Loiu, located in the Txorierri region, will become the epicenter of the Backyard Ultra format for the second consecutive year with the II Euskal Backyard Ultra. The event is expected to attract over 200 participants and is organized by the Kukulu Mendi Kluba and the local City Council.
Unlike conventional ultras, Backyard Ultra has no predetermined distance. The objective is to complete a 6.706-kilometer circuit within a maximum of 60 minutes. Those who finish the lap have the remaining time to rest before the next one begins; anyone unable to complete it is eliminated. Fernando Pérez, the race director, explains that the winner will be the sole participant to cross the finish line alone within the stipulated time.
A distinctive feature of these races is that, from the second position downwards, all other participants are listed as 'retired'. The second-to-last runner is referred to as an 'assistant' or 'bideratzailea', as they motivate the winner to complete the final lap solo.
Pérez highlights the rapid growth of this discipline across the peninsula, which has expanded from a dozen events four years ago to over 40 currently. In the Basque Country, besides Loiu, races are also organized in Usurbil and Murgia.
Last year's edition was marked by the rivalry between José Manuel Ruiz from Andalusia, the reigning Spanish champion, and Ibon Gamboa from Biscay. Ruiz emerged victorious after 41 uninterrupted hours and 275 kilometers. This year's event will feature approximately 50 volunteers and will commence on Friday at 9:00 PM.
The Loiu event serves as a qualifier for the World Team Championship scheduled for October 17th. In this global competition, each national team runs from their own country, and the team whose runners accumulate the most laps will be declared the winner. The Spanish national team's base will be located in La Manga del Mar Menor, Murcia.
Becoming one of the 15 national team representatives is challenging. Certain races award a silver medal, automatically qualifying a runner. The remaining team members are selected through events like the Euskal Backyard Ultra, where the winner's laps are the determining factor. Currently, completing 48 laps, or running for over two consecutive days, grants access to wear the national team jersey in October.
Backyard Ultra demands not only physical preparation but also strategic management. Ibon Gamboa, the 'bideratzailea' from the previous edition and a three-time winner of the Spain Backyard Ultra, emphasizes the crucial role of support at the 'Base de Vida' for rest between laps. 'My wife is there, she gives me food, changes my socks, and I keep going. That support is fundamental,' he states.
Sleep is a decisive factor in these multi-day competitions, with micro-naps playing a key role. While demanding courses like Castro Caldelas require nearly an hour per lap with no time for sleep, other circuits allow for brief five-minute 'naps' after refueling. Gamboa humorously recalls that last year in Loiu, despite having time, visits from friends prevented him from sleeping.
Although men and women officially compete together in the same classification, the Loiu race awards trophies to the top three female runners to encourage female participation. The woman with the most laps receives a prize similar to the overall champion: a trophy, a txapela, and a 300 euro cash prize.
