Kansas City Backyard Ultra

Event overview

The Kansas City Backyard Ultra takes place August 7-9, 2026 in Kansas City, MO at Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza. The event includes a Last Runner Standing Backyard Ultra format and timed events for the following durations:

• 3 hours
• 6 hours
• 9 hours
• 12 hours

The event is affiliated with the Backyard Ultra Series and is a qualifying race within that series. The Last Runner Standing winner may receive a place in a subsequent Backyard Ultra event and, in specified cases, up to $500 toward travel expenses for the Backyard World Championships.

Course, format and rules

Each Backyard Ultra loop equals 4.16667 miles, made up of four 1-mile laps on the Mill Creek Park Trail. The trail has a mondo-like track surface. The start/finish area is by the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. Timed events use the same loop with a primary, stocked aid station every lap; timed runners run opposite direction to Last Runner Standing participants.

Runners must complete each loop within the allotted hour to continue and must be present in the start corral to begin the next loop. Crew support on the course is not allowed and artificial aids are prohibited. Runners may have up to two crew, may set up a small chair area near the start/finish, and restrooms are available nearby. Water and coffee will be provided for runners only. Finishing mileage is assigned individually; the final winner receives the event award and other finishers receive event swag items. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.