Meet the only Canadian at Big’s Backyard Ultra

From Hubbards, N.S., Lee Alonzo Murphy has brought his steady Maritime grit to Bell Buckle, Tenn., to represent Canada at the 2025 edition of Big’s Backyard Ultra. It’s Murphy’s third time racing the backyard format and his first appearance at Big’s. Designed by Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Laz Lake), Big’s is the original event that launched the backyard craze, known for testing runners’ endurance and patience, one 6.7-kilometre loop at a time. Murphy is the only Canadian in the field, representing the maple leaf through every lap.

The race that never ends

The backyard ultra follows a simple format: runners must complete a 6.706-kilometre loop every hour on the hour, with whatever time remains used for rest, food or fixing their feet. If you’re not in the corral when Laz starts the next lap, you’re out. The event continues until one runner finishes a final loop, alone.

To qualify for Big’s, athletes must either win their national backyard ultra championship or post one of the top performances worldwide to make the at-large list. The world record currently belongs to Phil Gore of Australia, who completed a belief-defying 119 loops (797.9 km) at Queensland’s Dead Cow Gully in June 2025, assisted by Sam Harvey of New Zealand.

Steady and strong

Murphy is known for his consistency. He has run at least 10 kilometres every day for more than 1,000 consecutive days, a streak that has become part of his identity as an athlete. In a profile for Canadian Running, he described the practice as a commitment to discipline and recovery—proof that small efforts, repeated daily, can lead to big results. When he isn’t racing, Murphy works as a small-business owner and is a busy dad of two.

Strategy and support

Murphy earned his place at Big’s after running for 68 hours at last year’s Team Backyard Ultra Championships, where he claimed the national title. Heading into Tennessee, he said he’s proud to represent Canada and understands “the weight of the country” on his shoulders, adding that his goal is “to run one more than anyone else.”

He’s supported by his wife, Kate, and ultrarunner Allison MacFadden, who also crewed for him at the Team Championships. “Our strategy is staying cool (it’s hot here), calm and collected,” he said. “We have everything on a schedule from calories to sock changes—without teamwork, going far is out of the question.”

Murphy hopes to push past his previous best of 68 hours. He also has an eye on the Barkley Marathons, one of ultrarunning’s most elusive races, which grants an entry to the Big’s champion. “If I have to run 500+ miles, then so be it,” he said.

How to follow along

Fans can follow Murphy’s progress through the Big’s Backyard Ultra live stream and updates here and the Big’s Backyard Ultra Facebook page. Updates from his crew are also being shared on Instagram here.