Grassroots Backyard Ultra
Event overview
The Grassroots Backyard Ultra takes place in Okotoks, Alberta on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The event uses a Backyard Ultra format (Last Person Standing) and includes two separate timed events with limited capacity.
Distances:
- Backyard Ultra (Last Person Standing)
- BACKYARD15 (15 hours, 100.65 km)
- BACKYARD24 (24 hours, 100 miles)
Prizes for the Last Person Standing include a cash award of $500 and an extra $250 if a new course record is set. The current course record is 35 loops, set in August 2024.
Course, rules and registration
The course is a 6.71 km loop along the Sheep River pathway with a section of single-track dirt trail and about 34 meters of gain. The course is on public pathways and is an open course. The site is near local hotels, restaurants, recreation amenities, and the Lions Park campground.
Key rules: runners must complete each 6.71 km loop within one hour; a new lap begins at the top of each hour; warning whistles are given 3, 2, and 1 minute before each lap; runners must start moving at the bell and be in the starting corral before the next lap bell or they will be recorded as DNF; no aid may be received while on course after the bell; the last remaining runner must complete one additional lap to be declared the winner. Participants must be at least 16 years old on race day.
Registration opens September 15, 2025 and closes May 31, 2026 (or sooner if spots fill). Fees: Backyard Ultra Early Bird $175 / Regular $200; BACKYARD15 Early Bird $130 / Regular $155; BACKYARD24 Early Bird $155 / Regular $180. There are no refunds. Registrations can be transferred to another runner until 11:59 p.m. on June 1, 2026 with a $20 administration fee. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.