GrassRoots Racing

Almost two weeks since the first bell.

Hopefully, everyone has had a chance to recover, catch up on some well-earned sleep... and finally dry out after all the rain that became part of this year's GrassRoots Backyard Ultra.

The memories are still fresh, and we're still finding ourselves looking back at the photos, the results, and all of the incredible moments that unfolded over those 32 hours.

What a weekend it was. ❤️🌲👟

A big thank you to Sheep River parkrun volunteers who showed up to hang out in the sun and rain …. Oh the rain … to motivate all of our runners to just keep going.

There’s always a moment when it gets quiet.

The last bell has rung. The final yard has been completed. The hardware has been handed out. Tents come down, trailers get hitched, and Race HQ starts the journey home.

Before long, the park belongs to its regular residents again. The squirrels are back splashing through the puddles, the deer have reclaimed the grass, and it’s almost as if 92 runners, countless volunteers, crews, spectators, and 32 unforgettable hours never happened.

The truck gets loaded a little differently for the drive home too. Timing equipment traded for salty snacks, sweet treats, and yes… the lemon biscotti made it into the cab. 🍋😉 IYKYK.

The GrassRoots Backyard Ultra exists for just a few days each year, but the memories have a way of sticking around much longer.

Until next time, Okotoks. Thanks for another adventure. ❤️🏕️🔔

Last year, Gillian Petit came to the GrassRoots Backyard Ultra and ran an incredible 26 loops.

This year, she came back with something to prove.

And she proved it.

When she headed out on Loop 29, she had already rewritten her own story. Every yard beyond last year’s finish was earned through grit, determination, and the willingness to answer the bell one more time.

Loop 29 would ultimately be her last.

As the clock ran out and Gillian made her way back to the corral, there wasn’t disappointment. There were tears. There were hugs. There was pride. Because everyone standing there understood exactly what they had witnessed.

The Backyard doesn’t always reward you with another bell.

Sometimes it rewards you by showing you just how much further you’re capable of going than you ever imagined.

Gillian, you came back stronger. You chased your limit. You found another level.

What a performance. ❤️