About the Backyard Ultra

The Origin of the Backyard Ultra

The Backyard Ultra format was created by Lazarus Lake (Gary Cantrell) — the same eccentric mind behind the infamous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, USA. The very first event, Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, took place on Laz’s property in 2011.

His idea was simple yet brutal: runners must complete a 6.706 km (4.167 mile) loop every hour, on the hour. Finish your loop within the hour and you earn the right to start again. Miss the start or fail to finish within 60 minutes — and you’re out. The race continues until only one runner remains.

This format has since become a global endurance phenomenon, with events now held in over 50 countries, from small local races to the World Backyard Ultra Championships, where the best athletes push past 100 hours of continuous running.

The Spirit of the Backyard

Unlike most ultras, a Backyard isn’t about speed — it’s about strategy, grit, and mental endurance. Every runner starts each lap together, creating a unique mix of competition and camaraderie.

The format levels the playing field — elite ultrarunners and weekend warriors share the same start line, cheering each other on through day and night. In the end, it’s not just about distance; it’s about discovering how far the human body and mind can go when faced with the unknown.