Portland Pig Backyard Ultra
Dorset, United Kingdom • 1 May 2026
Event overview
The Portland Pig BackYard Ultra is in its 5th edition and is a Silver Ticket qualifying event. The winner of a Silver Ticket event earns a place on the national team for the Individual World Championship (Big's). The next scheduled race is 01/05/2026, held at The Piggery, Grove Farm Estate, Grove Road, Portland, Dorset DT5 1GD.
Course, format and logistics
The race uses the backyard ultra format. Each lap is 4.167 miles (6,706 meters). Competitors must complete each lap within one hour and then repeat identical laps until one competitor remains. The route includes a mix of surfaces: grass, gravel, track, tarmac and pavement. The course passes local landmarks such as prisons, a cricket club, stone quarries with carvings, an Olympic sailing venue, beach views, and farmland with wallabies, alpacas and sheep.
Distances and common targets:
- 4.167 miles per lap (6,706 m)
- Marathon: 7 loops
- 100 miles: 24 loops
- 200 miles: 48 loops
Entry includes camping on site for the runner and two crew, including motorhomes (no caravans). Camping pitches are non hook-up. Facilities include toilets and hot and cold water. The event is fully chip timed, has medic cover, a fully marked route, and marshals. Runners must bring their own food and be self-sufficient. No outside assistance, no running poles, and no wood-burning open fires are permitted. A DNF medal is provided and the winner receives a hand-carved Portland stone memento. Age rules apply: competitors must be 20 or over on race day; 18- and 19-year-olds are limited to 45 km. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.