Sparks Backyard Ultra
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Sparks Backyard Ultra
The Sparks Backyard Ultra takes place at Sparks Marina in Sparks, Nevada, located at 300 Howard Drive. The event uses a measured lap format in which runners complete a fixed distance each hour until only one person remains.
Each "yard" is 4.167 miles, a distance chosen to divide 100 miles into 24 one-hour segments. The marina loop is 1.95 miles, so each yard begins with a short spur loop around the peninsula to reach the full 4.167 mile distance. Course signage will be provided.
During a yard a competitor may not leave the course except for bathroom breaks. No personal aid is allowed while a yard is in progress; after completing a yard a runner may use a personal aid station for food, drink, rest, and equipment. Each yard must be completed in less than one hour. Artificial aids, including trekking poles, are not permitted. Slower runners are required to yield to faster runners. The event winner is the last person to complete a yard; if no participant can complete one more yard than everyone else, there is no winner.
Mini-Backyard races of 3, 6, and 12 hours follow the same rules but end at the chosen time; these mini races do not produce an overall winner.
The event is a Bronze Ticket qualifying race. The winner receives a bronze coin ticket to the next level. Entrants who reach 100 miles are placed on an At Large list and receive a belt buckle. Awards are given to the overall winner, second place, top three males and females, and finishers of at least five yards. Organizers provide water, ice, and individually wrapped aid station items; participants may bring their own aid setup and should secure it against strong wind. Weather in May can range from heat to cold, rain, and wind. Registration is handled through UltraSignup. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
