I’m Still Standing Sydney, Last One Standing is the first backyard ultra event held in the Eastern Suburbs at Maroubra’s Heffron Park. Our goal has always been to create a local running event that supports community and inclusivity, whilst providing an opportunity for runners to challenge themselves physically and mentally and to see what is possible.
Our inaugural event was held in March 2024 and it was incredible to see our vision come to life and to bring the running community together for a local, ultra running event and provide an opportunity for runners to push themselves. The event has been held annually in March for three years now and the positive vibes, energy, banter and camaraderie has been next level at all events. We couldn’t be prouder of every single runner, support crew, volunteer, partner and spectator that has been at one of our events and made it happen. For our runners, it has been so inspiring to watch them complete yard after yard, hour after hour, pushing their limits and challenging themselves mentally and physically.
In 2024, we had 100 runners on the start line. Of these only 12 had previously experienced a backyard ultra, so this race format was new for most of them. Not only was the race format new, but for 27 of our runners, the furthest distance they had run previously was 42km or under and during the event, 22 of them surpasses this distance and became ultra runners! How cool is that?
We were also blown away that 62 of our runners achieve a distance personal best – absolutely incredible and a true testament to the strength, determination, grit and resilience that all of the runners displayed during the event.
As we know, a backyard ultra is a unique race format, especially given that everyone is a DNF (did not finish) except for the last one standing. We are incredibly proud and were inspired throughout by all of the runners and the number of yards they completed. The final results were:
- Our last one standing was Jon Berry with 36 yards, representing a distance of 241.4km
- Our assist was Baden Reynolds with 35 yards, representing a distance of 234.7km.
- A special shout out to our last female standing, Savanna Lawson, with 24 yards, representing a distance of 160.9km
And finally, we were thrilled to witness three more of the runners surpass the 200km distance with Mitch McInnes running 32 yards (214.6km) and Peter Kaldor and Thomas Gilanyi both completing 30 yards (201.1km).
In 2025, we had 130 runners on the start line. In what turned out to be the hottest March conditions in 110 years and despite the incredibly unfavourable running conditions, our course record was broken with our last one standing, Mitch McInnes, running an incredible 40 yards/hours and 268.2km – 4 yards more than 2024.
It was truly inspiring to see the determination, grit, resilience, tenacity and strength from each and every runner as they challenged themselves to go one more yard. Many runners achieved distance PB’s, made even more incredible by the conditions they and their support crew had to endure.
As is the format of a backyard ultra, all runners receive a DNF (did not finish) except for the winner. For 7 yards, Mitch and Jon Berry (our 2024 last one standing), were the only two on course – both displaying incredible endurance and pushing themselves to keep going. After both competing yard 39 (261.5km run!), they joined each other at the start line for the next yard. Both set off on course, running the first short loop and as they came back through the event hub, with Jon not finishing the loop, Mitch went on to complete the yard. Our final results were:
- Our last one standing was Mitch McInnes with 40 yards, representing a distance of 268.2km. This was Mitch’s second year running our event and he smashed his previous yard total of 32 (214. 6km) from 2024.
- Our assist was Jon Berry with 39 yards, representing a distance of 261.7km. Jon also smashed his previous yard total of 36 (241.4km) from 2024 where he was our last one standing.
- Our last female standing was Chelsea Murphy, with 27 yards (181.1km). This was a massive 10 more yards than Chelsea did in 2024.
- A special shout out to Bec Myers who completed 26 yards (174.4km), again a high distance PB of 6 yards from 2024
There are a few milestones in a backyard ultra and one of these is reaching the 200km mark by completing 30 yards. In addition to Mitch and Jon reaching this milestone, 5 other runners all joined the ‘200 club’ during our 2025 event:
- Shane Koziwoda – completed 32 yards, 214.6km
- Clayton Talbot – completed 31 yards, 207.9km
- Kris Mccullough – completed 31 yards, 207.9km
- Jean Prill – completed 30 yards, 201.2km
- Louie Minnett – completed 30 yards, 201.2km
Building on the success of the event in 2024 and again in 2025, in 2026, 151 runners toed the start line and at 9am the cowbells rang for the first of many hours, and the runners were off. Our runners pushed their limits and dug deep, challenging themselves to new limits. Every one of them should be incredible proud of what they achieved.
Of the 151 runners on the start line, less than half had previously experienced a backyard ultra so this race format was new for most of them. A staggering 103 runners achieved a distance personal best and 17 became ultra runners as a result of how far they ran. It was inspiring to see the strength, determination, grit and resilience of all the runners displaying during the event.
The final results were:
- Last one standing was Akira (Ezra) Barzaghi with 51 yards, representing a distance of 342km.
- Assist was Jacob Garlick with 50 yards, representing a distance of 335.3km.
- A special shout out too to last female standing, Chelsea Murphy, with 32 yards, representing a distance of 214.59km.
- And finally, we were thrilled to witness 12 more of our runners surpass the 200km distance with Dylan Conner running 43 yards (288.35km), Mitch McInnes running 42 yards (281.65km), Shaun Barnicle running 37 yards (248.21km), Ricky Dann running 33 yards (221.29km), Samuel Arnold running 32 yards (214.59km), Matt Lewis and Rafael Goesmann both completing 31 yards (207.86km), and James Thornton, Bec Myers, Josh Graham, Luke Newtown and Mark Johnston all completing 30 yards (201.18km).
We have huge admiration and respect for all of our runners that have taken part in our event and we look forward to seeing what milestones are achieved in 2027!