The Backyard Ultra Last Samurai Standing – Niigata is a last-runner-standing ultra race with one strict rule: every hour, runners begin a 6,706-meter loop. They must complete this loop within the hour, and any remaining time before the next start serves as their recovery period.
The race continues with the same loop until only one runner remains. Participants who miss the hourly cutoff are eliminated. The competition emphasizes pacing, rest, and maintaining functionality alongside speed. This format was created by Gary Cantrell, also known as Lazarus Lake, and the victor is the last individual capable of finishing the loop within the allotted hour.