Big Tex Backyard Ultra

LAST RUNNER STANDING

Back for year four, the Big Tex Backyard Ultra takes place at Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe, Texas. The park features wide, well-maintained trails, primarily crushed gravel, with minimal elevation change.

The Backyard format is simple: a 4.167-mile “yard” starts every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains. Each yard must be completed in less than an hour, and runners must be back in the starting corral at the next bell to remain in the competition. Complete as many yards as you can—the last runner standing wins.

SEE THE 2026 EVENT INFORMATION TAB FOR PARTICIPANT DETAILS

All participants receive:

• Race shirt or choice of other swag item (inventory locked 3-weeks from race day, register early to secure size)
• A custom engraved award with number of yards or mileage
• Fully stocked aid station support
• Large personal support area

Runners completing 24 yards will also earn a 100-mile buckle. Participant awards and buckles recognize your accomplishment; official Backyard results follow the rules below.

The Road to Big’s

The 2026 Big Tex Backyard Ultra is a Bronze Ticket race, part of the road to the 2027 Silver Ticket races, the 2028 National Championships, and the 2029 Backyard World Championships.

See the official Backyard Ultra website for confirmation of participating races, qualification requirements, and the latest championship details.

BACKYARD FORMAT RULES

Please review the official Backyard Rules & Handbook.

Starting Corral & Hourly Starts

Each yard starts precisely one hour after the last.

Warning signals—3 whistles, 2 whistles, then 1 whistle—will be given 3, 2, and 1 minute before the bell.

From 3 minutes before the bell, the whistles must be the most audible thing in the camp.

People who are not active participants may not be in the corral after the three-whistle signal, three minutes before the bell.

Participants must enter the corral under their own power and be inside the corral at the bell.

All competitors must start at the bell. No late starts.

Participants must proceed out onto the course when the bell sounds; they may not return to their tent or aid area before completing the yard.

Failure to be inside the starting corral and start at the bell ends the runner’s participation.

Yards & On-Course Conduct

Each yard must be completed in less than an hour to be counted.

Except for restroom breaks, a competitor cannot leave the course until the yard is complete.

No non-competitors may accompany active entrants on the course on foot or on any form of conveyance, including eliminated runners. No pacers.

No personal aid during a yard; a participant may not be given or hand off anything, except to or from other active participants.

Runners are responsible for carrying the aid and supplies they need for each yard from the start.

No artificial aids, including trekking poles.

Slower runners must yield and allow passes.

Between Yards

Once you complete a yard in less than an hour, you may use the remaining time to eat, drink, rest, sleep, visit the aid station, receive crew assistance, or prepare for the next yard.

You must be back inside the starting corral and start at the next bell to continue.

Timing

Keeping lap times is optional for official rule purposes. TROT will use chip timing to record completed yards and provide live tracking. TROT will have on-course split points to improve live tracking updates and ensure the course is completed in its entirety every lap.

Winner & Results

The winner is the last person to complete a yard and must complete one more yard than everyone else.

The assist is the person or persons with the second-highest number of completed yards.

All participants except the winner are considered DNF.

Results will show each participant’s number of completed yards.

If no participant can complete one more yard than anyone else, there is no winner, and all athletes tied for the most yards are tied for the assist.

A single runner cannot continue solo beyond the final winning yard.

You must check out with the race director when you cannot complete a yard or decide not to begin the next yard.

BIG TEX CASH PRIZES

Overall winner: $1 for every mile they complete.

Assist: $1 for every yard they complete.

The overall winner must complete one more yard than everyone else, in accordance with Backyard rules. Otherwise, there is no winner and no overall winner payout.

If more than one runner earns the assist, the assist cash prize goes to the runner with the fastest time on their final completed yard. This tiebreaker determines the cash prize only; official assist recognition remains based on completed yards.

SEE THE 2026 EVENT INFORMATION TAB FOR PARTICIPANT DETAILS