Run Four Miles
〰️
On The Hour
〰️
Every Hour
〰️
Until One Remains
〰️
Run Four Miles 〰️ On The Hour 〰️ Every Hour 〰️ Until One Remains 〰️
EVENT INFORMATION
What Is a Backyard Ultra?
A Backyard Ultra is no ordinary race – it's a test of endurance created by Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell.We’ve brought this challenge to Brighton, Manchester, Wirral and London here in the UK!How it works:
Run 4.167 miles (6.7km) on the hour, every hour.Each lap must be completed in under 60 minutes.Use any leftover time to rest and recover.Keep going until only one runner remains!
Everyone starts together at 12PM. Complete your lap before the next hour to stay in the race. Faster laps mean more rest, but also more fatigue.There’s no minimum distance and no set finish line. You stop when you can’t start the next lap. It’s a personal challenge, whether that’s 1 lap or running through the night!Most runners go farther than they ever have before.
Only one will finish.
Will it be you?OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
BRIGHTON BACKYARD ULTRA
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Entry ticket
Participant Medals
Winner Trophy & Medal
Limited rest marquee for those without a pitch
Pitch to setup a rest area
Hot + cold water
Drinks + snacks
Photography
Videography
Stanmer Park Nature Reserve
Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RG
08th May, 2027
Tickets for sale 1st november
MANCHESTER BACKYARD ULTRA
Giants Seat Scout Camp
Off Ringley Road West, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 1DY
12th June, 2027
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Entry ticket
Participant Medals
Winner Trophy & Medal
Limited rest marquee for those without a pitch
Pitch to setup a rest area
Parking for one car (Visitors: first come, first served)
Hot showers
Hot + cold water
Drinks + snacks
Photography
WIRRAL BACKYARD ULTRA
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Entry Ticket
Participant Medals
Winner Trophy & Medal
Limited rest marquee for those without a pitch
Pitch to setup a rest area
Limited parking (TBC)
Hot + cold water
Drinks + snacks
Photography
Videography
Wirral Country Park
Station Rd, Thurstaston, Wirral CH61 0HN
24th July, 2027
Tickets for sale 1st november
LONDON BACKYARD ULTRA
Frylands Wood Scout Outdoor Centre
Featherbed Ln, Croydon, London, CR0 9AA
28th Aug, 2027
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Entry Ticket
Participant Medals
Winner Trophy & Medal
Limited rest marquee for those without a pitch
Pitch to setup a rest area
Parking for one car (Visitors: first come, first served)
Hot showers
Hot + cold water
Drinks + snacks
Photography
Tickets for sale 1st november
All three courses are 4 miles & 880 feet in length. The metric equivalent 6.7056 kilometers.
The courses are fully marked with loads of signs and marshals to guide you from loop one.
The Courses
Course Design
Join us in Brighton, Manchester, Wirral, and London for a safe, clearly marked run. All routes are marked with fluorescent “Caution Runners” signs to alert other park users and directional arrows to keep you on track.
Brighton & Manchester: An out-and-back course – run to the top of the park/trail, then follow the same route back.
Wirral: A looped course with changing direction – head 1 mile away from the start, reverse course and run 2 miles back past the start/finish line, then turn once more for the final mile to complete the loop.
London: A looped course – run two laps of the forest circuit, powering through each turn to complete your distance.
Directions & Facilities
Click below to access the full 2026 Event Directions & Facilities Guide.
Compulsory kit
The only equipment we require you to bring on the day is a head torch, chest torch, or waist torch.
We also strongly recommend wearing some form of high-visibility clothing during the night loops to help keep you and other participants safe.
General:
Run 4.167 miles (6.706 km) every hour.
A new loop starts on the hour, every hour.
You must be inside the starting corral when the bell rings to begin the next loop.
Each loop must be completed within one hour to count.
Any time left in the hour is your recovery time.
No late starts or early starts are permitted.
Backyard Ultra Rules
Loops:
Except for toilet breaks, competitors are not permitted to deviate from the course at any time until their current loop is complete.
No non-competitors (including eliminated runners) are allowed to accompany active runners on the course.
No personal aid is permitted while completing a loop.
Artificial aids, including trekking poles, are not permitted.
Slower runners must allow faster runners to pass.
If you fail to complete a loop within the hour, you are DNF.
Timescale:
The race continues until only one runner remains.
The last remaining runner must complete one final loop alone to be declared the winner.
There is no set finish distance or time. The winner is determined by endurance, not speed.
View the complete official Backyard Ultra rules on Big's Backyard Ultra website.
Take a Deeper Dive
Want a better look at the courses and the events in general?
Click below to see our official event coverage videos to discover the true Backyard Ultra experience!
One runner. Four Backyard Ultras. Four months.
Follow Sean Warrington's journey through all four Backyard Ultra UK events in 2026 in a story that's about far more than running.
It's about resilience, self-belief, and discovering what's possible when you refuse to let your past define your future.