Great Lawn Backyard Ultra
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About the race
Great Lawn Backyard Ultra is the inaugural backyard ultra set for November 14, 2026 at Cranbury Park in Norwalk, Connecticut. The event uses a loop format run hour by hour on the same measured circuit around the park.
Runners complete an exact 4.167 mile loop each hour; that distance equals 100 miles over 24 laps. The event continues hour after hour until one runner completes a lap within the hourly time limit and all other competitors stop. A bell signals the start of each new lap, and all runners must be in the starting corral at the bell. Participants have 60 minutes to finish each loop, including time for refueling and equipment changes.
The course runs through historic estate grounds, wooded single track, and manicured park paths with rolling, manageable elevation changes. To vary the challenge, the route switches direction every four hours, alternating clockwise and counter clockwise. The start and finish area serves as the central aid station and runner village where crew access is permitted in the designated basecamp. Race staff and volunteers provide hydration, electrolyte replacement, warm food, and hot drinks between laps.
November weather in Connecticut can be brisk and unpredictable. The event notes packable warm layers, thermal change clothes, heavy jackets, gloves, beanies, and reliable headlamps with extra batteries. Registration closes on November 11 and field size is limited. Entry fee is listed at USD 136.62. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
