After about 33 hours, Steven Carr and Andrew Janeway had completed 129 miles in the Big’s Little Backyard endurance event when a decision was made.
Janeway, 54, of Winchester, Tenn., was done. Kaput. Ready to ring the bell and call it a day. Or night. Whatever it was. Janeway was toast and his bum ankle was screaming for mercy like the Braveheart crowd when William Wallace is on the block. He had been in pain for about six hours but pushed through. Carr, 57, who still had gas in the tank, had a personal beef to settle — with himself — after last year when he said he “mentally quit too soon.”
So, Janeway told Carr he’d attempt Lap 32 with him to get 133.5 miles. That way, after Janeway dropped, Carr would have to complete Lap 33 in order to win and also get his personal best for Big’s Little Backyard.
“Wow, what a wonderful gesture and person,” Carr told TVO via message after his win on Oct. 1, as he’s been on vacation in Alaska. “Very special and touched.”
Carr won Big’s Little Backyard with 137.5 miles in a race time of 26 hours, 8 minutes, 41 seconds. Janeway was “first DNF,” as there are no other places or awards. He finished with 133.333 miles. Gabe Cross of Cornersville, Tenn., was next with 129.167 miles. The event was held in Bell Buckle, Tenn.
In the backyard event format, participants must be in the starting corral when the bell rings to start the next 4.16-mile loop. Runners have one hour to complete the loop and be in the corral for the next loop. If you’re not in the corral, you’re out with a DNF. If you finish 10 minutes, or 15, or however long before the next loop, you get to rest, eat, nap, tickle your toes or do whatever to keep you going. Huntsville has its own backyard ultra, the Devil’s Racetrack, scheduled for April 2025.
Andrew Hardwick of Huntsville also was in the Big’s Little Backyard field, completing five loops for 20.833 miles. He and Carr were among the 48 official participants listed in the final results.
Carr finished second in 2023 and said he learned a lot about the mental aspect along with pace, between-loop care and more. Carr is no stranger to endurance events. He completed Western States this summer, and has 25 100-plus mile events under his belt.
The Final Laps
Big’s Little Backyard founder Gary Cantrell posted this on the group’s Facebook page about the final hours:
after gabe dropped
steven and andrew had a brief discussion.
andrew was ready to stop also
as he had reached his personal best and rung the distance bell.
steven was clearly the stronger of the two remaining athletes.
further pain would accomplish nothing for andrew.
but, if he stopped, steven would win with the same distance as his previous best.
so they both went out together on a 32nd hour,
andrew running one more yard
so that steven could win the race,
set a personal best,
and ring the distance bell to complete the event.
backyard is a blood sport.
the athletes competing until a single winner is determined.
but it is also a team sport
with every athlete helping his or her rivals to reach their goals.
time and again we see the assist truly acting as an assist.
hanging on after the outcome is certain
to help the winner achieve their goal.
in every sport we can only be as good as our competitors make us.
only in the backyard is that codified.
Carr’s Thoughts
Below are Carr’s thoughts and recap, lightly edited, that he sent to TVO while in Alaska:
— This is my 2nd Little Dog Backyard Ultra, 1st was 2023 with 32 loops, 133 miles, assist (2nd place), mentally quit to soon. These races are very physically and mentally demanding. With last year’s somewhat disappointing result and applying lessons learned for 2024, I focused on mentally preparing to go farther. Had personal notes “just one more loop” at home and work to remind me to push farther.
— Rained majority of the time due to storm Helene. Delayed 2 hour start due to weather. World famous race director Laz (Cantrell) decided the course would only be on night road course due to poor trail conditions. Laz mentioned worst race conditions ever. My wife Stephanie crewed. 49 starters. One runner forgot his race bib and went to retrieve but failed to be in starting corral when 1st loop started … was disqualified. He had trained for a year. Rules are rules.
— Feet were wet for first 26 hours, then changed to dry socks and shoes. First time ever changing shoes/socks during race. This was my 25th 100+ mile race.
— Stephanie did a wonderful job providing steady flow of calories throughout race. Format: finish loop within 47-48 minutes, sit in chair, elevate legs, Stephanie provided and documented calories, cover my body and head with towels for warmth, rest, and attempt to briefly sleep (not sure if I ever feel asleep). Never got nauseous, was able to eat/drink without issues.
— Laz would blow whistle 3 times 3 minutes before loop start, 2 whistle blows 2 minutes before loop start, 1 whistle blow 1 minute before loop start. 30 second warning by Laz, I would get out of chair and stand in coral. Loop started with whistle blow and Laz yelling “Happy time!”
— Nighttime running: heard noises in the woods and farming fields. Armadillos, deer, etc. One deer ran full speed across field and road only 20 feet in front of me. Coyotes howling were spooky.
— Mentally prepared first 24 hours should be fairly easy, then the race really starts. Six runners left at 100 miles. Legs and feet were tired but no injuries … push on. Observe remaining runners. (Are they) Beginning to weaken, slowing, etc.?
— Rain and headwind brutal for hours, especially half mile near 3 mile loop location.
— 3 runners left: Steven, Gabe Cross, Andrew Janeway. Gabe, the youngest, looks the strongest. Throughout the race, Gabe would sprint out of the starter corral and finish the loop first. Very vocal and enthusiastic. Steven … run your own race and don’t be intimidated.
— Races are tough on crew just as much as runners. Was mentally preparing to watch sun rise a 2nd time. Tired but body felt good, knew I could continue. Ask Stephanie to charge my 2nd GPS watch again. She wasn’t happy knowing I was preparing to be on course for several more hours. She realized if so, we may only have a few hours to pack up after race, drive home, take shower, and travel all day Monday for Alaska vacation.
— Stephanie’s concern: getting our van out of wet and muddy grass parking area before or after race. Several vehicles were getting stuck. Success! Moved van without issue and parked in farmer’s gravel lot. Thank you!
— I determined that Andrew and Gabe were having issues. Runners and crews constantly attempt to gather intelligence on competition. Gabe’s crew looking toward our tent to determine what condition I was in. Couldn’t see me, only Stephanie. Blood in the water, sharks beginning to circle? It’s still a very competitive race. Found myself yawning from time to time.
Crafty Veteran Strategy!
— Loop 30: I decided to run quickly behind Gabe as loop started to show him and his crew that I was feeling strong. I deliberately ran beside Gabe to listen to his breathing and noticed he was grimacing in discomfort and possible pain. Gabe is in trouble. Andrew remained consistent but slowing; could possibly continue for hours. How much longer? More rain? Sun briefly appeared. Stephanie noticed Gabe was in considerable pain when finished loop.
— Loop 31: I decided to attempt to intimidate Gabe and crew and demonstrate to Andrew I felt strong. Whistle blew and I sprinted out of corral and finished loop faster than all previous loops, and finished ahead of Gabe and Andrew. Gabe’s crew saw that I finished before Gabe and looked concerned. Gabe finished the loop and bent over in pain, sat down in crew tent. Gabe yells to me and Andrew he is done. Ankle extremely swollen. I praised him being a great competitor and runner, wished him a speedy recovery. Andrew informed me he had been in pain for the last 6 hours. Andrew informed me he would attempt one more loop so I could get a personal best compared to last year. Wow, what a wonderful gesture and person. Very special and touched.
— Loop 32: Andrew and I started and finished the loop. Andrew was done. His ankle extremely swollen and red.
— Loop 33: I must complete last loop to win. It was very strange observing other runners and crews cheering me to start and finish. Completed the loop and met both of my goals.
— Post race: feet and legs tired but overall, good condition. Only one blister.
“This race was a team event,” Carr said, “being Steven and crew Stephanie. I couldn’t have accomplished my goals without Stephanie’s assistance, perseverance, and patience. The finisher’s dog tag belongs to both of us.”
