Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival
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Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival
The Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival is a Backyard Ultra held at High Lodge Thetford Forest in Suffolk. Competitors run a continuous loop of 4.167 miles (4 miles 880 feet / 6.7056 km) each hour; each loop must be completed within the hour and the event continues until only one runner completes an additional loop. Chip timing is used and a £1000 prize is offered to the overall winner.
The event offers standard open-ended Backyard Ultra entry alongside timed options of six and twelve hours at reduced cost. The timed entries use the same setup and start procedure but will be recorded as DNF once their time limit is reached; there are no prizes for the timed races. The six-hour option has an age minimum of 12 years; a parent or guardian must remain onsite and provide an emergency contact.
The route is wide and generally flat through forest, firm underfoot with good drainage and mostly gravel or grass footpaths; there is one small hill and the course will be signed. There is a single aid station at the start/finish area providing water and basic snacks during the main running period; commercial food and coffee vendors are also onsite and nearby High Lodge cafes are accessible. Camping for runners and crews is free across two designated areas, with restrictions on tent sizes and no cooking in or around tents. There is no general power supply and signal can be patchy; a limited charging station and public wifi are provided.
Organisers request that personal waste be taken home and note a site skip is for event waste only. Crew numbers are unrestricted but should be kept to a minimum; no pets or smoking in camping areas. A media team will capture photos and video; images may be used to promote the event. The course is open for new records; current SBYU/UK records are 61 yards for women and 88 yards for men. The event follows official Backyard Ultra rules, including the defined loop distance, starting corral and the rule that failure to complete a loop before the next hour starts results in a DNF. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
