Andy's Backyard Ultra

Race Information

Andy's Backyard Ultra is a "last person standing" event. Runners must complete the 4.17 mile lap each hour to remain in the race. The sole finisher is the runner who completes one more lap than all the other entrants. The course is in the Teventrails: a mixture of wooded single track, grassy fields, and farm roads in Earlysville VA. The race starts at 7 am Eastern.

Each lap is 4.17 miles long and has a total elevation gain and loss of approximately 358 feet. The course will be UNCHANGED for 2026 and is the same as the previous years.

Race Format

There is No finish. There is only one finisher. The last one standing. The backyard ultra is a form of ultramarathon race where competitors must consecutively run the lap distance of 4.167 miles in less than one hour. When each lap is completed, the remaining time within the hour is used to recover for the next hour's race. Runners cannot start the next lap before the next hour starts. Exactly one hour after a backyard ultra's first starting time, the competitors run an additional lap with a one-hour window for completion. These distance laps are repeated hourly. If a runner fails to complete a lap in 1 hour, their race is over and they must leave the course. The race ends with a win when the last runner completes one more lap than all the other runners. All other runners DNF. If no competitor manages one more lap than the others, then all athletes receive a DNF and there is no winner. The lap distance was set to make the total distance run for 24 laps (one day) to be 100 miles.

Runners must check in 15 minutes before the start of the event (6:45am). Runners must check in after they finish each lap. Runners must be standing in the starting corral when the next lap starts or else they may not continue. Runners may choose not to continue. Runners must check out of the race before they leave. No late starts once the starting cow bell is rung. Races will continue until only one runner remains, and at that point, once that person completes a loop on their own, that runner is the winner.

At 3 minutes till each race 3 whistles will be blown. At 2 minutes till each race 2 whistles will be blown. At 1 minute till each race 1 whistle will be blown. A cow bell is rung once the race starts. Once the cow bell is rung, runners may not visit their crew, their tent, their vehicle or receive aid from anyone. Runners must stay on the course once the bell is rung. The only reason for leaving the course once the bell is rung is to use the porta-potty. Once you finish your loop and check in, you may choose to do what you want, but must check in and be back in the starting corral before the bell rings. No pacing from non entrants is allowed. Crew and spectators must stay off the course, but may be in the designated crew areas near the start/finish. Andy's uses the rules from the backyardultra.com group. No artificial aids such as trekking poles are allowed.

Team Award

Andy's has a team award. A team's score will be the sum of the laps of the runners. A team can have 2, 3, or 4 runners. The team with the highest score wins. All other BYU rules apply. Team signup will be at packet pickup. Note, this is not a relay event. Team runners will all run together at the same time with the rest of the field. Team entrants also qualify for all the other individual award categories as appropriate.

Prizes

Each entrant will receive a race T-shirt with the number of yards (hours) completed displayed on the back. The 2026 shirt color will be revealed at the race. Each runner that completes 12 laps will receive a 50 mile buff. Each runner that completes 24 laps will receive a 100 mile buckle. Each runner that completes 36 laps will receive a 150 mile buff. Each runner that completes 48 laps will receive a 200 mile buckle. The winner will receive the Sole Survivor t-shirt and trophy

Parking

Parking is accessible from Markwood Rd across from Claymont Rd, at the entrance to the Teventrails field. Crew and spectators may leave and come back if needed. For safety, no vehicles are allowed down by the tent area. RVs should park up at the parling lot closer to the road, where the parking lot is flattest. Crew and spectators must check in at the registration table and sign the Teventrail waiver when they first arrive.

Packet pick-up, Pre-Race Briefing

Race packet pickup will be at the race start area starting at the Friday before raceday at 5pm. Runners must pick up their race bib before 6am Saturday race day,. A pre-race briefing will be held at the race start area on Friday before raceday at 6pm. Runner 10' x 10' tent sites will be assigned based on the bib number. Bib numbers will be seeded for runners who havce run a previpous backyard ultra and assigned randomly.for the other runners.

Aid Station

The race will have one aid station area that runners may use to refuel between laps. No aid stations are allowed on the course. The race will provide water. Runners and crew must bring whatever aid (food, drinks, clothing, headlamps, batteries, chair, etc.) they may need for the duration of the event. Grocery stores, restaurants, and a Target are within 15 minute drive of the race. Each runner will be provided a space in the aid station area to set up a chair, cooler, a 10' x10' pop-up tent, and items they may need for the race. Runners will need to bring headlamps for the night laps. Blankets, chairs, sleeping bags are recommended. Crews and spectators are permitted. DNF runners are welcome to continue spectating Andy's Backyard Ultra. A fire ring will be provided.

Camping

Runners and crew may set up a tent at their tent site and/or in the large camping area on Friday before raceday starting at 5pm through the end of the race. No campfires are allowed on the Teventrails except for the fire ring provided by the event.

Porta-Potties

Porta Potties will be provided past the start line. Crew may use the porta potties but are asked to avoid using them in the last 15 minutes of each hour as the runners finish the lap.

Charity

Any race profit will be given to the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Company.

Important Notices

The Teventrails race location is privately owned and is not open to the public for training or recon runs. The course will be open to entrants and their crew and friends for a course preview day (Date TBD in August/September from 7am to 3pm) to practice the backyard format and timing. A strava route of the course is here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3057280105223370300 Dogs are allowed at the parking and start area as long as they are controlled by their owners. Dogs are not allowed on the course.

Facebook Page

Andy's Backyard Ultra has a Facebook page with (hopefully) useful information about the race. Feel free to post questions, thoughts, photos, etc. https://www.facebook.com/groups/andysbackyardultra

Message from the Race Directors

We are excited to put on the 6th annual Andy's Backyard Ultra. It is sure to be a mix of fun and suffering. Looking forward to seeing you this October. - Rick Kwiatkowski, Mary Kwiatkowski, Patrick Paczkowski

Andy's DNF Gong. DNF'd runners get to sound the gong and let the world know they are done.

Previous Winners

• 2021 Jamey Travelstead 29 yards
• 2022 Dave Kwiatkowski 32 yards
• 2023 Eric Hewell 25 yards
• 2024 Travis Walker 18 yards
• 2025 Lester Barkman 28 yards