Kansas City Backyard Ultra
Plaza Area, United States • 7-9 Aug 2026
Event overview
Kansas City Backyard Ultra takes place August 7-9, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. The start/finish area is at Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza, by the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. The event includes multiple formats:
- Last Runner Standing
- 12 hours
- 9 hours
- 6 hours
- 3 hours
The event is affiliated with the Backyard Ultra Series. Last Runner Standing participants receive a folding chair. All runners receive a buff, a cinch-tie bag, and a finisher car sticker that shows the distance they covered. If a participant earns a spot to the Backyard World Championships from this race, the organizer will provide up to $500 toward travel expenses for that trip.
Course, format and rules
The loop is one mile laps run as four laps per loop. Each loop equals the required hourly distance for the Backyard format (4.16667 miles per hour when combined). The trail surface is described as mondo-like track surface. Timed events (3, 6, 9, 12 hour) use a primary aid station every mile lap and run in the opposite direction of the Last Runner Standing participants.
Key rules include: runners have a fixed time to complete each loop and must be in the start corral to begin the next loop; no external aid on course; no artificial aids; only two crew per runner; runners are responsible for their own aid. Restrooms and a small area for a chair near the start/finish are available. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.