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. The format requires runners to complete 4.167 miles every hour on the hour; loops must be finished within the hour and the last person to complete a loop is the winner. The event uses chip timing and carries a £1000 prize for the overall winner.
The weekend includes an open ended full event and separate timed options of 6 hours and 12 hours offered at reduced cost. Timed entrants use the same setup but will be recorded as DNF when their chosen time limit is reached; the timed races do not produce a winner or prize. The 6 hour option has a lowered minimum age of 12 years but a parent or guardian must be onsite and an emergency contact supplied.
The route is wide and mostly flat through forest trails, mostly gravel or grass, with firm footing, good drainage and one small hill; it will be fully signed. There is one aid station at the start and finish area offering hot and cold water and basic snacks; onsite food vendors and nearby High Lodge cafes provide additional hot food while vendors are present. Camping for runners and crews is free across two designated areas with restrictions on tent and gazebo sizes and a prohibition on cooking near tents. Parking is available for a flat fee for the event. Power and mobile signal are limited; a small charging station and shared public wifi are provided. Key race rules include required presence in the starting corral at the bell, no crew access to the corral at the start, no handing over of kit during a loop, headtorches required from 9pm, and automatic DNF if a loop is not completed before the next hour begins. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
