Race Report: I'm Still Standing LOS by Clayton Talbot

16 March saw the inaugural running of ultra runner and now race director Lisa Sherman’s I’m Still Standing Sydney Backyard Ultra, held in Lisa’s backyard of Heffron Park, Maroubra, Sydney. 

100 runners, 88 for the first time running in this format, toed the line at 7am to find out who would be the last one standing. 

Having grown up in the eastern suburbs and with my mum and brother just around the corner from Heffron Park I was keen to enter a backyard ultra so close to home. I jumped online as soon as registration opened at noon then waited 5 minutes before registering as I didn’t want to get bib number 1! I was assigned bib number 7. Lucky number 7 as many people told me throughout the event.

Without knowing who would be there on the day I was happy to see legends such as Annabel Hepworth and Zed Zlotnick there. One of the highlights of the event for me was Zed complimenting me by saying I was putting on a “lesson in consistency”!

Commentator Dave Stewart did a stellar job at the event with positive comments to the runners to keep them going and humorous ones to the spectators and crews to keep them entertained. 

Amazing praise from Lisa at the end of every lap along with great support and encouragement from her husband Grant and all the volunteers over the weekend made for a great event. A big thank you to all involved.

A warm afternoon made me question whether I should enter races in the hotter months. Despite commentator Dave saying he didn’t think I was sweating yet, I was definitely feeling the heat.

The heat of the afternoon finally gave way and when the cool change came it was a very welcome relief to the runners still in the event. Rain was forecast for the evening and they were right. It rained. Heavy!

For myself I was happy to make it to my previous backyard PB of 21 in reasonable shape. I was hoping the allure of a sunrise would help get me further, but the clouds wouldn’t let up. Torrential rain continued in the early hours of the morning and just when you think it couldn’t get any wetter the park sprinklers came on! A group of us weren’t sure whether to try and dodge them or laugh and run straight through them. So we did both.

The sopping wet shoes and short turnaround time for me resulted in some sore toes and blisters ending my race after 25 times around the park. 

The final 5 runners remaining at noon on the Sunday were Jon Berry, Baden Reynolds, Mitch McInnes, Peter Kaldor, and Thomas Gilanyi.

With Jon Berry finally being the last person standing with 36 yards. A very impressive performance from him. The assist went to Baden Reynolds. Congrats on an amazing run Baden. The final female standing was Savanna Lawson who made the 100 miles with 24 yards.

It was great to reconnect with runners I’ve met at previous races such as Zed, Baden, Glenn Lockwood, Christine Ta, and Glenn Parrott, and to make new friends such as Peter Kaldor, Thomas  Gilanyi, and Will Lewis.

A great addition to Sydney’s ultra scene and an event and I’ll be signing up for again next year at 12:05pm to hopefully nab that lucky number 7 bib.