Where Da Gold At? Backyard Ultra
About the race
It’s been over two decades since a local news crew rolled into Mobile to investigate a mythical resident up in a tree. On the exact anniversary weekend of the greatest viral news report in internet history, we are heading into the woods of the Jacinto Port Trail System to find out, “Where Da Gold At?!”
This isn't your standard trail race. It's a grueling, psychological war of attrition.
Food and hydration at basecamp
We will offer at base camp all the usual “fixins” of an ultra… pizza, pickles, candy, trail mix, multiple hot meals throughout the race.
Hydration will have water, pickle juice, sodas and Tailwind at base camp.
Date, location and format
Date: March 13–14. Location: 98 Station St Saraland, AL 36571.
Format: Official Backyard Ultra (4.1667-mile loops every hour on the hour).
Awards and finisher swag
We aren't holding back on this legendary theme. No matter how many loops you last, you’ll be chasing some of the most unique, custom swag in the ultra community:
- The Half Marathon (4 Loops): Complete 4yards to earn the official event finisher medal.
- The Marathon (7 Loops): Cross the 26.2-mile threshold to lock down the official, premium event T-shirt.
- The 50-Mile Mark (12 Loops): Survive 12 hours into the night to earn a heavy, custom Gold Coin.
- The 100-Mile Club (24 Loops): Prove you're not afraid of the dark. Hit 24 consecutive hours to secure the long awaited Amateur Sketch Belt Buckle.
- The Last Man Standing (The Champion): There can only be one winner. The ultimate survivor walks away with the grand prize: The Coveted Leprechaun Flute (passed down from their great-great-grandfather).
Everyone else gets an official DNF.
Basecamp setup
Runners are permitted to set up one standard 10x10 pop-up tent or canopy at the trailhead basecamp to house their crew and gear. No heavy machinery or actual backhoes allowed for digging up the preserve, but plenty of room for your support squad.
Loop timing and disqualification
- You have exactly one hour to complete a 4.1667-mile loop.
- If you finish in 45 minutes, you get 15 minutes to rest, eat, and regroup.
- If you aren't standing inside the starting corral when the top-of-the-hour whistle blows, you are disqualified.
Field limit and waitlist
Because we are operating out of a pristine, limited-capacity trailhead space, registration is strictly capped at 75 runners. Once it fills, the waitlist will open.
The course
The course is a loop on a flat, challenging trail in the Jacinto Port Trail System, run once every hour on the hour. Runners have one hour to complete each loop and must be standing in the starting corral when the top-of-the-hour whistle blows. Runners who finish early get time to rest, eat and regroup before the next start. The event runs until only one person is left standing.
Course conditions
It’s wide enough to pass, fast enough to move, and gets wonderfully eerie once the sun goes down. Because as we all know... he only comes out at night.
Location
City insight: Saraland
Saraland is a city in Mobile County, Alabama, and a suburb of Mobile, with a population of 16,171 at the 2020 census. It is the third largest city in Mobile County and part of the Mobile metropolitan area. The climate is humid and subtropical, with hot, muggy summers and mild winters, so spring and autumn are the best seasons to race.