Punk’s Backyard Ultra 2026

Punk’s Backyard Ultra is a last-person-standing ultrarun in Oroklini, a coastal village near Larnaca, Cyprus. It takes place each March on a dirt-road loop in the hills. Runners begin a 6.706 km circuit precisely on the hour, needing to complete it within 59:59. There is no conventional finish line; the race proceeds until a single runner can finish a loop alone, with all others recorded as DNF. The course is circular, featuring 95 meters of elevation gain per loop and offering open views of the Mediterranean Sea, Larnaca, and Oroklini. Sunrise over the course is a notable highlight. Support is restricted to the start/finish area, requiring runners to handle their own food, water, equipment, and rest during the brief interval before the next hourly start. This format is based on Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, established by Gary Cantrell in Tennessee. Cyprus is now part of a global backyard ultra community, with events in over 60 nations. The participant limit is around 55 runners, attracting international ultrarunners and individuals using the repeated climbs, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation as training for more demanding races.