Format guide

What is a Backyard Ultra?

A Backyard Ultra is an endurance race with no fixed finishing distance. Everyone completes the same 6.706 km loop and must start again on the hour until only one person can finish a final solo loop.

Updated 10 August 2026

Loop6.706 km
Limit60 minutes
FinishOne runner

Simple rules, an open ending

Twenty-four loops equal 100 miles, but the race does not end there. It continues for as long as more than one runner can complete another loop.

Fast runners gain no time advantage for the next start. Everyone who remains begins together again.

Inside each hour

Runners must finish before the hour ends and be in the corral for the next bell. Missing the start means elimination.

Time between loops is used to eat, drink, change, treat feet and rest, making base-camp management decisive.

Last One Standing

The final runner must complete one extra valid loop alone to win. If that loop is not finished, the race may have no winner.

Results are normally measured in yards or loops: one loop equals one hour and 6.706 km.

Why it feels different

There is no visible finish line to count down towards. Repetition, darkness, sleep loss and small problems gradually reshape the race.

Consistency, patience and problem solving usually matter more than raw speed.

Editorial standard

La Última Vuelta is an independent guide. We cross-check dates and facts against organisers, registration platforms and specialist calendars; when sources disagree, we show the discrepancy.