What is a Backyard Ultra and is it for you?

Backyard Ultras are different.

There’s no finish line. No set distance. No set time.

Just one simple rule:

Run 6.7km every hour, on the hour — until only one person is left.

How it works

Every hour, a new loop starts.

You have one hour to complete 6.7km.

Finish early, and you get time to rest.
Finish late, and you’re out.

If you don’t make it to the start line for the next loop — your race is over.

This continues… hour after hour… until only one runner completes a loop alone.

That person is the winner.

What it feels like

At the start, it feels easy.

You’ll be chatting. Relaxed. Almost wondering what the challenge is.

Then it settles in.

The repetition. The routine. The small physical fatigue.

And then the night comes.

Everything slows down.
It gets quieter. More personal.

This is where the race really begins.

Not physically — but mentally.

Who is it for?

Most people assume Backyard Ultras are only for elite runners.

They’re not.

They’re for anyone willing to keep going and test their boundaries.

You don’t need to be fast - it's best not to be fast.

You don’t need to run huge distances every week.

You just need to be consistent — and prepared to show up again, and again, and again.

Why people love it

Backyard Ultras strip running back to its simplest form.

No pace targets. No complex strategy.

Just movement, mindset and community.

You run together. You rest together. You push through together.

Until eventually… you don’t.

What most people get wrong

Going too fast early.

Overcomplicating nutrition.

Thinking too far ahead.

The best approach is simple:

Run easy. Recover well. Repeat.

So… is it for you?

If you like structure — yes.

If you enjoy being part of something — yes.

If you’re curious about how far you can go — definitely.

You don’t need to know how many loops you’ll do.

You just need to be willing to do one more.

Backyard Ultras aren’t about being the best.
They’re about showing up — when it would be easier not to.

One more loop.

You are ok.

Thinking about trying your first Backyard Ultra?

Explore our Top 10 Tips for Backyard Ultras