DIVARTY Soldiers Test Limits in First Backyard Ultra at Fort Drum

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (June 6, 2025) – Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) tested their physical and mental endurance during the 1st Annual DIVARTY Backyard Ultra, held at Remington Park.

The race began at 6 a.m., with participants running a 4-mile loop every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remained. The last person able to complete a loop after all others had dropped out was declared the winner.

Those who finished within the hour could use the remaining time to rest and recover before the next loop began—crucial minutes that helped sustain them through the grueling event.

“This format allows us to go hours at a time until the last man is standing,” said Maj. Steven Swaleh, the operations officer with Division Artillery, 10th MTN DIV (LI). “We wanted to do this for people who want to push themselves in their physical endurance, and our Backyard Ultra allows that.”

Set along a wooded out-and-back trail, the event demanded more than just stamina—it required discipline and strategy. Runners who failed to complete a loop within the allotted hour were eliminated, and the repetitive structure tested each participant’s pacing, recovery, and mental resolve.

Trail markers guided runners through the course, and while limited water was available at the pavilion, participants were responsible for managing their own hydration and nutrition.

The event also fostered team cohesion and esprit de corps.

“It feels good getting everyone together to stay pushing ourselves,” said 1st Lt. Oscar Kuang, strength manager for DIVARTY, 10th MTN DIV (LI). “It’s really good camaraderie to push it together as a team.”

Capt. Josh Orr, assistant operations officer with 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), won the event—earning a DIVARTY coin and bragging rights until next year.

More than a competition, the DIVARTY Backyard Ultra emphasized perseverance, grit, and unit cohesion—core traits of the 10th Mountain Division’s warrior ethos.