LATR Backyard Ultra

LATR Backyard Ultra

LATR Backyard Ultra is scheduled for September 26, 2026 at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Indianola, Iowa. The event starts and finishes at the beach shelter house and uses a looped trail around the lake.

The format requires runners to complete a 4.167 mile lap every hour. Laps must be completed within 60 minutes and runners must return to the starting corral at the top of the hour or be disqualified. Warnings are given as the hour approaches. Participants may not leave the course except to use restrooms until a lap is complete. Spectators and crew, including eliminated runners, are not allowed on the course. No pacers or personal aids such as trekking poles are permitted. After each lap, runners may receive aid from their crew at the corral.

The course follows the Lake Trail counterclockwise around Lake Ahquabi. Surfaces are mostly dirt with some gravel and include roots, rocks, and uneven sections. Much of the route runs under mature timber with views of the lake. Runners who continue into overnight hours are required to carry a headlamp; additional lighting will be added for night running. Water, Tailwind, and snacks are available at the starting corral and at a mid-loop aid station. Bathrooms are located along the course and at the beach shelter house.

Logistics include early and day-of packet pick up at Lake Ahquabi State Park and a mandatory pre-race meeting. Crew areas are in and around the beach shelter; crews may bring tents or canopies, must park in adjacent lots, and should plan for limited access to electricity. Crew members should use provided restrooms, avoid loud music, leave pets at home, and remove all trash at the conclusion of the event.

Registration uses three pricing tiers with increases on April 1 and September 1. A t-shirt add on is available for $25 to those who register before the September increase. There are no refunds or transfers and registration closes on September 25. There is no overall race cap on time or mileage. The winner is the last runner to complete a lap, finishing one more lap than anyone else; the winner will receive a medal, a prize package, and a bronze coin as part of the event affiliation with Big's Backyard Ultra. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.