Blacks Grove Backyard Ultra
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
About the race
Blacks Grove Backyard Ultra is a backyard ultra event held at Blacks Grove Park in Wadena, Minnesota, organized by Agony of DeFeet Wadena Run Club. The event uses a Last Runner Standing format on a measured loop and also offers a single-loop fun run option.
The course is a technical Minnesota woods trail with singletrack, roots, rocks, and rolling hills. The official loop distance is 4.167 miles and runs repeat hourly in the Last Runner Standing division. A signature set of event rules modifies the standard backyard format: loop direction reverses every five loops, a quiet period is enforced between 10 PM and 5 AM, and each runner selects one comfort item at check-in to use for the entire event.
Participant limits are set at 60 runners for the Last Runner Standing field and 60 runners for the One-Loop Fun Run, with a waitlist available if entries fill. Crew support is allowed only in the start/finish yard; on-course assistance and pacers are prohibited. Mandatory gear includes a phone, headlamp after dark, reflective gear, hydration, appropriate layers, and personal nutrition. Camping is available in designated primitive areas without electrical outlets. A waiver must be acknowledged during registration and signed again at packet pickup.
Awards include a personalized belt buckle and a $500 cash prize for the Last Runner Standing winner and a prize drawing for the one-loop participants. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
