Harry Gripper – 30 Hours, 125 Miles & Last One Standing

Harry Gripper – 30 Hours, 125 Miles & Last One Standing

When 86 runners lined up at Far Coley Farm for a Backyard Ultra, only one would still be standing at the end.

After 30 laps, 125.45 miles (201.97km), 223,384 steps and 30 relentless hours on his feet, that runner was Harry Gripper.

The Numbers Behind the Win

Before diving into the story, it's worth appreciating just how remarkable this performance was:

  • 1st Place – Last One Standing
  • 30 Yards Completed
  • 125.45 Miles / 201.97km Covered
  • 223,384 Steps Taken
  • 8,455ft of Climbing
  • 23.04 Litres Estimated Sweat Loss
  • 19,456 Calories Burned
  • 46:06 Average Lap Time
  • 43:57 Fastest Lap
  • 47:52 Slowest Lap

Perhaps most impressive of all, the difference between Harry's fastest and slowest lap across 30 hours of running was less than four minutes.

That level of consistency is exactly what wins Backyard Ultras.

A Plan Built on Patience

Backyard Ultras reward patience, not speed.

From the start, Harry stuck rigidly to a pacing strategy of around 47-minute laps, giving himself 13–14 minutes of recovery before the next bell. The goal was simple: minimise impact, preserve the legs, and arrive at the first night as fresh as possible.

As the field gradually thinned through the evening and into the darkness, Harry was surprised by how strong he continued to feel.

The key wasn't luck.

It was consistency.

The Non-Negotiable Fuel Plan

Harry and his crew, Maddie, built a strict nutrition strategy before the race and committed to it from the very first lap.

During the day, the lap plan consisted of:

  • 2 scoops of BareFuel
  • Electrolytes
  • Regular solid food

Overnight, as appetite naturally declined, the strategy shifted to:

  • 3 scoops of BareFuel per hour
  • Reduced reliance on solid food

Having trained his gut to comfortably process 90–110g of carbohydrates per hour, Harry was able to maintain consistent energy levels throughout the race.

The result?

No bonks. No major energy crashes. No stomach issues.

Going into the 30th hour, his legs still felt remarkably fresh.

Fuelled Lap After Lap

Every lap followed the same routine.

A 750ml soft flask containing one scoop of BareFuel accompanied Harry around the course, helping maintain hydration and carbohydrate intake while moving.

Back in the pit area, more concentrated bottles, electrolytes, and a rotating selection of foods kept the calories coming:

Race Fuel Totals

  • 92 Scoops of BareFuel
  • 32 XXL Pickles
  • 21 Tunnock's Caramel Bars
  • 3 Pot Noodles
  • 2 Bags of Reese's
  • 2 Small Red Bulls
  • 4 Cups of Tea
  • 1 Cornetto (apparently essential)

Combined, this allowed Harry to consistently hit around 100g of carbohydrates every hour while keeping hydration topped up throughout the race.

For someone who describes himself as having a sensitive stomach, BareFuel proved to be a game-changer.

"As someone with a really sensitive stomach, BareFuel has been the first thing that's ever agreed with me and genuinely changed the game."

Managing the Night Shift

Like many ultra-distance events, the hardest moments arrived during the early hours of the morning.

Between 3am and 5am, the sleep deprivation began to bite.

"The sleep demons had started to sing quite loudly."

But experience told Harry that the feeling would pass.

As the sun rose, so did his energy and mood.

Thanks to disciplined pacing and consistent fuelling, he entered the second day feeling refreshed and ready to continue.

Routines Win Backyard Ultras

One of the biggest lessons Harry took from the race was the power of routine.

Walking the same sections every lap.

Using the same landmarks.

Following the same pit-stop process.

Fuel. Hydrate. Recover. Repeat.

With Maddie running a tight ship on foot care, food, hydration and recovery, every lap became almost automatic.

There was very little drama.

Just relentless consistency.

The Unexpected Finish

As the race entered its final stages, Harry found himself battling alongside Ryan Black and Rob Moss.

After Rob eventually bowed out, only Harry and Ryan remained.

Harry had mentally prepared himself for many more hours of racing and was already thinking about pushing through another night.

Feeling strong after 30 hours of consistent fuelling and pacing, he increased the pace on what he thought would be another routine lap.

Then everything changed.

Halfway through the lap, Ryan rang the bell.

The race was over.

An unexpected ending to an incredible battle.

125 Miles. Last One Standing.

30 hours.

30 laps.

125.45 miles.

92 scoops of BareFuel.

One winner.

Harry's performance wasn't built on heroics or risky moves. It was built on patience, routine, disciplined pacing, and a fuelling strategy that worked from the first lap to the last.

An outstanding Backyard Ultra victory and a brilliant example of what can happen when training, nutrition, and execution all come together on race day.

Congratulations Harry – Last One Standing. 👏🏆

Back to blog