WELCOME TO the Capital backyard ultra
Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area, 10702 Harley Rd, Lorton, VA
The eighth edition of the Capital Backyard Ultra will take place on March 20, 2027, in Lorton, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC.
From the beginning, Capital has focused on creating a high-level backyard experience for a small field of runners pursuing breakthrough performances. Limited to just 65 athletes, the race is intentionally designed to provide the atmosphere, competition, and support needed for deep backyard efforts.
We often describe Capital as a “dress rehearsal” for Big's Backyard Ultra. Most of our staff has prior experience working at Big’s, and many of your fellow runners will have run the course in Tennessee.
INFORMATION
BUILT FOR DEEP BACKYARD PERFORMANCES
The Capital Backyard Ultra is designed specifically for runners chasing high-mileage backyard performances. With a runnable rolling daytime loop, fast paved night loop, and a highly experienced field, Capital has become a proving ground for serious backyard athletes.
The event combines elite competition with one of the most comfortable setups in the sport. Runners stage beneath a massive on-site pavilion that provides protection from heat and rain, with all crew setups located just seconds from the starting corral.
Our aid station is staffed by two professional chefs who are also experienced ultrarunners and understand the demands of multi-day racing. Throughout the event, runners are welcomed back each yard with premium food, refreshments, and race support designed to keep them moving deep into the race.
Capital has already produced standout performances on the international backyard stage. In 2026:
- Haroldas Subertas set a new Lithuanian national backyard record with 64 yards
- Harol Samir Baca Ponce established a new Honduran national backyard record
- Marty Fox set a new world record for the 75–79 age group
EVENT DETAILS
The 2027 Capital Backyard Ultra begins at 8:00 AM on Saturday, March 27, 2027, and continues until only one runner remains.
The backyard format consists of a 4.167-mile loop that starts precisely at the top of every hour. Runners must complete each loop within the hour to continue.
FINISHER AWARD
The winner of Capital will receive a $1,000 cash prize along with a custom engraved finisher decanter featuring their name and final mileage.
AID STATION
Ice, water, and electrolyte drink will be available throughout the race, with full food service beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing for the duration of the event.
STAGING AREA
Capital’s centralized pavilion setup creates an efficient crew environment where runners remain protected from the elements and are never more than a few seconds from the starting line.
THE COURSE
There will be two different loops at Capital. The DAY LOOP will be used from 7am-7pm, and will be on horse trails at Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area. The NIGHT LOOP will be on a paved bike path on the other side of Gunston Rd. and will be run from 7pm-7am.
DAY LOOP
Terrain
The terrain for the day loop will be flat, open field for 0.7mi, and a mix of dirt and crushed gravel bridle trails on the remainder of the course.
Elevation Profile
Averaging Strava, Coros, and Suunto, elevation gain is 300-350ft/loop for the daytime course.
NIGHT LOOP
Terrain
After crossing Gunston Rd, the night loop will be held on a paved bike path.
Elevation Profile
The night loop is rolling but mostly flat, with approx. 75 feet of elevation gain/loss per loop.
START/FINISH AND CAMPING
COVERED PAVILION
We have a large pavilion that encloses the aid station and all runner sites. Camping is free for runners and their crew Friday night, and all athletes will have easy access to the starting corral. Site selection will be made in order of prior backyard results.
PARKING
Parking is on site, and some sites will allow parking adjacent to the shelter and your tent.
BACKYARD ULTRA RULES
The Backyard Ultra format is intentionally simple. The rules exist primarily to ensure fair competition and to allow race officials to clearly track who is still participating at all times.
At its core, the format requires only three things:
- Be in the starting corral when the bell rings
- Start with the bell
- Complete the loop within the hour
Everything else flows from those principles.
THE COURSE
The backyard format consists of a 4.167-mile loop that starts precisely at the top of every hour. Runners must complete each loop within the hour to continue.
STARTING CORRAL & STARTS
All runners must be inside the starting corral at the bell in order to continue. The corral remains the same size throughout the event and is designed to accommodate the entire field.
Warning whistles will sound:
- Three minutes before the start
- Two minutes before the start
- One minute before the start
The bell signifies the official start of the yard. There are no late starts.
DURING THE YARD
Once a yard begins:
- Runners may not leave the course except for restroom use
- No non-participants, including eliminated runners, are permitted on the course
- No personal aid may be received during the yard
- No pacing is allowed
- No artificial aids, including trekking poles, are permitted
Each yard must be completed in less than one hour to count.
To simplify the rules, runners should think of the format this way:
- Whatever you have when the yard starts, keep it until the finish
- Whatever you do not have when the yard starts, wait until the yard is complete to get it
- Aid, crew support, clothing changes, food, and equipment adjustments all occur between yards, not during them
Runners may share supplies or assistance only with other competitors who are actively participating in the same yard.
CREWS & SPECTATORS
Crew members and spectators must remain out of the active course area.
As Laz has emphasized repeatedly, crews going out onto the course to meet runners creates unnecessary opportunities for rule violations, including unintended pacing or aid exchanges. In the Backyard format, even innocent mistakes can result in disqualification.
Nothing good happens by entering the course during an active yard!
Once runners complete a yard and before the next bell sounds, runners and crews may use that recovery time however they choose.
RESULTS & WINNER
- The winner is the final runner to successfully complete one more yard than every other participant.
- All other runners are technically recorded as DNF.
- Official results will list the total number of yards completed by each participant.
- If no runner can complete an additional yard beyond the rest of the field, there is no winner.