Lion King Backyard Ultra
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Lion King Backyard Ultra, Rolla, MO - October 10, 2026
The Lion King Backyard Ultra is a backyard ultra event held at Lions Club Park in Rolla, Missouri. Competitors run consecutive laps of 4.167 miles (6.706 kilometers) on a loop course; each lap must be completed within an hour and the race has no predetermined end. The winner is the last runner to complete one more lap than the second most laps.
The course starts and finishes at a corral located between the lake and the pavilions. During daylight the lap follows a 4.167 mile dirt trail through mature deciduous forest and large eastern red cedar groves, with small creek crossings and a short paved section approaching the corral. At night the lap is a 4.167 mile out-and-back paved section that follows a creek. The site includes multiple pavilions with designated 10X10 spaces for runners and crews, water spigots, a charging station with 110 volt plugs and USB outlets, and porta-potties at the corral and near the two mile point. Common aid is available at the corral and the halfway point. Crew camping is permitted at the park during race hours.
Awards and logistics: the winner is crowned as THE LION KING or QUEEN and receives a custom belt buckle, a bronze coin and a swag bag; top finishers and the assist are entered into a Hall of Fame called The Royal Family. Fifty percent of race profits are allocated to charity, with 30 percent to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Prevention hotline and 20 percent to Lions Club Park. Registration closes October 9, 2026. On site packet pickup occurs the day before and the day of the event. A 50 percent refund is available until August 1, 2025, after which no refunds are given. Quiet, leashed dogs may attend but are not permitted on the course. Race photos will be provided free on the event Facebook page. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
