Ultra format runner in Sudbury always wondering where his limit is

Michael Rouleau has no issue with pushing his body to the limit.

Where exactly that limit sits remains to be seen.

Rouleau is among the large group of Sudbury residents smitten by the lure of long-distance running. He is also among a much smaller group drawn to a very particular niche within the spectrum of distance running.

“The backyard ultra format really, really interests me,” explained the 31-year-old athlete, who grew up playing hockey – but was never a runner. “I really like the mental aspect of it. There’s obviously a huge physical component to it, but the mental is different than other races.”

The brainchild of American endurance race designer Gary Cantrell , the backyard ultra was launched some 15 years ago based on a relatively simple context: for runners to cover a 100-