Event Overview
| Date | Jan 23, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Usery Mountain Regional Park, Mesa, Arizona, USA |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 4.1667 mi every hour |
| State / area | Arizona (AZ) |
| Course model | Mixed |
| Edition note | The fourth edition. Registration is open on UltraSignup and closes at 11:59 PM MT on Friday, January 8, 2027. Big's race page lists the category as "Bronze" and gives Phoenix as the location; the race is held at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa. The ruck loop is 2.3 miles on UltraSignup, while Big's page gives 2.25 and 2.5 miles. |
| Elevation gain | About 260 ft per day loop and 179 ft per night loop (Big's listing). |
| Cutoff | Each loop must be completed within one hour, and runners must be in the start corral before the bell, with whistles at 3, 2 and 1 minutes and a 10-second countdown. No late starts. The race is open-ended: the last runner must complete one loop alone to win, and everyone else is a DNF. In the Backyard 24, everyone who reaches 24 hours is tied for first. |
| Start | 8:00 AM Saturday, January 23, 2027 |
| Field size | Big's race page lists a capacity of 250. Yardlore counts 25 to 36 starters a year from 2024 to 2026. |
| Highlights | Trail by day, road at night, Course record: 65 yards (Eckert, 2024) |
Course & Terrain
Two courses. By day, a 4.1667-mile trail loop in Usery Mountain Regional Park (2.3 miles for ruckers). At 8:00 PM the race moves to an out-and-back course on the road, and at 8:00 AM it returns to the trail loop.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Trail loop in Usery Mountain Regional Park by day
- Road out-and-back from 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM
Big's listing describes the day loop as trail and the night course as trail and dirt road, with more climbing on the day loop.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry on UltraSignup: $150 for the run or the ruck race and $125 for the Backyard 24, before taxes and fees. Runners enter one race only. Instead of paying, runners can fundraise for the organizer; raising more than $125 makes the entry free. Registration closes at 11:59 PM MT on January 8, 2027. 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 | Runners provide their own aid. A space beside the start/finish line holds a chair, cooler and other small gear, and overnight stays are permitted. Portable toilets stand just after the start line. Everyone gets an event T-shirt and the winner gets an award. |
| Crew / pacers | Crews are allowed but not needed and may come and go. Once the bell rings, runners may not visit their crew, tent or vehicle or receive aid from anyone, and may leave the course only to use the portable toilets. Runners who drop out must clear the start/finish line straight away. |
| Logistics note | The race is in Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa. Big's listing says camping is permitted close by. |
Why This Race Matters
Kaniksu Ultras' January backyard in Usery Mountain Regional Park. Megan Eckert won the first edition in January 2024 with 65 yards, one ahead of Ryan Metivier, and that is still the course record. The 2025 and 2026 races were won with 28 and 31 yards. The event also has a separate rucking race and a Backyard 24 that stops at 24 hours.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: 65 yards (270.8 miles), Megan Eckert, January 2024. Ryan Metivier was the assist with 64.
- Winners since: Brian Smith, 28 yards (2025), and Steven Salter, 31 yards (2026).
Preparing for a Race Like Saguaro Showdown 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.
- The course switches between day and night loops at 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM
- No aid of any kind during a loop
- Registration closes on January 8, about two weeks before the race
Event FAQs
When is Saguaro Showdown 2027?
Saturday, January 23, 2027, at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, Arizona. The first loop starts at 8:00 AM and a new one starts every hour until one runner is left.
What is the Saguaro Showdown Backyard Ultra record?
65 yards, about 271 miles, by Megan Eckert in January 2024. Ryan Metivier was the assist with 64. The 2026 race was won with 31 yards.
What are the day and night loops at Saguaro Showdown?
By day runners use a 4.1667-mile trail loop in the park. From 8:00 PM to 8:00 AM the race moves to an out-and-back course on the road.
Related Preparation
- Browse Arizona Ultramarathons
- 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 page and registration (UltraSignup) — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=135314
- Saguaro Showdown on Big's race calendar — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/saguaro-showdown-backyard-ultra/
- 2026 results (UltraSignup) — https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=125665
- 2025 results (UltraSignup) — https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=113360
- 2024 results (UltraSignup) — https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=101951
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.