A ‘BACKYARD Ultra’ is an unusual, but increasingly popular style of sporting event.

Participants run or walk 6.7 kilometres (one ‘lap’) in an hour, starting on the hour, and continue until there is just one person remaining – the last one standing.

More than 50 runners from Coffs Harbour and Grafton recently decided to try out this running format, marking the first backyard ultra at Coffs Creek.

Starting near Englands Park, the runners went along Brodie Drive, onto the Coffs Creek Track and turned around just before Coffs Harbour Showground for the 6.7km distance.

Between the runners, more than 293 ‘laps’ were completed, totalling a huge distance of 1,963km along the Coffs Creek Track.

Keelan Birch, a local runner, explained how the day unfolded.

“The ‘Backyard Ultra’ is an intriguing format that we were really excited to try out,” he said.

“For most, completing 6.7km in an hour is quite achievable but doing this over and over again every hour presents different challenges.

“We had at least 18 people achieve a distance personal best.

As each 6.7-km lap is not a race and there are between break laps until the next hour begins, the relaxed nature meant people are more social and often running together,” said Keelan.

“We started at 7am and did not finish until 11pm.

“Richard Pring and Clare Palmer both ran 16 laps (107.2km) until Richard stopped, and Clare ran a final 17th lap – making her the last one standing!

“There were some amazing feats of endurance considering this was not an official event,” said Keelan.

Those who did 10 laps or more included Clare Palmer with 17 laps and last one standing, Richard John Pring with 16 laps, Andrew Ferguson and Jason Limbert with 13 laps, Ben Smith and Chris George with 12 laps, Annabelle Swainston with 11 laps, Kylie McGrath, Henry Sheehan and Keelan Birch with 10 laps.

“Aside from those who did large totals, the social nature of the events meant many people joined in for one, two or three laps. It felt like a social day out and it was great to see so many people achieve a distance PB,” said Keelan.

“We can’t wait to try it again next year.”