Bermuda's small but determined endurance running community is set to make its mark on the international stage, with local athletes preparing to compete at the Backyard Ultra World Championships, one of the most demanding formats in distance sport.

The backyard ultra format tests competitors like few other races. Runners must complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour, for as long as they can. Anyone who fails to finish a lap within the allotted hour is eliminated, and the event continues until only one runner remains. Races routinely stretch beyond 24 hours, with elite competitors covering well over 200 miles across multiple days and nights.

The Bermudian contingent has earned its place through strong performances at qualifying events, where athletes had to outlast fields of rivals in the same punishing hourly format. Their participation highlights the steady growth of ultrarunning on the island, where athletes often train in challenging heat and humidity along Bermuda's narrow roads and coastal trails.

Supporters say the island's runners face unique obstacles, including the absence of long, uninterrupted training routes and limited local competition, making qualification for a world championship field a notable achievement in itself.

The championships will bring together top backyard ultra specialists from around the globe, with national teams also vying for honours based on the combined distances of their athletes. Bermuda's representatives will be aiming to push deep into the event and raise the island's profile in a sport where mental resilience matters as much as physical fitness.