Profiles of Participants

I'm Scott and I'm just excited and honored to be here! I've done a few ultras, some 24-hour AMLAP races, and I'm training for the Mary's Peak Ultra in June.

I've got home-court advantage for Banana Slug. I'm local. The Champoeg trail starts 3.07 miles from my front door, and I ran my very first ultra there. I've named all the resident deer and they know me by scent. With this race format, keeping the mind occupied will be key. I have multiple costume changes and am looking forward to the midnight Karaoke lap.

See y'all out there soon!

I’ve been running for about 5 years now. Mostly doing obstacle course races, and a few trail races. I haven’t done any truly long-distance running yet. My longest was the Timberline trail around Mt Hood. But I’ve always been drawn to ultra events. I’m looking forward to seeing what I’m capable of next month!

Hi, I'm Todd Evans, I have been running for a few years now. I have always enjoyed being outdoors with my family doing a lot of hiking and backpacking. The ultrarunning thing seemed like a good way to see more in a day rather than take a whole weekend to go backpacking. It started slow and has steadily grown over the years. My wife and I volunteer at an aid station for the Bigfoot 200 and have observed the crazy runners that are doing these 200-mile trail races such as Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200 and Moab 240. The hallucinations are real!

When I first heard of Big's backyard race I was very intrigued, it seems easy enough, right.... run or walk slightly faster than 4 miles an hour and then repeat until you collapse.😀 I think this is an event for me. At least it should be entertaining for spectators. I look forward to meeting a lot of new folks and making some great friendships!

I go by a lot of names but the Big Flan handle is because I’m bigger than most distance runners and I’m like a delicious dessert cause I get you to smile quickly.

I don’t love running but I like it for the most part. What I do love is the feelings I get from it and the places it takes me. I have run in Bryce Canyon, Zion Park, on the border of Idaho and Montana at 10,000’ during a thunderstorm. I’ve run around Mt. St. Helens, up to the top of Mary’s Peak and places I would never have gone if it wasn’t for this wonderful hobby I have called running. And that’s what keeps me coming back. The adventure. And I run with an absolute fantastic group of friends whom I love with all my heart.

As far as the Banana Slug run, my goal is to make it last until Sunday whether it’s a stroke after midnight or 9 am. I’m excited to see good people push their limits and hopefully hear their stories.

Hey everyone! I’m Phil and I’m looking forward to meeting you all and sharing this exciting/dumb/amazing race with you all! I enjoy running, biking, rowing, getting lost in the woods and finding my way out, eating, etc...

I decided to do Slug.run as part of a 4-race series of 100 mile races in Oregon that I’m calling the Beaver Slam which you can read about if you're interested. (Ed: This sounds amazing. I highly recommend you click through and read more. -Carl)

I’ve been practicing for Slug.run by walk jogging around the block I live on a bunch of times. I’m up to six miles until I quit of boredom. I’ve also been playing extended sessions of 8-bit Nintendo games to train my mind to do things that it doesn’t actually want to do. So this should be fun. See y’all soon!

Well, we'll see how long I last. I'm mostly concerned about the sleep deprivation than the actual running. It'll be the need for sleep that will probably do me in. I've done a number of these 24-hour formats, including a Spartan 24 and World's Toughest Mudder. In June I'll be aiming for 100 miles at the SISU 24, so this will be a good test. Thanks!

I live with my wife and our two girls in Sherwood. We love traveling together and getting outdoors as much as we can. As far as ultra running... it was my wife's idea.

I spent many years playing contact sports like football, rugby and Aussie rules football. After hanging up the boots I got into ultras and I've been going strong for a few years. Running is unique in the way it forces me to change. I love the personal growth that comes from true gritty challenges. Even the training runs help clear my mind and reboot. Lately fastpacking has become my newest obsession.

Backyard Slug Run caught my eye and I figured what the heck?! Looking forward to a new race experience!

I'm Leah, and my favorite places to run are pretty much anywhere that has trees and dirt. I'm easy to please and happiest when I'm outdoors.

I’ve never done a race like this before, so I’m both excited and nervous. I’ve run regular-style ultras before and my favorite distance is probably 50k. I finished my first 100 miler in September and I’m looking for “what’s next?”. I also race bikes, but I’m new to the “last man standing” format. When I’m not running or riding I work as a veterinary nurse and I’m studying illustration and graphic design (what’s free time?!). I also collect shoes and dogs. That’s my buddy Pookie in the second picture, but he’s 13 and retired from running now.

Looking forward to seeing you in April!

Hi, I'm Will (slowfat). This is a common look for me—hopelessly lost in a place I have no business being in. This photo was taken in Southern Utah when my wife (not pictured) and my friend Matt were training for the San Francisco marathon—our first! While love for my wife, our dog and our friends center me, I spend most of my life feeling like a confused impostor. "How did I end up on this side of the river?", "Why do they keep on letting me work here?", "Are they really going to sell me a pizza with triple extra cheese? That's gotta be some kind of crime, right?"

There are so many things I want to do in life for which, in order to do them well, you need talent or aptitude. I was delighted to discover in the past few years that running requires neither. I thought to myself, "You mean, I don't have to be good? Or fast? Or know what I'm doing? That all I have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and not quit and at the end I'll definitely get a beer and a medal? Ok, this, I'm pretty certain I can do." Running provides me with peace, a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of belonging. Belonging to something much bigger than me—sure, something inconsequential and rarely useful, but also something ancient and primal. And the bar for entry to the group is so blissfully low—just keep doing that one-foot-in-front-of-the-other thing—that's all it takes to belong.

Excited to see how many steps I've got in me.

In the past I have raced just about every type of race:

• Snowshoe racing including the Leadville Turquoise Lake 20 miler
• Triathlons from sprints to Ironman Lake Placid
• Many offroad triathlons (XTERRA)
• 6-time finisher of the Pikes Peak Ascent
• Numerous trail running races in the Northeast and Colorado, also Timberline 12k and Mt. St. Helens 20 miler

This will be my first Backyard Ultra so I can add another to the list. My wife says anything to get out of yard or house work. True. I'm coming back from some lingering ankle problems but hope to be ready come race day.

Hey friends, you can call me Shep! Although I call Northern Alberta home, I am currently hiding from the brutally cold Canadian winters (-40 degrees!) and taking in the views here in the beautiful PNW.

I am fairly new to the competitive side of ultra-distance running, however, my passion for this sport began over a decade ago on the mountainous trails of Alaska. Over the years, running has grown into such an integral part of my life that I have taken to solo life on the road to pursue this passion full-time, travelling around North America running in and volunteering at various events. I have made it my mission in life to try everything for myself and draw from those experiences as I grow to take on greater challenges.

The Backyard format caught my eye this past year and I have totally fallen in love with the 4.1mi loop. I am now on a mission to become the greatest Backyardigan ever and earn my ticket to the infamous Barkley Marathons.

I look forward to meeting everyone on the trail!

Relevant Accomplishments

2019 Big Dog Backyard World Championships

Golden ticket winner, 32 loops (133 miles or 214km)

2019 Across the Years

6 Day "Around the Clock" record holder, 435 miles

The most important things in this life are God, family, and friends—running, music, and work intertwine them to make them complete.

God has gifted me with a wife and our four children ranging in age from 2-8 years old. When not working 50 hrs a week as a Union Electrician, spending time with my wife and kids, or spinning vinyl records I can be found running in the streets.

Although trails are my preferred terrain, road is right outside my door. So when my many other responsibilities take most of the days hours I run early in the morning or late at night to fit it in. Although I run very few sanctioned events, a “Backyard Ultra” has always been on my bucket list. I’m excited to test the limits of my body and encourage everyone running with me to do the same.

I’m Kim, and I live in Portland. I started trail running as a youth in the mountains of New Mexico. I met Carl through PNW Search and Rescue. He’s kind and easy-going, as evidenced by laughing with me when I navigated him up a river bank into a big tall patch of devil’s club on a training run. So I decided to support his first attempt to carefully organize this interesting race format by being the first to sign up.

I turned 50 this year and have been doing as many “first ever” activities as possible. When I’m not running, kayaking, sailing, or otherwise playing outdoors, I’m working in our local public health department with fantastic dedicated colleagues and community members.

I may be wearing costumes at this race. Yes, plural, which includes costume changes.

I look forward to meeting you.

I'm Carl and I've lived in Wilsonville for 15 years with my beautiful wife and our 4 sons. My teenage sons have been an inspiration to me with their enthusiasm for running. I've long enjoyed outdoor activities such as backpacking and rock climbing but only in the past year have gotten very interested in trail running.

I did a fast, light hike of the Loowit Trail around Mt. St. Helens last year (32 miles, 14 hours) and am planning to return there soon for my "first" ultra run.

I've been a member of Pacific Northwest Search & Rescue for 3 years as well as a member of its specialty rope-support team (2 years) and trail-running team (less than 1 year).

When not outdoors I'm often constructing various word and logic puzzles, and I work as a computer programmer.

Note: In that last picture it's not me that's dangling from the highline over the Crooked River at Smith Rock. But I did help construct and operate that highline as part of a PNWSAR RST training exercise.