The Back & Forth— A Backyard Ultra for Spinal Cord Injury Research

BACK & FORTH: A Backyard Ultra for Spinal Cord Injury Research

This past Sunday, from ENROUTE.CC in Kitsilano, Vancouver, we hosted The Back & Forth, a Backyard Ultra in support of Spinal Cord Injury Research. Envisioned by our .RUN Ambassador and community member Nika Sidiropoulos, the challenge saw Nika run 5 km every hour, on the hour, for 12 hours — a format known in the running world as a backyard ultra.

“The Back & Forth started as a small idea and grew into something I never could have imagined,” Nika shared. “What began with the simple goal of fundraising for SCI research and my London Marathon campaign turned into a day far beyond anything I could have dreamed of.”

Nika is currently training for the London Marathon on April 26, 2026, raising funds for a cause deeply personal to her. After sustaining a traumatic spinal cord injury six years ago, she was told she would never run again. Since then, she has defied the odds — returning to full activity, completing multiple marathons, and now setting her sights on a personal best in London.

“Never in my wildest imagination did I think Sunday would unfold the way it did,” she said.

The day began at 7:00 a.m., with Nika setting off from ENROUTE.CC alongside a small group of close friends and runners. As the hours passed, the community continued to grow. By the first organized group run at 10:00 a.m., more than 30 runners had joined her on the route.

“What started as a crazy idea of me running quickly grew into a community coming together — people showing up not only for the cause, but for each other,” Nika reflected.

We were thrilled to partner with On Running, who provided demo shoes for the community, and grateful to Natalie Embury for the donuts that kept spirits and energy levels high.

Despite steady rain through the middle of the day, Nika remained unfazed, supported by a core group of five to six runners who completed every lap alongside her. By the 2:00 p.m. group run, the skies cleared and more than 40 runners joined in. Back at the shop, Peel Tea was waiting with refreshments, providing a much-needed boost before Nika headed back out after a quick shoe and outfit change.

“Even with the weather not on our side, people still showed up, braved the rain, and joined in for one lap, two laps, three… or all of them,” she said. “Watching that happen was pure joy.”

Our final group run at 4:00 p.m., sponsored by Kin Culture and paired with a barbecue, saw the rain return — but not the energy. Over 20 committed runners showed up to support Nika as she entered her final three laps of the day.

As the rain came down in the final hour, Nika was joined by two other community members who had also completed every single lap. Just before 7:00 p.m., she returned to the shop to cheers, high fives, cookies, and a well-earned rest. By day’s end, Nika had covered just under 65 km with 753 metres of elevation gain, spending a total of 6 hours and 32 minutes on her feet.

“On top of completing the challenge and running farther than I ever have before — alongside some absolute BEAST humans — I also reached my fundraising goal,” Nika shared. “That alone fills my heart more than I can put into words.”
(Special shoutout to Alex Drimaropoulos, Aidan Collins, and Olivia Kuhlmann for running every lap alongside her.)

Most importantly, the event raised over $2,500 for Spinal Cord Injury Research.

“Saying thank you doesn’t feel like enough,” Nika said. “I am endlessly grateful for every donation and every bit of support.”

A huge thank you to our partners Arc’teryx, On Running, lululemon, Peel Tea, Kin Culture, Coast Performance Rehabilitation, and Forecast Coffee Roasters for contributing raffle prizes, and to everyone who donated, ran, volunteered, or spent time with us throughout the day. Thank you as well to the entire .RUN team for making the event possible.

“To everyone behind the scenes who helped make the day happen — and especially Nico and Dom, who were integral in getting this event off the ground — I’m deeply grateful for your time, energy, and unwavering support.”

Select photos from a fantastic day

Check out the full gallery of photos here

NIKA'S FAVOURITES