The Iron Turtle
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The Iron Turtle - Last Runner Standing
The Iron Turtle is a backyard ultra held in Coker, Alabama at Lake Lurleen. The event uses a Last Runner Standing format in which participants run a loop repeatedly until they stop. Each lap is a four-mile loop and consecutive laps begin exactly on the hour.
The course is a well-groomed trail with minimal elevation, about 270 feet of gain per lap, and is roughly 95% single track and 5% paved road. The start and finish area is at the pavilion in front of the main bridge, where a well-stocked aid station provides food, electrolytes, and lunch and dinner options for longer participants. There is ample space for parking, tents, and setups around the camping area.
Organizers divide competition into male and female divisions and will crown a Last Runner Standing in each. Runners who miss a cutoff may continue unofficially to pursue a personal mileage record; organizers will record that overall mileage on Ultrasignup. Runners who achieve a personal record receive a sticker, and finishers receive awards showing total mileage plus an event shirt.
The event includes optional variations: a shoot-out option after 12 hours if all remaining runners agree, and a proposed leap-frog tag-team division where teammates alternate loops. A mascot known as the Squawking Chicken announces the start of each lap. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
