The Journal
Backyard Ultra Rules Explained
A simple guide to backyard ultra rules: the 4.167-mile hourly yard, strict cutoffs, rest time between loops and how the last runner earns a win.
Under backyard ultra rules, the race follows a roughly 4.167 mile course each hour. Participants must complete each yard within the hour and be ready to go again on the bell for the next yard. The race ends when one person completes a yard that no other competitor has completed.
Finish a yard in 48 minutes and you have 12 minutes to recover, restock on supplies and get back to the corral before the next start. This time is not to be used as extra rest time.
It is not a race to finish a set number of miles first.
What Is a Backyard Ultra?
A backyard ultra is a last person standing race where participants complete as many yards as possible on a roughly 4.167 mile course every hour. Yards can be a loop or out and back. All runners and walkers who are still eligible to continue after each hour’s yard start at the same time and complete the course before the next hour’s yard is announced.
This is the format associated with Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee. Big’s Backyard Ultra is also the event behind the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra format and championship system. There are other races that use the format in different locations. Just because a race has a similar name does not mean it follows all of the official rules for a backyard ultra or that it is affiliated in order to receive qualification status for Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra.
In a 5K race, you know the distance of the race before you start. In a backyard ultra, you know the distance of the next yard but you have no idea how many yards the race will be.
Why Is Every Loop 4.167 Miles?
The course of a Backyard Ultra is 4 miles and 880 feet or 6.7056 kilometers. In miles this would be 4 and one sixth miles or 4.167 miles rounded up.
The distance of 4.167 miles (6.7056 kilometers) is of use in relation to time. 24 official yards of 4.167 miles equals 100 miles. 1 yard is added every hour. 6 yards of 4.167 miles is 25 miles, 12 yards of 4.167 miles is 50 miles. This is measured by the official course, not your watch.
| Completed yards | Distance at the official course length | Starts required |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | About 4.167 miles | 1 |
| 6 | 25 miles | 6 |
| 12 | 50 miles | 12 |
| 24 | 100 miles | 24 |
Only yards completed within the hour count towards the total number of yards completed. Starting a yard does not mean the runner has completed that yard. The example above shows that the runner completed 6 yards and then started a 7th yard but did not complete it in time. Thus, the runner has completed 6 yards.
How the Hourly Start Works
At the bell for the next yard all remaining runners in the race start at the same time. The clock is running for the entire time between the start of one yard and the start of the next.
Here is one hour, using a 9 a.m. start.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | The bell starts the yard. |
| 9:48 a.m. | A runner completes the yard. |
| 9:48 to 10:00 a.m. | About 12 minutes remain for recovery, supplies and getting ready. |
| 9:57, 9:58 and 9:59 a.m. | Warnings sound at 3, 2 and 1 minute before the next bell. |
| 10:00 a.m. | The next yard begins. Eligible competitors must be in the starting corral and start at the bell. |
The rest period can be used for anything that is needed between yards. This could be things like eating, drinking, putting on more clothes and getting back to the corral. It does not have to be used as time to sit in a chair. A runner who finishes a yard at 9:55 would have about 5 minutes of rest before the next yard starts at 10:00.
The handbook says 3 whistles, then 2, then 1 for the countdown to the start of the next yard. All runners must be inside the corral at the bell for the start of the next yard and must start the yard with the rest of the runners on the course. The size of the corral is fixed for the start of the event and does not change throughout the event. This size is typically determined by the size of the starting field.
What Happens If You Miss the Cutoff?
Under the official rules, a yard must be completed within 1 hour to count towards the total. Therefore a yard completed in exactly 1 hour would not count as a yard completed. No late starts are permitted and once a yard has started, runners not in the corral at the start of the yard will not be able to enter the yard after the rest of the field has departed.
As mentioned above, runners can choose to leave the race at any time. This can be for a variety of reasons, for example the runner may be too tired, have an injury, be ill or have other reasons for not continuing to run. All completed yards are recorded in the official results for the race. Any partial yards are not added as additional completed yards.
Their medical needs must be met, even if that means they have to leave the competition.
Who Wins a Backyard Ultra?
To win a Backyard Ultra you must complete a yard that no other runner completes. This yard must be completed within 1 hour. This means that if you are the only runner to start a yard but you do not complete it then you have not completed a yard that no other runner has completed and therefore you have not won.
For example, Runner A and Runner B have both completed 20 yards of the course. On yard 21, Runner A stops on the course and Runner B completes the yard within the hour. Therefore, Runner B has completed 21 yards of the course and wins the race.
Alternatively, both runners could complete yard 20, but only one of them would go on to complete yard 21 within the hour. If the other runner is unable to complete yard 21 within the hour, then both runners would have completed 20 yards and there would be no winner for the event. The handbook refers to the person(s) with the second highest completed yard total as the assist. If no other runner completes a yard beyond that of the runners at the top of the completed yard total, then those runners would be tied for the assist.
Under the official Backyard format everyone except the winner is DNF (Did Not Finish). This includes someone who has covered an extraordinary distance in the race, even if they have not completed the required number of yards to finish the race. Their completed yards are recorded in the results though.
Are Pacers, Trekking Poles or Outside Assistance Allowed?
A noncompetitor is not permitted to accompany an active runner on course, including other runners that have been eliminated. Slower runners must allow runners of faster pace to pass them on course.
No trekking poles are allowed on course as they are considered to be an artificial aid. Please contact the race director regarding any accessibility needs for participants with disabilities and any equipment restrictions for any specific event.
As per the official rules, personal aid is not permitted on the course during a yard. A runner may carry and manage their own supplies on course. Other runners on course may share items that have been carried from the start of the yard. Runners on course may not be accompanied by noncompetitors, such as friends or family members acting as pacers, or eliminated runners. For example, a crew member cannot run with a runner and hand them supplies such as a bottle of water. Between completed yards runners may receive help from their crew back in camp.
Can Beginners Enter?
Yes, if the event’s entry requirements allow it. A person does not have to win a backyard ultra to have a great time and get great experience. There are events that are set up for runners with many different types of experience. The organizers of each event set up the entry requirements for the race as well as the rules of the race. A yard is much longer than a 5K and because of the hourly format of the backyard ultra, there is very little time for recovery between yards. The total distance of the race can be very demanding.
Would you be able to run the route and handle the weather? Is the terrain suitable for your fitness level and are there any steep hills? What about the elevation, temperature, daylight hours, aid stations and how to leave the race? Do you need to make changes to your training for an ultra distance goal and if so, would it be better to consult a healthcare professional first?
Do some viewing, volunteer, or crewing of a backyard ultra before signing up for one yourself. If you do enter, make sure you have a plan for stopping and getting home. A DNF is not a failure.
How to Find a Backyard Ultra
A good place to start would be the Big’s Backyard Ultra race listings page. From there, each individual event’s website or registration page can be viewed to determine whether or not the event is affiliated with the official Backyard Ultra organization. Be aware that the calendar of events does not necessarily mean that an event is affiliated with the official Backyard Ultra organization, and that dates, availability, entry requirements, and qualification designations can change from time to time. Contact the race organizer for the most up to date information regarding an event.
Look up races on platforms like UltraSignup to see what is coming up. Make sure to read the actual rules of the race rather than going by the title of the listing. Ask whether the race is affiliated, whether they use the official yard length and results rules, and whether there is a time or yard limit.
The fixed duration event has a set number of hours. Big’s official fixed time rules name no winner and record participants as finishers or DNF. Other variants may differ. Check the organizer’s rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you walk a backyard ultra?
While walking is not forbidden by the official rules, each yard must be completed within the hour and the next start cannot be missed. Running roughly 4.167 miles every hour or so for as long as you can continue to complete the required pace for each yard can be very demanding. Check out the terrain and the rules of the event before making a decision on whether the cutoff is realistic for you.
Can you sleep between loops?
As there is no separate sleep break in the schedule of hours for each yard, participants can use the time left after completing a yard to rest. They must be back in the corral for the next start at the bell. The faster a participant can complete a yard the more time they will have to recover between starts, but running fast can require more energy.
Is there a maximum number of loops?
The official Backyard Ultra rules do not state a maximum number of loops. However, in reality a traditional race will continue until a winner is determined or there are no conditions left for a winner to emerge. Many of the races advertised as being similar to a Backyard Ultra are in fact fixed duration events and therefore have a maximum number of loops that can be completed. This is usually detailed in the event’s individual rules.
What does DNF mean?
The traditional backyard result system records everyone except the winner as DNF (did not finish) and lists their completed yards. This does not mean that they failed to complete any yards.
Are all backyard races official?
No. A race using the Backyard Ultra format of an hourly loop does not necessarily have to be affiliated with the official system. The rules, the cap on the number of runners and the results may all differ. Check the listing for the event and contact the organizer regarding affiliation and qualification for any particular event.
Sources
- Big’s Backyard Ultra official rules.
- Big’s Backyard Ultra handbook, including examples of winning, aid and course rules.
- Big’s Backyard Ultra race listings.
- UltraSignup organizer guidance.
- Glimpse search interest estimate, a third party estimate for the broader term.
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