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What Is a Backyard Ultra?

A backyard ultra is a last-person-standing footrace. Every runner attempts the same 4.167-mile (6.7 km) loop, starting at the top of each hour. Miss the next start and you are out. The sole runner to complete a final loop unmatched is the winner; if the last two runners both fail to finish, the race ends with no winner.

Rules

Each loop must be completed inside its hour. Runners gather at the start corral before the next bell and depart together — there is no head start for finishing early. A runner who does not toe the line for the next loop, or who fails to complete it within the hour, is out of the race. The format strips ultrarunning down to one question: are you willing to start one more lap?

Distance and format

The 4.167-mile loop length is not arbitrary. Twenty-four loops cover 100 miles — a 100-mile day, but only if you can keep going for a full 24 hours. Most races use a single forest-trail loop by day and switch to a road or open-field loop at night so runners can see their footing under headlamps.

How a race ends

The race continues until only one runner finishes a loop within the hour. That runner — known as the "Last Person Standing" — is the sole winner. If the final two runners both fail to complete the deciding loop, the race has no winner; the assist rule says you cannot share the win.

A short history

Gary Cantrell, better known as Lazarus Lake, started Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee in the early 2010s. The format grew quickly: satellite events around the world now qualify their winners for Big's, and national-team formats let countries match their best ultrarunners against each other. The appeal is universal — every race is its own story of attrition.

Notable races

Records

The format's records change with every running. The current overall record exceeds 100 loops and continues to climb as elite ultrarunners adapt their pacing and recovery strategies to the format's metronomic demands. National and team records likewise move year to year.

Upcoming races

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FAQ

How long is a backyard ultra loop?

A backyard ultra loop is 4.167 miles (6.7 km). At one loop per hour, completing 24 loops covers 100 miles in 24 hours.

How does a backyard ultra end?

The race ends when only one runner finishes a loop within the hour. The last runner standing is the sole winner; if no one finishes the final loop, the race has no winner.

Who invented the backyard ultra?

Gary Cantrell, also known as Lazarus Lake, created the format at Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.

What is the world record for the most laps?

The record continues to climb as the format grows; check current results from Big's Backyard Ultra and major satellite events for the latest mark.

How do I find a backyard ultra near me?

Use our event listing filtered by the Backyard Ultra tag to see upcoming races by location and date.

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