Austin's Backyard Marathon Ultra • Full • Half & Memorial Day Remembrance Run 4 Miler • 8 Miler
About this race
How Far Will You Go?
"So, the last shall be first, and the first last"
BRONZE TICKET QUALIFIERTexas Hill Country Paradise
Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, our event takes place near Lago Vista, just 30 miles northwest of Austin. The course winds around a peninsula jutting into Lake Travis, offering stunning water views and the natural beauty of Central Texas. Experience the perfect blend of challenging terrain and breathtaking landscapes that will keep you motivated hour after hour.
Join us for Austin's Backyard Marathon & Memorial Day Remembrance Run, a unique endurance event that allows you to push your limits in the beautiful Hill Country. This officially sanctioned Backyard Ultra is not just a race, it's a test of mental fortitude, strategic pacing, and physical endurance that will challenge you in ways you've never experienced.
The Backyard Ultra Format
Last Person Standing Challenge
This is an officially sanctioned Backyard Ultra. Complete each 4.167-mile loop within 60 minutes to continue. A new loop starts at the top of each hour.
The Austin Backyard Ultra at Turkey Bend Recreation Area utilizes a dual-course strategy to manage the unique physical and mental demands of a last-person-standing event. This format requires runners to complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour, and the transition between the Day and Night loops marks a pivotal shift in the race's narrative. By splitting the event into two distinct environments, the course design addresses the changing light conditions, runner safety, and the psychological "wall" that often hits during the transition from dusk to dawn.
The Day Loop is defined by its expansive views and technical engagement, tracing the perimeter of the Colorado River. Runners navigate a mix of winding single-track and open meadows that offer constant visual stimulation, which is essential for staying mentally "awake" during the early hours of the race. The terrain and occasional root-tangled sections through the northern wooded "hook" provide a classic Central Texas trail experience, rewarding those who maintain a steady, efficient gait while soaking in the waterfront scenery.
As the clock strikes 7:00 PM, the race shifts to the Night Loop, moving away from the exposed lakeside to the interior "spine" of the park. This course is built for "tunnel vision," prioritizing wider double-track and fire-break paths that are easier to navigate under the beam of a headlamp. While this loop may feel more repetitive, its predictability is a safety asset; it minimizes the risk of trips and falls when fatigue begins to compromise a runner’s proprioception and balance.
The transition between these two loops is where the race is often won or lost. The psychological shift from the "exploratory" feel of the Day Loop to the "rhythmic grind" of the Night Loop can be jarring, especially as the Central Texas humidity lingers after sunset. Successful runners treat the Night Loop as a moving meditation, relying on the high-visibility reflective markers to guide them through the darkness while the interior woods provide a natural windbreak and a quieter, more sheltered environment for the long midnight hours.
Logistically, both loops are anchored by a central start/finish corral located near the park’s main camping clusters to ensure seamless crew support. This "home base" serves as the emotional heart of the event, where runners can refuel and reset in the brief window between yards. Whether navigating the scenic riverside in the midday sun or grinding through the wooded interior under a canopy of stars, the dual-course layout ensures that the Austin Backyard Ultra remains a dynamic and strategically challenging test of endurance.
Saturday- Memorial Day Remembrance Run
Set Your Own Challenge for a Memorial Day Remembrance RunWhile the last runner standing wins the overall championship and qualifying spot, you're welcome to participate according to your own goals. Many runners choose to complete a specific number of loops rather than competing in the last-person-standing challenge.
You'll earn recognition based on your achievement: Complete 1 loop (4-miles) for a woodallion, 4 loops for half marathon medal, 7 loops for marathon medal, or 8+ loops for ultra medal. Simply notify race staff when you've reached your personal goal.
Sunday — Memorial Day Remembrance Run
While the trail may still hold a backyard ultra runner or two, somewhere past hour twenty, still answering the bell, a new group lines up at dawn.
The Memorial Day Remembrance Run is a chance to cover ground with purpose. Run in honor of someone. Run in their memory. Run because you can, and they cannot.
Two distances. One course. No clock pressure.
- The 4 Mile March
- The 8 Mile March
If you share the trail with a backyard ultra runner on Sunday morning, give them room. Cheer for them. They've been out here since yesterday.
The Weekend
Same trail. Same community. Two completely different experiences of what it means to move through wild country with intention.
Day 1 takes everything you have. Day 2 gives it meaning.
The Rules for the Last Runner Standing Are Simple
- The course is a 4.167-mile (6.706 km) loop
- A new loop starts at the top of each hour
- Participants must complete each loop within the hour to continue
- Runners are eliminated if they fail to complete a loop in time or choose not to start the next loop
- The last person to complete a loop is declared the overall winner
Race Distance Equivalents
Half Marathon
4 Loops13.1 miles
Marathon
7 Loops26.2 miles
50K
8 Loops31 miles
50 Miles
12 Loops50 miles
100K
15 Loops62 miles
100 Miles
24 Loops100 miles
"This variation in terrain, from exposed shoreline paths to shaded and paved sections, will provide crucial diversity over extended hours of running. The course change also gives runners a mental reset, which can be psychologically significant in a format that tests mental endurance as much as physical stamina."
Awards
Finisher Medal
Complete at least one loop
🏅Half Marathon Medal
Complete 4 loops (13.1 miles)
🥈Marathon Medal
Complete 7 loops (26.2 miles)
🥇Ultra Medal
Complete 8+ loops (33.336+ miles)
🏆Last Person Standing
Overall winner + Bronze Ticket
👑What's Included
Event Entry
Access to this unique endurance challenge in the Texas Hill Country
Custom Event T-shirt
Commemorative shirt to remember your achievement
Finisher's Medal
Earn a medal by completing at least one loop
Aid Station Support
Fully stocked aid stations to keep you going hour after hour
Ready to Test Your Limits?
Join us for this unique endurance challenge in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. How many loops can you complete?
REGISTER NOW!Pick your distance
Running
Austin's Backyard Ultra
Backyard Ultra: Official Race Rules Backyard Ultra is a unique format of endurance running. It is not a race for a set distance, nor a race for a set time. The objective is for each runner to cover the maximum distance possible for their level of ability. There is only one winner, the runner who covers the greatest total distance, but every participant plays a role in the outcome, and many runners will achieve distances they never thought possible along the way. 1. Starting Corral All runners must be inside the corral before the starting bell. 2. Starting Each Yard Each "Yard" (one loop of the course) begins exactly one hour after the previous Yard started. Runners will receive warnings at 3 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute before the starting bell. All runners must start at the bell. Late starts are not permitted. If you are not in the corral at the bell, your race is over. 3. During a Yard Once a Yard begins, runners may not leave the course except for restroom breaks. No non-competitors, including runners who have already been eliminated, may accompany an active runner on the course. No personal aid (food, water, pacing, coaching, etc.) is allowed while a Yard is in progress. Each Yard must be completed in under one hour to count. Any runner who does not finish the loop within the hour is eliminated. No artificial aids of any kind are permitted, including trekking poles. Faster runners have the right of way. Slower runners must yield and allow themselves to be passed. 4. Timing Keeping individual lap times is optional and left to each runner's discretion. 5. Winner and Results The winner is the last runner remaining who successfully completes one more Yard than every other competitor. All other runners, including the second-place finisher, are officially recorded as DNF (Did Not Finish). Final results will list every runner's total number of Yards completed. If the field cannot produce a runner who completes one more Yard than all others (for example, if the last two runners both stop at the same point), no winner will be declared for that edition of the race. By registering for this event, all runners agree to abide by these rules. Any runner who does not start at the bell, leaves the course during an active Yard (except for a restroom break), receives outside aid, or fails to complete a Yard within one hour will be marked as eliminated.
Memorial Marathon
Remembrance Run Half-Marathon
The 8 Mile March
The 8 Mile March (Ruck)
The 4 Mile March
The 4 Mile March (Ruck)
Typical race-day weather
Based on 2 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Marble Falls.
About Marble Falls
Austin's Backyard Marathon Ultra • Full • Half & Memorial Day Remembrance Run 4 Miler • 8 Miler takes place in Marble Falls, Texas, United States. The local timezone is America/Chicago.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
