2026 Mental Health in Motion

Welcome to the edge of endurance. The Endless Pit Backyard Ultra is not just a race — it’s a psychological and physical descent into the unknown. Set in the rugged beauty of Midland, Ontario, this event challenges runners to confront their limits one loop at a time.

Every hour, on the hour, runners must complete a 6.706 km loop. There’s no finish line — only the bell, the trail, and the relentless countdown. The race continues until only one runner remains. Everyone else? They fall into the pit.

If you require more information, Please DM Facebook Page for prompt responses.

We’re beyond grateful to Waves Family Medicine for stepping up as a sponsor of The Endless Pit Backyard Ultra.

Just like our athletes push through lap after lap, Waves Family Medicine reliably shows up to build community knowing that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Their commitment to promoting healthy lifestyle choices including exercise and nature prescriptions makes them the perfect partner for a race that celebrates the beautiful trails in our local area, endurance, resilience, and the human spirit.

Thank you for helping us make this event possible. Together there’s no finish line we can’t cross.

JUNE 10TH TO 14TH, 2026

The Ribbon 200 – A wilderness challenge that takes you along the Bruce Trail's ribbon of wilderness starting in the Blue Mountains, through the Dufferin Hi-Land and into the Caledon Hills sections.

Introducing, Ontario’s newest 200 Miler and the province’s ONLY point‑to‑point 100 Miler, featuring an official E2E RUN of the Blue Mountains Bruce Trail section.

• 200 Miler (out & back): Starts in the Blue Mountains, runs through the Dufferin Hi‑Land, and turns at Glen Haffy in the Caledon Hills.

• Approx. 8900m / 29,200ft elevation.

• 100 Miler (point‑to‑point): Begins at Glen Haffy in Caledon Hills, runs through the Dufferin Hi-Land section and finishes in the Blue Mountains.

• Approx. 4450m / 14,500ft elevation.

• Blue Mountains E2E (72.5k): From the Dufferin Hi‑Land boundary to Blue Mountains.

• Approx. 1550m / 5080ft elevation.

THE COURSE:

Start and finish is close to Toronto (less than 2 hours) - for the 200 Miler and 45 minutes north of Toronto for the 100 Miler.

A beautiful course along the Blue Mountains, Dufferin Hi-Land and Caledon Hills sections of the Bruce Trail. There will be plenty of technical sections and climbing to satisfy most trail runners. These are spectacular trails along singletrack, double track, gravel roads, hills, hills and more hills.

The course is marked using the Bruce Trail white blazes ONLY! There will not be additional signage or marking. Take the time to learn what the blazes mean....see below.

AID STATION:

• 11-13 fully stocked (hot food along the way) aid stations every 20–30km

• 4–5 sleep stations

• 3-5 unmanned water stations (weather dependent)

Time Limits:

• 200 Miler – 102 hours (3.2kph) - Starts Wednesday 6am and completes Sunday 12pm

• 100 Miler – 30 hours (5.3kph) - Starts Saturday at 6am and completes Sunday 12pm

• **EARLY START - FRIDAY 6PM - this allows 42 hours to complete. You would not be eligible for awards but you'll earn that sweet buckle

• E2E 72.5k – Starts Saturday 8am and completes Sunday 12:00pm

Easily accessible for runners, crews, and families—no aid station is more than 75 minutes from the start.

RUNNERS' GUIDE

For a complete list of rules, aid stations, course profiles, cut-offs etc, see the RUNNER'S GUIDE. (updated May 11, 2026)

PACERS:

Pacers will be allowed for 200-mile and 100-mile runners.

Pacers can only start at SPECIFIED aid stations (SEE GUIDE)

Pacers cannot carry anything for their runner (no muling) and must carry all the same required gear as runners.

See runners manual for all the info. It will be updated every Monday, so stay tuned for weekly updates.

REQUIRED GEAR:

For a complete list of required gear please see the runner's manual.

There will be nothing out of the ordinary for a June race in Ontario - your basics:

Headlamp, wind or rain jacket, 2L of water/hydration, toque (if chilly at night), phone (with tracking app - provided), back up battery, whistle.

WEATHER AND DAYLIGHT:

Typical weather for the area is:

High: 22C (72F)

Low: 12C (54F)

With an average of 15 hours of daylight at this time of year, it will minimize your time moving through the dark.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:

• Free High-Res photos from Sue Sitki Photography

• Pre-race banquet for 200 milers (Tuesday)

• Post-race banquet for all (Sunday)

• Bus transportation for E2E and 100 Milers from Blue Mountain to race start location

• Bib

• Race swag

THE SWAG:

• A BUCKLE for the 200 AND 100 Mile finishers

• The E2E finishers will receive a sweet medal worthy of all the hard work you put in

• Race shirt

• Bruce Trail E2E badges for those that complete the Blue Mountains section (everyone) and Dufferin Hi-Land section (200 and 100 Milers).

• Soap from Sue's Soap Creations

• and more

PAYMENT PLAN:

We want more athletes on the starting line, so we are offering flexible ways to manage your registration costs for the 100 and 200-mile races:

• Installment Plans: Select Affirm at checkout in Race Roster to spread your payments out (a 3% processing fee applies).

• Fundraising: Earn your entry through our charity program. See below (SOLD OUT)

• Personal Support: If these don’t fit your needs, contact us directly, and we’ll work with you to find a solution.

FUNDRAISING OPTION:

Want to partake in the festivities but want to raise funds for the Bruce Trail Conservancy instead?

We will be offering up a limited number of charity bibs for the event.

When you sign up and commit to being a fundraiser for Ribbon 200, you will be responsible for meeting a fundraising minimum in order to waive your registration fee*.

• Please note that you will be committing to raising the funds through donation or paying the difference if the minimum funding goal is not met by one month prior to the event (May 10, 2026).

After the event, we will be donating the full amount of the donations raised (less administrative fees for use of the online platform) to The Bruce Trail Conservancy.

Fundraising minimums are as follows:

Ribbon 200 - $3000.00

Ribbon 100 - $800

If this option speaks to you, please reach out to the Race Director, Eric, at [email protected]

History & Reach

The Butter Tart Trot is an annual community event in Midland, Ontario, celebrating the area's charm and its famous butter tarts. Founded by the Parker family over a decade ago to promote wellness and outdoor activity, it has since become a highly anticipated event that showcases health, community spirit, and local culture.

Starting with just 40 participants in a 5k, the event has grown into an accredited race with options for a 10km, half marathon, and family fun run, attracting over 750 runners worldwide. The race begins and ends at the historic Sainte Marie Among the Hurons site. The scenic route, community energy, and delicious butter tarts keep participants returning, with spots selling out six weeks in advance.

Impact

The Butter Tart Trot promotes health while supporting local businesses and charities. Race proceeds benefit local organizations, with the 2026 beneficiaries including: Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe, BGC North Simcoe, and CLH Foundation.

Race Day Essentials

Your registration fee includes everything you need for a great race experience:

• Race Bib

• Water and Gel Stations

• Finisher's Medal

• Swag Bag (more information to come)

Note: Some perks are available exclusively for paid participants. The Kids Fun Run is a special, no-cost event for our youngest trotters!