God’s Own Backyard Ultra

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

A 4.167-mile (6.7 km) loop from the start/finish at Hunters Greave. By day it follows the Leeds–Liverpool canal towpath, farmland trail, woodland trail in Bramley Fall Park and tarmac paths. After dark runners switch to a night loop on the tarmac canal towpath, so they do not cross the canal in the dark.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Leeds–Liverpool canal towpath
• Woodland trail in Bramley Fall Park
• A flat tarmac towpath loop after dark

Mixed: canal towpath, farmland and woodland trail, and tarmac. The organizer says the day loop is not flat but can easily be finished inside the hour.

Mid-November in West Yorkshire is usually cold and often wet, with about nine hours of daylight. Staff can stop runners who are not dressed for the weather, and a head torch with spare batteries is required.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

Gavin Birkett organizes God’s Own Backyard Ultra twice a year, in May and November, as part of the Backyard Ultra series that feeds national championships and Big’s Backyard Ultra. The first race, in November 2021, went to Keith Robson of Ireland with 35 yards. Vic Owens won the 2024 fall race outright with 40 yards, still the women’s best here, and Andrew Miles set the course record of 58 yards in May 2026. Iain Bethune has won the fall race twice (2022 and 2025), and in 2023 he and Julie Bethune both stopped at 31 yards, so nobody won.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• Course record: 58 yards (about 242 miles), Andrew Miles, spring 2026. Kieron Day and Andy Wilson both stopped at 57.
• Fall edition best: 41 yards, Iain Bethune, 2025, with Andy Wilson the assist on 40.
• Women’s best: 40 yards, Vic Owens, fall 2024, when she won outright; Scott Kelly was the assist with 39.

Preparing for a Race Like God’s Own Backyard Ultra

The backyard ultra race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• Backyard ultras explained: Rules, distance math, current records and how a race ends.
• Backyard ultra training plan: A 16-week framework with hourly-loop rehearsals and a printable worksheet.
• Backyard ultra race strategy: Loop pacing, the routine between loops, sleep and knowing when to stop.
• Backyard ultra nutrition: A fueling framework to test for eating and drinking between loops.

Best Fit

• Runners who want a backyard close to a railway station
• Runners chasing a first 24 yards on a forgiving night loop
• Runners who want two chances a year at the same venue

Planning Notes

• Practice the exact hourly routine: loop, eat, foot check, bottle refill, and back to the start. The format rewards repeatability.
• The directory marks this as having comparatively simpler logistics. That editorial label is not a safety rating; verify cutoffs, terrain, support, crew access, and withdrawal procedures.
• About 91 m of climbing on every day loop
• Be in the start area before the bell: late starters are out
• Bring your own race food; the aid table is basic
• November rain and cold: staff can stop under-dressed runners

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Browse the 2026 backyard ultra calendar
• Open the Backyard Ultra format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Build a backyard yard and rest-time schedule
• Estimate race calories and plan fueling
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist