Potch Big Backyard Ultra

10/05/2026

🇿🇦 Calling all volunteers! 🇿🇦

The SA Team is preparing for the World Team Champs (17 October), proudly hosted by PBBU at Lekwena Private Wildlife Estate outside Potchefstroom, and we need your support to help make this an unforgettable event.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who can assist with various tasks before and during the event. Whether you can help with logistics, athlete support, route assistance, admin, refreshments, setup, or general event support, your contribution will make a real difference.

Several of our runners come from other provinces (and even from abroad) and will need a crew that can "bring the gees"!

This is a wonderful opportunity to give a bit of your time back to backyard ultras, be part of something special, support our South African athletes, and help showcase the spirit of backyard ultra running.

If you are willing to volunteer, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/78q6NXbKbjKZJU8AA

The Unicorn might even throw in a free entry to PBBU2027!

Let’s stand behind the SA Team and make the World Team Champs a massive success! 🇿🇦🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️
Backyard Ultra Series

10/05/2026

Need to stretch those legs again….support our local races!

09/05/2026

…even more friends to play with!!! Crack out the glitter!! 🦄🦄🦄

Michael de Wit, Pieter Marais, Tian Britz, Riette van der Merwe, Jad Du Plessis, Jay Jay, Juliana Geldenhuys, Kwo Kic, Malcolm Wallace, Jayde Flett Van Huyssteen, Morne Lombard, Ian Jannasch, Nicholas Gordon Le Riche, Melony White, H.E. Steyn, Kierie Van Zyl, Dylan Hughes, Hannes Grobler, Lizia Coetzee, Duncan Riley

07/05/2026

Get ready….

The World Team Champs Backyard Ultra takes place on the 17th of October in Potchefstroom where South Africa’s toughest ultra runners will battle it out yard after yard against the best nations in the world. 🌍🔥

Think you have what it takes to wear the green and gold?

The team roster is now live, and there’s still a chance to earn your spot on the squad.

Your opportunity comes at the 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭. Push your limits, test your mind, and show what you’re capable of when the yards start adding up. 💪🏽

Every loop counts. Every hour matters.
This is Backyard Ultra racing at its purest.

Check out the current Team Roster and see who’s in the running 👇
https://bigsbackyardultra.com/world-team-championship-2026/

And enter the Van Gaalen Backyard Ultra here 👇
https://www.wannado.co.za/van-gaalen

07/05/2026

In case you missed it….girls rule ok!! Amazing!!!

03/05/2026

Congratulations to William Barrett on winning the Living Colour BYU with 25 yards. Welcome to the SA Team!

01/05/2025

Wow! Just amazing!

01/05/2025

Some more nutcases…doing what we do best

History being made. Ivo Steyaert, one of the three previous world record rings the bell for yet another loop for the new world record holders, Łukasz Wróbel - MotylaNoga & Jan Vandekerckhove.

Both are out on loop 114 now. Lukasz is continously running low 40 minutes loops, while Jan has seen his lap times increase a little over the last couple of hours, but still in the low 50's.

Credits for the photo go to brilliant Caroline Dupont Photography, be sure to check out her portfolio!

With 2 loops after this one to go in the dark night, we all wonder if we are going to reach the full 5 day mark.

Then again it might be over in 20 minutes...

30/04/2025

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! 🦄

Stefan van der Merwe, Alfred De Villiers, Bernice Viljoen, Gert Kok, Elizabeth Curtis, Madelein Scheepers, Alessandro Morelli