New to the backyard?

First Timers

What to expect at your first backyard ultra

The format is simple to explain and hard to run. Here's what you need to know before you're standing in the corral at 7:59 AM.

The format

One 4.167-mile loop, once per hour, on the hour. Finish before the hour's up and you rest until the next start. Miss a cutoff, or don't start the next lap, and you're done, or the field is stopped by the course's hard cutoff.

Timing and finishing

Whatever time you save on your loop is your rest time in the corral, so refill and eat fast. To count as a finisher you have to be caught by the clock: dropping mid-lap scores as a DNF, but completing a lap and choosing to stop still counts as that many laps finished.

Course and cutoff

The loop starts and finishes at Pelican Point on a dirt and gravel park trail, with one aid station at the start/finish. Because the park has posted closing hours, the final lap starts at 6:00 PM, capping the race at 11 laps (about 45.8 miles).

Mileage ladder

What each completed lap adds up to over the day.

YardsDistance
14.17 mi
28.33 mi
312.50 mi
416.67 mi
520.83 mi
625.00 mi
729.17 mi — ULTRA!
833.33 mi
937.50 mi
1041.67 mi
1145.83 mi

Gear and pacing

You'll pass a fully stocked aid station every lap, so this isn't a self-sufficient ultra. Bring layers for a cold start and a headlamp for laps after dark. Run your loops at a comfortable, repeatable pace: the race rewards runners who can hold steady effort for hours, not the fastest single lap.

Questions we get a lot

Crew or pacers on course? Still being finalized — check back closer to race day.
Minimum laps to "count"? No minimum to participate, though under 6 laps isn't typically considered a qualifying finish.