Grand Valley Backyard 2026

Grand Valley Backyard is a last-person-standing ultra held at the 18 Road trailhead north of Fruita, Colorado. Participants run a 4.167-mile loop each hour, beginning with 3-, 2-, and 1-minute warnings before a shared start at the bell. Completing the loop within the hour allows a runner to start the next; failure to finish means elimination. The race continues until one runner completes an additional loop beyond all others. If this condition is not met, no winner is declared. The loop consists mainly of singletrack with some double track, no pavement, and approximately 500 feet of elevation gain per lap, concentrated in the initial half. The trail is characterized as non-technical and entirely runnable. The challenge lies not in specific obstacles but in the repetitive nature of the climb and the time management required for as long as the field endures. This event is the inaugural last-man-standing backyard race in the Grand Valley and serves as an official bronze ticket Backyard event. Rankings are based on total distance covered, with participants receiving distance-specific buckles. Separate awards are given for the last male and last female standing, and a Sheridan Buckle is presented to the overall winner.