The Awa Backyard Ultra & Backyard 6

The Awa Backyard Ultra begins next to the Whanganui River at That Place Mountain Bike Park. Runners depart on a 6.7 km off-road loop at the top of each hour. The full race adheres to the classic backyard ultra rule: complete the lap within the hour, then re-enter the loop, until one runner remains capable of finishing a lap. The Awa Backyard 6 follows the same course and hourly schedule, concluding after six laps, presenting a six-hour iteration of the concept. The loop structure emphasizes patience and recovery alongside speed, as each lap is succeeded by the remaining time before the next start. The full ultra may extend through the night and into subsequent days if participants continue, whereas the Backyard 6 offers participants a defined conclusion: three laps approximate a half-marathon distance, and six laps are close to a marathon. Support tents are permitted for ultra runners, and the mountain bike park's design situates crews and spectators near the start-finish zone. The event attracts seasoned ultrarunners aiming for a prolonged last-person-standing challenge, while the limited-lap race also provides newer trail runners a structured opportunity to engage with the backyard format.