On September 12th, I’ll be taking on my very first backyard ultramarathon: Prairie on Fire.

This year, the race is partnering with New Shoe Day, an Indiana nonprofit on a mission to end shoe insecurity and make sure kids across our state have access to safe, properly fitting footwear.

Sooooo, we made a shirt for the race. :)

100% of proceeds from this tee will be donated to New Shoe Day.

So…why “Yard Work”?

In a backyard ultra, every 4.167-mile loop is called a yard. Runners have one hour to complete each yard, and then everyone starts again at the top of the next hour.

And you just keep going until there’s only one runner left.

All summer, my Saturday mornings have been reserved for long runs and backyard ultra training—aka my Saturday yard work.

Just. One. More. Yard.

The Shirt

These are super-soft BELLA+CANVAS Triblend unisex T-shirts.

• Classic fit

• Color: Grass Green Triblend

• 50/25/25 poly/Airlume combed and ring spun cotton/rayon

We added a little “NSD 2026” to the front as a nod to New Shoe Day and the reason we made this shirt in the first place.

So whether you’re running Prairie, crewing, spectating, cheering someone on from far away, or are just a fellow lover of backyards and snacks, this shirt is for you!

Prairie on Fire Pickup

Coming to Prairie on Fire? I’ll be at packet pickup at Athletic Annex on Friday!

If you’d like to grab your shirt there, simply select “Local Pickup” at checkout and I’ll have it there waiting for you.

Not going to be at packet pickup? No problem! All other orders will be shipped via USPS.

100% of proceeds go to New Shoe Day. So what does that actually mean?

I want to be totally transparent about where your money is going:

• Each shirt cost $23 to print.

• I’m selling them for $33 each.

• That leaves $10 from every shirt sold to donate directly to New Shoe Day.

• I made 50 shirts, so if we sell them all, that’s a $500 donation to New Shoe Day!

And if you’re thinking, “Wow, Mary, why aren’t you selling these for more?!” I hear you—and I love your generosity. :)

I wanted to keep the shirt affordable and give more people a chance to support the cause. So if you’d like to give a little extra, I’d encourage you to take that generosity straight to my New Shoe Day fundraising page and make an additional donation there.

Thanks for helping us turn a little Average Athlete yard work into something that can do some good. 💛

Have fun out there!