Backyard Ultra: Official Race Rules
Backyard Ultra is a unique format of endurance running. It is not a race for a set distance, nor a race for a set time. The objective is for each runner to cover the maximum distance possible for their level of ability. There is only one winner, the runner who covers the greatest total distance, but every participant plays a role in the outcome, and many runners will achieve distances they never thought possible along the way.

1. Starting Corral
All runners must be inside the corral before the starting bell.
2. Starting Each Yard
Each "Yard" (one loop of the course) begins exactly one hour after the previous Yard started.
Runners will receive warnings at 3 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute before the starting bell.
All runners must start at the bell. Late starts are not permitted. If you are not in the corral at the bell, your race is over.
3. During a Yard
Once a Yard begins, runners may not leave the course except for restroom breaks.
No non-competitors, including runners who have already been eliminated, may accompany an active runner on the course.
No personal aid (food, water, pacing, coaching, etc.) is allowed while a Yard is in progress.
Each Yard must be completed in under one hour to count. Any runner who does not finish the loop within the hour is eliminated.
No artificial aids of any kind are permitted, including trekking poles.
Faster runners have the right of way. Slower runners must yield and allow themselves to be passed.
4. Timing
Keeping individual lap times is optional and left to each runner's discretion.
5. Winner and Results
The winner is the last runner remaining who successfully completes one more Yard than every other competitor.
All other runners, including the second-place finisher, are officially recorded as DNF (Did Not Finish).
Final results will list every runner's total number of Yards completed.
If the field cannot produce a runner who completes one more Yard than all others (for example, if the last two runners both stop at the same point), no winner will be declared for that edition of the race.
By registering for this event, all runners agree to abide by these rules. Any runner who does not start at the bell, leaves the course during an active Yard (except for a restroom break), receives outside aid, or fails to complete a Yard within one hour will be marked as eliminated.