Lion King Backyard Ultra
Rolla, United States • 10 Oct 2026
Lion King Backyard Ultra - Rolla, MO
Lion King Backyard Ultra is a backyard ultra held at Lions Club Park in Rolla, Missouri. The race uses a repeated loop format: each lap is 4.167 miles (about 6.706 km) and must be completed within one hour. Each new loop begins one hour after the previous loop, and the event has no predetermined end time; the winner is the last runner to complete one more lap than the second-place runner.
The course is a dirt trail lap during daylight and a paved out-and-back lap at night. Day laps pass through mature deciduous trees, cedar groves, fields and short stream crossings, finishing with a short paved straight into the starting corral. Night laps follow a flat paved route along a flowing creek. The first eleven laps are held on the dirt trail for a total just under 46 miles; additional laps use the paved route.
Facilities at the park include pavilions that provide covered 10 by 10 spaces for runners and crew, water spigots, a charging station with a few 110-volt plugs and USB outlets, and multiple porta-potties near the corral and at the two-mile marks. The starting corral and halfway point offer water, salt tablets, restrooms and on-site staff for aid.
Fifty percent of race profits are allocated to support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Prevention hotline (30%) and Lions Club Park (20%). Awards include a custom Lion King or Queen belt buckle, a bronze qualifying coin, swag bag, and ribbons showing completed laps for all finishers. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.