Always Believe: A Reflection on Winning Keji’s Backyard Ultra Back-to-Back

The Crow sees. The Dragon does. The Wizard learns. I didn’t set out to win. I wanted to do my best by breaking my PB of 33 yards set last year. Maybe make a push to the Canadian Backyard team. Above all else I wanted to exert an honest effort, leave nothing on the table,

Unmasking the Dragon Within: Winning Keji Backyard Ultra 2025

33 loops. $2,600 raised. 1 mask shed.
Keji 2025 wasn’t just a race—it was a reckoning.
I ran through rain, doubt, and past identities to find something I’d been chasing all along: myself.
When I shaved my beard, I didn’t just keep a promise—I let go of protection, fear, and silence.
This was more than running.
This was healing.
This was becoming.
There is light in the darkness.
And it’s been inside me all along. 🐉

What is the Wayward Way? Reflecting on 2023 and How I Transcended My Identity.

Nicholas Richards describes his transformative journey of healing, overcoming substance abuse, and pursuing personal growth in 2023. Termed ‘The Wayward Way’, his philosophy led to overcoming self-defeating thoughts, adopting sobriety, career shifts, and completing a 200-mile ultramarathon. This year marked the culmination of an 8-year plan initiated after leaving the Navy. His deliberate word of the year, “Transcend”, epitomized rising above perceived limitations and embracing change. By embracing discomfort, challenging relationships, and self-discovery, he exemplified resilience and determination to live authentically.

Believe the Belief and Doubt the Doubt; 105km, 24 hours, and $1,250 Later…

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.” – Bernard Meltzer I was never much of a runner. Truly. In fact, I was more likely to quit something growing up than stick with it – with a few exceptions of course. It