BME: Last Man Standing Winter 2026 - 106 Miles of Mud, Rain and Mental

Event Review

BME: Last Man Standing Winter 2026 - 106 Miles of Mud, Rain and Mental Grit

There’s something brutally simple about a Backyard Ultra. One loop, every hour, until there’s only one runner left standing. No hiding. No shortcuts. Just relentless forward motion, hour after hour.

This year’s BME: Last Man Standing Winter 2026 delivered exactly that — and then some.

Location

Deardon Wood, Edenfield

Distance

4.167 miles / 6.70km Loop on the hour every hour

Elevation Gain

Each loop contains approximately 220m of elevation gain

The Event

Runners arrived to dry but cloudy conditions after weeks of rain had already saturated the trails. As the afternoon progressed, rain rolled in and steadily worsened throughout the night, turning sections of the course into deep, sloppy mud and making each lap progressively harder underfoot.

Around 100 runners took on the challenge, each chasing very different goals — whether that was a few laps with friends, an overnight effort, or the elusive Last Man Standing title itself.

Representing Adapt Run Hub by Adapt Outdoors, we were invited along by our friends and event partners at Barking Mad Events to support the event with a stall offering kit and essentials to runners and spectators throughout the weekend.

Jay also jumped into the action, taking on the opening four loops — just under a half marathon — before happily retreating back to the stall for coffee and pizza. Even after only four laps, the climb around the 1km mark felt more punishing with every lap, which made what the runners who carried on deep into the night eventually achieved even more impressive.

Despite the worsening conditions, the atmosphere never dipped.

The campsite remained full of energy throughout the day and night, with music from the DJ keeping spirits high while the incredible wood-fired pizzas from the Dearden Wood team became a much-needed sustenance for runners, spectators and the events team.

24 Loops. 106 Miles. One Winner.

While many runners battled deep into the night, it was Lewis Goree who ultimately emerged victorious after completing 24 loops — covering an incredible 106 miles. Remarkably, this was his very first Backyard Ultra.
When asked about the total distance he managed, Lewis summed it up perfectly: “I managed a total of 106 miles, which consisted of 24 loops — one every hour. It was a true test of consistency and mental grit.”
And consistency really was the deciding factor. Backyard Ultras aren’t won through outright speed. They’re won through pacing, fuelling, recovery between laps, and keeping your mind focused long after your body starts asking serious questions.
One of the things that makes Backyard Ultras so unique is the atmosphere that develops between runners, crews, organisers, and supporters as the hours pass. Everyone suffers together. When asked what kept him moving through the later laps, Lewis credited both the people around him and his own determination to keep going.“Two things: the crew around me and my own determination to win. Having a solid support system in the pits makes all the difference when you're deep into the night, but ultimately, you have to want that win more than you want to stop.”

Essential Kit for a Backyard Ultra in conditions like these, gear quickly becomes more than just a comfort choice. Footwear and waterproofs proved absolutely critical once the course deteriorated overnight. Lewis explained:“My shoes and my waterproofs were the absolute MVPs. In a race like this, especially with the weather we had, keeping your feet protected and your core temperature regulated isn't just about comfort — it’s about survival and staying in the race.”

From our own experience on the course, the muddy terrain demanded shoes with serious grip and confidence on unstable ground.The NNormal Tomir handled the sloppy terrain brilliantly thanks to its aggressive grip and comfortable cushioning, while the Inov-8 Stormshell proved invaluable once the rain arrived, offering excellent waterproof protection without overheating.

Advice for Anyone Considering a Backyard Ultra. For runners curious about trying a Backyard Ultra themselves, Lewis had a refreshingly simple message:“Just get out and try it! This was my very first Backyard Ultra, and I came out on top. Don’t be intimidated by the format or the distances — don't be afraid to give it a go and see what your body is actually capable of.”

That’s one of the best things about this format.You don’t have to arrive expecting to win outright. You simply set your own challenge and see how far you can go. Whether that’s 2 laps, 10 laps, or 24, every runner out there is fighting their own battle.And once you’ve done one, chances are you’ll want to come back and try to go one lap further next time.

A Huge Credit to Barking Mad EventsThe team at Barking Mad Events deserve huge praise for how the event was run, especially given the worsening weather and difficult terrain overnight.

Lewis said:“The event was amazing. The team at Barking Mad Events was so helpful and supportive. They kept all of us going throughout the night, which was incredible given how harsh the weather was. I couldn't have asked for a better-run event for my first BYU.”

The organisers themselves summed the weekend up perfectly:

"We are so proud of all our runners from our Winter LMS, you were all incredible. The weather was harsh, and the terrain was treacherous. This one was an event we will never forget.” They also confirmed that future events are only going to get bigger. For the Summer LMS, the format will now become an official open-ended Backyard Ultra — meaning the race continues until only one runner remains.

What’s Next? Lewis isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He’s already preparing for another Backyard Ultra challenge at Reds On, where he’ll be targeting both another win and the course record.“I’m currently in training for another Backyard Ultra, ‘Reds On’, where I’m going to see if I can take the record and another win. The current record is 41 loops, so I’ll be pushing for over 48!”

If his first Backyard Ultra is anything to go by, that’s going to be well worth watching.

Kit Recommendations

Trail running shoes with reliable grip for muddy and uneven terrain
Waterproof jacket and spare layers for changing weather conditions
Headtorch and backup batteries for overnight laps
Comfortable nutrition and hydration setup you can easily access between loops

Who this route is for

Runners curious about trying their first ultra event
Trail and fell runners wanting a mental and physical challenge
Experienced ultra runners testing pacing and endurance
Anyone who enjoys community-focused endurance events and pushing personal limits

Final Thoughts

The great thing about Backyard Ultras is that you don’t need to turn up aiming to win. They’re also a great way to experience ultra running for the first time, as the looped format means you’re never too far away from the event base and support area.

You can simply challenge yourself, see how many laps you can manage, and build from there. Whether runners completed one lap or twenty-four, everyone out there achieved something.

Combined with the welcoming atmosphere created by the team at Dearden Wood Campsite and the passion shown by Barking Mad Events throughout the weekend, it created the kind of event people immediately want to come back to.

BME: Last Man Standing is more than just a race.

It is a reminder of what makes the trail and ultra community so special — resilience, support, shared suffering, and the willingness to keep moving forward when conditions say otherwise.

Massive respect to every runner who stepped onto that start line and kept coming back for one more lap.

We’ll definitely be back.