Tuesday evening, a documentary on the first edition of the Backyard d’Arvigna, a new sporting concept, was broadcast in preview at the Pamiers cinema. On the big screen, emotions and excesses are revealed, at the heart of a crazy, but very human, challenge.
Room number 1 of the Le Rex cinema is almost full, and all these people bring back good old memories to the organizing team of the Backyard d’Arvigna. The sporting event, which appeared for the first time on May 28, parachuted a new sporting concept into Ariège. A little more than running, less extreme than an “Ironman”, a backyard is a competition of endurance and mentality.
“Before being a race, it’s an adventure”, says Adrien Lopes, co-president of the “Tribu Ariègeoise”, the association at the start of this simple idea…: offering seasoned runners and amateurs alike the opportunity to test their limits. A loop of just over six kilometers, to be completed twelve times, a maximum duration per loop of one hour or an elimination… The regulatory contours are set.
At eight o’clock, three hundred and twenty pairs of sneakers are getting ready to cover the first six kilometers. But before getting there, it was necessary to set up this event lasting twelve hours, in the heart of a village.
A demanding organization
With the documentary “More than a race”, previewed at the Rex on June 16, the importance of volunteers is widely highlighted by the “Tribu Ariègeoise”. “Without them, none of this would have been possible,” greets Adrien Lopes. Because these volunteer men and women will not only have been the little hands of an event.
“In the end, there are no more differences between the volunteers and the participants, there is just one big family,” reflects Adrien Lopes. From physical and material assistance to human relations, resources were needed to enable three hundred and twenty runners to complete six kilometer loops in the middle of the village. Volunteers were needed, as there was so much public interest in the concept of the Backyard.
“A huge craze”
“There was enormous enthusiasm. As many people came to have fun as those who came to perform,” say the organizers. In the documentary, all the emotions of the participants come out, from the smiles at the start to the grimaces forced by pain in the last loops. Running for twelve hours, under the sun and summer temperatures, did not discourage anyone.
But this moment comes when the atmosphere of the event shifts towards the sensations of an arduous sporting competition. “We very quickly found ourselves with a core of experienced runners. We were very impressed with the level there was in this race”, admits Adrien Lopes. Even though there was a first and a first, every face behind the finish line showed enormous relief, absolute pride.
For the organization, the success of demanding and secure supervision is becoming a reality. The mayor of Arvigna, Maxime Roubichou, sees it as a strong influence for his town.
It was well worth a gift: a city medal, given to Adrien Lopes. “People left with a bib with Arvigna written on it, it’s magnificent for our village”, relishes the first councilor, at the end of the screening at the Rex. The pleasure will return quickly, in less than twelve months, with a second edition, a second human adventure.
Registrations for the 2027 edition already open
The runners are still under the influence of the first edition of the Backyard d’Arvigna, while the second edition is already preparing the gun for the start. This will take place on May 16, 2027, at ten o’clock, still in the small town of Arvigna. Registrations are already open, giving future participants time to prepare for a significant physical challenge. As of May 31, 2026, there have already been fifty registrations for the second episode of the Backyard. The twelve-hour format, which aims to be “accessible” to an amateur audience, is still offered. But for 2027, the organization is pushing the bar even higher, by offering an event lasting twenty four hours, thus reflecting the extreme character which has built the popularity of this sporting concept. Until August 13, the price of bibs is set at thirty euros for twelve hours, and fifty-one euros for twenty-four hours. After August 13, prices will increase to thirty-five euros for twelve hours, and fifty-seven euros for twenty-four hours.
