MetroWest Backyard Ultra

5th Annual MetroWest Backyard Ultra

Sat-Sun, Sept 26-27, 2026

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Get ready for an unforgettable day of running, camaraderie, and challenge as you take on our exciting 4.17 mile loop in the unique Backyard Ultra format. The race will test your endurance and determination as you tackle loop after loop until only one runner remains standing!

We are especially encouraging runners who have never done a Backyard Ultra to run 1 loop, or 2 loops, or more just to dip your toe into this format.

• Location: 1 Nobscot Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776  The Nobscot Scout Reservation

•  Date: Start 8:00am, Saturday, September 26, 2026

• Registration Fee: $40

o   For credit card use please use the Eventbrite link.

o If you want to use Venmo – it is William-Gallagher-40. 

o  Limited race-day registration will be cash/check/Venmo ($60) if space remains available.

•                     No refunds.

• Race Bib pick-up:  Starting at 6:00am

• Please sign and bring this required release form to the race. HERE.  This will speed up race morning registration.

• Race Format: Backyard Ultra.  Starting at 8:00am, everyone will start a 4.17 mile forested loop at the top of the hour.  That loop must be completed before the start of the next hour. You may run your loop fast or slow, but most people aim for about 50 minutes.  Any ‘extra’ time before the start of the next loop is spent refueling, drinking, resting, etc.  If a runner does not complete the loop by the top of the hour - they are out.  There will be one winner and everyone else will be a proud DNF. The winner - and only true finisher - is the last person completing a full lap by themself. 

Additional Race Information:

Race course:  The route and start location are different than in previous years. The course is all on trails.  It is about 60% fire road and 40% single track.  Some rocks and roots are in the trail, so use caution!  Elevation change is a little under 350 ft per lap. This is a challenging course due to the elevation change. There will be orange yard marking flags every 50-100 yards to guide you along the course. 

Here is the GPX file for the Ultra. In progress

Parking: Parking is at the Nobscot Scout Reservation and space is limited.  You will enter the reservation where you see a large Totem pole.  People with orange vests and red flags to direct you to a parking spot.  Some overflow parking - about 20 spaces - is available south of the reservation entrance at a pull-out on the west side of Nobscot/Edgell Road.  Please carpool if you can.  Any support personnel should drive with you.

Food and water:   Water will be available at the start area.  Bring your own food.   We will have some emergency supplies if you run out.  You may use a camping stove, but no open fires.  

• A canopy to fill out the day of registration form and sign the waiver form. Everyone will need to sign both forms.

• We will have course maps and a Venmo QR code for processing the race fee, if you are signing up on Saturday.

Registration:

• A registration canopy will be present to fill out the day-of registration forms and sign the waiver forms. Everyone will need to sign both forms.  Venmo, check or cash can be used for any day-of registration that is still available.  Pre-registration is more reliable if you want to guarantee entry.

• We will have printed course maps available

Tent city/support area:  You will be able to use some space on a grassy knoll behind the totem pole for your support area. You can spread out and set up your gear, chair, canopy, tent, blanket, etc.  Space is limited, so expect close friendly neighbors.

Supplies:  Bring whatever you think you will need for the duration of your run.  Please bring a head lamp if you have any chance of starting the 6pm loop.  You may use hiking poles due to the amount of climbing and rough terrain (hiking poles are not allowed under standard Back Yard Ultra rules though). Having a friend at your support area has been helpful to some – especially if you are planning to run into the night.    

Rules:  See this link for the official Backyard Ultra rules.  In general, most of these rules apply, but we do want a relaxed and forgiving atmosphere.   RULES

We will have a great event for you, so bring your friends and relatives and have them sign up and run 1-2 or 3 loops with you.

#MetroWestBackyardUltra #RunTheLoop #EnduranceChallenge #RunningCommunity #NeedhamRunningClub

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2024 Race Results and review. 

Ultra Race Results can be found HERE

MassUltra article and pictures on Facebook found HERE

Other pictures of the Ultra can be found here  (some of these pics are a little dark but we wanted to include all of them because you may be in one of them and some look pretty cool)

#MetroWestBackyardUltra #RunTheLoop #EnduranceChallenge #RunningCommunity #NeedhamRunningClub

The 3rd Metrowest Backyard Ultra is a wrap!  

Thank you everyone who came and made the day both memorable and enjoyable.

On race day we welcomed 134 total starters – more than three times more runners than last year’s race thanks to a broader advertising campaign and the developing popularity of this race format.  Our race this year was challenged by a mandatory course and home base change just a month before race day.  The previous start around the soccer field and our home base quarry were behind a chain link fence due to a poorly timed waste remediation project by the Town, so we scrambled to accommodate.  The new course was a bit rockier and narrower in some places, but maybe also a bit prettier.  Although parking was a challenge due to the new location, everyone made it to the starting line on time to start when the hands of the official Hello Kitty clock hit 8:00:00am. 

The weather turned out to be nearly perfect.  It was never hot, and the sun mostly shined.  When 3pm rolled around we felt the first cool breeze of the coming evening.  The recent 6 weeks of drought though convinced many of the trees to give up for the fall, so we had more leaves covering the trail than was expected for this time of the year.  A few surprise visitors were seen in the woods by some including BigFoot, a banana-man, and a sword carrying warrior.  By 2pm ½ the original 134 runners had called it a day, and at 8pm only 10 runners remained.  After 17 laps, three of the five remaining runners (Frank Gafford, Kit Pang, and Dan McCabe) decided that they had run far enough, leaving only last year’s winner – Jason Kaplan, and Cory Grant to hammer it out into the wee hours of Sunday morning.  Jason would finish each lap like clockwork just as the call of ‘Three minute warning!’ rang out.  By contrast, Cory had usually around 10 minutes to rest after each lap in the comfort of his supportive family in the back of the parking lot.  At 4am, Jason and Cory both stepped to the line to start the 21st lap, but Jason remained standing and clapped for his challenger as Cory ran into the darkness alone to finish his final and winning lap – completing a total of 87.5 miles for the day.  It was an amazing end to an amazing day.  Congratulations to Cory, and thank you to Jason, and to all the runners who participated in the 3rd Metrowest Backyard Ultra. 

When I broke down the course later on Sunday, I met several local walkers who were eager for updates of how the race had turned out. They were amazed by what had gone on the day before, with not a shred of trash left behind and only a path of flattened leaves and some footprints to show where our course had been. 

Even though our race is only 2 days past as I write this, it is hard to not think about next year.  If you have the time, please send us an email so we can learn from this years’ experience. We would love to hear 1) What you loved about the race, 2) What you hope will change in 2025, and 3) What was the most memorable moment for you. These 3 bits of feedback will help us to make a better race for you in coming years.

Thank you again to everyone who ran or volunteered to make this race a success.   We also want to THANK all our great volunteers and our title sponsor Public Lands store in Framingham.

Take care,

Kiko and Bill

Some feedback from the 2024 Ultra:

Mike M. - What I loved - super friendly environment.  This kind of race really lends itself to camaraderie.  I think the size was just right, enough people that it felt like an EVENT, but not too many for logistical nightmares.  Good local feel with obviously a lot of Boston area folks.

Most memorable part was having my wife, son and a friend show up after lap 6 and give me the motivation I needed to get to the Ultra distance.  I have 1 marathon under my belt, but my long run this year has been 11 miles, so it really felt great to push for a few more miles.

Karla S. - I am still remembering bits from the race & excited about traveling farther on foot than I had previously in one day, which wouldn’t have happened without the support of this group effort.  I loved the simplicity of completing the distance for the hour and getting checked off; it was easy to get into the routine. I loved that the terrain was relatively easy for trail running (nothing too steep & and the uphills weren’t too long). Everyone was nice!

2023 Mass Ultra article  - great article

2022 Mass Ultra article - cool article

MetroWest Backyard Ultra 2025 Course