Event Description

A winter Backyard Ultra (run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour until only one participant remains), hosted at the Bonneville County Exhibition Hall and Sandy Downs Park in Idaho Falls Idaho. 

This race can be run "bareback" style (basic aid station, general outdoor transition area, and porta-potty access. Tt's cheap, but great for those who can and want to take care of themselves, but still race), all the way to "Thoroughbred" Style (Deluxe Aid Station with Catered Food, Reserved Indoor Transition Area, Custom Dizzy Horse Hoodie), or several options in between. Bareback style is $25 until November 21, after that it is $30. Regardless of whether you go Bareback or full-on Thoroughbred, once the top of the hour starts, everyone runs the 4.167 miles through the course on equal footing.

Select the Upgrades tab in the menu above or CLICK HERE to purchase any additional Upgrades you didn't select when signing up for the race (T-Shirt, Hoodie, Designated Outdoor Space, Designated Indoor Space, Deluxe Aid Station Access, Deluxe Aid Station Access for Crew, Indoor access for Crew, ETC.) The Upgrades are limited in number and will likely be sold out before the race. If you wait to register until the last minute, you will very likely be running "Bareback"!

• Upgrade Costs
  • $18 T-Shirt  
  • $35 Hoodie
  • $40 Deluxe Aid Station Access During Entire Event (cost is per person, includes general indoor access) (only 50 available)
  • $50 Reserved 8'x'8 Interior Space (includes general indoor access for participant and up to 2 crew) (only 15 available) 
  • $10 Reserved 8'x8' Exterior Space (only 15 available)
  • $10 Access to General Indoor Space (only 30 available)
  • $30 RV Space (only 10 available)
    
    EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE SET UPS 
    
  • $381 EPIC THOROUGHBRED SETUP: Epic set up for you and 2 crew (Registration, 3 t-shirts, 3 hoodies, 3 Deluxe Aid Station, 1 Reserved Interior Space, and an RV Space)
  • $117 SOLO THOROUGHBRED SETUP: Access to comfortable indoor space between loops and all your food needs addressed (Registration, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and Deluxe Aid Station). 
  • $70 SHOW PONY: A bit of space outside for a tent, popup, chairs and a fancy looking hoodie (Registration, 1 Reserved Outdoor Space, Hoodie)
  • $25 BAREBACK: The ride might be a bit uncomfortable, but you still run the same race as everyone else and have the same chance to win. (Registration only). 

The start corral will be just outside the Bonneville County Exhibition Hall. You'll need to be in it before the top of each hour. At the top of each hour, you'll start off on a wandering and possibly dizzying journey through Sandy Downs park. The course will be thoroughly and completely marked so you won't stand a chance of becoming lost. The course will be about 25% grass, 20% horse racetrack, 45% dirt, 8% sand and 2% pavement (or because it's December in Idaho it could be 100% snow). The only part that isn't flat is the bit in the sand along the canal, with a lung busting climb with about 18 feet of vert. To finish in time you need only run at a 14 minute 23 second pace (although you'll want to go a bit faster to give yourself some time in transition to eat, drink, use the bathroom, etc.)  A bell will ring at 3 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute before the hour, letting you know that it's time to get back into the starting corral. Everyone must start at the top of the hour and stay on course until they've finished their lap or run out of time. (there will also be a porta-potty at about the halfway point, you can use that porta-potty or the porta-potties by the start corral without being DQ'ed, but you can't run back to your tent or get something from your crew after the bell rings).

At the start of each lap, everyone who remains is tied for first, which means, you'll be in first place until you quit or it ends and you win. The race continues until only one participant remains (we call it "Last Horse Standing"). The Last Horse Standing must complete one more loop than 2nd place, otherwise, there is no winner. Everyone who doesn't win will get a custom DNF award. We'll also have awards for making certain benchmarks, like 50 miles (12 hours), 100 miles (24 hours), etc. Winner will be declared "Last Horse Standing" and will get a special prize package! 

Our basic aid station, that all runners will have access to will have water and a few other "running" staples like pickles, tortillas, and potatoes. With that, and your own supplies you could last a very long time. Our Deluxe aid station will be right inside the Exhibition Hall and have specialty items like Street Tacos, Pork Sliders, Cowboy Potatoes and more, in addition water, a choice of other beverages and an extensive selection of ultra-running staples. 

While the runners are out running the course, crew can refuel, relax, participate in fun and games to win prizes, and watch cheesy running videos we'll have playing all day and night. We'll also be close enough to town that if crew needs to run into town and get food, supplies, etc., they can quickly do that and get back before you return from your 4.167 sojourn in the desert. Crew cannot provide any assistance to active runners while the runners are out on the loop. Eliminated runners are welcome to stay and "join" up as crew for runners still in the mix. 

It is a great social race that also requires strategy, a strong will, and a determination to not quit. The first several hours of the race are incredibly social (everyone starts together and takes it relatively easy), but later on in the race as the numbers start to dwindle, the race becomes an epic drama showing the human will to continue pushing past one's perceived limits. 

We are excited to have the support of Grit League, the Idaho Falls Trail Runners, and Teton Auto Group, in making this an event that you won't forget. Whether you come for the running, the socialization, the desire to find your limits, or the amazing party, this will be an event that you don't want to miss!

If you don't want to run, but are willing to volunteer, we'd love to have your help. Please contact Dan Beck (trail2sparta@gmail.com) to volunteer. Depending on how long you commit to volunteer, volunteer perks can include access to the Deluxe Aid station, a T-Shirt, a Hoodie, and/or future entry into the event.