History Made at the 7th Bubba’s Backyard Ultra

The 2025 edition of Bubba’s Backyard Ultra had it all—grit, camaraderie, and a couple record-breaking runs that lit up the woods of Center Conway, NH. On Saturday, we had 99 runners cast off into the forest to run the 3.5-mile loop. For most of them the goal was simple: complete one lap every hour on the hour until they couldn’t run anymore.

This year’s weather was dry and dusty with higher temperatures than normal and no rain. By the time the field narrowed to four, we had an even split of two men and two women still lining up every hour on the hour to run their lap.

Katie Melsky (27, Cambridge, MA) ran 48 laps—168 miles—shattering the previous women’s record of 39 laps set by Maia Buckingham last year. After Katie stepped off the course, Aaron Copeland (42, Strafford, NH) and 2025’s Last Skier Standing champion Lukas Janulaitis (24, Gorham, NH), battled on for five more laps. Aaron failed to finish his 53rd lap, giving him a 182 miles, leaving Lukas as the last person standing and the lone finisher of Bubba’s Backyard Ultra 2025. Aaron helped push Lukas to a new record, 53 laps and approximately 185.5 miles. The previous record was held by five-time finisher Ed Clifford (45 laps in 2021).

Thank you to everyone who ran, volunteered, cheered, and stayed deep into the night and day and night and next day. The 7th Bubba’s one to remember. Results can be found here and if you’re interested in signing up next year, registration opens January 1st, 2026.

~ Andrew