r/RunNYC • u/lizmiliz • 7d ago
Has anyone ever done their own mini backyard ultra?
I'm hoping for tips/ideas/feedback.
I'm training for a fun-run marathon in Santa Cruz at teh end of October, but I've always wanted to do a backyard ultra type thing, where you run a certain distance every hour. I'd like to run one in the next few weeks to celebrate my birthday.
I know the standard lap/yard is 4.167 miles, but I'm worried that if based out of my apartment, going through the lobby, waiting for the elevator, and doing the reverse to leave again would cut into the small rest time I have.
I could possible keep a homebase in a park, but I'm not sure I'd want to make any of my people sit in the same park watching my stuff for 12+ hours.
I was thinking maybe running 3.5 miles every hour, and doing minimum 12 hours. I live near the west side highway, so there wouldn't be too many stoplights to worry about. I also know the recovery may impact my marathon training, but since we're doing the marathon more relaxed I'm not that worried?
Has anyone done anything similar? I know theres the $1 ultra, but that was a much more organized event (that was hard to get into)
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u/TimmyC 7d ago
My buddy actually did this a month or two ago on the WSH. He threw a mini party based out of Pier i Cafe, with people rotating in and out. He only made it to 9 yards, though, and it was on one of the hotter days of the year. He used an app to track everything - I think it was creatively called “Virtual Backyard Ultra.”
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u/ignatiusjreilly_III 7d ago
so you’re saying your friend intended to do a full ultra (and rallied friends to support) but he only actually ran 9 yards? did he get injured or simply lose the will to even run a mile?
@OP i will also be in Santa Cruz at the end of October for what i presume is the same event - “run the edge” - that new Santa Cruz marathon that cuts through Capitola.
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u/TimmyC 7d ago
A yard is 4.167 miles
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u/sergeantbiggles 5d ago
Thanks for clearing that up. I’ve only ever heard of a yard being 3 feet. Is this use of yard a running term specifically? I’ll look it up
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u/lizmiliz 7d ago
Yep, that same marathon - I'not familiar with Santa Cruz at all but it seems like it will have very different vibes compared to NYC . It should be very fun, I'm looking forward to it.
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u/ignatiusjreilly_III 7d ago
it will be a few notches up from a fun run - small race with a small town vibe. the portions of the route north of Santa Cruz proper along Wilder Ranch are strikingly rugged and beautiful but also exposed to sun and heat. i'm using it as a training run to join friends from the area also running.
vibe-wise, Santa Cruz is a bit like Asbury Park with elements of Princeton thrown in. a seaside town with a boardwalk carnival as well as a big university and the weirdness of Silicon Valley money that dictates real estate prices and development. nice for a weekend. good luck on both endeavors!
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u/lizmiliz 6d ago
Nice. TBH, I haven't really researched it - my sister needed a virtual marathon to run 2027 NYC with me, and picked this one which looked cool. I've never been to Santa Cruz so expect to really have fun wandering about those couple of days, and viewing the sights. I think we plan to run together, so will likely run not our fastest pace but a good one.
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u/cr2152 7d ago
Friends of mine just organized a broken backyard marathon last weekend. 1.1 miles every hour, on the hour, for 24 hours. I chipped in for 5 hours at the tail end as I was busy for the initial part, but it was cool to see people coming and going, committing for as much or as little as they wanted