a go? Completely agree on the inclusive nature - sure you can go for longer if you train purposely for it, but it’s still a challenge regardless of how far you go.
I am too slow for this format, but I am doing a 24 hour this year. That one has the backyard option or just run option. Try one. It's a blast to watch and the runners seem to love it!
I didn’t cover the event on Trail Talk because BYU isn’t an aspect of the sport I’m too interested in, coupled with the other factors and there was nothing sporty to report. At best it was a competitive national race, which it wasn’t either. That doesn’t take away from any athletic achievements from the run, it just wasn’t something that interested me. All of the chat was also about the political post which simultaneously brought it to my attention and also turned plenty of people off.
That’s fair, we now have a ecosystem of outlets that will cover ultra-trail, but not ultrarunning in general, which brings us to gaps like this in coverage. And yeah any mention of politics and trail media goes running the other way!
I pretty much agree with this whole article! In general, I think that the Backyard Ultra format is in a very weird space. On one hand, it is a really new event, with the first family and friend event being held in 2011. However, there will also be over 60 nations at the next world championship so calling it "small" is not really a fair assessment. My theory is that the event format is primed for global success, even as a livestream/social concept, but I think it really needs to get some good social/media presence if it wants to really grow. I don't know if Laz would want that though :)
Really enjoyed this one, thanks. I didn't have much interest in the event when it was happening, more because the format doesn't strike a chord rather than the personalities involved. I quite like some of what Nick Bare has to say, he explains some of the simple training concepts well and has a huge amount of influence. Fair play to him, and the idea that conservatives have no place in trail running, as I have seen in some comments relating to the event, is just crazy.
Great post, Matt. Not that The Ultra Minute is established ultrarunning media, but fwiw I did write about the G1M Ultra in this week's issue.
I found it interesting that it had massive reach, and even though I live near the venue and write about ultrarunning every week, I actually didn't know it was happening until after the event was over. I'm not on TikTok, and I don't consume much Instagram on the weekends, but still, it never showed up for me while the event was going on. I think that goes to show also just how much algorithm defined feeds can create the illusion of division.
The only content about the event that did appear in my social feeds was actually commentary about the Border Patrol patch they posted on lap 1. I hadn't seen anyone ask BPN about it, so I emailed them and shared a link to their reply in this week's issue, but here's a direct link to their reply in case anyone is interested:
Really interesting blog Matt. I would say that being organised by a brand that already has a huge following, they essentially have a captured audience. Not many race directors have access to that kind of marketing and it's strange that it didn't appear on my feeds anywhere. Mix into that the fact that the owner of the brand, Nick himself, is an massive influencer with associated apparel etc, how can such an event not be a huge success with the level of media and money they can throw at it? If only all events had such resources!
Well written thoughts! As I've become more aware of the ultra community and the runners and races over time, I've been happy to perceive the wide welcome from the community to any new entrants and feel that BPN models that well with what they do. Nick Bare has documented his entire fitness journey as he build his business, and is now hyper focused on endurance as BPN's lane. I was sort of surprised by the reaction regarding the patch, mainly because I've never viewed BPN as taking a political stance on anything. Being their HQ is in Austin they undoubtedly have a wide range of perspectives at their company. I think it's unfortunate some would resist BPN's growing focus on endurance especially considering how much their spotlight only increases the audience for every sport their athletes compete in.
For me, 1) the backyard ultra isn't trail, and 2) ultra and trail have become almost synonymous, when (for me) they're quite distinct.
And I'm not sure if splintering is quite the correct word, because there's just so much *more* now. Splintering suggests it's the same amount that's being split up, but these are all extra events, and it's difficult to cover everything, so maybe byus, ultras, and trail actually all deserve their own individual coverage.
The format is great and backyard absolutely has its place. Kicking off the event off with a post featuring a US Border Patrol patch turned a lot of people off. My DMs were full of responses along the lines of “would you expect anything else from BPN”. I think a divide, if there is one, is across values in the sport not race formats.
Totally. I feel this was a values based divide over format, but I wonder if runners can see past the politics to see what the other side brings? It’s fascinating to see politics play out in a sport that for a long time has ignored its existence.
Sports are inherently political. Right now there are high-profile genderqueer and immigrant ultrarunners who are largely embraced by the "mainstream" ultra community - would "conservative" races be available to them in the same way? I doubt it, and because of that I would argue that these races shouldn't be embraced or supported by the community.
My opinion is that the ultra community has not been strong enough in announcing their political beliefs of inclusivity, and because of that is susceptible to a conservative takeover from adjacent communities such as those interested in BPN.
Yea, not a good look. I emailed them about it and at least based on their response I think they agree:
https://ultraminute.substack.com/p/bpns-full-response-regarding-the
The “oops we didn’t notice it” defense made me giggle tbh
Yea, I agree it didn’t look accidentally placed there. But, I at least commend them for taking it down and recognizing afterward that it’s not something they were willing to stand behind. I did notice a comment from the moment the photo was shared on Reddit on day 1 of the event saying a participant put it there, so it’s at least an argument that’s been in place since then.
I've considered Nick Bare to be the biggest influencer in ultra for a few years now. I think it was Rocky Raccoon where he did his first 100?
I'm an RD. There is not a single other race, company, personality, influencer, etc. that has as much apparel presence on our runners as BPN. And from talking to finishers, a lot have heard about ultras and signed up for them because of people like Nick Bare (or some other random influencer who did their first 50k , etc.) I don't know if Free Trail or Singletrack have merch but I can say I've never seen it or heard any runner talking about those platforms during or at the finish line of my races.
I would hope those who consider themselves abreast of the media, or a part of it, would be aware of who actually influences runners. Did people in the sport not post this event because they were genuinely unaware or were they upset at having their position disrupted?
That’s tally’s with what I’ve noticed too - more people at ultras mention to me that influencers convinced them to race rather than the sport or its media. I guess that makes sense given influencers often have more reach and are speaking to a more general audience, rather than only people who follow the sport.
"People like us do things like this". I'd argue the appeal of most runfluencers is that it's easier to relate to an individual than to a particular brand because folks see themselves in the person they follow, or at least aspire to have something they see in them.
I volunteer every year at a backyard ultra at Elm Creek in Minnesota every year. It's a great format! And no one knows about it. But anyone who can run fast enough to make the hourly cutoff can train to be the last person standing. In other words, kind of inclusive, in a sport that not always seems that way.
I NEED to sign up to one, it’s such a unique format. You ever given it a go? Completely agree on the inclusive nature - sure you can go for longer if you train purposely for it, but it’s still a challenge regardless of how far you go.
I am too slow for this format, but I am doing a 24 hour this year. That one has the backyard option or just run option. Try one. It's a blast to watch and the runners seem to love it!
Good writing Matt.
I didn’t cover the event on Trail Talk because BYU isn’t an aspect of the sport I’m too interested in, coupled with the other factors and there was nothing sporty to report. At best it was a competitive national race, which it wasn’t either. That doesn’t take away from any athletic achievements from the run, it just wasn’t something that interested me. All of the chat was also about the political post which simultaneously brought it to my attention and also turned plenty of people off.
That’s fair, we now have a ecosystem of outlets that will cover ultra-trail, but not ultrarunning in general, which brings us to gaps like this in coverage. And yeah any mention of politics and trail media goes running the other way!
I pretty much agree with this whole article! In general, I think that the Backyard Ultra format is in a very weird space. On one hand, it is a really new event, with the first family and friend event being held in 2011. However, there will also be over 60 nations at the next world championship so calling it "small" is not really a fair assessment. My theory is that the event format is primed for global success, even as a livestream/social concept, but I think it really needs to get some good social/media presence if it wants to really grow. I don't know if Laz would want that though :)
I wrote about this theory in my latest article, and I used the G1M as case studies to try and find evidence of others who did it better before them. You can read it at https://bornonthetrail.substack.com/p/is-the-future-of-backyard-ultras?r=39kjk2
Really enjoyed this one, thanks. I didn't have much interest in the event when it was happening, more because the format doesn't strike a chord rather than the personalities involved. I quite like some of what Nick Bare has to say, he explains some of the simple training concepts well and has a huge amount of influence. Fair play to him, and the idea that conservatives have no place in trail running, as I have seen in some comments relating to the event, is just crazy.
This is a brilliant observation 👏
Great post, Matt. Not that The Ultra Minute is established ultrarunning media, but fwiw I did write about the G1M Ultra in this week's issue.
I found it interesting that it had massive reach, and even though I live near the venue and write about ultrarunning every week, I actually didn't know it was happening until after the event was over. I'm not on TikTok, and I don't consume much Instagram on the weekends, but still, it never showed up for me while the event was going on. I think that goes to show also just how much algorithm defined feeds can create the illusion of division.
The only content about the event that did appear in my social feeds was actually commentary about the Border Patrol patch they posted on lap 1. I hadn't seen anyone ask BPN about it, so I emailed them and shared a link to their reply in this week's issue, but here's a direct link to their reply in case anyone is interested:
https://ultraminute.substack.com/p/bpns-full-response-regarding-the
Really interesting blog Matt. I would say that being organised by a brand that already has a huge following, they essentially have a captured audience. Not many race directors have access to that kind of marketing and it's strange that it didn't appear on my feeds anywhere. Mix into that the fact that the owner of the brand, Nick himself, is an massive influencer with associated apparel etc, how can such an event not be a huge success with the level of media and money they can throw at it? If only all events had such resources!
Well written thoughts! As I've become more aware of the ultra community and the runners and races over time, I've been happy to perceive the wide welcome from the community to any new entrants and feel that BPN models that well with what they do. Nick Bare has documented his entire fitness journey as he build his business, and is now hyper focused on endurance as BPN's lane. I was sort of surprised by the reaction regarding the patch, mainly because I've never viewed BPN as taking a political stance on anything. Being their HQ is in Austin they undoubtedly have a wide range of perspectives at their company. I think it's unfortunate some would resist BPN's growing focus on endurance especially considering how much their spotlight only increases the audience for every sport their athletes compete in.
For me, 1) the backyard ultra isn't trail, and 2) ultra and trail have become almost synonymous, when (for me) they're quite distinct.
And I'm not sure if splintering is quite the correct word, because there's just so much *more* now. Splintering suggests it's the same amount that's being split up, but these are all extra events, and it's difficult to cover everything, so maybe byus, ultras, and trail actually all deserve their own individual coverage.