Are you a high school-aged runner or young adult who can’t find an ultramarathon? If so, Epopeo might be for you. Recently, we just finished hosting a backyard ultra. For the visually inclined, we cobbled together a video with Unity Productions Studio[1] to show what you’ll experience if you run an ultra with us.
The results of the Natural State Backyard Ultra were beyond belief.
- 56 total runners: 22 in the High School Division, 34 in the Open Division
- The top finishers completed 12 loops (50 miles)
- The overall championship ended in a tie with no official winner
- Total funds raised for Arkansas Children’s Hospital: $11,857
- $3,612 in race proceeds
- $8,245 in additional donations
The course followed the Backyard Ultra format: a 4.2-mile loop run every hour on the hour.So, now that you know the structure and format of the race, here’s the philosophy behind it.
What Is Epopeo?
Epopeo is a racing adventure company designed to push people’s limits and give them worthwhile memories, whether through challenges or by being out in nature and experiencing something new.
In that same spirit, the message is trying to challenge the unknown and the unfamiliar. If I could tell a high school student who was uneasy about starting any endurance sport, I would say 100% try. Try to push yourself. You’ll find joy and satisfaction in going into the unknown.
What Is a Backyard Ultra?
The Backyard Ultra was not designed by me. It was designed by Lazarus Lake.[2][3] It’s a 4.2-mile loop that is run every hour on the hour. So it’s a great entry point for runners who don’t want to go multiple miles and can start small, one lap at a time.
Why I Started Epopeo
In 11th grade, I was looking for ultra races to participate in with people my age, but I could not find any ultramarathons with a high school division. So I decided, kind of then and there, why don’t I just try to create one?
I wanted one centralized race to bring everybody together and have high schoolers compete with other high schoolers in a sport they’re passionate about. I wanted a place where people could leave with a new story to tell.
What Ultra-Running Has Taught Me
I’ve been running my whole life. It has definitely taught me discipline and diligence that I don’t think anything else could have. It has taught me that I can always give more than I think. It spills into more than just my training as an ultramarathon runner. Knowing we can accomplish these challenging physical feats means we can surmount other obstacles as well: challenges in our mental state, relationships, spirituality, academics, and so much more.
The Challenges of Starting a Business at 16
I’d say the biggest challenge about starting Epopeo was, as a 16-year-old last year, learning all of the business behind it. All of the licenses you have to get, the permits, talking to people, making contacts, and then putting all of that together so that you have an event that people can and actually will come out to.
Obstacles for Organizing a Backyard Ultra
- Researching the legal and safety requirements for hosting a public event
- Obtaining licenses, permits, and other regulatory approvals
- Building contacts and relationships
- Putting together an event that people would actually attend
I don’t think anything could have stopped me from seeking out this venture. Maybe even because of the resilience I’ve built from running, once I decided that this was what I was going to do, I was going to do it regardless of any obstacles I faced.
The Research Behind Ultra Running
I did some research on ultra running in 10th grade. From my research, I learned that no matter where you come from as a runner in your life, your training, or how the race actually goes, everyone crosses the finish line and has the same fulfilling satisfaction. If you keep pushing and strive to improve and succeed, you will cross that finish line, whether it’s real or metaphorical, with the satisfaction of the work that you’ve put in.
Who Epopeo Is For
I was trying to help the type of kid, when I started Epopeo, who wanted to push their boundaries, yet didn’t have an outlet to push those boundaries. It’s for those who want a challenge and have a story to tell.
Giving Back to Arkansas Children’s Hospital
We donated all of the money to the Childlife department of the hospital. Their focus is on giving children with extended hospital stays the enrichment, education, and fun that a kid would normally have outside of the hospital.
Our representative from Children’s, Leah Hillyer, explained that the hospital strongly believes that the best philanthropists start young. Handing over our final $10,000 donation from the first year’s race to Children’s was incredible. In fact, it was beyond what I could have imagined. It felt so satisfying to be able to help somebody with a cause that I didn’t even think we’d be able to raise that much money for.
The Moment It All Paid Off
One moment that stood out last year, showing me that my work was paying off, was on the starting line when I looked out and saw 30-plus young runners.
I hope that when a parent watches their kid compete in a race like this, they feel real joy in seeing their kid challenge themselves and push beyond the limits they once perceived.
The Vision for the Natural State Backyard Ultra
My vision for the Natural State Backyard Ultra is to host one race each year that draws high school ultra runners from around the country to compete with people their age. One event that brings all of these like-minded people together.
Epopeo is for high school students, not only runners, who want to push themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of. Epopeo exists because I wanted to create opportunities for people to make lasting memories through enduring challenges.
References
[1]Unity Productions Studio. (n.d.). Unity Productions Studio. Retrieved May 14, 2026, from https://www.unityproductionsstudio.com/
[2]Clark, S. (2025, May 27). What is a backyard ultra? Lazarus Lake’s sadistic creation explained. Creepers Socks. https://www.creeperssocks.com/blogs/the-foot-blog/what-is-a-backyard-ultra
[3] England, D. (2026, February 2). Who is Lazarus Lake really? Outside Run. https://run.outsideonline.com/people/lazarus-laz-lake-is-gary-cantrell/