BACKYARD SQUATCH – A BIG’S BACKYARD BRONZE TICKET EVENT
A trail party with no definitive end?! YES, PLEASE!! Join us on Saturday August 19, 2023 at Stokes State Forest for New Jersey’s first backyard ultra… THE BACKYARD SQUATCH! Every hour on the hour, runners will complete the 4.166667 loop. This will go on every hour on the hour until there is only one runner left standing! This trail party is capped at 80 runners, so snag your spot by registering ASAP! The Backyard Squatch is a BRONZE TICKET EVENT. This means that the winner of the Backyard Squatch earns a ticket to the Capital Backyard Ultra in Virginia in May.
RACE DETAILS
Check-in between 8am-8:30am
We will be following the Big’s Backyard Ultra Rules:
Each loop starts precisely 1 hour after the last
3, 2 and 1 minute warnings will be given prior to the start of each hour
All competitors must start at the bell (no late starts)
Runners who do not make the start will be eliminated, even if they are only 10 seconds late
Except for toilet breaks, competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed
Each loop must be completed in the same direction for the entire race
No non-competitors are allowed on the course (including eliminated runners and supporters)
No personal aid or support is allowed during a loop (no crewing during a loop)
Each loop must be completed within an hour to be counted, including the final lap
Race HQ is at the Stony Day Use Area at Stokes State Forest in Branchville, NJ. The start/finish area, aid station, restrooms and parking lot are all located here. There is a large covered pavilion, restrooms with flush-toilets and plenty of picnic areas with a lot of grass real estate to have your own individual setup. Runners are allowed a crew but pacers are a major no-no. You are welcome to bring a tent and individual setup but we encourage you to keep it reasonable (don’t bring the kitchen sink!). Power outlets are not available, so please plan on bringing your own power source, if needed. We will have a full aid station at the start/finish area that will be serving the full menu of ultra-fare standards! Along with water, food will include cheese quesadillas, ramen, pb&j, bananas, pierogis, watermelon, oranges, chips, pretzels etc etc etc!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is NOT an easy course, and it’s also not an extremely difficult course. This is a moderate course that very closely replicates the trails at Big’s Backyard Ultra in TN! The trail course is 100% singletrack and does have rocks and roots. The road course is NOT flat! Between the hours of 10am-8pm, runners will complete the 4.166667 mile trail lollipop course. This course has 400 ft of elevation gain and is 100% singletrack. The trail course is a lollipop and follows the Blue Mountain Trail and makes a right on Lead Mine Trail, then a left on Coursen Road and another left to get back on the Blue Mountain Trail to return to the start/finish. Between the hours of 8pm-6am, runners will complete the 4.166667 road out and back that also has 400 ft of elevation gain. The road course is an out and back on Coursen Road.
