Belgian Duo Sets New Backyard Ultra World Record — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Belgian teammates Ivo Steyaert and Merijn Geerts set a new world record at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships. They ran 124 yards each, totaling 824.1 km over five days. The event began in Retie, Belgium, with teams from 73 countries competing.
Steyaert, 56, and Geerts, 52, have a history of competing together. In 2022, they finished after 101 yards, and in 2024, they set a world best with 110 yards. Their new record surpasses Phil Gore's 119 laps from 2025. Runners complete a 6.706-km loop every hour, with elimination if they fail to finish. Read more racing coverage.
Team Belgium won bronze with 1,058 yards, while the U.S. claimed gold with 1,120 yards. Team Canada finished ninth with 830 yards, a new national best. Michael Serani led Canada with 82 yards. Related: Seven Canadians Persist in Backyard Ultra World Team Championships.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Belgian Duo Sets New Backyard Ultra World Record?
Steyaert and Geerts complete 824.1 km in five days at Backyard Ultra World Team Championships Belgian teammates Ivo Steyaert and Merijn Geerts set a new world record at the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships. They ran 124 yards each, totaling 824.1 km over five days. The event began in Retie, Belgium, with teams from 73 countries competing.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on October 22, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated October 22, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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