The Last Cowboy Backyard
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The Last Cowboy
The Last Cowboy is a backyard ultra held in O'Neill, Nebraska, with the O'Neill Community Center serving as the race base and corral. The event is scheduled for November 7, 2026.
The looped out-and-back course measures about 4.17 miles (4 miles 880 feet) with roughly 15 feet of elevation change. The route starts in the community center parking lot, crosses E Hancock Street, follows the Cowboy Trail for about two miles to a turnaround, then returns to the start.
This race follows official Backyard Ultra rules. Each loop must be the specified length and must be completed within one hour; starts occur precisely one hour apart and competitors must be in the starting corral at the bell. Competitors may not receive or give aid from crew while on a lap, may not use artificial aids, and may leave the course only for restrooms. The winner is the last person to complete a loop; the event remains open-ended with no predetermined cap.
Crew and aid: outside crew areas and chained off spaces will be available beside the start/finish arch, and tables and chairs will be available inside the community center. Runners may use crew vehicles between laps. The race supplies water and Proxima C Endurance Fuel; runners or crew provide additional food. Cooking and generators are restricted in the designated crew area.
Finisher items and awards include a tri-blend shirt, a custom wooden plaque engraved with accumulated mileage, custom acrylic awards for the last male and female, and a custom belt buckle for the winner. Exceptional performances can earn at-large qualification for the Backyard World Championships and up to $500 in travel support toward that trip if awarded. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.