Roosters Backyard Ultra

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

A 4.167-mile (6,706 m) loop in Rohr Park, with separate day and night loops, both on smooth hard-packed dirt. The organizer describes a single gentle hill that runners have come to like.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Rohr Park, at the foot of the Sweetwater valley
• Hard-packed dirt loop with one gentle hill
• Basecamp on the park’s baseball fields

Smooth hard-packed dirt on both the day and night loops.

Mid-November in the San Diego area is usually mild: race calendars give typical highs of about 69°F and lows near 51°F, with little rain. Yardlore records an overcast 13–24°C (55–75°F) for the November 2025 race.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

Race director Jose Sosa Jr. and Los Gallos Ultras started Roosters in February 2025, when Daniel Kohlbrenner won with 27 yards. Tim Vail, the assist that day, came back to win the November 2025 race with 39 yards, the course record, one more than Taylor Adams. Parker Stinnett won in March 2026 with 37 yards, and Andreina Chimal was the assist with 36, the women’s best here. Results count toward Big’s At-Large list.

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

• Course record: 39 yards (about 162.5 miles), Tim Vail, November 2025. Taylor Adams was the assist with 38. Big’s race page still shows 37 yards for Vail, which does not match Big’s own results.
• Women’s best: 36 yards, Andreina Chimal, March 2026, when she was the assist.
• First edition, February 2025: Daniel Kohlbrenner won with 27 yards; Tim Vail was the assist with 26.

Preparing for a Race Like Roosters 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

• First-time backyard runners: a smooth loop with little climbing
• Runners who want a backyard twice a year in Southern California
• Runners bringing a dog to basecamp

Planning Notes

• Practice the exact hourly routine: loop, eat, foot check, bottle refill, and back to the start. The format rewards repeatability.
• Train for terrain-specific fatigue. Technical trails and mountain courses demand downhill durability, hiking efficiency, and reliable night lighting.
• 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.
• Pop-up tents only on the baseball fields
• Few published details on aid and crew: bring your own supplies

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