- Fri 14 Nov 2025
21:00
Age 16 & over
£73-£75
- 7 hrs trail running + 479 ft ascent
Event overview
Backyard Ultras can be challenging — but they’re also one of the most sociable events out there.
You’ll run together, rest together, and push through together, one yard at a time.
Round One kicks off under the stars — a rare Friday night start to set the tone for the season. It is your chance to find out what you’re really capable of — not in a blaze of glory, but one quiet hour at a time.
How it works
- You run a 4.167-mile loop, known as a “yard” every hour, on the hour.
- You must finish within 60 minutes and be back in the starting corral ready to go again.
- If you don’t make it in time, or choose not to continue, you’re out.
- At the start of the next hour, everyone who’s still in goes again.
- This continues until only one runner completes a yard on their own, that person is the Last One Standing.
- Because you can’t outrun the clock, most people naturally stick together, forming chatty, supportive groups out on the course.
- You run together, rest together, and go again together.
- It’s a rare format where everyone’s on the same journey, no matter how far they plan to go.
Stand on the line. Go yard by yard. Let’s see what happens next.
This event is part of Kent Backyard Ultra | Round One: Vigo.
Event photos
- Average fitness
- Event village
- Newcomers
- Spectators
Timetable
The 2025/26 Series
This is the first of four rounds in the Kent Backyard Ultra Series:
- Round One | 14 Nov 2025 | Vigo Rugby Club
- Round Two | 10 Jan 2026 | Great Farthingloe Farm, Dover
- Round Three | 7 Mar 2026 | Lillyroo's Campsite, Sholden, Near Deal
- Round Four | 26 Jun 2026 | Bedgebury National Pinetum, Goudhurst
Each round is a new challenge. Whether you’re after farmer’s fields, dry gravel tracks, or forest trails, there's something for you.
Series Pass option
Want to go all in? Choose the Series Pass and lock in your place at all four events:
- Save £60 across the series
- Flexible, interest-free payment options
- Priority parking at every event
- Your name printed on your race bib
- 5% discount code to share with friends
- Access to exclusive partner offers — coaching, physio, kit and more
- And of course: a better shot at the Black Buckle, awarded to the runner with the highest total yardage across all four rounds.
You don’t need to win. You just need to keep showing up.
Support crew
You can have a small crew with you at the event base to assist between loops (food, kit, encouragement, tough love, etc.). Just keep it low-key — space is limited, and this isn’t Glastonbury. Crew aren’t allowed to pace you or provide outside assistance on the course — only at base between yards.
Night running & safety
Night running can feel intimidating — especially if you’re arriving solo. So here’s how it will be safer, more welcoming, and better supported for everyone:
- The course is clearly marked throughout
- Marshals are stationed in key locations
- A dedicated sweeper follows each yard
- You’ll never be far from others — this is a shared experience
- Everyone sets off together; everyone returns together
- If you’d like to be paired with someone for your first lap or two, just ask at registration and it will happen
- This format is built on community; you won’t be alone out there
- Bag storage
- Bar
- Cafe
- Free parking
- Rural
- Toilets
Event HQ
Vigo Rugby Football Club
Harvel Road
Meopham
Gravesend
Kent
DA13 0UA
UK
- Cut off time
- Distance markers
- First aid
- Hilly
- Marshals
- Multiple laps
- Sweeper
- Toilets
- Traffic free
- Water stations
- Way markers
- GPX available
GPX route
The route is displayed on the map above.
Overview
There’s a night route and a day route, switching at sunrise. You’ll run woodland trails, open paths around Trosley Country Park, and sections of the North Downs Way. Expect runnable terrain, gentle climbs, and big open skies — with plenty of company along the way.
Every yard is designed to wear you down slowly — just how it should be.
Map
4.15-mile loop. 341ft elevation.
3.96-mile loop. 479ft elevation.
- Chip timing
- Drinks
- Medal
Included
- Access to hot and cold drinking water throughout the event
- A fully equipped medic team on site
- Use of the indoor race HQ at Vigo Rugby Club
- Tea, coffee (with dairy and non-dairy options), soft drinks, and a few sweet treats
- A specially crafted Kent Backyard Ultra finisher’s medal for anyone who completes at least one yard
- Eligibility for exclusive buckle awards
This is a self-supported event when it comes to food — the event doesn't provide race fuel, so bring the nutrition that works best for you and that you’ve trained with. It’s your race, your routine, your responsibility.
Medals & Buckles
Every effort counts — and it gets recognised:
- Complete at least 1 yard: Kent Backyard Ultra Medal
- Complete 24 yards / 100 miles: Bronze Buckle
- Be the Assist (2nd place): Silver Buckle
- Be the Last One Standing: Gold Buckle
- Most yards across the series: Black Buckle
- Age 16 & over
- Entries open
- Collect race pack
- Enter online
- Event merch available
- Pay by instalments
Series Pass option
Want to go all in? Choose the Series Pass and lock in your place at all four events:
- Save £60 across the series
- Flexible, interest-free payment options
- Priority parking at every event
- Your name printed on your race bib
- 5% discount code to share with friends
- Access to exclusive partner offers — coaching, physio, kit and more
- And of course: a better shot at the Black Buckle, awarded to the runner with the highest total yardage across all four rounds.
Entry fees
Entry fee
£73.00
Entry fee
£75.00
Other races at event
- Fri 14 Nov
- #2 of 0
21:00
Age 18 & over
£113-£115
- 1 day trail running