Simply the Best… An Ode to Laz race & your best bet for a Big’s Backyard at large bid!
If your lap record PR is your goal, this race is for you. A beautiful closed park course mixes wide, flat trails and multiple surfaces to help you run forever. You will circle beautiful Crooked Lake on an even-footed, roomy cinder path and then turn onto the paved River loop where you will enjoy shaded woods and connect to a 1000+ foot boardwalk through a peaceful waterfowl preserve. Independence Oaks Park in May will provide the cool weather you need to run for days. There is family-friendly camping on-site with modern restroom facilities, hiking, swimming, boat rentals, an interactive nature center and more. This is designed to be the most competitive and enjoyable backyard course in the world. Join the Ode to Laz family and create your Perfect PR!
The course is super flat, so don’t be fooled by the scale of the elevation profile. Frankly, we can’t figure out where the 70-80 feet of elevation gain comes from, but that’s what the mapping tools say…
Don’t know what a backyard is about? Whether one, three, or dozens of loops is your goal, the vibe at this race is amazing – just imagine a flat, wide, friendly course with no rocks, roots or obstacles.
The Rules
– Contestants provide their own aid, pacers are not permitted
– Crew is permitted, not required. Crew may leave and come back if needed.
– Racers are allotted a chair/cooler space within 40 yards of the start/finish line. Parking for 1 vehicle overnight for all active entrants at the start/finish venue is available, additional parking is less than 500 yards away. Bring a sided canopy up to 10’ x 10’ size, one per contestant. While it is first come first served, there will almost certainly be room for all who want a a spot, and many racers are willing to share with those who can’t bring shelter.
– Permanent park bathrooms will be available and open during the event at the start/finish.
– Alcohol is permitted.
– Water is provided.
– Coffee is provided.
– No hiking poles, no headphones on trails
Championship Qualification
Yes, the Perfect PR is THE BEST way to get an at-large bid to the Big’s Backyard World Championship. You need the biggest lap count, and this is the place to do it!
AND — the top 10 finishers in the Perfect PR are guaranteed spots in the 2023 Ode to Laz.
Prizes
Every racer gets an amazing Ode Logo hat – it’s an Ode to Laz series backyard ultra after all. A performance-inspired hat that will make your running friends envious and be your go-to running hat in the cooler weather (unless you have other Ode to Laz hats – in which case you’ll alternate between them depending on your style preference that day).
The top 10 finishers are guaranteed entry into the Ode to Laz Michigan Backyard Ultra in July if they want to register. The winner runs free and the assist gets 75% off entry, assist ties receive 50% off entry.
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