(C) The Asuncion Times

Paraguayan ultramarathon runner Ricardo Arias completed 31 laps, covering a total of 207 kilometers at the Backyard Ultra World Championship, setting a new national record. Arias, who works as a bus conductor in the Pirayú region located about 50 kilometers from Asunción, has won previous competitions and achieved the best performance among the Paraguayan national team in this event. With countries around the world starting the race simultaneously, the 15 Paraguayan representatives set off from Ñu Guasu Park and overcame extreme limits.

The Backyard Ultra is a grueling endurance event where participants must complete a 6.7-kilometer course on the hour, every hour. Unlike traditional marathons, there is no pre-determined finish line; the race continues until only one surviving runner remains and completes an additional lap. In this competition, Arias demonstrated exceptional mental fortitude by running 31 laps, earning a spot in the upcoming World Championship while establishing a new standard for Paraguayan ultramarathons.

The strength of the Paraguayan team was not limited to Arias alone. Daniel Tellez, a cell phone repairman and small business owner, finished second best on the team by completing 30 laps and running 201 kilometers. Patricia Ascárate, the event coordinator, emphasized that the majority of the Paraguayan team members are not professional athletes. Most of the delegation consists of ordinary workers engaged in their daily livelihoods, who achieved outstanding results representing their nation at a world-class event through relentless training while balancing their everyday lives.

Due to the nature of the sport, which requires rigorous self-management and extreme mental resilience, the Backyard Ultra is considered a demanding event to finish even for professional athletes. The achievements of these amateur athletes, living ordinary lives in such a grueling sport, resonate deeply throughout the entire Paraguayan sports community. Their strong performance is evaluated as an exemplary case of overcoming the limitations of national support and professional infrastructure through individual grit and sweat.

Arias's record-breaking feat proves the continuous growth of Paraguayan ultramarathons while serving as an opportunity to elevate Paraguay's standing on the international stage. Their journey, proving competitiveness on a global stage through sheer perseverance and effort without fancy backgrounds or full support, makes the future of Paraguayan long-distance running even brighter. Arias's achievement is expected to serve as a stepping stone for Paraguay to demonstrate its strength once again in future global competitions.

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