The Start Line Lining up at the Prairie on Fire Backyard Ultra felt like a massive release. Just being there lifted the pressure of everyday life — fatherhood, work, and responsibility. It was freeing. But I also knew this was only the beginning. The Backyard Ultra format has no finish line. It ends when you can’t continue. That unknown was both thrilling and stressful. When the whistle blew, I wasn’t sure what lay ahead. I only knew I had to make decisions one yard at a time. Yards 1–3: Finding Rhythm I started assertive, leading the field out every lap. Not because I was the fastest, but because I wanted to run my race with presence. With Nora’s stroller taking up much of the path, I had to be strategic. I settled into a rhythm: two minutes running, three minutes walking. This gave us space, time to fuel, and a chance to recover before the next bell. These early yards were about calmness. The stress of the unknown turned into freedom, a sense of release as we crossed the prairie bridge together. Back in camp, I’d see my dad ready with fuel and hydration. Bri was balancing Wren and Dylan, with the help from Chris supporting so Bri could keep an eye on me. Just knowing they had it covered gave me peace. Yards 4–6: The Highs By the middle loops, I hit a rhythm. For several laps, I felt almost euphoric, calm, steady, at peace. It was as if positivity itself was fueling me forward. I was proud of how I carried myself. I wasn’t hiding at the back, worried about interfering with others. I was running up front, saying without words: “I belong here. Watch this. I’ll get mine.” Nora and I were one-of-one on that course. Every other runner was solo, but we embraced being the unique duo. What once felt like a limitation had become our biggest reason to run. And then there was the team, my Tribal Training crew. Every lap, I’d see familiar faces: Ryan, Jordan, Dylan, Uriah, Matt, Zach, Jonathan, Cam, Chris and Louie. The hugs, the laughs, the encouragement. We shared the course together yard after yard.