Lion King Backyard Ultra

Lion King Backyard Ultra is held in Rolla, Missouri, on October 10, 2026, starting at 7:00 a.m. The format is a backyard ultra on trails: every hour, all runners start a new loop of about 4.17 miles, and the event continues until only one runner completes a lap on time. It is listed as a 24-hour event.

The backyard format is unlike any other race. There is no distance to beat, only the next loop, and the pace is set for you: roughly 14 minutes per mile if you want a few minutes of rest each hour. That makes the first several hours surprisingly relaxed and a great way to try ultrarunning, since you can simply stop when you have had enough. Going deep into the night is another matter, and the winners are usually those who manage sleep, food and morale best. Prepare with 12 to 16 weeks of steady mileage, learn to run and hike at an easy, consistent pace, and practice eating small amounts of food between efforts. Bring a chair, warm clothes and a headlamp, and settle in for as many yards as your legs and mind will give you.