Sparks Backyard Ultra

Welcome to The Biggest Little Ultra

Friday October 9, 2026 9am to Sunday October 11, 2026 9am

Where:

Beautiful Sparks Marina located at 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434. The marina is minutes from the Reno Tahoe Airport and is adjacent to several hotels and casinos. Once a quarry, Sparks Marina now is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving. It has a large dog park, sandy beaches, volleyball courts, a fishing pier, veterans memorial, kids playground, coffee shop and, most importantly, a comfortable and scenic walking path around the marina. The marina is the centerpiece of the Biggest Little Ultra and provides a pleasant backdrop for your race.

What:

This is a fixed time/fixed distance race held over two days for runners and walkers. We offer fixed time options of a 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, and 48-hour race, as well as fixed distance options of a 100 mile and 50 mile race. All these Biggest Little Ultra races start Friday, October 9, at 9:00 am.​Saturday Options for Fixed Time Races: For those who cannot arrive on Friday, we also offer a 3-hour, 6-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour race starting Saturday, October 10, at 9:00 am. The 48 hour, 100 mile and 50 mile races end Sunday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m. YES no cutoff (except 9:00 a.m. Sunday) so plenty of time to achieve your goal!​Relay Option! The 6-hour relay starts on Saturday, October 10, at 9:00 am and ends 6 hours later at 3:00 pm. You may have up to six relay runners on your team. Award categories for all female teams, all male teams, mixed gender ("coed") teams, and all runners over 55 years of age. So, here is a chance to gather folks from your organization, neighborhood, or family to share miles, laughter, and achievement! We want as many people as possible to get moving and exercising. All ability levels are welcome, so don't worry if your team members are not all speedsters. Show up as a team, create a name, and go for it!

Why:

The Biggest Little Ultra is your chance to set a P.R. at your chosen distance. It is paved and lighted so the course loop is safe and visible. Tired of stressing about aid station cutoffs? This race is the solution. Maybe you just want to cruise with friends and enjoy a glorious venue. Or, let's find out how far you can go in 3, 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours. In addition, we provide great swag and we will make a contribution to a very worthy cause (Liberty Dogs).

Course:

The race course is just under a 2 mile loop around beautiful Sparks Marina. Total elevation gain is 29 feet. The course is paved and lighted so no gators or headlamps are required. Two real restrooms are along the course and porta potties will be near the start line. We will not count partial laps. So, know your split time toward the end of your race and do not go out if you see you cannot finish the lap before your race ends. 50 mile runners will run 26 loops and the 100 mile runners will do 52 loops.

Aid Stations

We will have a fully stocked aid station at the start/finish line providing the usual aid station fare (including Hammer Products) 24 hours per day and real meals, (Including Vegan Options) during normal breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. We are cupless so bring a cup for your cold drinks with your name or initials on it and leave it at a table at the aid station. We will provide hot cups for soup and hot drinks at night.

Pacers and Timing

One pacer at a time is allowed during the entire event. No bikes, please.Your time and distance for each completed lap will be recorded automatically using an electronic chip based timing system. You will be issued a timing transponder/chip. It is the runner's responsibility to have the chip on their person at all times! Laps done without a chip are not counted by the timing system. There are no exceptions! A secondary timing system will be placed halfway around the track to verify laps completed. Up-to-date lap totals will be displayed instantaneously when runners cross the start line. Results will be live updated on https://live.aravaiparunning.com

Sponsorship

If you are a race director, coach, race company, running club, running gear company or running related business and you would like to partner with us to promote your event/products, please reply to [email protected]. While space lasts, we will provide room for you to set up a table at a reasonable cost.

Awards and Swag

Races with multiple start times ( 3, 6, 12 and 24 hour races) will be consolidated into a single event. For instance, the Friday 6 hour race will be combined with the Saturday 6 hour race with first, second and third place awards going to women and men in the combined event. Everyone who finishes 100 miles will receive a 100 mile belt buckle and a 100 mile finishers flannel shirt!Relay award categories include all female teams, all male teams, mixed gender ("coed") teams, 21 and under age group, and all runners over 55 years of age.

Event's current local time: 1:43 AM PT

Enjoy a trail run in the beautiful Rattlesnake Mountain and Huffaker hills. This course is all trail.

Long sleeve performance shirt is included in race registration fee.

The 5k race will begin at 9am on Saturday December 26th, 2026.

5k and virtual 5k available

Youth and adult athletes are welcome, ages 5 and up.

This is a recognized and sanctioned race by USA track and field.

EMT services will be provided by REMSA.

This race will be officially timed and results will be posted online after the race.

Parking

Parking is limited at Huffaker Hills Trailhead, once the parking lot and side of the road parking is full, volunteers will direct participants to park at the Longley Town center parking lot at the bottom of the mountain where a shuttle will be available.

We encourage participants and fans to ride in the same vehicle and arrive early to the race.

Shuttle Service will be available from 7am-11am from the parking lot at the Longley Town Center.

In front of the former "Wasting Arrows" store which is now vacant.

5260 Longley Lane

Reno, NV 89511

Please park and wait for the shuttle, we have a 15 passenger van which will depart every 15 minutes or when the van is full to assist with getting participants and fans to the starting line.

If you have questions please email the race director

[email protected]

Professional Photography Services

We will have professional photography at this year's event sponsored by Comet Creation.

Comet Creation's signature work is movement.

Specializing in candid and intense in-motion portraits of people's passions, love, life events and hard work that reflects who they are, and what they do with purpose.

You don't have to pause.

Live, enjoy, and let Comet Creation do the rest!

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/cometcreationllc/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/CometCreationLLC

Website : www.comet-creation.com

Packet Pickup

Packet Pickup will be available at the Huffaker Hills Trailhead from:

2-5pm on Friday December 25th and 7-8:30am on Saturday December 26th.

Huffaker Hills Trailhead

4400 Alexander Lake Road

Reno, NV 89521

This is a fundraiser for the Azteca FC youth Cross Country and track program. Every season members from Azteca FC work hard to qualify for the Junior Olympics. This 5k is a fundraiser to assist the athletes who qualify to attend and compete in the Junior Olympics. In July 2025, Jackson Sevilla and Ethan Tang, represented Azteca FC at the Junior Olympics In Savannah, Georgia. Your generous support helps athletes compete at the highest level and gain national recognition to help them earn opportunities to compete at the college level.

Join us for the 55th running of the Journal Jog 8K — "Reno’s Oldest Footrace". Since 1969, this iconic event has been a proud tradition of the Northern Nevada running community, bringing generations of runners together in the heart of Old Southwest Reno.

The flat, fast 8K course winds through scenic, historic neighborhoods before routing into and finishing directly on the Reno High School track — a rare and unforgettable experience you won’t find at any other race.

Families are part of the tradition! The Stroller-Run division gives parents the chance to truly race with their child and compete for a top-three finish, while all other stroller walkers will join the runners and walkers in the main Run/Walk/Stroller-Walk division.

Introducing children to the joy of running, the Junior Jog race will allow children to experience the thrill of participating in a large community race and finish on the track alongside the 8K field. This separate race will take place later in the morning, welcome kids ages 10 and under, and consist of a short, safe run centered around the finish area.

Start Times:

• Stroller Run – 7:25 AM

• Runners / Walkers / Stroller-Walk – 7:30 AM

• Junior Jog - 9:00 AM

Be part of Reno running history. Carry the tradition forward. Experience the Journal Jog 8K!

Visit the Race Website for complete event details!