Last year, Łukasz Wróbel received the title of European Champion by running 590 kilometres during the Suffolk Backyard Ultra in England. The Polish ultra-runner has gone one monumental step further: he’s claimed the world record in one of the most gruelingly strategic endurance events on the planet – the Backyard Ultra.

Backyard Ultra is a demanding discipline born in the United States and rapidly adopted around the globe, including Poland. Runners must complete a 6.706 km loop every hour. Miss the time cut-off, and you’re out. Finish early, and you can use the leftover minutes to rest, eat, or regroup – but be ready to start again when the clock strikes the next hour. The race continues until only one runner remains: the sole finisher. Everyone else? Classified as a DNF – Did Not Finish.

This year, the Legends Backyard Ultra in Belgium, which began on 27 April, became the stage for history in the making. Łukasz Wróbel, already a respected name in the ultra-running world, pushed past limits by completing 116 loops. That’s 777.896 km in 115 hours, 42 minutes, and 35 seconds – nearly five consecutive days of running with only minutes of rest in between.

The duel that defined the race was with Belgian Jan Vandekerckhove, who himself logged an awe-inspiring 115 loops (771.19 km). But as Backyard Ultra rules dictate, there can be only one victor – and one finisher. Wróbel secured both titles by running just one lap more.

This wasn’t just a race; it was an endurance epic – a battle of willpower, strategy, and sheer physical resilience. And now, Łukasz Wróbel stands alone at the pinnacle of this brutal sport, the new world record holder in a race where finishing is victory.

Source: Bieganie.pl

Photo: Instagram Łukasz Wróbel

Tomasz Modrzejewski