The Grueling ‘Backyard Ultra’: An Endurance Race With No Finish Line
A unique endurance race format challenges runners with a 4.167-mile loop completed every hour, until only one competitor remains.
The latest trend in endurance running is the “backyard ultramarathon,” a race format characterized by its simple rules and brutal demands. Unlike traditional races with predetermined distances and finish lines, the backyard ultra continues until only one runner is capable of completing the required loop within the allotted time.
The race consists of a 4.167-mile loop, referred to as a “yard,” which must be completed each hour. Runners who finish the loop with time to spare can use the remaining minutes to rest. However, failure to complete the yard within the hour results in disqualification. This format can lead to races extending for hundreds of miles and lasting for days, with the world record standing at nearly 500 miles completed over sixteen days in Australia.
The concept for the backyard ultra was developed by Gary Cantrell, also known for creating the challenging Barkley Marathons. Cantrell devised the backyard ultra to utilize his 150-acre farmland in Tennessee while fulfilling his desire to create a race without a set finish line. The format's simplicity, requiring minimal permits and logistics compared to other ultramarathons often held in scenic, remote locations, has contributed to its rapid growth in popularity.
"You just shake your head in amazement," Cantrell told The New York Times. "It’s so totally unexpected."
Runners in backyard ultras employ various strategies to conserve energy. Some opt for a walk-run method, while others attempt to complete loops as quickly as possible to maximize rest time. True sleep is rare, with many runners managing only brief periods of rest. Harvey Lewis, an ultramarathoner who completed 354 miles in 85 hours at age 45, is known for fitting in short naps, sometimes as brief as one to two minutes during the day.
Between laps, participants refuel with high-carbohydrate foods and gels, tend to their muscles, and prepare for the next loop. Some runners set up tents to create personal aid stations, transforming the race area into a temporary tent city. Despite the extreme physical and mental challenge, many are drawn to the backyard ultra as an outlet for grit and stubbornness that may not be expressed in their daily lives, offering a unique way to test personal limits.