The Devils Race Track

The Devils Race Track Backyard Ultra is a last-runner-standing race at Wade Mountain Preserve, part of the Land Trust of North Alabama. It uses the classic backyard ultra setup: everyone starts together, runs a 4.167-mile loop, and must be back in the starting corral before the next horn. The horn blows at the top of every hour, so the race resets repeatedly until only one runner remains. A runner completing 24 hours reaches 100 miles, requiring a steady pace of 14:24 per mile or better, maintained consistently. The course begins with a quarter mile of road to spread the field, then transitions to a single-track trail loop. After dark, the race shifts entirely to a road loop until sunrise. This simplifies the night section underfoot but maintains mental challenge. The event qualifies runners for Big Dog's Backyard Ultra and follows the format established by Lazarus Lake, the originator of the backyard ultra concept. Participants receive a shirt and the finisher cap, but the primary appeal is the clear, strict rule: be in the corral when the horn sounds, or your race ends.