The concept is simple, you start on the hour every hour and have to run and complete a 4.167 mile trail route in that time.
The concept may be simple, the rules are simple, But It’s only easy till it isn’t!
You must run the loop and be back ready to start the next loop or you are out, the race continues until there is only one person who can complete a loop that nobody else completes within the hour.
They are the then Winner of the Suffolk Back Yard Ultra, everybody else is a DNF.
The winners gets £500 as a prize, a great incentive to keep going when we are down to a few last warriors.
This format is hugely successful all over the world and originated in the USA.
See the Backyard Website
This race is a silver ticket race for the 2024 National Team Championships event in October 2024 – The winners of this get to go to Bigs in the USA in 2025, If you win the 2024 SBYU race you earn a place on the UK team at the National Championships in 2024 on October 19th.
Dates
2024 – June 1st 2024 – 12pm Start – It finishes when it finishes.
Entries for 2024 now open!
Entries are full, we accepted 300 entries and there is NO waiting list, we will allow natural withdrawals and No-Shows to bring the on the day number to 250 or less.
We will not reopen entries unless the numbers drop below 250.
Please look at our other November 2024 Redbridge Backyard Ultra.
Timings
08:00 Arrival and registration for runners
11:30 Race Briefing
Finish…Sometime after the start.
Location
Click the address below for the Park Website and the Google Map for directions.
Knettishal Heath Nature Reserve, Diss, IP22 2TE
Route
The route is 4.167 miles on rolling forest and heathland trail, it will be signed with arrows and barrier tape. There is a .gpx file below if you are worried about getting lost!
The ground is soft grass and trail underfoot with the potential for a little mud if its wet but generally firm and dry underfoot.
Below is the info on the full loop and a .gpx file and short video so you can see the route in detail.
GPX file – click on route image below and then you can download a file from the top right buttons in the format you need.
Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Route File (2023)
Course video
You can get a good look at the lap in the video I made of me run/walking it in about 52 minutes.
Checkpoints
At the start/finish area there will be the following facilities provided free of charge for runners.
Please note depending on what’s available we may not have everything we list below and they will only be basic brands and we won’t have gels/tailwind etc.
- Gazebo and chairs and tables for runners without crews and tents to place items and sit, please bring your own chair if possible as we have limited spares. Space is limited in these shelters.
- Water, hot and cold, and coke and squash for runners. Self service from bottles, jugs, urns and plastic containers.
- Tea, coffee and hot chocolate for runners, self service and only basic brands of teabags and instant coffee.
- Various cold foods such as sweets, biscuits, cake, fruits and bars. Various basic brands.
- Foods that only require hot water to eat such as Pot noodles, Pasta and cup soups.
- Hot food will be served every 6 hours from midnight, this is basic items such as pasta, hot dogs, quesadillas, potatoes and beans and similar. We will let you know a lap before what it is.
PLEASE NOTE (CREWS)
These items are for Runners and crews may come and make stuff for their runner from these supplies BUT the water (hot or cold) and supplies are not for crews to use. Crews must fill their own containers from the tap by the toilets (on the side of the building) and boil their own hot water and bring their own food. We can not supply 200 runners AND hundreds of crews also each lap. Please respect this as in the past we have had crews filling hot water bottles between laps and taking hot food which has left us short for runners that lap.
Facilities / General Info
Toilets (Portaloos), 6 Portaloos and 1 x 4 bay urinal which will be cleaned regularly.
Basic foods in the food tent, see checkpoint info below.
Free Hot and cold drinks and basic cold food during the event, see checkpoint info below.
Free Camping and parking on-site for volunteers, crews and runners. See further down.
Note there are parking fees applicable for the car park for those visiting for a short time as a spectator. You must pay using the Ringo parking app. The car park is open from 8am-9pm. Charges apply from 10am. Any vehicles not paying will be ticketed by the automatic cameras on entry/exit. Please do not park on the lanes and verges near the park and cause obstructions and damage the races reputation.
There is no overnight parking allowed outside these hours except runners/crew vehicles who have been exempted parking. If you park overnight without providing your car details in advance you will get a ticket as you can’t pay to park overnight on the system.
Runners/Crews Parking
In order to allow for crews and runners parking during the event and overnight we will be able to exempt runners and crews vehicles if we have the vehicle registrations. Then they will will be able to park those vehicles for the duration of the event or come and go without picking up charges or a ticket.
We will email all the runners 1 week before the event and ask for those details via a google form and then we will send those to the park who will add them to a “white” list for exempted parking. Please ensure we get the right details and stick to using those vehicles or pay for parking.
You can enter vehicle details before and during the event via the google form below.
Parking for crews. staff or runners is only exempted between Saturday morning and Wednesday Evening. Any arrival or departure outside these times will need to be paid for.
Camping/Arriving
Runners can arrive to register from 8am on the Saturday morning and there will be space to pitch tents/gazebo’s behind the start finish area. Groups such as running clubs can pitch gazebos for their teams. Space close to the start/finish line is on a 1st come 1st served basis. Please keep walkways clear and allow space to walk between tents.
If you are travelling from abroad and don’t want to bring a tent on the plane we can supply a few basic tents to loan out or some space under cover with a place to put your sleeping bag out.
Just email us on admin@challenge-running.co.uk so we know to cater for you.
There will be a sheltered area for runners to rest between loops if it’s wet and an area for runners without tents or shelters to place bags close to the start.
If you need a lift from Diss train station on the Saturday morning to the site then we can provide this for £10 on a minibus or marshals cars (depending on numbers) which will leave Diss at 9:45am Saturday which will give you the ability to get the train from London early in the morning and still make the start in plenty of time.
Again this is an option on the entry form when you sign up.
Please be aware you cant park campervans or caravans on the site, all vehicles must stay in the car parks. You can not sleep in campers in the car park as it’s not allowed in the park.
Dogs are not allowed at the event with runners or with crew, we know it’s a dog walking place and public will have dogs around the park but we can’t have them on the field due to issues such as:
Alergies, fear of dogs, dogs reacting to other dogs and other people and hygiene issues in a small area. If your friends spectating bring a dog they must stay outside the camping field/Food areas and be on a lead.
There is no electricity or power of any kind on site. Generators are not allowed.
We only have portaloos and no showers.
No BBQ’s or generators allowed, any cooking or boiling of water must be done using gas stoves. No solid fuel burners either.
Please keep crew numbers to a minimum especially at night as we have lots of people onsite and it is a nature reserve.
No spectators on course allowed during the event. No support of any kind either physical or emotional is allowed on the loop. We know it’s a public footpath and park but these are the Backyard Event Rules worldwide and we don’t want to DQ any runner for having support out on course. Spectating only from the start/finish area and the car park just before the finish area.
Timing/Tracking
Chip Timing for SBYU by the fantastic Timing Monkey
Live Link results posted below and live before race day
Kit List
There is no specific kit list, the only item that is compulsory during hours of darkness in a headtorch of at least 100 lumens. We will ask for this from 8pm onwards until 6am.
However please wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, if we think you are unsafe we will address this with you.
No poles or other similar walking/running supports allowed.
Entry
You Must be 18 or over on race day to enter this event.
To register for the 2024 Suffolk Back Yard Ultra, please click the button below.
Entry Limit 250 – This is the maximum number of entries we can accept – We will have a waiting list if we reach that-
Closing date May 19th 2024
The cost of entry varies based on single or group entry and there are big discounts for early entry for groups and individuals.
(There is also a 5% admin charge for processing the payment on the entry system imposed by transaction costs from our banking/payment systems)
Pricing is as follows:
Until end of June 2023
1-2 entries at the same time – £110 each
Group of 3 entries at the same time – £105 each
Group of 4 entries at the same time – £100 each
Goup of 5 or more entries at the same time – £95 each
Until end of December 2023
1-2 entries at the same time – £120 each
Group of 3 entries at the same time – £115 each
Group of 4 entries at the same time – £110 each
Goup of 5 or more entries at the same time – £105 each
After then until entries close
1-2 entries at the same time – £130 each
Group of 3 entries at the same time – £125 each
Group of 4 entries at the same time – £120 each
Group of 5 or more entries at the same time – £115 each
To sign up groups you enter the 1st person’s details then proceed to the payment/confirmation screen. There will be an option to add another person. Repeat as many times as needed. The price will adjust as you add more people and the page will show the next discount level. You will need everyone’s email address and personal details.
Elite Backyard Runners
We want the race to be the most competitive race in the UK and this will help us push for new records and get the best race results we can for everyone. So we offer 25 discounted reserved places for those who have proven past performances.
These places are on a first come, first served basis and once all 25 spaces are used then we will charge full rate for any additional spaces regardless of number of yards. We may still add elite runners when the event is full but at full cost.
If you have a performance greater than 40 yards in the last 2 years anywhere in the world we want you at our event. We want you to help us push the race towards 100 yards!
If you have done 40 yards or more we will offer you a 25% discount on your entry fee. You must still enter as normal if there are spaces left. If the race is already full we cannot guarantee you a space at the event.
If you have done 45 yards or more we will offer a 50% discount and offer you a guaranteed entry space even if the race is full.
If you have done 50 yards or more we will give you a 75% Discount and guarantee a space for you at the event even if the race is full.
Please email us at admin@challenge-running.com with evidence of your previous results to claim these discounts.
FAQ’s
Can I use walking/running poles?
No, poles or any other physical aids are not allowed.
Can I have support out along the course?
No the only assistance you can have is between loops at the race HQ
Can we bring a BBQ or light a fire on the field?
No the only cooking method allowed is a small camping stove.
Can we bring a generator for powering phones etc?
No we try to limit pollution and noise as it’s a nature reserve, power banks or similar are the only option.
How far from the car park to the race field?
About 100m
How far is the tent area from the start area?
About 10-100m depending on where you pitch your shelter.
Can you pick us up from a local hotel? or other location other than the train station?
No you are responsible for your own travel arrangements and we are busy setting up the race.
Can we stay on Friday night as we have a long way to travel?
Sorry no as we are busy setting up the event and only the race team is allowed to be onsite on Friday
Will there be space for those without crew to sit close to the start corral?
Yes we will have a few small gazebos set up with chairs under them but space will be limited and we recommend you bring a chair, this space is best suited to travellers from abroad who may not be able to bring a tent. We can not reserve a seat or space here.
Can you supply any items for travellers from abroad such as tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat or chair etc?
We have a few small tents and some spare mats and sleeping bags from other events but they are limited and and we would make a small charge for their use. Please use the contact form to ask us about these.
Are there shops or supermarkets nearby to the campsite?
No, we are on a very remote site and you need to bring everything you need with you or have crew that can go get supplies for you.
Is there any heated indoor space for runners?
No, we are in a field.
Is there any power onsite?
No, please bring power banks or batteries.
What is the mobile signal like?
The signal on all networks is poor on the field and can be patchy, the car park has better signal but do not expect fast speeds on your mobile.
Are there bins onsite for rubbish?
No, the park have no bins we can use and we only have a small skip for race rubbish so please where possible take your own rubbish home with you. We will have bin bags on site for food rubbish etc but please do not dups tents and chairs on us after the event as it costs us money to have commercial waste removed.
Rules
Nobody likes rules but we have to have some, here are the basic rules for this event.
- You must be at the start on time to start the event, if you are late you are DNS.
- There is a start corral that will be marked and you must be standing inside it when the lap starts, if you are not you will be DNF. There will be a whistle blown at 3,2 and 1 minute before the start of your wave so no excuses for not being there on time.
- You must complete each loop before the clock reaches the next hour, for example 9:59:59 is ok 10:00:00 is DNF
- You must start each loop land cross the line within 30 seconds if the start whistle or you are DNF
- You can not visit your tent or be assisted in anyway after you start a loop or you will be DQ’d This includes handed or handing off bottles or food or kit.
- To be the Winner you must start and finish a solo loop that no-one else completes. If someone refuses to start a final loop you must do one clear solo loop to win. If 2 of you are out on a loop and one is timed out then you win without doing an extra one.
- Only loops completed within the time limit count for distance or time.
- The decision of the Race Director, Lindley is Final.
- Getting stuff from your tent, having a wee or eating are all out of your time and the event continues no matter what. If you are not at the start on time you are out.
- No support on the course of any kind, physical or emotional. If your crew or supporters go out onto the course at any point to support you or spectate then you risk DQ.
Simple Rules Simple Race
Prizes/Medals/T-Shirts
All runners get an event T-Shirt or one of our branded Buffs.
All runners except the winner gets a DNF Dogtag.
The Man or Woman who wins outright gets a trophy and no DNF Memento (they did not DNF)
The winner gets £500.
There will be Prizes for furthest Male and Female runners from our event sponsors
www.myfenix.co.uk Who are Supplying 2 x HM65T headtorches.
If you use the code “CR15” in their online store you will get 15% off.
For all those that DNF you will get a memento of your run and your failure to be the last one standing at the Suffolk Back Yard. Only one person will not get A dog tag.
The dog tag can be worn to remind you, hang it like a medal or make into a keyring if you like.
“I GAVE MY ALL AT THE SUFFOLK BACK YARD ULTRA AND CAME UP SHORT”
Volunteering
We could not run an event like this without a great team of volunteers.
See below for the list of roles and timings where we need people, if you can help even for a short time please use our form on our volunteering page to contact us and we will get you on the team. It’s a great way to see the event up close and earn free places on our events.
Results
https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/SBYU/
https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/SBYU21/
https://www.timingmonkey.co.uk/results/SBYU23/
Media
We will aim to livestream the finish line during the event, the link will be shared on our fb page during the event https://www.facebook.com/ChallengeRunning
See the trailer for the record breaking race below, the movie can be rented from Vimeo direct.
Winner of the 2022 Sheffield Adventure Film Festival