Essential rules

Backyard Ultra rules

The basic rulebook is short, but every detail matters. These are the common rules; always read the individual organiser’s regulations before entering.

Updated 10 August 2026

StartEvery hour
CourseSame loop
WinnerLast One Standing

Distance and time

Each 6.7056 km loop, usually rounded to 6.706 km, must be completed within one hour. The next start happens exactly on the following hour.

Unused minutes do not carry over and a late start is not allowed.

Warnings and corral

Organisers usually give three-, two- and one-minute warnings. Every active runner must be in the starting corral when the bell sounds.

A runner cannot skip a loop to rest and rejoin later.

Assistance and course

External support is normally limited to the base area between loops. On the course, runners must move under their own power and follow the marked route.

Poles, headphones, pacers and compulsory kit depend on the local rules.

Determining the winner

When only one runner can continue, that runner must complete a final valid loop. They become the Last One Standing; the final rival is often recorded as the assist.

If the last runner does not finish, the event may end without a winner.

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.