2027 BACKYARD ULTRA
THE LARGEST BACKYARD ULTRA IN NC.
Push your limits at the 2027 Momentus Backyard Ultra on Friday, June 4 at Williams Rushing Farm in Monroe, NC. Complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour until only one runner remains in the ultimate test of endurance.
📅 Friday, June 4, 2027
📍 Williams Rushing Farm • Monroe, NC
🏁 Official Backyard Ultra Format💲 Early Registration: $135 for the First 50 Runners
Why Run the Momentus Backyard Ultra?
The Momentus Backyard Ultra is more than a race. It's a weekend built for people celebrating movement at all levels and intensities to experience nature and community at its best. The event celebrates life and connection through an opportunity to walk away knowing you are better than when you arrived by pushing yourself to your potential.
Set on the private Williams Rushing Farm in Monroe, North Carolina, you'll experience a one-of-a-kind venue with open fields, wooded trails, spacious basecamp, and a race atmosphere unlike anything found on city streets or greenways.
As the largest Backyard Ultra in North Carolina, we've built this event around the runner experience. From race operations and hospitality to live entertainment, milestone awards, and crew support, every detail is designed to help you focus on answering one more bell.
Whether you're chasing your first ultra, your first 100 miles, a personal record, or the title belt, you'll line up with runners who share the same goal: finding out just how far they're willing to go.
What Makes It Different?
Largest Backyard Ultra in North Carolina
Official Backyard Ultra format
Private 100-acre farm venue
Spacious runner and crew basecamp
Live entertainment and weekend atmosphere
Custom milestone awards and championship belt
Professionally managed race operations
A welcoming community for first-time and experienced backyard runners alike
View the Course Below 👇 or On Strava Here
“The hardest part isn’t running another loop. It’s deciding you’re willing to get back up and stand on the line again.”
What Is a Backyard Ultra?
Invented by legendary race director Lazarus Lake, the Backyard Ultra is one of the simplest, most accessible, and most mentally demanding formats in endurance running.
There is no predetermined finish distance.
Instead, every runner starts a 4.167-mile loop at the top of each hour. Finish within the hour, recover with whatever time remains, then return to the start line for the next loop.
Miss the cutoff or choose not to continue, and your race is over.
The final runner to complete a loop alone is the winner.
How It Works
🏁 Start → 🥾 Run →⏱️ Recover → 🔔 Repeat
Every hour begins a new loop.
All remaining runners start together.
Complete one 4.167-mile loop.
Run, hike, or manage your pace however you choose.
Finish early and use the remaining time to eat, recover, change gear, or rest before the next bell.
Return to the start line before the next hour begins.
Keep answering the call to start until you're the last runner standing.
🌾 Williams Rushing Farm
A Backyard Ultra deserves a backyard.
The Momentus Backyard Ultra is held exclusively at Williams Rushing Farm, a private property in Monroe, North Carolina owned by NFL great DeAngelo Williams and local celebrity Ris Williams.
With open fields, wooded trails, expansive basecamp space, and room for runners, crew, and spectators to spread out, the farm creates an experience that simply can't be replicated anywhere else.
What You'll Experience
✅ Spacious runner basecamp
✅ Dedicated crew areas
✅ Easy spectator viewing
✅ Trail, grass, and farm terrain
✅ On-site food and hospitality
✅ Primitive camping available
✅ Live entertainment throughout the weekend
🏆 Awards
🏅 100-Mile Belt Buckle
Reach 24 completed loops and earn the official Momentus Backyard Ultra 100-Mile Belt Buckle.
Crossing the 100-mile mark is one of endurance running's iconic milestones, and we believe it deserves an award you'll keep for life.
2026: Six runners earned the buckle.
Some races hand out medals.
The Momentus Backyard Ultra rewards endurance.
Only two awards are guaranteed because only two accomplishments define this race: surviving 100 miles and becoming the last runner standing.
👑 Championship Title Belt
The final runner standing earns the Momentus Backyard Ultra Championship Belt.
There is only one champion. One belt. One name added to the event's history.
Hall of Champions
Year Champion Loops Assist
2024 Nick Frost 18 Billy Shue
2025 Fran McKinley 20 John Dallas
2026 Walker Barnes 34 Chris Mershon
2026 Winner Walker Barnes with the belt
2025 Winner Fran McKinley with the belt
📅 Race Details
📅 Date: Friday, June 4, 2027
🕕 Start Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Williams Rushing Farm, Monroe, North Carolina
🏁 Format: Official Backyard Ultra
🥾 Loop Distance: 4.167 Miles
🌙 Surface: Packed Dirt Trail, some grass, a few rocks and roots
⛺ Basecamp: Runner and crew setup areas available
👨👩👧 Spectators: Family-friendly
🐶 Pets: Welcome in the Basecamp, on leash, never on course
Registration
Early Registration = $135 for the First 50 runners → Standard Registration = $155
*UltraSignup fees not included.
Included With Registration
Every registration includes:
Official race entry
Event T-shirt
Collectible race coin
Custom race bib
Fully stocked aid station
Professional chip timing
Race photography
Runner basecamp access
Crew access
Live entertainment
Championship eligibility
Weekend Schedule
Friday
Packet pickup
Basecamp setup
Race briefing
6:00 PM Start
Saturday
Race continues
Entertainment
Food vendors
Spectator activities
Sunday
Final miles
Championship finish
Awards
The complete race weekend schedule will be released soon.
“I’ve run races all over the country, and this was one of the best races I’ve ever experienced.”
“The weather was brutal, but the volunteers, atmosphere, and community never backed down.”
“I regret doing this. ”
“I’ll be back next year.”
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Your race lasts as long as you continue completing each 4.167-mile loop within the hour. Many runners come to complete their first ultra, while others stay until only one runner remains.
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Yes. While the Backyard Ultra is one of the toughest endurance formats in the world, many runners choose it for their first ultra marathon because you have an opportunity to stop after every loop. You'll find first-time ultrarunners and seasoned veterans lining up together.
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Absolutely. Crew members and spectators are encouraged to attend. Williams Rushing Farm offers plenty of space to relax, watch the race unfold, enjoy entertainment, and support runners throughout the weekend.
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Yes. Every runner may have a crew. You'll have access to a spacious basecamp where your crew can help you recover, refuel, and prepare between loops.
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The race continues in rain, mud, heat, and changing trail conditions. Only severe weather or unsafe conditions may delay or modify the event.
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Registration includes race entry, custom race bib, professional timing, fully stocked aid station, medical support, race photography, runner basecamp access, and a professionally managed race experience.
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Your race is over. Every runner must complete each loop before the next hourly start. If you miss the cutoff or choose not to continue, you've officially finished your race.
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Registration remains open until the event sells out or registration closes prior to race weekend. The first 50 runners receive discounted early registration pricing.
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Transfer and refund policies will be posted before registration opens. Please review the UltraSignup registration policy before registering.
🎟️ Ready to Answer the Bell?
Whether you're chasing your first ultra, your first 100 miles, or the championship belt, the Momentus Backyard Ultra is built to test your limits and reward your persistence.
Join runners from across the Southeast for the largest Backyard Ultra in North Carolina.
The bell rings on Friday, June 4, 2027 at 6:00 PM.
Will you answer it?
✔ Official Backyard Ultra Format
✔ Largest Backyard Ultra in North Carolina
✔ Limited Field
✔ Williams Rushing Farm
Sponsored by: Momentus Personal Training and our essential partners below.
Partnership Opportunities
We're looking to partner with brands that want to create meaningful experiences for our runners through product sampling, on-site activations, recovery services, nutrition, hospitality, retail, and community engagement.
If your company is interested in becoming an official partner of the 2027 Momentus Backyard Ultra, we'd love to hear from you. Partnership opportunities are limited and are selected based on their ability to enhance the runner experience.
Please contact Race Director John Lytton at john@theperformanceu.com
The Momentus Backyard Ultra & Fun Run is more than a race; it's an unforgettable experience of endurance, camaraderie, and outdoor adventure. Join us for a day (and possibly night) of exceptional challenge and fun in the beautiful setting of Monroe, NC.