LAST RUNNER STANDING
The Big Tex Backyard Ultra takes place at Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe allowing a large grass area for personal aid setup around our group dining hall screen shelter as well as reserved campsites and full hookup RV sites. The group dining hall area hosts a large grass area for runners to set up personal crew spots (see below information).
The SFA State Park has a network of wide, well-maintained, trails, primarily crushed gravel, with minimal elevation change.
Back for year four, The Big Tex Backyard is a "last runner standing" format event with a 4.17 mile "yard" starting every hour, on the hour, until there is only one remaining. Standard backyard format rules will apply (see below details). 2026 is a Bronze Ticket race to Laz's Big Dog's Backyard road to the 2027 Silver Ticket Races to the 2028 National Championships to the 2029 Backyard World Championships (see the Backyard Ultra site for confirmation on races, qualifying, and other details.
New for 2026, we will have the Last Rucker Standing division coincide with the Last Runner Standing on a shorter course (final distance TBD). Stay tuned for more details. Ruckers will recieve a Big Tex Backyard Ultra patch in addition to the race swag.
All participants will receive a Big Tex hoodie, a special customized poster with their completed yards stamped, and fully stocked aid station support. Runners completing 24 yards will receive a 100mi buckle. The winner of the Last Runner Standing event will win a dollar for every mile they run, and the seconder will win a dollar for every yard they finish!**
Backyard Format Rules
The Backyard format is simple: 100 miles divided into 24 hours give you 4.167 miles for a "yard" (lap). Every hour, on the hour, a new yard will start and you must finish within the hour and be back in the starting corral for the next one to stay in the run. Complete as many as you can, the last runner standing wins.
Runners and crew will be able to set up a personal area with chairs, tents, etc. around the start/finish course-line area for personal aid, gear, and rest between yards (not during).
We will give a 3-minute, 2-minute, and 1-minute warning to be inside the starting corral for the next yard.
All runners are required to be in the starting corral before the top of the hour.
Failure to line up in the starting corral will result in the disqualification of the runner. Participants must start a new yard at the sound, and continue out on the course (not back to their tent, aid, etc.).
Once you are on the course, you are not allowed any aid from your crew or any other individual. No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners). Except for restrooms, competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed. Runners are responsible for their own aid on the course (carried with them from the start). You must be on and stay on the course unless you need to use the bathroom.
No artificial aids (including trekking poles) are allowed. Once you complete the yard, and assuming you have finished within the hour, you may use the bathroom, eat, drink, sleep, ponder the next yard, aid station, etc., but you MUST be back in the start corral at the beginning of the hour to continue into the next hour’s yard. Runners will continue until ONE runner completes a FINAL lap. (i.e. If there are two runners left and one does not complete the loop, then the one that completed the loop will be declared the winner). No pacers whatsoever. A single runner can not continue solo beyond the final yard.
You must check out with the race director once you can not complete a yard or decide not to begin the next yard.
**Overall Cash Prize Rules: The overall winner of the Last Runner Standing, per backyard rules, must complete one more yard than everyone else (otherwise there is no winner). Seconder payout will go to the seconder with the fastest completed final lap (if more than one seconder).