HiveEnergy Proudly Supporting Backyard Ultra Runner Simon McLean
- Megan Meade
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
At HiveEnergy, we’re passionate about supporting athletes who push the boundaries of endurance. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Simon McLean, an emerging force in the Backyard Ultra scene whose story is all about grit, growth, and the relentless pursuit of “one more lap.”
From Local Loops to the World Stage
Simon’s rise in the Backyard Ultra world has been remarkable. Earlier this year, he delivered a breakthrough performance at Dead Cow Gully in Queensland, completing an incredible 90 laps—that’s more than 600 km in under four days of continuous running. That effort earned him a coveted spot at the Big’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee, the birthplace of the format and the unofficial world championship of Backyard Ultras.
Big’s Backyard Ultra – Where it All Began
Founded by the legendary race director Lazarus Lake (also the creator of the infamous Barkley Marathons), Big’s Backyard Ultra has become the ultimate test of endurance running. Each year, the world’s best ultrarunners gather at Laz’s backyard in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, to face the simple but brutal challenge: run 6.7 km every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains.
Big’s is more than a race—it’s where limits are shattered, records are broken, and legends are made. To have earned a spot on that start line is already an extraordinary achievement, and Simon will line up among the toughest endurance athletes on the planet on 18th October.
🔍 Quick Facts
Breakthrough Run: 90 laps at Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra (600+ km).
Upcoming Race: Big’s Backyard Ultra, Tennessee – starting 18th October 2025.
Format: 6.7 km every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains.
Big’s History: Founded by Lazarus Lake, who also created the Barkley Marathons.
Personal Life: Father of three young children, balancing family with ultra endurance dreams.
Athlete Status: 100% self-funded and self-managed.
Why HiveEnergy and Simon are a Natural Fit
Simon’s approach to training and racing mirrors the values we live by at HiveEnergy. He believes in consistency, natural fuelling, and respecting his body while pushing it to incredible new places. That’s exactly why we’re excited to support him with HiveEnergy —clean, natural energy designed for athletes who go the distance.
How You Can Support Simon
Running at this level requires enormous dedication—not only in training but also in funding the journey. As a self-funded, self-managed athlete and father of three, Simon juggles family life with the demands of preparing for one of the toughest ultra events on the planet.
We want to help make his journey to Big’s a little easier. That’s why we’ve created a special code: SIMONSTRIDES10.
Use this code at checkout to receive 10% off your HiveEnergy order.
In addition, HiveEnergy will donate a percentage of all sales made with this code directly to Simon’s campaign to support his travel, race entry, and preparation for Big’s Backyard Ultra.
Looking Ahead
This partnership is about more than just products—it’s about telling the story of what’s possible when determination meets the right support. Simon is at the start of what promises to be an exciting journey in ultra running, and we’re proud to be a part of his journey.
Keep an eye on our social channels for updates, training insights, and live race coverage as Simon takes on Big’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee. We can’t wait to see how far he’ll go—because with the Backyard Ultra, the answer is always: just one more lap.