Big Tex Backyard

LAST RUNNER STANDING

OCTOBER 19th, 2024 at Stephen F. Austin State Park (just west of Houston)

Updated Venue: We are excited to announce that Big Tex 2024 is moving closer to Houston and will be hosted at Stephen F. Austin State Park in San Felipe allowing a large grass area for personal aid setup around our group dining hall screen shelter as well as campsites and full hookup RV sites. The SFA State Park has a network of wide well-maintained trails, primarily crushed gravel, with minimal elevation change.

Back for year two, The Big Tex Backyard is a “last runner standing” format event with a 4.17 mile “yard” starting every hour, on the hour, until there is only one remaining. Standard backyard format rules will apply (see below details). We will again be competing simultaneously, head-to-head, against Laz’s Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra which starts at the exact same time in Tennessee.

All participants will receive a Big Tex hoodie, a special customized participant giveaway, and fully stocked aid station support. Runners completing 24 yards will receive a 100mi buckle. The winner will win a dollar for every mile they run and the seconder will win a dollar for every yard they finish!**

Backyard Format Rules

The Backyard format is simple: 100 miles divided into 24 hours give you 4.167 miles for a “yard” (lap). Every hour, on the hour, a new yard will start and you must finish within the hour and be back in the starting corral for the next one to stay in the run. Complete as many as you can, last runner standing wins.

Runners and crew will be able to set up a personal area with chairs, tents, etc. around the start/finish course-line area for personal aid, gear, and rest between yards (not during).

We will give a 3-minute, 2-minute, and 1-minute warning to be inside the starting corral for the next yard.​

All runners are required to be in the starting corral before the top of the hour.

Failure to line up in the starting corral will result in the disqualification of the runner. Participants must start a new yard at the sound, and continue out on the course (not back to their tent, aid, etc.).

Once you are on the course, you are not allowed any aid from your crew or any other individual. No non-competitors on the course (including eliminated runners). Except for restrooms, competitors may not leave the course until each loop is completed. Runners are responsible for their own aid on the course (carried with them from the start). You must be on and stay on the course unless you need to use the bathroom.

No artificial aids (including trekking poles) are allowed. Once you complete the yard, and assuming you have finished within the hour, you may use the bathroom, eat, drink, sleep, ponder the next yard, aid station, etc., but you MUST be back in the start corral at the beginning of the hour to continue into the next hour’s yard. Runners will continue until ONE runner completes a FINAL lap. (i.e. If there are two runners left and one does not complete the loop, then the one that completed the loop will be declared the winner). No pacers whatsoever. A single runner can not continue solo beyond the final yard.

You must check out with the race director once you can not complete a yard or decide not to begin the next yard.

**Overall Cash Prize Rules: Overall winner per backyard rules must complete one more yard than everyone else (otherwise no winner), no seconder payout if more than one seconder.