3. Kallmünzer Heppl-Backyard-Ultra (HBU)

The Kallmünzer Heppl Backyard Ultra is an annual backyard ultra in the Naabtal, featuring a 6.706 km loop that runners must restart each hour. It honors Christian Helmberger, known as Heppl to his friends. Heppl established the first Backyard Ultra in the valley and passed away at age 38 during a training run just weeks later. The format is straightforward and demanding: complete the loop within the hour, use the remaining time for rest, and begin the next loop when the hour strikes. The inaugural event had 17 participants. The race persists through the efforts of Heppl’s friends, Andy Brey of the Naabtal marathon and ultra community, ATSV Kallmünz, and the local fire department.