Profiles of Participants

Who's ready to get this party started? I had so much fun last year I'm coming back and bringing my wife and friends to run with me. It was so awesome last year watching everyone set new distance PRs. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to see the sun come up Saturday morning. See you all soon!

Hi, my name is Amy and this is my 1st backyard ultra as a participant. Last year I was crew for my husband David and we decided that this year we would flip places. Well, he just couldn’t stand the idea of sitting around while I had all the fun so we recruited some friends to help crew and even race!!

I am excited to share some miles with everyone!! See you soon!!

The inaugural Banana Slug Run was my first backyard ultra. It was a learning experience, to say the least. In the time since, I've taken on a new level of challenge with my outings. I'm hoping this experience, and a lot of luck on each lap, will push Carl into a sleep-deprived insanity like he's never known.

Saulius was that silly runner from Seattle who participating last year, appeared to be confused, running each lap each lap as fast as he could because he knew his injuries would need tending in ice cold baths which got him to 14 laps. Over the year he's tried a bunch of things that may or may not have helped him improve his condition. Will he be running starting with an injury again, barefoot, pulling a tire, both? I guess y'all will have to wait and see!

Hey everyone.

My name is Tyler. I started my running journey at the beginning of 2022. I was 315 pounds and my health was spiraling out of control. I knew I had to make some changes. I’m now down about 85lbs. I ran my first event (Trail 10k) on February 25th 2022. Since then, I have run 42 events ranging from 5Ks to 50Ks. I have my sights on the ultra world. I hope to do a 100 miler in the near future. Super excited to be involved in the banana slug this year.

Hello. My name is Peter and this is my second time running the Banana Slug. I've actually never run any other official races. Last year I made it 100k before my stomach informed me that my race was over. This year, if I can run the same distance without the gastrointestinal distress, I’ll call it a win. (Though I suppose my medal will still read DNF.) If you haven’t done one of these before, just know that it’s as horrible as everyone says. And you’ll definitely do it again.

I signed up as 2N Glenn because that’s been my nickname at work for a while. Probably because I have met runners and don’t think anything is weird about people running 150+ miles in a 4-mile circle at shampooey park. I’d actually like to run with them for a few of those laps. The rest of the world thinks this is worthy of 2 N's in my name.

Anyhow I’ve been running for about 11 years and was bored with my usual running routine and this event sounded like a good change up, train to run slow. Covid hit, I didn’t run at all and rode a stationary bike for 1.5 years. Then you put the run back on so I had to get in gear. The event last year taught me that:

1. I need to run more in order to do good in this event, and

2. Running slow was a bad training plan. Even if I run slow in the event I should probably kick up my miles before kicking up my hours.

My running goal is always to train how I feel like training and don’t break myself or kill the sport. Last summer I had some fun and borrowed a Sammy Hagar wig for our hood to coast run. I never realized how freeing it was to be in costume. Well that was 3N day. Either way if it’s 1, 2, or 3 N's in Glenn it all sounds the same at the end of the day I get to enjoy being all versions of Glen(n)(n)(n).

Hi, my name is Shauna and this is my first backyard ultra. It seemed like a good idea when my friends Amy and David asked me to crew for them. I can't miss out on the fun, so I'll be there running while my husband crews for all three of us. I am excited to try out this style of race and see how long I can stay standing.

I love the trails of Champoeg Park and I am excited to hang out and spend time with everyone. See you all in a week!

Hi, I'm Anne. This is my first Backyard Ultra attempt but I promise to eat enough pickles, potatoes and M&Ms to brag about it. I may also hallucinate in the late hours and start singing to myself.

Hi, this is Pri. This will be my first Backyard ultra, I`m always looking for unique and particular races, Banana Slug seems to be the one for 2023.

I apologize in advance, whenever I start getting tired, swearing in Spanish starts to come out.

I’m organizing a backyard Ultra in Aguascalientes, México in August, so if you allow me Carl, I’m going to copy what I like from Banana Slug, which I’m sure, there will be a lot!! See you on the trails, we are fortunate to have them.

I had to miss last year's race but I heard it was so much fun I signed up for 2023.

Tallyn "The Gazelle" Sherman is a southern born, midwest raised, east coast averse running phenom (in his head at least). His passion for running is cemented in his soul, having competed in cross country, 5ks, 10ks, and Half-Marathons in the Fields, Forests, and streets of Wisconsin through High School, to the Majestic Island of Staten & exotic parks of Brooklyn & Manhattan NY for collegiate cross country (D3, for first semester of college, non-scholarship) and back again to the Fields, Forests, and streets of Wisconsin @ UWMilwaukee (non-collegiate 5 & 10Ks, Half Marathons), to finally creating his own home in Denver and beginning to branch into Ultras in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

His love of running has brought him to his first West Coast running experience. Having competed at the Ouray Last Man Standing race (7 Yards first year, 10 Yards second year) in the heart of the mountains, he knows the wonderful torture that awaits and can't wait to experience with his fellow masochists.

Also, Carl don't listen to Joe. If you get Domino's, definitely get pineapple (please)!

Hey gang, Heidi Quinn here coming in from the far north of Alaska. I started running about 12 years ago when I lived in the Willamette Valley and am excited about coming back to chase down loops with you all.

I was mostly a road runner during my years in Oregon (sad, I know) and didn’t start trail running until I moved to Alaska in 2015. I was fortunate to meet some insanely hardcore mountain and trail runners here who inspired me to start running longer and steeper. In 2021 I ran my first ultra, the Mt. Hood 50K and in 2022 I finished the 12 hour Alaska Endurance Race, the Denali 100K, and most recently the JFK 50 Mile.

When I’m not slogging out miles while eating snacks, I’m busy being mom to my 15 year old son who shares my love of long trail miles and putting on other grueling races for fellow dirtbags. As a race director for AKtive Soles, my team and I put on a few mountain and trail races each year and this year added our first backyard ultra. After watching all the suffering that went on during that race I felt like I was missing out and knew I needed to experience it for myself. So here I am. Looking forward to the party with you all.

I’m Keegan, the male portion of this lobster-rat adoption (the lady with the smile is my wife Lauren and lobster-rat co-parent). I’m an accountant, former Portland State/Mt.SAC pole vaulter, and fly angler. I’m a novice ultra/trail runner but since my track and field life is in my past, I’m leaning into a new outlet to cause myself pain. This will be my second organized race and I look forward to finding out what lap will make me cry and which one will make me quit.

Can’t wait for April!

This race will be my sixth backyard. My best is 30 loops and if it is a good day, on a good day, on a good day maybe more. I do well in loop races and use marathon through 100k’s (which my girlfriend makes me run) as training runs. I design DIY hardware for a living and work part time for Adafruit. Really hoping everyone can stay in there as long as possible so we can put up a big number by working together.

Matt "trail daddy" Greensmith is a pillar of Portland's non-competitive beer mile community. Often referred to as "the Barry Bonds of trail running", Matt is legendary for both his arm strength and his willingness to try any banned substance once, just for the experience. He firmly intends to win his age group of "middle-aged bearded Clydesdale men who are attempting a backyard ultra for the first time," even if he ends up with an asterisk beside his name.

Hi, I'm Joe. Last year, on my 26th loop at the Banana Slug I was hit in the arm by an errantly thrown frisbee that came from a negligent disc golfer. Sadly, I never regained the emotional fortitude to continue with the competition and timed out. The physical scars have healed but the nightmares of hippies and frisbees still haunt me. This April I'll be back to conquer my fears.

Also, Carl? Can you order us Domino's for the night loop? Please, nothing with pineapple (Yuck). Thanks in advance!