Event Overview
| Date | Jan 23, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Queen Elizabeth Park, Mackays Crossing, Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed |
| Region | Oceania |
| Distance / duration | 6.71 km every hour |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | The third edition starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, January 23, 2027. Entry opened on July 1, 2026, through eventplus and is limited to 150. Adult entry is $150; under-18 entry is $90 by email request. Until midnight on December 31, 2026, a withdrawn entry can be credited or transferred; until midnight on January 15, 2027, transfer only, both with an admin fee. The organizer says a live leaderboard link will be announced. Big’s race page labels the race “Bronze”. |
| Elevation gain | About 80 m (262 ft) per loop |
| Cutoff | Each 6.71 km yard must be finished within 60 minutes; no fixed overall finish. Warning whistles sound 3, 2 and 1 minutes before each start, runners must be inside the corral before the horn, and there are no late starts. The last runner to complete a yard alone wins; if nobody completes one more yard than everyone else, there is no winner. |
| Start | 9:00 AM Saturday, January 23 (NZDT) |
| Field size | Limited to 150. Yardlore records 62 participants in 2025 and 88 starters in 2026. |
| Highlights | Coastal Park Loop, WWII Marines History |
M*A*S*H Backyard Ultra winners
Winner and assist in each edition, with yards completed.
| Year | Winner | Yards | Assist | Starters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Macee Latimer | 55 | Daniel Beswick (54) | 88 |
| 2025 | Daniel Beswick | 29 | Shaun Collins (28) | 62 |
Big’s Backyard Ultra’s race page confirms the 55-yard record by Macee Latimer in 2026. Other figures are from Yardlore.
Sources: Yardlore 2026 results; Yardlore 2025 results; Big’s Backyard Ultra race listing.
Course & Terrain
One 6.71 km loop for the whole race, across open paddocks, along the coastal edge and the historic Yankee Trail, past wetlands and kahikatea remnants and down former farm tracks. It is marked with arrow boards, reflective ribbon about every 50 m, cones and barriers.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Historic Yankee Trail through Queen Elizabeth Park
- Coastal edge and wetlands near Whareroa
Grass, hard-packed gravel and dirt trail, and former farm roads, with about 80 m of climb per loop. The course stays open to the public, and runners must keep off Whareroa Road.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry with no qualifying result; the organizer welcomes all abilities. Runners can also enter squads of up to four, scored on the squad’s combined yards, by emailing the organizer by January 16, 2027. |
| Support model | Largely self-supported. The Ramaroa Centre has toilets, a limited water supply, a hot water unit, limited charging, a barbecue and microwave, and first aid is on site. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews are welcome and may help only between yards, not inside the starting corral or during a yard. No pacing, accompanying or cycling alongside runners, and no trekking poles or other artificial aids. Runners must carry a headlamp and a mobile phone in the dark. |
| Logistics note | Base camp is in the paddock beside the Ramaroa Centre, Whareroa Road, at the Mackays Crossing entrance off SH1 near Paekākāriki, about 45 km north of Wellington. It opens for setup from 3:00 to 9:00 PM on Friday, January 22; the gate opens at 6:00 AM Saturday, check-in is 7:00 to 8:30 AM and the mandatory briefing is at 8:30 AM. Allow about 3 m by 3 m per runner for a tent or gazebo. Overnight camping is allowed from Friday; tell the organizer in advance. There is no direct public transport; Paekākāriki station is about 4 km away. A free Kids Frontyard on an 800 m grass loop follows the 2:00 PM yard on Saturday. |
Why This Race Matters
The name stands for Mobile Athlete’s Seaside Haven and borrows from the 1970s television series M*A*S*H. The race honours the U.S. Marines camped at Queen Elizabeth Park from 1942 to 1944, and with the Kāpiti U.S. Marines Trust its proceeds go toward restoring the park’s WWII exhibits. FTS Events organizes it, with Fiona Hayvice as race director. Daniel Beswick won the first edition in January 2025 with 29 yards. In January 2026, 88 runners started and Macee Latimer won outright with 55 yards, one more than Beswick, with Anthony Kerr-Taylor third on 52.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: Macee Latimer, 55 yards, 2026, an outright win; Yardlore lists it as a New Zealand season record and women’s 20–29 New Zealand record
- 2025 winner: Daniel Beswick, 29 yards, with Shaun Collins the assist on 28
Preparing for a Race Like M*A*S*H 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 tested fueling routine for eating and drinking between loops.
Best Fit
- Runners who want a summer backyard close to Wellington
- Groups entering as a squad
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 80 m of climb on every loop adds up over a long race
- Vehicle gates are open only 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- The course is shared with other park users
Event FAQs
When is the M*A*S*H Backyard Ultra 2027?
The first 6.71 km yard starts at 9:00 AM on Saturday, January 23, 2027, over Wellington Anniversary Weekend, from base camp beside the Ramaroa Centre in Queen Elizabeth Park. Check-in runs 7:00 to 8:30 AM and the briefing is at 8:30 AM.
What is the MASH Backyard Ultra record?
Macee Latimer set it with 55 yards in January 2026, winning outright from a field of 88. Daniel Beswick was the assist with 54 and Anthony Kerr-Taylor ran 52. Beswick won the first edition in 2025 with 29 yards.
How much does it cost to enter M*A*S*H?
Adult entry is $150 through eventplus and under-18 entry is $90 by email request. The field is limited to 150. Withdrawals before midnight on December 31, 2026, can be credited or transferred, and after that only transfers are possible until January 15, 2027.
Related Preparation
- Open the Backyard Ultra format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Build a backyard yard and rest-time schedule
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated October 20, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official 2027 event and registration (eventplus) — https://eventplus.net/MBU27
- Organizer’s 2027 Field Manual — https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bvLo_myU5Aa05_PInaEx9aBVLj9SjKV7aahML-cNS34/edit
- Big’s Backyard Ultra race listing — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/mash-backyard-ultra/
- Yardlore 2026 results — https://www.yardlore.com/backyards/mash-backyard-ultra/2026-01-17
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.