So what is a backyard ultra…?
Running the same lap on repeat until there’s only one person left might sound like madness. But for thousands of runners around the world, including an increasingly popular Backyard Ultra Sydney scene, the format has become one of the sport’s fastest-growing challenges.
On face value, it may seem like a crazy and monotonous thing to do. A 6.7km loop every hour, on the hour until one person remains. It’s not something I ever imagined myself doing either. But over the last few years, Last One Standing style events, also known as Backyard Ultras, have exploded in popularity, with more runners searching what is a Backyard Ultra and discovering just how addictive the format can be. These events now take place all over the world, culminating in a world championship held in the US every second year.
At Alpha Trail Events, we offer a similar style to a Last One Standing event, but in a format that’s more accessible for everyday runners. If you want to experience the thrill of a looped challenge without committing to an ultra, Ten Trails of Garigal is a 10-lap, 5km course and the perfect place to start—run as many loops as you like, or take on the full 50km. It’s designed for runners who want a beginner ultramarathon-friendly alternative to the classic Backyard Ultra structure.
Now back to the history lesson…
The concept of pushing your limits around a looped course has been around since the 1800s. Six-day endurance races were a big spectacle where competitors, known as “pedestrians,” walked or ran for six days straight, aiming to cover the maximum distance on an indoor track. These early events established the roots of endurance racing traditions that still influence formats like the modern Backyard Ultra.
In 1997, the 3100 Mile looped event, “Self Transcendence”, started in New York. This event is off the charts crazy. For participants to meet their goal of 3100 miles (4989km) in 52 days, they must log an average of 59.6 miles (95.9 km) per day. The runners begin at 6 a.m. and run for extended periods throughout the day, taking breaks as needed. This is true mental endurance and fatigue management at its peak.
There have also been lots of other races that have taken a last man standing style approach where the winner is whoever ran a distance in a certain amount of time.
However, the format of the Backyard Ultra and the approach it adopts was started in 2011 by a man called Gary Cantrell, aka Lazarus Lake or the “Leonardo da Vinci of pain”. He’s best known for creating the Barkley Marathons, but with the rise in popularity of the Backyard Ultra, he’s cementing his place in ultrarunning folklore with this simple, but brutal format.
The original reason Lazarus Lake created this distance was because it’s the amount needed to cover 100 miles in 24 hours. Since he started the concept, however, the 24 hour barrier has been shattered with runners going well over this milestone.
Each year Gary hosts Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, which has now become an iconic event in the ultramarathon calendar. It’s a low-key, no-frills set-up. No big sponsors or fancy start line, but this stripped-back feel is part of the charm.
And then there’s the cowbell.
Every hour, on the hour, Laz rings a big rusted cowbell to restart the race.
He does it with absolute ceremony, slow, deliberate, sometimes with a smirk, as if the bell itself decides your fate. The sound has become symbolic: comfort ends, misery begins.
The current record is held by Australian ultramarathoner Phil Gore, who ran an outstanding 119 laps at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters. This equated to 797.3km and 5 days of non-stop running.
The race appeals to a wide range of abilities. The hardcore ultramarathoners who want to push their limits to breaking point vs the more casual runners that want to give longer ultramarathon distances a crack but in a much more controlled environment compared to your typical 50km + race.
The tactics are also very different. In a backyard, the quickest is not the winner. The proverb “slow and steady wins the race” has rarely felt more accurate. These events are all about efficiency and how much you can let your mind and body endure.
A 10-lap challenge on a 5km loop through winding singletrack and rolling elevation. Each lap starts every 45 minutes, and you’ll need to finish within that window to start the next. Miss a lap? Rest, reset, and jump back in on the following one. Whether you’re aiming for a few laps or all 50km, this is your chance to push your limits in a supportive, scenic trail setting.
Tickets go live on the 24th November 2025, but pre-registration has opened. The event will be held on the 6th September 2026 and we’re kicking things off with a small batch of super early bird tickets for $95. Once they’re gone, prices go up — so jump in early.
We’ve got an exciting calendar lined up for 2026. Alongside Ten Trails of Garigal on the 6th September, we’ll soon be unveiling two additional trail events—and introducing a brand-new trail tour experience.
Stay tuned for further updates.