Austin's Backyard Marathon

Austin's Backyard Marathon takes place in Leander, Texas, in late May, in the Texas Hill Country near Lake Travis. The weekend includes a marathon (26.2 miles), a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a backyard ultra, all listed with an 8:00 a.m. start. The ultra follows the Last Person Standing format: runners must complete a loop every hour to stay in the race, and medals are awarded according to the number of loops finished.

The event includes a Memorial Day commemorative run and lets runners set personal goals, with loops run both by day and by night. Well-stocked aid stations and commemorative items for all participants are part of the package. Late May in central Texas is hot, so heat management and steady fueling matter more than speed.