Wild Isle Backyard Ultra

Harvey Browns, Arreton Valley, Isle of Wight

One lap. Every hour. How far will you go?

About This Event

A new challenge comes to the Isle of Wight.

Set in the beautiful Arreton Valley, the Harvey Browns Backyard Ultra brings runners together at Hale Manor Farm for a race with no fixed finishing time.

The distance is simple: 4.167 miles.

The challenge is deciding to do it again.

Every hour, you return to the same start line. Another lap ahead. Another chance to keep going.

Whether you arrive chasing a personal distance record or hoping to be the last person standing, you only need to focus on one thing:

The next bell.

More Than a Race

Between laps, the event becomes something special.

You share stories, swap encouragement and get to know the people lining up beside you.

Your crew helps you reset. A fellow runner gets you through a difficult lap. Someone you met that morning gives you a reason to stand up again.

You’ll each have your own target.

But every hour, you start together.

The Format

Each lap—or “yard”—is 4.167 miles

A new yard starts every hour, on the hour

Complete your yard within the hour

Any time left is yours to rest, eat and prepare

Be back in the starting corral for the next bell

Fail to complete a yard in time or start the next one, and your race ends

The full event continues until only one runner remains.

To win, that runner must complete one final yard alone.

Everyone has a last lap. Who will finish theirs last?

The Venue and Course

Our home is Harvey Browns at Hale Manor Farm, a family-run working farm in the heart of the Isle of Wight’s Arreton Valley, with a food hall, butchery and lakeside kitchen.

The proposed countryside loop includes a section of the Sandown–Newport cyclepath and returns to the event base each hour.

With approximately 72 metres of climbing per lap, those familiar rises will become an increasing challenge as the miles build.

The final route will be confirmed and measured before the event.

Choose Your Challenge

The Full Backyard Ultra

No fixed distance. No scheduled final bell.

Keep going for as long as you can complete each yard within the hour and return to start the next.

Set your own target—or discover it along the way.

The Mini Backyard — The First 7 Bells

Want to try the backyard format with a clear target?

The Mini Backyard offers a lower-priced entry and a challenge of up to seven yards. Complete all seven and you’ll cover 29.17 miles.

Same course. Same hourly starts. Same support and atmosphere.

It’s a chance to chase your first ultra distance, test your pacing or find out whether backyard racing is for you.

Reach seven yards and want to carry on?

You can pay to upgrade to the full event on the day and keep answering the bell.

Come with a target. Leave with a story.

Description supplied by the event organiser.