Broken Anvil Backyard Ultra

Broken Anvil Backyard Ultra is held in West Point, Iowa, on September 19, 2026. As the name indicates, this is a backyard ultra: runners complete a loop of roughly 4.17 miles every hour, on the hour, and the event continues until only one person finishes a lap. There is no fixed distance, so your result is the number of laps you complete.

The backyard format is one of the most approachable ways to run an ultra, because the pace is gentle and you rest between loops. Anyone who can comfortably run a half marathon can take on a handful of laps, while experienced ultrarunners can push into the night and beyond. Preparation is less about speed and more about routine: practice running easy loops with a short break, eat small amounts often, and sort out a kit that lets you change socks or add layers quickly. A 12- to 16-week build with long, slow runs and some night running is a good foundation for a solid result.