I’m Still Standing Sydney, Last One Standing is the first backyard ultra event to be held in the Eastern Suburbs at Maroubra’s Heffron Park. Our goal was to bring the running community together for a local, ultra running event and provide an opportunity for runners to push themselves. Since the inaugural event in March 2024 and our second edition in March 2025, it has been incredible to see our vision come to life.
At both events, the positive vibes, energy, banter and camaraderie has been next level and we couldn’t have been prouder of every single runner, support crew, volunteer, partner and spectator that was there 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
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 2026!