Saguaro Showdown
Mesa, United States • 23 Jan 2027
General Information
The Saguaro Showdown is a last-person-standing Backyard Ultra event held at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, Arizona. The event features two separate concurrent formats: a run and a ruck.
Event Format
The run event consists of laps of 4.1667 miles. The ruck event consists of laps of 2.3 miles. A new lap for both events begins every hour on the hour. Participants have exactly one hour to complete a lap and must be in the starting corral when the bell rings for the next hour to continue.
The race continues until only one runner and one rucker remain. Those final participants must complete one more lap alone to be declared the winner; all others receive a Did Not Finish (DNF). During the event, the course changes. From 8:00 PM, laps are run on an out-and-back road course. At 8:00 AM the following morning, the race returns to the trail loop.
Participant Rules
Once the starting bell rings, participants may not visit their crew, tent, or vehicle, or receive aid from anyone. They must stay on the course except to use portable toilets. After finishing a loop, participants are free until they must return to the corral before the next bell.
Participants must provide their own aid. Crews are permitted but not required. A space near the start/finish line is available to set up a chair and cooler. Overnight stay is allowed. Participants who DNF must immediately vacate the start/finish area.
Special Formats
A Backyard 24 option is available where the race is not open-ended. Everyone who completes 24 hours is tied for first place, with no single winner unless only one runner finishes the full time.
For the ruck event, core weight requirements apply. Participants weighing over 150 pounds must carry a 30-pound core weight. Those under 150 pounds must carry a 20-pound core weight. This weight includes the ruck and added weight, not water or food.
Fundraising Option
Participants can opt to fundraise for the organizer's cause instead of paying the registration fee. Raising over a $125 minimum results in a free race entry. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.