About this Event
WE'RE A BIG'S BACKYARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 'BRONZE TICKET' EVENT!
(The winner of the Cottonwood Countdown receives an entry to a 'Silver Ticket' event. Win a Silver Ticket, and get invited to the National Team. Do well in the National Team Championships and get an starting spot in the World Individual Championships!)
What's a Backyard Ultra?
The devious brainchild of Lazarus Lake (the creator of the Barkley Marathons), a Backyard Ultra is a no-frills trail running race that almost anyone can attempt.
The rules are simple. At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, the horn sounds to start the race. Runners complete a lap of the 6.7km trail (compact gravel rail trail, beside a lake, partially forested, and partially in a mountain meadow. Deceptively challenging). Runners need to finish within one hour - which is achievable by most, even beginners.
At the end of their lap, they have whatever time is left in the hour to rest, eat, and stretch. At exactly 10:00 a.m., the horn sounds again, and everyone heads off for lap #2.
If you don't finish in the hour, or choose not to start the next hour, you're eliminated from the race and you're listed as DNF (did not finish).
The race ends when only one person successfully completes a lap. That person is the winner.
Backyard Ultras often go for 18-24 hours, but it's not uncommon for them to go MUCH longer than that. As long as you complete a lap in an hour, and are in the start/finish corral for the start of the next lap, you're still in the race. 2023's winner Hugh Beedell went 18 hours/120.6km. In 2024, Hugh won again, this time in 31 hours / 207.7km. We're prepared for even more for 2025!
Backyards are 'no-frills' events, meaning runners are responsible for their own aid and support. We'll have porta-potties, water, and some basic supplies at the start/finish corral, but runners need to have their own support crew if needed.
It's competitive, but based in camaraderie, because everyone starts each lap together. It's accessible to most runners, because it's about endurance and perseverance, not necessarily speed.
It's a great test of your ability to push through pain, fatigue, and exhaustion. Classic Type-2 fun!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cottonwood Lake Regional Park, The Great Northern Rail Trail, Nelson, Canada
CAD 59.91
