Backyard Ultra Kit List
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Rasselbock Stapleford Hall Backyard Ultra, Leicestershire
Welcome to one of the most welcoming yet fiercely challenging endurance events in the Midlands. Set against the magnificent backdrop of a historic Leicestershire estate, the Rasselbock Stapleford Hall Backyard Ultra is a premium "Last One Standing" race that will test your physical limits and mental fortitude.
Organised by the highly regarded team at Rasselbock Running, this event invites runners to test their mettle in a beautifully manicured, highly supported environment. Whether you are aiming to break the marathon barrier for the first time, hit the magical 100-mile mark, or run through the days and nights to take the overall crown, Stapleford Hall provides the perfect stage for your next great ultra-running achievement.
What is a Backyard Ultra?
If you are new to the Backyard Ultra (BYU) concept, the rules, originally designed by the infamous Lazarus Lake, are elegantly simple but absolutely brutal. It is a true test of pacing, nutrition, and sheer stubbornness.
- The Distance: Competitors run a set looped course measuring exactly 4.167 miles (6.706 kilometres).
- The Clock: You have exactly 60 minutes to complete the loop and return to the starting corral.
- The Bell: Every hour, exactly on the hour, the starting bell rings. If you are not standing in the starting pen ready to run when it chimes, you are instantly eliminated.
- The Strategy: Speed is irrelevant. Whether you sprint the loop in 35 minutes or walk it in 59 minutes, you still only start the next loop on the hour. The faster you run, the more rest you get, but the faster you burn out.
- The Winner: The race continues indefinitely until only one runner remains to complete a final solo lap. Every other participant receives a DNF (Did Not Finish), regardless of how many miles they completed.
The Course
Because you will be seeing the same route every single hour, having a varied and scenic course is vital for keeping your morale high when the fatigue sets in.
- The Terrain: The route utilises the vast, private grounds of the Stapleford estate. You can expect a brilliant mixture of hard-packed gravel paths and sweeping grassy parkland.
- The Profile: Compared to mountainous or coastal ultras, the Stapleford Hall route is relatively flat with only gentle, rolling undulations. This highly runnable profile allows you to preserve your climbing legs and focus purely on maintaining a steady, sustainable pace hour after hour. Expect no more than 50m of elevation per yard
- The Basecamp: Runners are permitted to set up their own personal aid stations, complete with tents and camping chairs. This becomes your vital sanctuary to rest, refuel and change socks during your precious downtime.
Why Run the Rasselbock Stapleford Hall Backyard Ultra?
The Backyard format is the ultimate equaliser in the trail running world, and Rasselbock Running delivers it with an unrivalled sense of community. You should run this event because it completely removes the fear of being "left behind." The elite athletes running 100+ miles share the exact same trail and the exact same start line every single hour with runners aiming for their first half-marathon.
The camaraderie in the basecamp is legendary. You will share food, swap stories and motivate each other through the darkest hours of the night. It strips away the logistical stress of navigating point-to-point routes and allows you to focus 100% on answering one simple, intoxicating question: can I do just one more loop? For full race info and registration details, please visit the official Rasselbock website.
