Capital Backyard Ultra

[Scott @beastcoasttrail]

I finally made the decision last week to run @capitalbackyard again this year. Right now I'm in the "let's go have some fun stage." Hopefully I never reach the "put a bullet in my head, I wanna die stage" this year.

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Is the goal 1% of attempts finish, 1% of participants (i.e. Jared & I don't "count" this year), or 1% of qualified applicants could finish? I really don't know. Seems if 1% can finish, that 1% is selected, & everyone finishes, that's actually the right difficulty. #BM100 (10/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Sometimes people catch lightning in a bottle (congrats Ihor & Aurélien!🙂), but most of the time people have to keep at it until they get "lucky" conditions (e.g. Greig, Jasmin, Karel). There were zero finishers 2018-2022. "The harder I work, the luckier I get." #BM100 (9/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Is 5 too many? Will the course get much harder next year? I don't think so. Everything perfectly aligned this year, and none of the finishes were by a huge margin. Next year probably worse start time, worse weather, and not as many strong veterans up front. #BM100 (8/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Course changes were significant, but difficult to quantify. Removed 1 of my least favorite sections, replaced it w/ my new least favorite (briars, blowdowns, cliffs, no clear path... an absolute mess). Added 2 books, even if no new distance that adds ~10 minutes. #BM100 (7/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Start time was perfect. 5-8 AM is my ideal window. Good sleep, light by the time you need it, guaranteed daylight finish. Also, no loops of near total darkness. #BM100 (6/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

This was the 2nd year in a row with fantastic Barkley conditions. Last year slightly too cold, this year slightly too warm, but neither with the heavy rain or dense fog that increase the likelihood of those race-ending mistakes. #BM100 (5/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

I also get more seeing a finish from e.g. Jasmin, Ihor, Greig. I've got mine. There's marginal value to more. You don't get to the top & stay there by knocking everyone else down. Pull them up w/ you. Then when you inevitably slip they're right there to catch you. #BM100 (4/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

There's benefit to everyone - even me. This year I was more of the "fixer" than the guide, ensuring that no small mistakes became disastrous. We made quite a few, and yes little things can kill, but one big mistake could've outweighed all of our small ones. #BM100 (3/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

For loops 2-4 we were mostly in 2 lead groups. One had me (22 loops prior to this year), one had Jared (25). Also Greig & Jasmin (6+ each) plus Damian (4). Everyone was a solid navigator (Jasmin in particular seemed to instinctively know things). #BM100 (2/10)

[John Kelly @RndmForestRunnr]

Thread of general #BM100 thoughts from this year. To start, how were there so many finishers? Not intentionally being a smartass, but, well, it's because there were so many finishers. Had we all been working alone, there might have been 1-2 finishers if even that. (1/10)

[Scott @beastcoasttrail]

Capital Backyard Ultra goes above and beyond in pretty much all aspects of their race, including the awesome @SwankyBadger finisher's award! Thank you so much! Almost makes me want to do it all again 😉

#BibChat #BibRavePro
#squirrelsnutbutter
https://t.co/7wpPorTT0w

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@keithdunn @MoonPie I'm confident that Mario and WHTom will not be serving this next year.

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@thrill1usa @keithdunn We had a Cantrell on site throughout most of the race...she even managed to ring the bell once!

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@keithdunn Nice work, @beastcoasttrail !

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@jonj1017 @SageCanaday It would first be necessary to find someone willing to tell him how to apply. I am guessing after this rant it will be a long time coming.

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@keithdunn Aren’t you in central daylight time? Never mind the fact that your phone might spontaneously change time zones in the park depending on what tower it’s pinging…but I think there’s 1:07 to go.

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@henryspeir RIP Scooby. I might look like I'm complaining but I guess he was OK, as far as other dogs go...

[Capital Backyard Ultra @capitalbackyard]

@keithdunn Go Karel!!!

[Keith @keithdunn]

John is limping, Aurelian is sprinting. In each of their minds there is a halfway point in loop five, and both want to reach that point first. We have a race. #BM100