How many loops are you aiming for on your backyard ultra? Enter your goal, your time per loop, and your longest recent run: we'll tell you whether your endurance can go the distance, and how far a Campus plan can take you.
Your recent runs, your goal, your race date: your backyard plan starts from where you are and takes you all the way to your last loop.
The app recommends a goal based on your level, and your coach warns you if you're aiming too high.
This is the key indicator of your training: the duration of your long runs increases gradually until your target.
Are you changing your number of loops during training? Your plan regenerates.
You're preparing for a backyard ultra and want to know how far your pace can take you? This calculator lets you simulate your race loop by loop, based on your goal and your pace.
Enter four details:
The number of loops you're aiming for
The distance of one loop (6.706 km for the official format)
The positive elevation gain of one loop
Your target time per loop
Your longest recent run
We show you the distance and duration of your goal, then how far a Campus plan can take you. A gauge compares your long run to your race time, and the coach's note helps you interpret your results.
You can then receive your custom card to keep your plan in view and share it.
In a backyard ultra, each 6.706 km loop must be completed in under an hour, and the next start is given on the hour. The time you don't spend running becomes your recovery time: running in 52 minutes leaves you 8 minutes to eat, drink, and catch your breath before heading out again.
The minimum pace is 8'57"/km (6.7 km/h), but most runners aim for 50 to 55 minute loops, or a pace between 7'27" and 8'12"/km. The challenge is finding the right balance:
Too fast, you get more rest but wear yourself out faster
Too slow, you no longer have time to recover or fuel up
Steady, you conserve your energy to last as many loops as possible
Beyond speed, it's managing nutrition, sleep, and mental strength that makes the difference over long distances. To prepare week after week, discover our backyard training plan.
Ludivine
Very well made, this application allows you to prepare any running or trail goal... It is easy to use, you can track your progress, coaches are always at your disposal if you have questions or doubts... I have already prepared for a marathon with Campus... They helped me reach my goal without difficulty and I am starting over right now. I recommend this running and trail application!
Erwan
Fifty years old, hasn't run for 25 years, out of shape... After completing the free 5K plan, I have been following the paid 10K plan for 1 month, and I can now run for 1 hour. Far beyond my hopes... Good plan, cozy environment for beginners, but apparently suitable for addicts too.
Marion
Exactly the platform I needed to start running! The plans are top-notch, progressive, and tailored to your level and according to your goal. Campus coach is not just a site offering training plans; it's a community and a constantly evolving treasure trove of information!
A backyard ultra is an elimination endurance race where runners must complete a 6.706 km loop every hour, until only one remains. Each loop starts on the hour, and any runner who does not finish within the hour or is not present at the next start is eliminated. The winner is the last person to complete a lap alone; all others are classified as DNF, regardless of the distance covered.
Because 6.706 km × 24 hours = 160.9 km, or 100 miles in 24 hours. The distance is exactly 4.1667 miles, which allows each runner to reach the symbolic 100-mile mark if they last a full day.
The format was created by American Gary Cantrell, known as Lazarus Lake, who also created the Barkley Marathons. He designed the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in his backyard in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and the first edition was won by Tim Englund in 18 loops. Big’s remains the reference race today and hosts the world championships.
The men’s world record belongs to Australian Phil Gore with 119 loops, set at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra in 2025, or about 798 km in 119 hours. For women, the official best mark is held by Sarah Perry with 95 loops, set at Big’s Backyard Ultra, or about 637 km. Better performances achieved in Russia at the Biotropika Backyard Ultra have not been ratified by Lazarus Lake.
To complete 6.706 km in exactly one hour, you need to hold an average pace of 8'57"/km, or 6.7 km/h. In practice, most runners aim for 50 to 55 minute loops, or an average pace of 7'27" to 8'12"/km, to keep 5 to 10 minutes of rest before the next start.
No: consistency matters far more than speed. Running too fast shortens the loop but wears the body down more quickly, whereas a controlled pace, with walking on climbs, helps you last. Managing sleep, nutrition, and mental strength often makes the difference beyond 24 hours.
The backyard ultra attracts runners of all levels for several reasons:
Explore your limits: with no set distance, you discover how far your body and mind can take you, loop after loop.
Live a human adventure: all runners start again together every hour, creating a rare sense of solidarity between competitors, volunteers, and support crews.
Set your own goal: 6 loops to go beyond marathon distance, 24 to reach 100 miles, or as far as possible to aim for victory.
Discover ultra in a gentle way: you can stop whenever you decide, with no overall time cut-off, and walk away with your own performance.
Push yourself mentally: beyond a few hours, managing fatigue, sleep, and motivation matters just as much as your legs.
Training relies on a high volume of easy endurance, long runs, and back-to-back workouts to get the body used to running tired. You also need to train at the loop-specific pace, active walking, and fueling between starts. To be guided week after week, discover our backyard training plan, which adapts progress to your level and your loop goal.
