THE BACKYARD BASICS

Who invented the Backyard Ultra?
The Backyard Ultra was created by Gary Cantrell, better known by his nickname Lazarus Lake or simply Laz. He’s the same mastermind behind the infamous Barkley Marathons.

How long is a Backyard Ultra?
Each loop is 4 miles and 880 feet long – that’s exactly 4.167 miles, or 6.7056 kilometres (6.7 km) in metric.

What’s the record for a Backyard Ultra?
The current record stands at 108 loops – a staggering 450 miles (720 km) – achieved by American runner Harvey Lewis during the 2023 Big’s Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, USA.

THE RULES AND RHYTHM

What are the rules of a Backyard Ultra?
Each course must be a 4.167-mile loop or out-and-back route. Every hour, runners must begin a new loop at the sound of the bell. No late starts are allowed.
Participants can only leave the course for toilet breaks and must finish each loop within the hour. No external pacing or assistance is permitted mid-loop, though shared aid stations are allowed.
The race continues until only one runner completes a loop – all others record a DNF. If no one completes one more loop than another, there is no winner. Timing is optional, but the spirit of endurance is mandatory.

What is a loop, lap, or yard?
They’re all the same thing – different words for the same hour-long segment of the course. Every hour on the hour, competitors run one “yard” or “loop” until only one remains.

Do runners sleep during a Backyard Ultra?
Some do, others don’t – and some try but can’t! Sleep strategy varies from runner to runner. For detailed advice, see our Backyard Ultra Sleep Strategy Guide.

What’s the best Backyard Ultra strategy?
It’s as personal as your pace. Every runner’s approach is unique, but mental toughness plays a major role. Take a look at our Backyard Ultra Training Guide for practical tips on pacing, mindset, and preparation.

Why is each loop exactly 4.167 miles?
No, it’s not based on Laz’s backyard size! The distance is precisely calculated so that if a runner completes 24 loops in 24 hours, they’ll have run exactly 100 miles.