2026 Live Timing and Results page from Timing Monkey

Live Stream

Live updates will be shared on our social media channells on Instgram and facebook.

Our famous highly competitive Summer Suffolk Backyard Ultra Event.

Run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour until only one person remains who can complete 1 "Yard" (loop) in the 1 hour time limit.

Held at High Lodge Thetford Forest in Suffolk

Chip timing and a £500 (2027) prize for the winner (2026 is £1000). We have doubled the prizemoney to attract the best competition.

New for 2026 onwards - We have a 6 and 12 hour entry option available at a reduced cost for those wanting to try the event style or who only have a 6 or 12 hour target. Both these will have the same exact setup and start time but you will not be able to continue past that time limit and the timing system will DNF you at that point. There will be no winner in either of the timed races and no prizes. You just get DNF for the whole event and it's designed as an option to try the event or when you have a target in mind.

For the 6 hour race we have lowered the age limit to 12 years old but a parent or guardian must always be onsite during the event. We must have their emergency contact number.

Discounts for Elite Runners

If you have done more than 40 yards in any Backyard event in the last 2 years we will give you a 25% discount, if you have done more than 45 we will give you 50% off and more than 50 yards and we will give you 75% off.

If you have won an official Backyard race in the last 2 years we will give you a free place.

Email us for the discounts.

See website race pack section for full in depth event details.

Main Event Info

Timings

Arrive from 8am on race day to set up.

11:30 Race Brief

12:00 Race Start

Deadlines

Please see our Policies page for info on refunds/transfers or deferals.

Closing date for entries is 2 weeks (14 days) before race day.

Deadline for changing details such as club is 2 weeks (14 days) before race day.

You must create an account to see all edit/transfer options

Parking

Please note parking is now live, select the 2026 parking from the merchandise tab. Please make sure you add your vehicle registration to the notes on the puchase or we won't know what car you have and we can't change this after its done. We are not responsible for wrong registrations or typos.

Parking must be submitted by June 1st after that you will need to pay £15 at the forest customer service desk opposite the car park.

We have arranged a flat parking fee for runners and crews of £12 for the whole event from Saturday to Wednesday, You must purchase this from the Merchandise section (for those with no race entry) of the website or with your race entry as an additional order item. You may need an account to see this option.

Parking timing restrictions - The site entrance gate closes in the evening from 9pm till 8am, you will be able to leave outside those hours but there is no entry to the site during that 9pm-8am window.

CP's

There is only one aid station at the start/finish area. From the race start to 8pm Sunday it will have hot and cold water for crews and some basic sweet and savoury snack for runners including things like pot noodles/pasta pots but up to 8pm Sunday hot food will only be available from the onside vendors or the High Lodge Cafes and Shops a short walk away.

After 8pm Sunday when the vendors leave and there are much fewer runners and crews we will have a cooking station where crews can use or borrow our stoves in a safe area and we will prepare hot food like pasta every few hours as needed.

Facilities

Onsite there will be a Coffee Vendor and a Food Van supplying hot and cold drinks and food such as Burgers and Fries and Wraps etc. Alternatively crews can take the short walk to the High Lodge Cafes and purchase items there.

We have Portaloos and Urinals onsite near the edge of both camping areas and these will be kept stocked and clean.

Route

Its a wide and flat route through stunning forest areas and firm underfoot with good drainage, only one small "Hill" on the route and suited to very fast laps. Mostly gravel or grass footpaths. It will befully signed.

Camping

Runners and crews camp for free but please keep tent/gazebo sizes to the smallest size possible as we have to squeeze up to 350 people onto the field.

There are two camping areas either side of the start area and route in and out of the field for runners. When you arrive you will be shown where to place your tent so we can get everyone camped safely. You will not oick where you sare camped but may move as numbers reduce to a space closer to the start.

There is no facility to pitch tents or camp on the friday night.

There can be no stoves or cooking of any kind in or around the tents under any circumstances as the forest is subject to strict fire rules. See CP info above for info on food vendors.

Rubbish/Waste

Please take your personal waste home and recycle as the site does not have the facility to collect rubish or handle hundreds of peoples waste. Our Skip we will have onsite is for our event rubbish only.

Power

There is no power and patchy signal onsite so please plan to bring powerbanks for your needs, we will have a charging station with a couple of extension lead for runners only to top up phones and public starlink wifi but data will be limited and can't be relied on especially when it's busy.

Crews

We don't put a limit on crew numbers but please keep crews to the minimum you need especially in the early stages when the site will be at it's busiest. No pets in the camping areas. No smoking in camping areas.

Media

We wil have a fantastic media team at the event doing photos, interviews and video updates. If you have no desire to be on camera please let them know during the event. Any photos or media at the event may be used to promote the event in future.

Records

As this is a new course it's open for new records but SBYU and UK records are as below.

SBYU Womens record Claire Bannwarth 61 Yards 2023

SBYU Mens Record Lukasz Wrobel 88 yards 2024

Volunteering

As you can imagine it takes a huge number of volunteers to make sure this event runs smoothly, if you want to volunteer please look at our Volunteering page where you shoukld find the info you need and our volunteering form to complete. You will also see the volunteering spreadsheets for each event so you can see what roles are still needed.

Race Specific Rules

1) You must be in the Starting Corral at the time of the Start Whistle, you will have warning whistles/shouts at 3, 2 and 1 minute before.

2) No crew or spectators allowed in the starting corral at the start whistle.

3) No handing over of kit, ditching kit or support of any kind from the start whistle until the end of thed loop.

4) Toilets may be vistied on the loop or betwen them as the toilets can be accessed from the loop or camping areas.

5) Headtorches must be worn from 9pm and you will be verbally reminded to wear then from the 8pm loop.

6) If you are not back before the next hour starts you are DNF. No exceptions.

7) No cutting corners or not following the complete route.

8) When you DNF you must ring the "Bell of Shame" and delete your name from the entry list.

Official Backyard Ultra Rules

Rules for the Backyard Ultra

1) Course

. Loop or out and back

. Must be 4 miles 880 feet in length

. Metric equivalent 6.7056 kilometers

2) Starting Corral

. Measured to fit entire starting field

. Corral stays the same size throughout the event

. Participants must be in the starting corral at the bell

3) Starts

. Each loop starts precisely 1 hour after the last

. Warning must be given 3, 2, and 1 minutes prior to start

. All competitors must start at the bell (no late starts)

4) Loops

. Except for restrooms, competitor may not leave the course until each loop is completed

. No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners)

. No personal aid during a loop (common aid stations are allowed)

. Each loop must be completed within an hour to be counted… including the final lap.

. No artificial aids (including trekking poles)

. Slower runners must allow passes.

5) Timing

. Timing of the loops is optional

6) Winner/Results

. The winner is the last person to complete a loop

. All others are technically DNF

. Results of each runner in terms of distance covered are to be given.

. If no runner can complete one more loop than anyone else, there is no winner.

7) Cap

. Race must be open ended.

Backyard 24 Rules

Backyard Races with a defined finish up to 24 hours may be held

These races are named according to their length (Backyard 6 for 6 hours, etc)

No winner is named. Participants either finish or DNF

All other Backyard Rules apply.

If a Backyard 24 is held in conjunction with a Backyard Ultra all participants of both events must start at the same time.

Description supplied by the event organiser.