Articles

Belgian Ultrarunner Karel Sabbe's Record-Breaking Pacific Crest Trail Run Showcased in New YouTube Documentary

Explore Karel Sabbe's record-breaking Pacific Crest Trail run in a riveting documentary. Jour..

Trail Running: How it Can Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Trail running is an effective way to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve physical and mental he..

Trail Running vs. Road Running: Which One Is Right For You?

When it comes to running, there are two primary options to choose from: trail running and road..

Smurf's Backyard Ultra

Name: Smurf's Backyard Ultra
Start: 2026-10-24
End: 2026-10-25
Location: Smithfield

Smithfield, Australia • 24-25 Oct 2026

Smurf's Backyard Ultra

Smurf's Backyard Ultra is a backyard ultra event held at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia. The 2026 edition is scheduled for October 24-25 and is organised by Smurf Endurance Sports.

The event uses a repeating 6.7 km loop on the Smithfield mountain bike trails. Runners complete one lap each hour; laps continue on the hour, every hour, until only one runner remains. A separate Mini Backyard option allows participants to complete up to six laps of the same loop.

Distances:

6.7 km loop per lap
Mini Backyard: up to 6 laps of the 6.7 km loop

The event programme includes a Saturday night gathering with food, drinks, a bar and live music. The location and course take place on established mountain bike trails at Smithfield MTB Park in tropical Cairns. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Australia Smithfield

Race information

Website

40 km

Mini Backyard (up to 6 Laps)

7 km

Backyard Ultra Loop

Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Trail runs nearby

Saturday May 23

Bustard Express

Bustard Express at Davies Creek Mountain Bike Park on 23 May 2026 is a Pony Express style four hour trail event where solo runners or teams complete laps of three loop options: 3.2 km, 7.2 km or 14.5 km.

Sunday May 24

The Douglas Dash

Port Douglas

5 km

The Douglas Dash is a 5km urban trail run on the beach sand and dirt tracks of Port Douglas. It's part of the local carnival and is a dog-friendly event where all finishers receive a medal.

Sunday Jun 7

Speewah Legend Foot Race

Experience a tropical trail run through the World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest and Barron Gorge National Park. Choose between 17 km, 8 km, or 4 km routes featuring creek crossings, steep climbs, and dense rainforest scenery.

Thu - Sat Jul 9-11

3 Marathons in 3 Days - Kuranda

Kuranda

Marathon

127 km

Three consecutive trail marathons run from 9 to 11 July 2026 in the Cairns area. The routes include steep single track and technical sections, mandatory safety gear, limited tap water between checkpoints, and scheduled pre- and post-race di..