KENT BACKYARD ULTRA — Round Two: Dover

Saturday 10th January 2026
Start Time: 9:00 AM

The Format

The Backyard Ultra format is simple:
Run a 4.167-mile loop (a “yard”) every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains.
Finish the yard within 60 minutes to stay in. Miss the bell, and you're out.

Round Two at Dover kicks off on a crisp winter morning.
Backyard Ultras can be challenging — but they’re also one of the most sociable formats in running.
You’ll run together, rest together, and push through together, one yard at a time.

During booking, you’ll choose between two entry options:
• Standalone Event
• 7 Hour Challenge

Places are capped at 120 runners across all entry types.
If you want in — book now and spread the cost.

The 2025/26 Series

Dover is Round Two in the four-part Kent Backyard Ultra Series.

Series Dates:
• Round One – 14th November 2025 — Confirmed venue: Vigo Rugby Club
• Round Two – 10th January 2026 — Confirmed venue: Dover
• Round Three – 7th March 2026 — Location TBC
• Round Four – 26th June 2026 — Location TBC

Venues for Rounds 3–4 will be announced between May 23rd and 30th.
Each one offers a different challenge, keeping things fresh — and hard to predict.

The Course

There is a night and a day route.

The day route is a 50/50 mix of road and trail. The trail sections can get muddy after rain, so grip matters.
The night route is mostly private road, with a short stretch of grass — designed to keep you moving when the fatigue sets in.

Both routes are achievable within the cut-off.
It’s a coastal winter test — and yes, there will be wind.

On a clear day, you might see France.
On others, you’ll get fog, rain, and bitterly cold wind. Either way, you’ll earn it.

Every yard is designed to wear you down slowly — just how it should be.

7 Hour Challenge Option

Not ready to go the distance? This is for you.

The 7 Hour Challenge follows the same route and rules — just capped at seven yards.
You’ll start at 9:00 AM and run into the afternoon — a solid test without going all in.

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

How the Series Works

You can enter one event or more — it’s up to you.
Every yard you complete adds to your overall series total.

• Run 7 yards at Dover
• Run 10 at another round
→ You’ll be listed with 17 total yards on the leaderboard.

You don’t need to win — just keep showing up.

The Way We Run Things

We keep things simple — always.

Mandatory Kit (just the essentials):
• Waterproof jacket with taped seams
• Headtorch (min. 300 lumens)
• Spare battery or secondary light source
• Reusable bottle or cup
• Trail shoes with appropriate grip
• Enough food to fuel your entire effort

We don’t raise prices closer to race day.
We don’t charge admin or transaction fees.
The price you see is the price you pay.

Yes, we need to make money to run these events — but that doesn’t mean we can’t do the right thing while we do it.

We’re runners too. Every decision starts with one question:
“How would we want to be treated?”

Spread the Cost — No Extra Fees

You can spread the cost of entry — totally free.
Payment plans available for:

• Solo entries
• The 7 Hour Challenge

No interest. No hidden fees. Just flexibility.

Share It. Get Rewarded.

If you’re in — tell your friends.
Refer someone to enter, and you’ll both get rewarded through our referral scheme.
Details will be included in your confirmation email, or get in touch to learn more.

Ready to Enter?

Dover is your chance to test yourself early in the year — one yard at a time.

Choose your format during booking, secure your place, and we’ll see you on the start line.

Stand on the line. Go yard by yard. Let’s see what happens next.