The Sparks Backyard Ultra will be held at beautiful Sparks Marina located at 300 Howard Drive, Sparks, Nevada 89434. We are proud to partner with the City of Sparks Parks & Recreation Department, whose mission of strengthening Sparks by protecting parks and natural resources while fostering recreation opportunities and special events enhances the city’s image, economic vitality and quality of life (City of Sparks). These are values that align perfectly with the Biggest Little Ultra’s commitment to community and endurance athletics.
The City of Sparks has proven time and again that #ItsHappeningHere with world-class special events throughout the year, and we are honored to add the Biggest Little Ultra (October) and this Backyard Ultra (June) to the city’s impressive calendar. The Sparks Marina is minutes from the Reno Tahoe Airport and adjacent to several hotels and casinos, showcasing the city’s thoughtful infrastructure that makes major events accessible to participants from across the country.
We are deeply grateful to Mayor Ed Lawson, the Sparks City Council, and Nancy O’Connor from the Sparks Park and Recreation Department for their partnership in making this event possible. The marina is the centerpiece of our races and provides a beautiful backdrop, while exemplifying everything that makes Sparks special: a community that celebrates outdoor recreation, supports athletic excellence, and warmly welcomes visitors from around the world.
What
Sparks Backyard Ultra is a qualifying event! Since the race is an official member of the Backyard Ultra Association, all Sparks Backyard Ultra entrants are eligible to earn a spot on the National Team for the Satellite Team Championships and the World Individual Championships at Big Dog’s Backyard in Bell Buckle, TN. Everyone who reaches 100 miles goes on the “At Large” list for possible selection to compete in the World Championship.
We are also offering mini-Backyard races of 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. The same rules apply except these races end at your chosen time. There is no winner. You either finish your time or DNF if you don’t run until the end of your chosen race time. These mini races are designed to introduce newcomers to the sport of ultra running in general and backyard ultras specifically. If you are up for 24 hours or more, you should enter the open ended Backyard Ultra race.
Why
The Sparks Backyard Ultra will be a great opportunity to reach new distances and achieve a personal record. Your fellow runners will energize and incentivize you to go further and do better than you ever thought possible.
Sparks Backyard Ultra Course
Participants run a 4.167 mile course every hour until only one person is standing. At the Sparks Marina, this segment is a little over 2 laps. If you finish the 4.167 mile distance (called a “yard”) within the hour, you can run the next yard. If you do not finish the yard within the hour, you are out of the race. The 4.167 mile length is by design. Each lap of a Backyard Ultra evenly divides a 100 mile distance into 24 one-hour segments. Since each loop around the Sparks Marina is 1.95 miles, the course will have an additional short loop at the beginning of each yard to ensure the 4.167 mile distance is accurate. This will be a short loop around the Veteran’s Plaza and Peninsula. We will have signs to guide runners, however after the first yard you will know the course and be able to follow without hesitation.
Sparks Backyard Ultra Aid Stations
We will provide water, ice, and Heed, as well as normal aid station fare (pretzels, chips, gu, etc.). We will have tents, chairs, and cots. You can bring your own aid station if you choose (pop-up, chairs, etc.) and whatever other drinks and food you want for the race. There will be food trucks at the venue during normal meal times and you can pay for what you order.
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