Moturoa Backyard Ultra 2026

At Moturoa Backyard Ultra, the clock is as important as the distance: runners have one hour to finish a 6.706km loop at Rough Island in Nelson, then start the next loop on the hour. It is a backyard ultra, a last-runner-standing race, with no fixed finish distance; the event continues until only one runner can complete a lap alone. The day starts with tent setup and registration, a brief briefing, and a morning start, allowing each entrant time to establish a base before the first lap. This setup suits runners who wish to complete only a few laps, while offering experienced ultrarunners a challenging pacing and recovery contest. The loop format transforms Rough Island into a base camp between efforts: runners return to their support area for food, clothing changes, rest, and crew assistance before the next start. Anyone missing the hourly cutoff, or not ready to begin the next lap, is recorded as a DNF. Support crews remain nearby, making the race as much about managing the quiet minutes between laps as it is about running. Moturoa is a new event, and its champion is the last runner able to answer the hourly call.