Event Overview
| Date | Dec 19, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Miami Marine Stadium, Virginia Key, Miami, Florida, USA |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 6.7056 km (4.167 mi) every hour |
| State / area | Florida (FL) |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | Registration is open on RunSignup at $249 until December 14, 2026, or until the 500-runner limit fills; refunds are not allowed. Parking, packet pickup, basecamp footprints, crew access, aid and the final measured course map are still being finalized and will be published in the Athlete Guide before race weekend. Big's race page lists the race without a ticket category, and the organizer's FAQ says: "A calendar listing does not by itself establish a championship qualification or ticket status." Yardlore lists no earlier edition. |
| Cutoff | Each 6.7056 km yard must be finished in under an hour, and every active runner must be inside the corral at the bell, with warnings at 3, 2 and 1 minutes. No late starts or skipped yards. There is no yard cap, distance cap or preset finish. The winner must complete one more yard than everyone else; if nobody does, there is no winner. |
| Start | 8:00 AM EST, Saturday, December 19, 2026 |
| Field size | Limited to 500 runners. |
| Highlights | Waterfront basecamp at Miami Marine Stadium, Field limited to 500 |
Course & Terrain
One course for the whole race, day and night: a 4.167-mile (6.7056 km) yard through the Miami Marine Stadium basin and Virginia Key, combining dirt trail with paved or concrete sections and returning to the same race village every hour. The organizer calls the current route provisional; the measured map and night instructions come before race day.
The organizer tells runners to prepare for heat and humidity, sun, rain and changing conditions at night, and to carry a headlamp and a backup light if they plan to run after dark.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry on RunSignup at $249; registration ends December 14, 2026. No previous backyard or ultramarathon finish is required. Refunds are not allowed. Results count toward the Big's At-Large list, which ranks each runner's best backyard result between August 16, 2025 and August 15, 2027. |
| Support model | The organizer plans common race aid including water, ice and hydration support, but no specific on-course aid station is confirmed. Runners should bring the food, drinks and supplies they expect to use between yards. Participant award details are still to come. |
| Crew / pacers | Crew may help only between yards, in the designated support area. No pacers, crew, spectators or eliminated runners may accompany a runner on course, and trekking poles are banned. Runners may leave the course during a yard only to use a restroom. |
| Logistics note | The RunSignup address is Miami Marine Stadium, 3505 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149. The race village and runner basecamp are planned around the start/finish. Spectators are welcome in designated areas. |
Why This Race Matters
A traditional, open-ended backyard on Virginia Key, organized by Carlos Osorio in collaboration with Frankie Ruiz (Big's listing). The organizer pitches it at both runners chasing the final yard and runners chasing a first ultra, 50 miles or 100 miles, all on the same course under the same rules.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- No course record yet: Yardlore lists no earlier edition, so the 2026 race will set the first one.
Preparing for a Race Like Miami 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.
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.
- Course, parking, aid and crew details are not final yet
- No refunds
- Heat, humidity and rain, per the organizer
Event FAQs
When and where is the Miami Backyard Ultra?
The first yard starts at 8:00 AM EST on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key. A new 4.167-mile yard starts every hour until one runner completes one more yard than everyone else.
Can the Miami Backyard Ultra be my first backyard ultra?
Yes. The organizer says no previous backyard or ultramarathon finish is required. Everyone runs the same yard under the same rules, and completed yards are each runner's official result.
Does the Miami Backyard Ultra have Big's ticket status?
The race is on Big's race calendar without a ticket category. The organizer's FAQ says "A calendar listing does not by itself establish a championship qualification or ticket status." Yards run here still count toward the Big's At-Large list for 2027.
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
- 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.
- RunSignup race page and registration — https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/KeyBiscayne/MiamiBackyardUltra
- Official rules — https://runsignup.com/Race/MiamiBackyardUltra/Page/Rules
- Event details — https://runsignup.com/Race/MiamiBackyardUltra/Page/Event-Details
- Organizer's FAQ — https://runsignup.com/Race/MiamiBackyardUltra/Page/FAQ
- Miami Backyard Ultra on Big's race calendar — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/miami-backyard-ultra/
- Provisional course reference (Plotaroute) — https://www.plotaroute.com/route/3329124
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.