Feirense Backyard Ultra

Feirense Backyard Ultra takes place at Europarque in Santa Maria da Feira, Aveiro district, Portugal, beginning at 10 AM. This trail and ultra-endurance race follows the backyard ultra format: all participants run the same 6.706 km loop, with each new lap commencing precisely on the hour. Competitors unable to finish a lap within the hour or unable to start the next one are eliminated. The primary contest is a last-person-standing event, determining the winner as the sole athlete remaining after completing successive loops. Shorter distances are available, allowing participants to finish after one lap, three laps for a challenge akin to a half-marathon, or six laps for a marathon distance. The course is delineated by ribbons and night beacons, a crucial detail for those athletes who continue running into darkness. This format is based on the concept introduced by Lazarus Lake, the originator of the Barkley Marathons, and the event is put on by Feirense Trail in conjunction with the Santa Maria da Feira municipal council.