Elsa Chicken Plucker Backyard Ultra

Elsa Chicken Plucker Backyard Ultra

Elsa Chicken Plucker Backyard Ultra is a Backyard Ultra event held at Willenborg Woods in Charleston, IL on May 30, 2026. The event is a Bronze Ticket race, with the final remaining runner earning a Bronze Ticket toward Big Dog's Backyard Ultra World Championship.

The venue comprises 149 acres of maintained trails that include riverside sections and ridge-top terrain. The course uses a repeated loop of 4.167 miles. The day loop moves through single-track and groomed grass trails. The night loop follows grass trails and country roads. A stretch known as the Tunnel of Trees is described as a sheltered section of the course.

Race rules require runners to complete the loop each hour. Each runner may have one support crew. Reflective gear is required for nighttime running. Missing the hourly loop results in elimination.

Willenborg Woods states a focus on trail maintenance and community. The event presentation emphasizes both the trail setting and the social aspects of racing, with spectators and family mentioned as part of the race environment. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.