Paraguayan ultramarathon runner Ricardo Arias has set a new national record at the Backyard Ultra World Championship, completing 31 laps for a total distance of 207 kilometres. His performance secured his qualification for the next world championship and established a new benchmark in this extreme endurance event. While teams around the world began their races simultaneously in their respective countries, the 15 Paraguayan representatives did the same from Ñu Guazú park.
Arias, who is a bus conductor from Pirayú around 50 kilometres from Asunción and won prior events, was the top-performing Paraguayan in the competition. The event, which challenges athletes to complete a 6.7-kilometre loop every hour, begins at 09:00 on the set dates all around the world and concluded at 16:00 the following day, pushing competitors to their absolute limits.
A gruelling test of endurance
Runners consider the Backyard Ultra one of the most demanding formats in distance running. Unlike conventional races, there is no predetermined finish line. Instead, participants must be ready at the start line every hour to begin the next loop. The competition only ends when a single runner completes one more lap than any other competitor.
The second-best national representative was Daniel Tellez, a micro-entrepreneur who repairs mobile phones, further demonstrated the Paraguayan team’s strength. He successfully completed 30 laps, covering 201 kilometres. His performance confirmed the high standard of the country’s runners throughout the event.
A team of everyday athletes
Race coordinator Patricia Ascarza highlighted the immense effort of the Paraguayan representatives. She particularly praised the background of the national participants, noting that most are not professional athletes. The most admirable thing about this discipline is that it is made up, for the most part, of people who carry out activities completely unrelated to professional sport. They are entrepreneurs and professionals who train with great sacrifice to represent the country in top-level competitions.
Ascarza explained that only a small fraction of the 15-member Paraguayan team is exclusively dedicated to athletics. This dedication from amateur sportspeople, she noted, makes their achievements even more significant.
A new benchmark for Paraguayan ultra-running
Ricardo Arias’s performance has established a significant milestone for the sport in Paraguay. His record-breaking run is seen as confirmation of the sustained growth of ultra-running in the country, positioning it more strongly within the international endurance community.
The new national record demonstrates the athletes’ competitive level. They largely build their success through personal effort, discipline, and perseverance. With this result, Arias has earned the right to participate in the next edition of the Backyard Ultra World Championship, consolidating his status as Paraguay’s leading figure in the speciality and securing another opportunity for the nation to be represented at one of the world’s most prestigious endurance events.
