Wainwright Runners Backyard Ultra 2026

The Wainwright Runners Backyard Ultra takes place on May 2, 2026 in Wainwright, Alberta. Organized by Wainwright Runners, this is the inaugural running of the Backyard Ultra in town and the club’s first event under the BYU format. The race brings an intimate, small-town ultra to the spring calendar and gives local and visiting runners a chance to try the format close to home.

The event follows the classic backyard ultra format: runners complete a 6.7 km loop on the hour, every hour, with one hour to finish each lap. Laps repeat until no runners remain or the 24-hour limit is reached — a full run of the clock equates to roughly 100 miles. The winner is the last person standing; if more than two runners start the final lap the fastest closing lap determines the victor and the runner-up.

What sets this Backyard Ultra apart is its community focus and charitable link. The race starts and stages from Wainwright Splash Park on hard surfaces — mostly asphalt paths and sidewalks with short stretches on town roads — and $20 from every registration is donated to the Wainwright Pound in memory of Lassa. Organizers welcome additional donations of pet food and supplies. Each entry includes a hooded blanket and a DNF wood coin, crews can set up on the splash park grass, and flush toilets are available on site. There is intentionally no official aid station, so racers are encouraged to carry their own supplies or rely on crew support.

Entries are open through Race Roster and the listed entry fee is $93.33.