Andy's Backyard Ultra

Andy’s Backyard Ultra is a last-person-standing trail race at Teventrails in Earlysville, Virginia, located about 14 miles northwest of Charlottesville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It takes place every October, beginning at 7 a.m. Eastern. The format is straightforward: runners must complete a 4.17-mile lap within each hour, then start again until only one runner remains. The winner is the sole finisher, having completed one more lap than all other participants. The loop consists of wooded single track, grassy fields, and farm roads, with approximately 358 feet of elevation change per lap. This setup emphasizes sustained effort over a single difficult climb, testing runners' ability to manage movement, nutrition, rest, and preparation within the hour. The event’s own description captures this well: “You ain’t gotta be fast, just the last.” A free course preview run is available in August. The race is named after Andy, the Teventrail Saint Bernard, whose property provides the setting.