Lion King Backyard Ultra

Lion King Backyard Ultra : Rolla, MO

Lion King Backyard Ultra is a backyard ultra held in Rolla, Missouri on October 10, 2026. The format uses a 4.167 mile loop (6.706 kilometers) that each competitor must complete within one hour. The race has no predetermined end; the winner is the last runner to complete one more lap than the second place finisher.

The lap course is a 4.167 mile dirt trail during daytime and a 4.167 mile paved out and back at night. The daytime loop passes mature maple, oak, dogwood, ash, elm and eastern red cedar groves, small creek crossings, open fields and finishes with a short paved section into the starting corral. The nighttime paved section follows a creek and rural countryside with frequent wildlife sightings.

Facilities are centered at Lions Club Park. The starting corral sits between the lake and pavilions. Pavilions provide covered 10 by 10 spaces for runners and crews, water spigots, a charging station with 110 volt plugs and USB outlets, and nearby porta potties at the corral and at the two mile marks. Common aid is available at the corral and the halfway point.

Key rules state no artificial aids including trekking poles, no personal aid while on a loop, competitors must complete each loop within the hour to have it counted, and slower runners must allow passes. The event is an affiliate of Bigs Backyard Ultra and the winner receives a bronze coin that guarantees entry to a silver ticket event.

The event allocates 50 percent of profits to causes identified by the organizer, with 30 percent directed to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and 20 percent to Lions Club Park. On site packet pickup is scheduled the day before and on the day of the event. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.