Park City, Utah
The Wasatch Yard backyard ultra in Park City, Utah
The Wasatch Yard is a backyard ultra for runners who want a fair course, a crew area at the start line, and a long night of laps in the dark.
Race facts
Miles per lap, starting every hour on the hour.
First whistle at 6 PM, sunset at 6:35, then headlamps until it is over.
Gravel, greenway, and single-track, with the crew area at the line.
No fixed finish line. The race ends when one runner remains.
The teams behind the race
Rendezvous Run and Salty Star Run Club are helping put on year two.
Same loop. Every hour.
Every hour, everyone starts together. You cover 4.167 miles, get whatever rest you earn, and come right back to the line to do it again. Twenty-four laps add up to 100 miles, and the race only ends when a single runner finishes a lap alone.
Pace the mixed trail from the start, stay patient while the field wears down, and move fast in the crew area.
Prizes along the way
Prizes go out at milestone laps rather than only at the end, so there is something to chase whether you are aiming for 10 laps or 30. Mount to Coast is putting up the milestone awards, and the final awards go to the last runners standing.
Backyard ultra questions, answered
The questions we get most often about the format, the course, and race day.
What is a backyard ultra?
A backyard ultra is a last-runner-standing race. Everyone starts the same 4.167-mile loop together at the top of every hour. Finish inside the hour and you get whatever time is left as rest. Miss the start or miss the cutoff and your race is over. The winner is the only runner who completes a loop that nobody else finishes.
We wrote a longer explanation in our backyard ultra guide.
Why is the loop 4.167 miles?
4.167 miles per hour works out to exactly 100 miles in 24 hours. It is the standard backyard ultra distance, so lap counts from The Wasatch Yard compare directly to any other backyard race.
Where is The Wasatch Yard held?
Round Valley in Park City, Utah. The start and finish are on Gillmor Way, and the loop runs through gravel, greenway, and single-track. Full course details are on the race information page.
Is this a good first backyard ultra?
Yes. The loop is honest but not brutal, the crew area is right at the start line, and an evening start means you learn what night running feels like early. Bring a headlamp, layers, and a fueling plan you have already tested.
How long does the race last?
There is no scheduled finish. The race runs until one runner completes a loop alone. Plan for a long night, and tell your crew to plan for longer than you think.
Can I have a crew?
Yes. You get access to your crew and your gear between laps in a dedicated crew area next to the start line. There is no time to waste in there, so set your space up before the first whistle.
Our sponsors
These partners are helping us put on the kind of race we would be proud to run ourselves.
Want to feed runners, staff a lap, or put up a prize? We would love to talk.
Contact the race team
If you have a question before race day, send it over. We would rather answer it now than leave you guessing.
Before race day
Use the form for anything you need before October 23.
Show up. Finish the lap. Do it again.
Entry is $100 on UltraSignup. Sign up, then start thinking about how many times you can come back to the line.
Register for The Wasatch Yard