What Is a Backyard Ultra? And Why Is Everyone Running One?

If you’ve noticed more runners talking about Backyard Ultras lately, you’re not alone. What started as a niche ultra-running format is becoming increasingly popular — and that’s exactly why we chose a Mini Backyard Ultra for our first ever She Strides race.

So, what is it about the format that has runners coming back for lap after lap?

What is a Backyard Ultra?

The traditional Backyard Ultra is simple in theory, but anything but simple once you get started.

Runners have one hour to complete a 4.167-mile (6.7km) lap. Once they finish, they wait for the next hour to start and go again. The process continues until there is only one runner left.

There’s no fixed finish time. No set number of laps. You just keep going.

And that simplicity is part of its appeal.

It’s not about speed

Unlike a traditional race, a Backyard Ultra isn't necessarily about running as fast as possible.

You have a set amount of time to complete each lap, meaning runners can find their own rhythm. Run, jog, walk, take a breather — whatever works for you.

It makes the format much more accessible than the word ultra might suggest.

One lap at a time

The thought of running an ultra can be daunting. Thinking about 50km, 60km or even further is enough to make anyone question their life choices.

But a Backyard Ultra breaks the challenge down.

You only need to think about the next lap.

Complete one. Refuel. Reset. Go again.

Before you know it, those individual laps start adding up. And that's where the mental challenge comes in. It's not just about whether your legs can keep going — it's about managing your energy, knowing when to eat and drink, and staying mentally focused as the distance builds.

Everyone starts together

There’s something particularly motivating about a format where everyone heads out together.

Whether you're aiming to complete a few laps or see how far you can push yourself, everyone is back at the start line when the next lap begins.

That creates a real sense of community.

You see the same runners coming back in, encourage someone who's struggling, share a few words between laps and head back out together.

It becomes less about competing against the people around you and more about seeing how far you can go alongside them.

The social side of an ultra

Backyard Ultras also have a very different atmosphere to a traditional race.

Between laps, there’s time to refuel, grab a drink, stretch, change layers and catch up with other runners.

And then there are the volunteers — an essential part of the whole experience. From keeping everyone moving to making sure runners have what they need, the support around the course can make a huge difference as the laps start to take their toll.

It’s one of the reasons Backyard Ultras can feel surprisingly social, despite being such an endurance-focused challenge.

You don't have to be an ultra runner

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons Backyard Ultras are attracting new runners is that you don't necessarily need to think of yourself as an ultra runner to take part. Your goal can be completely personal.

Maybe you want to see if you can run 10km. Maybe you want to reach a half marathon. Maybe you're aiming for 50km.

You don't have to know exactly how far you'll go when you arrive.

And that can be quite liberating.

For runners who are used to chasing PBs, finishing times and pace goals, the Backyard Ultra offers something different: how far can I actually go?

So, why the sudden interest?

Running has increasingly become about more than simply racing against the clock. Runners are looking for new challenges, new experiences and events where the community is just as important as the result.

Backyard Ultras tick a lot of those boxes.

They're challenging without being entirely focused on pace. They're competitive without necessarily feeling intimidating. And they give runners a chance to discover what they're capable of one lap at a time.

So, are Backyard Ultras worth the hype? We think so.

Because sometimes the best way to find out how far you can go is simply to keep going until you find out.

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