The Awa Backyard Ultra and Backyard 6 2026

The Awa Backyard Ultra is a last-person-standing trail race beside the Whanganui River at That Place Mountain Bike Park. Each hour, runners begin another 6.7 km off-road lap, continuing until only one person can finish a lap within the hour. The Awa Backyard 6 uses the same loop and hourly start format but concludes after six hours, offering a set challenge rather than an open-ended one. The course is a recurring trail loop within the mountain bike park, bringing runners back to the same base area after each lap to refuel, change equipment, rest, and check in with their support crew. Ultra runners may establish support tents, and spectators can remain nearby without following the race over an extended route. This format suits experienced ultrarunners aiming to gauge their endurance, while the six-hour version provides a defined starting point for less experienced runners: three laps approximate a half marathon, and six laps are close to marathon distance, all completed on trails.