Event Overview
| Date | Nov 21, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Marble Falls, Texas, USA |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Mixed |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 4.17 mi every hour |
| State / area | Texas (TX) |
| Course model | Mixed |
| Edition note | The sixth edition and the first under Perspective Pacing, which took over from Summit Trail Racing. Registration is open on RunSignup at $150 through October 23, then $175 until it closes at 11:59 AM on November 14; shirts are guaranteed only for entries by October 30. Start time: the organizer's race-day schedule (packet pickup 6:00 to 7:30 AM, briefing 7:30 to 7:45 AM, start 8:00 AM, no late starts) conflicts with the 7:00 AM event time on RunSignup. This page uses 8:00 AM, the time on the organizer's schedule and of every previous edition. RunSignup's November 21 to 26 date range is a booking window, not a set finish. The 2025 race was billed as a "2026 Silver Ticket Race". For 2026, neither the organizer nor Big's race page, which still shows the 2025 listing, gives a ticket level. |
| Elevation gain | About 98 ft per loop on both the day and night loops (2025 Big's listing). |
| Cutoff | Each 4.17-mile yard must be finished within 60 minutes, a minimum pace of 14:23 per mile, and runners must be inside the corral before the next start, with warnings at 3, 2 and 1 minutes. No late starts. There is no fixed finish: the last person to complete a lap wins. |
| Start | 8:00 AM Saturday, November 21, 2026, per the organizer's schedule (RunSignup lists 7:00 AM). Packet pickup is race morning only, 6:00 to 7:30 AM, and the optional briefing runs 7:30 to 7:45 AM. |
| Field size | Big's race page (2025 listing) gives a capacity of 200. The 2025 race had about 50 starters: DUV lists 44 runners, UltraSignup 52 and Yardlore 56. |
| Highlights | Course record: 68 yards (Dowdle, 2025), Saturday before Thanksgiving |
Summit Backyard Ultra winners by year
Winner, yards and assist at each edition in Marble Falls. All five were organized by Summit Trail Racing.
| Year | Date | Winner | Yards | Assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 22 | Mark Dowdle | 68 | Stephanie Rosebaugh, 67 |
| 2024 | November 23 | Megan Smyth | 42 | Rachel Moore, 41 |
| 2023 | November 18 | Greg Fall | 58 | Bo Shelby, 57 |
| 2022 | November 19 | Wataru Iino (Japan) | 28 | Mark Embrey, 27 |
| 2021 | November 20 | Zach Ginergerich | 30 | Aaron Bowers, 29 |
2023 to 2025 come from the UltraSignup results, which give distances in miles (for example 283.356 miles for Dowdle's 68 yards). 2021 and 2022 come from DUV, and Yardlore agrees on every winner and yard count. UltraSignup has no result lists for 2021 or 2022.
Sources: 2025 results (UltraSignup); 2024 results (UltraSignup); 2023 results (UltraSignup); DUV: 2022 results; DUV: 2021 results; Yardlore: Summit edition history.
Course & Terrain
4.17-mile yards from the corner of Colt Elementary School in Marble Falls, with separate day and night loops. In 2025 the day loop was a flat, wide 2.08-mile trail run twice, and the night loop combined trail and road. The 2026 organizer page links a Strava route and says the course will be very well marked, but does not yet describe the night loop.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Start at the corner of Colt Elementary School
- Flat, wide trail by day (2.08 miles, run twice in 2025)
- Trail and road mix on the night loop
The 2025 listing describes a flat, wide trail by day and a trail and road loop at night. Both loops are rated at about 98 ft of climb.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Open entry on RunSignup: $150 plus processing fees through October 23, 2026, then $175 until registration closes at 11:59 AM on November 14. 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 | One fully serviced aid station at the start/finish and none on course. It stocks cookies, PB&J sandwiches, oranges, bananas, watermelon, pickles and pickle juice, fruit snacks, Pringles, Coke, Mountain Dew, ginger ale, Tailwind and SaltStick. The event is cupless, so bring a cup or bottle. Three portable toilets with handwashing stations stand at the start of the loop. There are no medals; one prize goes to the last person standing. |
| Crew / pacers | No pacers. Crews work from the transition area at Colt Elementary. Setup opens at 5:00 PM on Friday, first come, first served, with a roped-off area near the corral reserved for "Past Champions and Bronze Ticket Qualifiers". |
| Logistics note | Race address: 2200 Manzano Mile, Marble Falls, TX 78654, about 45 minutes west of Austin, 1 hour 15 minutes north of San Antonio and 3 hours south of Dallas. Camping is primitive only, with no electricity or running water; restrooms open at 5:00 PM Friday. RVs are allowed in the lot and on surrounding streets. Hotels and stores are about five minutes away. Dogs must be leashed and stay in the transition area. |
Why This Race Matters
Summit Backyard Ultra, also listed as Summit Last Person Standing, has been held in Marble Falls on the Saturday before Thanksgiving since 2021, when nine runners started. It has drawn roughly 40 to 60 starters a year since 2023. Summit Trail Racing billed the 2025 race as "The Last Dance" and a "2026 Silver Ticket Race", and said it was one of seven US races with an automatic spot on the 2026 US national team. Mark Dowdle won it with a course-record 68 yards, one ahead of Stephanie Rosebaugh (67) and three ahead of Nick Petterson (65). Rosebaugh and Petterson both appear on Big's 2027 At-Large list with those results. Perspective Pacing now runs the race.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: 68 yards (283.36 miles), Mark Dowdle, 2025. Greg Fall's 58 yards from 2023 was the previous record.
- Women's best: 67 yards, Stephanie Rosebaugh, 2025, the assist.
- Megan Smyth won outright in 2024 with 42 yards, one ahead of Rachel Moore.
Preparing for a Race Like Summit 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
- Texas runners looking for a deep backyard field before Thanksgiving
- Runners chasing At-Large yards on a runnable course
- Crews with RVs or tents who can be self-sufficient
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.
- Start time differs between the organizer's schedule (8:00 AM) and RunSignup (7:00 AM)
- No water or electricity on site
- Packet pickup is race morning only
- No pacers and no on-course aid
Event FAQs
When is the 2026 Summit Backyard Ultra?
Saturday, November 21, 2026, in Marble Falls, Texas. The organizer's schedule has packet pickup from 6:00 to 7:30 AM and the start at 8:00 AM; RunSignup lists 7:00 AM, so check the organizer page closer to race day. The race runs until one person is left.
Who won the Summit Backyard Ultra in 2025?
Mark Dowdle won with 68 yards, about 283 miles. Stephanie Rosebaugh was the assist with 67 and Nick Petterson was third with 65. Megan Smyth was fourth with 62.
What is the Summit Backyard Ultra course record?
68 yards, set by Mark Dowdle in 2025. It beat Greg Fall's 58 from 2023. The women's best is Stephanie Rosebaugh's 67, also from 2025.
Where is the Summit Backyard Ultra course?
The race starts at the corner of Colt Elementary School, 2200 Manzano Mile, Marble Falls, about 45 minutes west of Austin. In 2025 the day loop was a flat 2.08-mile trail run twice and the night loop mixed trail and road.
Is Summit still a Silver Ticket race?
The 2025 race was billed as a "2026 Silver Ticket Race" with an automatic spot on the 2026 US national team. For 2026, neither the new organizer nor Big's race page states a ticket level. Every runner's yards 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.
- Organizer's Summit Backyard Ultra page (Perspective Pacing) — https://www.perspectivepacing.com/summitbackyardultra
- RunSignup race page and registration — https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/MarbleFalls/SummitBackyardUltraLastPersonStanding
- Perspective Pacing policies and FAQs — https://www.perspectivepacing.com/policies-faqs
- 2025 event page and results (UltraSignup) — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=123257
- Summit on Big's race calendar (2025 listing) — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/backyard-ultra-summit-trail-racing-last-man-standing/
- Big's 2027 roster and At-Large list — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/2027-roster/
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: October 20, 2026.