Arrowtown Backyard Ultra
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Arrowtown Backyard Ultra 2026
The Arrowtown Backyard Ultra is a timed backyard ultra event held in Arrowtown, New Zealand, with the event village at Butler Green and laps on the Arrow River Trail. The format requires competitors to complete a loop of 6.71 km each hour; runners repeat one lap every hour until only one person completes a lap more than all others. Competitors who do not finish a lap within an hour or who are not in the starting corral at the next lap are recorded as DNF.
The Arrow River Trail course is predominantly hard-packed trail with a winding single track through bush, follows Bush Creek and the Arrow River, crosses Bush Creek twice, and includes two pedestrian bridges so feet remain dry. The Strava course elevation is 48 m. The event is self-supported between laps; support must be provided from the event village and is not allowed on the course. No pacing, no artificial aids such as trekking poles, and no on-course food or drink are permitted.
Entries are limited and the published entry cost is $220; the event listing indicates the race is sold out with a waitlist available. The event also offers a team category (teams of four with each member entered individually) and a free kids trail race on a 1 km loop for primary school children, with parents or caregivers permitted to run with their child. The event is a qualifying race for the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship selection period. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
