Image: Instagram via Ihor Verys / Chilliwack distance runner Ihor Verys has made a name for himself as one of Canada's elite endurance runners. In his latest feat, Verys is pushing the limits to what's humanly possible as he has been running for over 89 hours, covering 441-plus miles, and might just win the Big Dog's Backyard Ultra race in Tennessee, and set a new record.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack distance runner Ihor Verys

Chilliwack ultramarathoner Ihor Verys going the distance in last man standing race in Tennessee

Oct 25, 2023 | 3:54 PM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack distance runner Ihor Verys has made a name for himself as one of Canada’s elite endurance runners.

In his latest feat, Verys is pushing the limits to what’s humanly possible as he has been running for over 89 hours, covering 441-plus miles, and might just win the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra race in Tennessee, and set a new record.

As a matter of comparison, Ohio teacher and endurance runner Harvey Lewis won the 2021 Big Dog’s race by running 354 miles in 85 hours.

Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra is a last man standing competition, meaning athletes continually run until there’s only one person left. The race began at 8 a.m. this past Saturday, October 21, and competitors need to complete one lap – or 4.1667 miles – every hour. Once all competitors are out of the race, the last remaining runner must perform one final lap to make any record attempt both an individual one and a team effort.

As of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 25), the 29-year-old Verys is in first place having completed 106 laps.

ROAD CLOSURES

Section of Tyson Road, South Sumas Road to close overnight in Chilliwack

58m ago

PERIOD POVERTY

Demand for period products grows over 7 million in Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland

1h ago

Upcoming concerts in Agassiz, Chilliwack

Cheam Mountain Singers to hold concerts in Agassiz, Chilliwack

2h ago

Image: Instagram / Chilliwack’s Ihor Verys (centre) is pictured running in an endurance race.

“You run 6.7km (4.167mi) loop (aka “yard”) every hour on the hour until you’re the last one,” Verys said on his Instagram page about the ultra format. “Can’t make it back to the camp within an hour – you’re out. Can’t start at the beginning of the hour – you are out. If you make it back to the camp earlier, you can rest/eat/hydrate or do whatever needed to make yourself ready for the next lap. When the second last person drops out, the last man/woman standing can do only one more lap to win the race. Why 4.167mi? The idea is to cover 100 miles over 24 hours. It’s a very unique format, to say the least.”

According to his Instagram page, Verys has competed in the Canadian Death Race, BC Backyard Ultra (Salmon Arm) and the inaugural Shuswap Ultra 120km in 2023, just to name a few.