Thetford Back Yard Ultra

Thetford Back Yard Ultra Festival

Thetford Back Yard Ultra Festival is a Backyard Ultra held at High Lodge in Thetford Forest, Suffolk. Competitors run repeated loops of a fixed length, completing one loop each hour until only one participant completes an extra loop.

The event offers three entry options:

• Full Backyard Ultra event with a winner and prizes
• 12 hour timed entry at a reduced cost
• 6 hour timed entry at a reduced cost with a lower age limit

The standard loop is 4 miles 880 feet (approximately 6.7056 km). The 6 hour and 12 hour options use the same course setup and start procedure but runners on those options cannot continue past their time limit and will be recorded as DNF by the timing system. The 6 hour option lowers the minimum age to 12 years; a parent or guardian must be onsite and provide an emergency contact number.

The route is wide and mostly flat through forest, with firm underfoot surfaces, good drainage, mostly gravel or grass footpaths and a single small hill. The course will be fully signed. Chip timing is used for the event; a cash prize and a free entry to a summer event are offered to the winner of the full Backyard Ultra. Discounts are available for elite runners.

Onsite facilities include two camping areas for runners and crews, portable toilets, one aid station at the start/finish, a supervised cooking area, limited charging for runners, and a photographer. Parking is available for a flat fee for the event period and site gate entry has restricted hours. Participants must follow Backyard Ultra rules regarding starts, loop completion and support. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.