Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival

Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival

The Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival is a Backyard Ultra held at High Lodge Thetford Forest. Competitors run a measured loop of 4.167 miles each hour; each loop must be completed within the hour or the runner is recorded as DNF. The main format is an open-ended Backyard Ultra where the last person to complete a loop is the winner. There are also defined 6-hour and 12-hour options that use the same course setup but finish at their time limit with no overall winner.

Chip timing and a cash prize are provided for the main event; prize levels differ by year. Live timing, a live stream and regular social media updates are available during the event. The course is described as wide and flat, mostly gravel or grass footpaths, with firm underfoot and a single small hill; it will be fully signed.

Onsite facilities include a single aid station at the start/finish offering water and basic snacks while vendors are present, coffee and food vans, portaloos and urinals, and a limited charging station with public Starlink wifi. Camping for runners and crews is free with a field capacity for up to about 350 people; tent size is requested to be small and open cooking is not permitted in tent areas. Crews are not restricted in number but are asked to keep numbers minimal near the field. Media will record photos and video and may reuse them for promotion.

Race rules include corral procedures at the bell, no external support during a loop, no cutting the course, required lights after dark, and the bell procedure when a competitor DNFs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.