World Backyard Ultra

Michael Rouleau is a police constable, husband, father, and endurance athlete whose journey reflects both the cumulative impact of policing on mental health and the power of resilience, recovery, and purpose. After more than a decade of service, Michael experienced PTSD, depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts resulting from the accumulated weight of repeated trauma. Today, he shares his story to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and inspire others to seek support while using his platform to advocate for the mental health and well-being of first responders and their families.

As one of Canada’s top 15 backyard ultra runners, Michael has earned a place at the World Backyard Championships after completing 45 consecutive hours and 301 kilometres. A backyard ultra is a unique endurance race where participants run a 6.706 km (4.167-mile) loop every hour until only one runner remains. Michael will compete on October 17, 2026, beginning at 8:00 AM in Sicamous, British Columbia, while raising awareness and funds in support of organizations like Beyond the Blue.

About Backyard Ultra Fundraiser

A backyard ultra is an endurance race format where competitors run a 6.706 km (4.167 miles) loop, exactly on the hour, every hour. The race has no set distance or time limit; it continues until only one runner remains capable of starting a lap, who is then crowned the sole finisher.

Michael has secured his spot amongst the top 15 Canadian runners by running 45 consecutive hours for a total of 301 kilometres.

Every sponsorship, regardless of the amount, is genuinely appreciated and directly supports Canada Beyond the Blue’s mission and initiatives while also helping offset the expenses associated with Michael’s participation as he represents Canada at the World Backyard Championships.