Friday, February 6, 2026

What's Your Backyard Marathon?

How sibling rivalry led to one rep's entry into an intense physical event, and a recommitment to health

By Jim Oostenbrink, Representative

Some of you probably made a new year’s resolution, and many of you may have already given it up.

Statistically, close to 90 percent of people abandon their resolution within two months. This may make you wonder why anyone would even bother to make a resolution in the first place.

I came across an interesting article that recommended we replace the word “resolution” with “intention.” The article explained from a psychological standpoint that you are more likely to give up on a resolution than an intention. It was an interesting observation.

So, how many of you have set new goals for 2026 and have resolved or intend to keep them? Some of these goals may be quite significant, or they may be minor tweaks to what you are currently doing. Are these goals compelling enough to keep you going during the times you lack motivation, are tired and drained, and are tempted to fall off the wagon and just plain give up. . . again?

I have been in this sinking boat many times. Well intended resolutions with a pretty good plan and still abject failure. Until this year (hopefully).

So what is different this time? Well, back in May 2025, my younger brother confronted me with a unique challenge. I use the word confronted because he basically taunted me. He explained in quite some detail what this challenge entailed. And then he ended with his final dagger: “And you could not even do this event.” To add insult to injury, my other siblings agreed with him.

Without even thinking through the implications, I immediately proffered my hand to accept his challenge.

Nothing like good ol’ fashioned sibling rivalry to get the fire in the belly going again. No matter that we are both on the shady side of 60 years of age. No matter that we were both woefully out of shape.

What matters is that we still have that competitive spirit and we wanted to go to war once again.

So, what is this challenge? Have you seen the movie The Long Walk? Well, it’s kinda like that except you don’t get shot when you fail to keep up the pace.

The event is called the Backyard Marathon. The premise is quite simple—all you have to do is walk/jog/run a 6.7 km trail course (called a yard) within 60 minutes, and then do it again and again until you can’t complete the yard within an hour. The object is to complete as many loops as you can. It sounds easy. With my background in marathons and my brother’s in ultramarathons, this should be a cinch (no matter that we competed over 40 years ago. . . .)

My nephew completed 17 loops last year, which is equivalent to 114 km. The world record is 119 loops, which is almost 800 km! That is five days of continual walking/running with minimal rest in between.

Needless to say, I have no idea what I am getting into, but I have been training. I hike/run regularly, am eating better, get good sleep, go to physio, and pay close attention to how my body reacts to the stress of training. The goal looms large and is getting closer every day—May 2,2026 is my D-Day.

So why am I telling this story about some weird event that most people would not consider joining? I guess my point is that my goal was so compelling to me that it changed my health journey. For me, the journey has become the goal now. Sure, the event on May 2 is important, but the benefits of starting and staying on this health journey have been the real win. At my old age, I have realized it is not too late to start again.

The mixture of anticipation and a healthy degree of trepidation have worked to help me stay on track with my goal. And I hope to follow these two rules of perseverance:

Take one more step.
When you don’t think you can take one more step, refer to rule 1.

Next time, I’ll provide an update on how I fared at the event. There is no win or lose. Just being there with 200 other crazy like-minded people and being part of something that challenges the body and mind to the extreme is going to be its own reward.

No matter what your resolution or intention is for 2026, it is never too late to start.

What's Your Backyard Marathon?

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