Sparks Backyard Ultra
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Sparks Backyard Ultra : June 20, 2026
The Sparks Backyard Ultra takes place on June 20, 2026 at Sparks Marina, 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434. The event continues until only one person is standing. It is an official Backyard Ultra Association qualifying event; entrants are eligible for selection to national and world backyard-ultra competitions. Mini-Backyard options of fixed duration are offered for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours.
- 4.167 miles per yard (each hourly segment)
- 1.95 miles per loop around Sparks Marina
- Mini-Backyard durations: 3, 6, 12, 24 hours
Course and rules
Participants run a 4.167 mile course every hour until only one person remains. At Sparks Marina this is a little over two laps; each yard begins with a short loop around Veteran's Plaza and the Peninsula to reach the exact distance. Key rules include: a competitor may not leave the course during a yard except for bathroom breaks; no personal aid is allowed during a yard; each yard must be completed in less than one hour to count; artificial aids such as trekking poles are not allowed; slower runners must yield to faster runners. The winner is the last person to complete a yard; if no participant can complete one more yard than others, there is no winner.
Aid and awards
Aid stations will provide water, ice, Heed, and standard items like pretzels, chips, and energy gels. Tents, chairs, and cots will be available; food trucks will be on site during normal meal times. Awards include a belt buckle and 100-mile finisher flannel shirt for those who reach 100 miles, a Finishers Award for those who complete at least five yards, a first place award for the last person standing, an Assist Award for second place, and top-three awards by gender. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
