Jamal Said Books Ticket to USA After Another Backyard Ultra Title

Pakistan’s endurance athlete Jamal Said will represent the country at the at the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra World Championship 2025 in Tennessee, USA after earning another title at the 2024 Backyard Ultra World Championship, hosted by Margalla Trail Runners at F-9 Park, Islamabad.

Jamal Said earned the title of the national champion after completing an impressive 39 loops, covering a total distance of 261 kilometres showcasing extraordinary feat of stamina and mental fortitude.

Jamal, a South Asian Backyard Ultra record holder, joins an elite group of backyard ultra finishers with his third win underscoring his unmatched domination of the sport in the country. He sits 28th in the world table and remains the country’s best hope of securing a podium at the next year’s competition.

Fida Muhammad kept up pace with Jamal before securing second place with 38 loops and covering 255 kilometres, helping reinforce Team Pakistan’s presence on the global endurance running stage.

Umaira Sheraz, the sole female participant and a member of the Islamabad Police, set a new national record with her remarkable achievement of covering 134 kilometres.

The Backyard Ultra is a unique ultra-endurance race format that, unlike traditional races with a set distance or finish line, is a test of sheer endurance, designed to push runners to their absolute limits.

Here’s how it works:

1. The Course and “Loops”: Runners must complete a 4.167-mile (6.7 km) loop every hour on the hour. This distance ensures that completing 24 loops (24 hours) totals exactly 100 miles.
2. The Format: The race has no set end time. Runners must start a new loop at the top of each hour. If they finish a loop early, they can rest for the remaining time within that hour, but they must be ready to start again at the next hour mark. Missing the start of a loop or failing to finish it within the hour means disqualification.
3. Last Person Standing: The race continues until only one runner completes a loop, making them the winner. The second-to-last person is considered a “did-not-finish,” meaning only the winner truly finishes the race. The winner is often called the “Last Person Standing.”