Endure the Moor Backyard Ultra

This Newcastle backyard race turns familiar community-running ground into an open-ended endurance contest. A large field shares one crew base while the hourly start removes any advantage from running the early yards too hard.

The 4.167-mile yard mixes tarmac, mud, gravel and grass with about 118 feet of climbing. The same loop is used day and night, and every runner must be back in the corral for the next start.

Late October in Newcastle is usually cool, windy and prone to rain. Open moorland offers little shelter, while mud and wet grass can make the repeated turns slower through the night.