Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival

Suffolk Back Yard Ultra Festival stages its full open-ended race at High Lodge in Thetford Forest. Competitors cover 4.167 miles each hour until one runner completes a final yard alone, with chip timing and an established record of high-level British and international performances.

The festival also sells capped six-hour and twelve-hour options, but those are separately scored introductions to the format. This entry covers only the last-person-standing backyard ultra, where every runner except the winner is recorded as DNF.

The 4.167-mile route uses wide forest paths that are mostly gravel or grass. It is generally flat, firm and well draining, with one small hill and enough width for a large opening field to settle into repeatable laps.

Early June in Suffolk usually brings mild temperatures and long daylight, but forest rain and cool overnight hours remain possible. Firm paths reduce the impact of ordinary wet weather.