Hanmer Springs Backyard Ultra

9 August 2025

Short Days | Long Nights | Winter Conditions

Complete one 6.7km lap within an hour...

Restart again on the hour…

Continue…

Until only one person is left to complete a lap

A Backyard Ultra is a type of ultramarathon where participants run laps of a set course of 6.706 metres (4.167 miles) and they must finish each loop in less than an hour. The race restarts each hour with all those that finished the previous lap on time. The race is over when only one runner remains to complete a lap. This runner is marked as the winner and only finisher, with all other runners receiving a DNF (Did Not Finish). The strange distance is because the distance for 24 laps is equal to 100 miles.

Register Your Interest

Race Info

Starting at 9am Saturday 9 August 2025

Runners will start a 6.71 km (4.17 mile) on the hour, every hour

Runners must finish each lap within 1 hour

The next lap starts on the hour every hour after that

This continues until only one runner can complete the lap within the 1 hour time limit

Runners are warned of the upcoming starts with a whistle 3, 2 and 1min before the hour/start

Any runner not in the starting corral for any lap is not eligible to continue and is recorded as DNF (did not finish)

Any runner who fails to finish a lap is recorded as DNF (did not finish)

Entry Details

Enter Now using the link below!

The Course

The course will be a 6.7km lap through a mix of commercial pine forest.

The course is mainly flat, with a couple of short climbs, on walking and mountain biking tracks, and for a short time on a gravel forest road.

Lap times start and finish under the start/finish gantry.

Race Schedule

Tent Set up from 4pm Friday 8th

Registration 6.30am Saturday 9th

Race Briefing 8.40am

Start 9am

Finish: When the last person is standing and completes a lap, (Sunday or Monday perhaps)

Rules

Runners must finish the lap within 1 hour

The next lap starts on the hour every hour after that (signaled by the bell)

Participants must be in the starting corral at the bell

Warning will be given at 3, 2, and 1 minutes prior to start

Runners may not leave the course until each loop is completed (once the horn goes you must complete a loop before any support is given/taken)

No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners).

You are not to receive support or pacing from those not competing – gear, food or liquids. All that is allowed is a quick verbal encouragement as they pass you or you pass them. Both yourself and runners will be disqualified if this rule is broken.

No personal aid/support during a lap (the one aid/support location is the event base)

No artificial aids (including poles!). Music is okay but we ask that you’re aware of other runners so as not to hold people up.

Slower runners – please allow faster runners to pass

The winner is the last person to complete a lap when all others have given up

All others are technically DNF

If no runner can complete one more lap than anyone else, there is no winner

Please report to the timing area when you decide you can no longer go on

No cats, dogs or other domesticated animals allowed on the course with runners.

Location

The Hanmer Springs Backyard Ultra will be run out of the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp, 243 Jollies Pass Road.

The Forest Camp is one of three accommodation options we recommend.

What might you expect?

Current New Zealand Records

Mens

NZ Venue record – Sam Harvey with 73 loops at the World Backyard Ultra Team Champs on 20 October 2024

NZ Worldwide Backyard Record – Sam Harvey with 101 loops at the Aussie Masters Backyard Ultra at Dead Cow Gully in Australia on 21 June 2023.

Womens

NZ Venue record – Julia Chamberlain with 51 loops at the World Backyard Ultra Team Champs on 20 October 2024

NZ Worldwide Record – Julia Chamberlain with 51 loops at the World Backyard Ultra Team Champs on 20 October 2024

Internationally the record is 110 loops (737km) set jointly by Merijn Geerts, Ivo Steyaert and Frank Gielen from Belgium at the World Backyard Ultra Team Champs October 2024

Once Finished

Please ensure you come and see the timing desk when you finally cannot go on any further. We’ll DNF you in the system. Take your DNF photo, hand out your DNF certificate (which includes the number of laps completed and DNF photo we’d just taken).

Once you’ve finished your event you’re welcome to stay at the venue and in your tent site, cheering on the other ultra and/or relay runners. In fact, we encourage it!

Event Centre Refreshments

Probably best to bring cash because mobile reception is patchy, so EFTPOS may not work.

Liza's Coffee

Liza and her team will be there selling delicious hot coffee & hot chocolate.

They will be at the venue:

Saturday 7-11am depending on demand

Sunday 7-9am depending on demand

Power, Water, etc

There is mains power onsite, and a good supply of water.

There are showers & toilets on site.

Tent Sites

Each ultra individual is allowed a roughly 4m x 4m site within the event base. This will be marked out with tape. Due to safety and ground conditions no vehicles will be allowed to be parked in the tent site area.

On arrival, drop off your gear near the tent area and then park in the areas allocated for parking. After you’ve parked, return to the tent area to set up your site. Please aim for less than five minutes to have your vehicle in the tent area.

Feel free to share a tent with others to pool resources.

We ask in your tent site placement, that you self rank please. So, if you know you’re doing less than 10 laps, then set up at the back, between 10 and 20 laps in the middle and more than 20 laps at the front closer to the finish & corral. This will save people having to move tents later.

You are able to set up your tent site on Friday from 4pm till 9pm and then anytime from 6:30am on Saturday morning.

We highly recommend you bring old carpet or a ground sheet for your tent site.

Event Shelters

On Race Day, we are situated at Hanmer Springs Forest Camp. You are welcome to setup your own tent/shelter or you can hire a Shelter and Event KitZ from His & Hers Endurance Events.

Shelter and Event Kitz includes:

1 x 3x3m Gazebo with walls

1 x OZtrail recliner chair

1 x 50L chilli bin

1 x Tarp Floor

1 x 1.2m table

1 x 24 pocket wall hanger

Spectators

We welcome spectators to come and have a look and support all the runners, however this is at the event centre only. No spectators are allowed out in the forest, as they may be deemed support for a runner and may result in that runners disqualification.

No dogs are allowed in the forest or at the event centre please.

Support Crew

We recommend the Hanmer Springs BackYard Ultra runners have a support crew. This is limited to a maximum of 2 people at a time (based at the runners support tent).

We’re happy to relax this a little after 12 hours and the numbers are reduced and there is more space.

General supporters can cheer/encourage/kick up the arse at the finish line etc but can not join the runner in their tent. This is to prevent overcrowding on the course around the tents.

On Course Toileting

Silly we have to have this talk but after feedback from past events……..

Poop: Due to the public nature of the forest we use, and respect for other users, there is no poop allowed on course. Please use the loos on site at the event base for this, or the public toilets you pass at about 4.5km

Wee: Please use the forest but we ask that you take at least a few steps off the main run route please, to show some respect to the other participants. They don’t need to see your junk – aw gross😲 If we get word of someone not doing this, you may be disqualified – we want an environment where all runners feel safe and respected.

Compulsory Gear

Because of the lap nature of the course there is no compulsory gear required, however, please be aware that this event is being run mid winter.

There is a very good chance of snow, falling and on the ground. There will be ice, mud and puddles, and a very good chance of rain and cold wind.

Please dress appropriately.

Entry Details

Enter Now using the link below!

Accommodation

There are many accommodation options around Hanmer Springs.

We recommend these ones:

Rules

The following are the rules of the event and you will sign your agreement to these during the entry process. Event in the following waiver declaration is known as “Hanmer Springs Backyard Ultra”.

I agree to comply with the rules, regulations and event instructions of the Event.

At all times competitors must obey the instructions of Race Officials and beware of vehicular transport. Any competitor who fails to obey the instructions of Race officials will be removed from the Event and disqualified. The race director has the discretion to disqualify competitors.

No competitor may use any banned substances with the intent to improve their performance, eliminate the sense of fatigue or for any other purpose. Any competitor serving a ban for banned substances in another sport is not permitted to enter. The Event Organisers may test any athlete for the use of a prohibited substance at its own discretion – a positive test resulting in disqualification.

It is important that all competitors exhibit good behaviour and sportsmanlike conduct, and treat fellow competitors, Event organisers, volunteers and contractors with courtesy and respect. Failure to do so may result in disqualification at any time before, during or after the Event.

If a competitor withdraws from the Event they must advise the finish line officials of their withdrawal as soon as possible and prior to leaving the venue.

I acknowledge that there are risks involved with participation in this Event and fully realise the dangers of participating in an event such as this and fully assume the risks associated with such participation and my wellbeing during the Event.

I understand and agree that situations may arise during the Event, which may be beyond the immediate control of officials or organisers, and I must continually participate in a manner that does not endanger either myself or others.

I certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently trained for participation in the Event and I have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical person.

The Event organisers reserve the right to alter rules, regulations, Event course and venues at any time provided athletes are advised prior to the Event, or if such a change is in the interest of competitor safety.

The Event Organisers reserve the right to implement the contingency plan in the interests of competitor safety but will not be held liable for any loss as a result of such a decision. In the event such a decision is made, if the conditions are still deemed to be unsafe, the Event organisers have sole discretion, and may cancel the Event without obligation to refund entry fees.

Neither the organisers, the sponsors nor other parties associated with the Event shall have any responsibility, financial or otherwise, for any risk incident that might arise, whether or not by negligence, from any direct or indirect loss, injury or death that might be sustained by me or any other party directly or indirectly associated with me, from my intended or actual participation in the Event or its related activities. I do therefore hereby on behalf of my heirs, executors, administrators and assignees release and forever discharge the organisers, sponsors of, landowners and any and all persons involved in the conduct of the event from any and all liability whatsoever or claims of damages or actions whatsoever (including negligence) in any manner arising out of my participation in the Event.

I authorise my name, voice, picture and information on this entry form to be used without payment to me in any broadcast, telecast, promotion, advertising, or any other way pursuant to the Privacy Act 1993.

I consent to receiving medical treatment which may be advisable in the event of illness or injuries suffered during the Event.

I understand that I have rights under the Privacy Act 1993 to access and correct any information held about me.

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