The Last Cowboy Backyard

The Last Cowboy

The Last Cowboy is an official Backyard Ultra held in O'Neill, Nebraska, with the start and finish located at the O'Neill Community Center parking lot. The certified loop is 4.17 miles (metric equivalent 6.7056 km) and features about 15 ft of total elevation gain and loss. The course runs across E Hancock Street onto the Cowboy Trail, continues roughly 2 miles to a turnaround point, and returns to the community center.

The event follows standard Backyard Ultra rules. Each loop must measure 4 miles 880 feet and be completed within one hour; starts occur precisely one hour apart and all competitors must be in the starting corral at the bell. Late arrivals to the corral result in disqualification. Personal assistance on a loop is not allowed, non-competitors may not be on course, artificial aids are prohibited, and slower runners must allow passes. Timing chips may be used for live tracking but individual lap splits are not provided. The winner is the last person to complete a loop; all other runners receive recorded mileage.

Crew and aid provisions include outside pop-up crew areas beside the start/finish arch, designated parking, and indoor space in the community center. Areas are first-come first-serve. The race supplies water and Proxima C Endurance Fuel; runners or their crew must supply additional food. Open flames, grilling, and generators are not allowed in crew areas; a designated parking-lot area exists for cooking.

Swag and awards include a tri-blend shirt and a custom wooden plaque with accumulated mileage burned on site. The last male and female standing receive custom acrylic awards and the overall winner receives a custom belt buckle. If a participant earns an at-large qualifying spot to the Backyard World Championships from this race, the organizer will provide up to $500 toward travel expenses for that trip. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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