The Awa Backyard Ultra

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The Awa Backyard Ultra starts at 9:00am on Saturday, 26 September 2026 with the ringing of a bell to signal the start of the first yard (lap).

Participants

All participants in the Awa Backyard Ultra must be 18 years of age or older.

The Course

Each "yard" is a lap of 6.7km (with an approximate elevation gain of 140m).

Runners must finish each lap within 1 hour.

Runners may not leave the course, except for toilet breaks, until each lap is completed  (once the bell goes you must complete a loop before any support is given/taken). 

The Starts

Each lap/yard starts precisely on the hour every hour (signaled by the bell). A warning whistle will be blown at 3, 2, and 1 minutes prior to the start of each lap.

Participants must be in the starting corral at the bell. If you are not in the starting corral when the lap starts you DNF.  No late starts.  No exceptions. 

Yards

Except for restroom breaks a competitor cannot leave the course until the Yard is complete.

No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners)

No personal aid during a Yard

Each Yard must be completed in less than an hour to be counted

Slower runners must yield/allow passes

No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners).

You are not permitted to receive support or pacing from those not competing  – gear,  food or liquids.  All that is allowed is a quick verbal encouragement as they pass you, or you pass them.  You will be disqualified if this rule is broken.

No personal aid/support during a lap (the one aid/support location is the event base)

No artificial aids (including trekking poles!).  Music is okay but we ask that you’re aware of other runners so as not to hold people up.

No animals are allowed on the course with runners.

The Finish

There is no set finish time. 

The winner is the last person to successfully complete a lap when all others have given up.

All others are technically DNF.

If no runner can complete one more lap than anyone else, there is no winner.

Runners must report to the Event HQ when you decide you can no longer go on.

Super early bird entry (to 31 January 2026)

$205.00 Adults (18 years +)

Early bird entry (1 February - 30 April 2026)

$220.00 Adults (18 years +)

Standard entry (1 May - 31 July 2026)

$250.00 Adults (18 years +)

Late entry (1 August - 11 September 2026)

$300.00 Adults (18 years +)