Elm Creek Backyard Ultra
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Elm Creek Backyard Ultra : Maple Grove, Minnesota
The Elm Creek Backyard Ultra is a loop-based endurance event held at Elm Creek Park Reserve. Runners complete a 4.167 mile loop each hour and continue for as long as they can; the last runner to complete a loop alone is the winner. Each loop begins with a bell and there are whistle signals in the minutes before each loop.
The course starts and finishes at the Bluebird Picnic area, follows the south side of the park, uses the lake trail and circumnavigates Mud Lake. The loop has about 296 feet of elevation gain and loss. The direction of the course alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise every few hours.
The event is a Bronze Ticket qualifier for Big's Backyard Team Championships in the fall of 2028. Organizers anticipate a field capacity near 190 runners and will manage a waitlist if the race fills.
Crews are permitted and runners may receive aid only when off course; no aid or pacing is allowed while on the loop. Runners must be present in the starting corral when the bell rings to begin a loop. A small area beside the start/finish is available for a chair or cooler, and a designated picnic area about 50–100 yards from the line can be used for tents. Runners who do not complete a loop are recorded as DNF but distances covered are tracked in the results. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
