Event Overview
| Date | Nov 7, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Lütmarsen, Höxter, Germany |
| Format | Backyard Ultra |
| Terrain | Road |
| Region | Europe |
| Distance / duration | 6.706 km every hour |
| Course model | Loop |
| Edition note | Sixth edition. The organizer’s final pre-race news, its info sheet, RaceResult and DUV’s calendar all give a 10:00 AM CET start on Saturday, November 7, 2026, after a 9:40 AM briefing; Big’s race page says 9:00 AM. The race runs until one runner is left. The organizer meant to cap entries at 150, but a test registration left open let 26 people enter early, and the race filled with more than 170 entrants and no waiting list. Big’s race page still lists 150 places and calls this the fifth edition, and DUV lists a 200-runner limit. The organizer’s revised info sheet still shows October 23–24 as its schedule dates, with November 6–7 marked as corrections. |
| Elevation gain | About 100 m (330 ft) per yard, most of it in the first kilometer (organizer’s info sheet). DUV lists 83 m and Big’s race page 110 ft (34 m). |
| Cutoff | Each 6.706 km yard must be finished within the hour, and the next yard starts on the hour. The race has no fixed finish: it runs until one runner is left. |
| Start | 10:00 AM Saturday, November 7 (CET); race briefing at 9:40 AM |
| Field size | The organizer planned a cap of 150, but 26 people entered early through a test registration that was left open, and the race filled with more than 170 entrants. RaceResult’s start list holds 170 runners, 139 men and 31 women. Big’s race page lists 150 places and DUV a 200-runner limit. The organizer reported 55 starters in 2021 and a field of about 130 in 2024; DUV lists 121 ultra-distance results in 2025. |
| Highlights | Village Backyard Near Höxter, Last Soul Ultra Qualifier, Course Record: 41 Yards |
Weserbergland Backyard Ultra results by year
Winner, assist and most yards by a woman at each edition in Lütmarsen. The 2021 race was called the Lütmarser Backyard Ultra.
| Year | Winner | Yards | Assist | Most yards by a woman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Adrian Rewig | 41 | Christian Jakl, 40 | Daniela Palsbröker, 19 |
| 2024 | Ray Qi | 31 | Christian Jakl, Marvin Lindemann, Mike Kanbach and Jörn Schlag, 30 | Rike Geisler-Schlaghecke, 25 |
| 2023 | Norman Mascher-Aspensjö | 28 | Mike Kanbach, 27 | Jette Anders, 26 |
| 2022 | Stefan Wielers | 27 | Dominik Ramin, 26 | Rike Geisler-Schlaghecke, 17 |
| 2021 | Matthias Kröling | 19 | Hannah Hüllweg and Jürgen Haschen, 18 | Hannah Hüllweg, 18 |
Yards come from DUV’s result lists and match the organizer’s race reports. The organizer’s Hall of Fame lists 17 and 16 laps for 2021; its own 2021 result list and DUV give 19 and 18. In 2024 four runners stopped together after 30 yards, so there was no single assist.
Sources: DUV: 2025 results; DUV: 2024 results; DUV: 2023 results; DUV: 2022 results; DUV: 2021 results; Organizer’s 2025 race report (German); Organizer’s 2024 race report (German); Organizer’s 2022 race report and results (German); Organizer’s history and 2021 results (German).
Course & Terrain
A 6.706 km loop from the sports hall (Turnhalle) at Feldstraße 12a in Lütmarsen, used since 2025 while the village sports ground and clubhouse were rebuilt after a tornado. After 300 m the course climbs 70 m over 600 m, an average of 11%, to a bench at the top. It then rolls downhill toward Ovenhausen with short rises, and a short, steep climb comes just before the finish. The organizer says no main road has to be crossed, and DUV’s listing says the same loop is used day and night. The organizer plans to return to its original course at the rebuilt sports ground in 2027.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- A 600 m climb at 11% right after the start, with a bench at the top
- A rolling descent toward Ovenhausen
- Several wayside shrines along the loop
Paved throughout except the farm track at the start and finish area. The course is marked, and runners may not leave it except in an emergency. Poles are not allowed. Toilets are in the hall and at the cemetery 500 m into the loop.
The organizer says past races saw daytime temperatures of about 13°C to 15°C (55°F to 59°F), with 2°C to 5°C (36°F to 41°F) possible at night as the cold settles in the valley. Dusk starts at about 5:00 PM, it is dark by 6:00 PM, and the sun doesn’t rise before 8:00 AM, so runners face about 14 hours of darkness. The 2025 race had wind, rain and showers of soft hail.
Entry & Logistics
| Registration and fees | Check the official event website for current availability, deadlines, prices, taxes, and refund terms. |
|---|---|
| Qualification | No qualifying race. Entry cost €25 through RaceResult, where registration opened on May 1, 2026, and was full by May 2; runners who didn’t pay online (bibs 157–190) pay the €25 in cash at bib pickup. Entry fees are not refunded after a withdrawal, but until two days before the start a runner could pass the place to a replacement by emailing the race director. |
| Support model | Water (warm and cold), broth, tea and cola are free throughout, and snacks wait at the start and finish after every yard: salted pretzels, chocolate, cookies and fruit. A hot meal of boiled potatoes with herb quark is served from 1:30 PM, and breakfast at 9:00 AM Sunday for runners still in. Supplies are reduced from 8:00 PM. Grilled food, cake and drinks are sold outside. There are vegetarian options, but vegan runners should bring their own food. BIX gives every starter a free gel and supplies electrolyte and high-carb drinks during the race, and Rabbit Fuel offers products to try. The last man and last woman standing get trophies designed by a local artist, and every DNF gets a personal certificate with a photo and result, plus a wristband. |
| Crew / pacers | The organizer recommends a crew of one to three people for runners aiming for more than 15 to 20 yards. Runners and crews can move between the hall and an outdoor camp during the race, and must clear their spot after dropping out. |
| Logistics note | Base camp is the sports hall, which is warm and has mats, benches and showers but no chairs or tables, so bring a chair. A lawn in front of the hall has about 40 spots for campers, gazebos and tents, next to the course and the start. Spots in the hall and on the lawn are first come, first served. The hall opened at 3:00 PM on Friday, November 6, for setup and free overnight stays. Bib pickup was 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Friday and from 6:00 AM on Saturday (the info sheet says 6:30 AM). Chargers for watches and phones are allowed, but heaters, kettles and microwaves are not. The best parking is at the cemetery; cars used as camps can park on the meadow, reached by a narrow gravel track behind the hall. Every runner gets a personal bib and a wristband; bring a race belt or safety pins and your own cup and dishes. A 24/7 camera at the start and finish streams on YouTube without commentary. |
Why This Race Matters
TuS Lütmarsen and TuS Ovenhausen, the sports clubs of two villages near Höxter, host the race, with Markus Spieker as race director. The organizer’s history traces the idea to a solo backyard-style run in January 2021, followed by a small invitation-only backyard for 10 runners on June 19, 2021, won by Andreas Klink with 9 laps; the organizer’s 2026 info mail dates that first 10-runner start to 2020. The first public race, then called the Lütmarser Backyard Ultra, followed on October 30, 2021, with 55 starters, and it took the Weserbergland name in 2022. The 2023 race was a Silver Ticket race, won by Norman Mascher-Aspensjö with 28 yards. Adrian Rewig set the course record of 41 yards in 2025, one more than Christian Jakl. Big’s race page lists the 2026 race as Bronze, and on November 1, 2026, the organizer announced that it is the first official Last Soul Ultra qualifier in Germany.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Course record: 41 yards (274.946 km), Adrian Rewig, 2025. Christian Jakl was the assist with 40.
- Women’s best: 26 yards (174.356 km), Jette Anders, 2023, when she placed third overall.
- Most yards across all editions: Mike Kanbach, 107 by November 2025, ahead of Christian Jakl with 105 (organizer’s Hall of Fame).
Preparing for a Race Like Weserbergland 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: the fee is low, and several 2025 starters had never run a marathon
- Runners chasing a free place at the next Last Soul Ultra
Planning Notes
- Practice the exact hourly routine: loop, eat, foot check, bottle refill, and back to the start. The format rewards repeatability.
- Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
- 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.
- A headlamp is mandatory from dusk
- Poles are not allowed
- Tell race director Markus Spieker or Stefan Risse when you drop out, so your result is recorded correctly
- Keep the cheering down after 10:00 PM: the base camp is in a residential area
- Nights of 2°C to 5°C (36°F to 41°F) call for a warm jacket and a blanket between yards
Event FAQs
When does the Weserbergland Backyard Ultra 2026 start?
The first yard started at 10:00 AM CET on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the sports hall in Lütmarsen near Höxter, after a 9:40 AM briefing. A new 6.706 km yard starts every hour until one runner is left. In 2025 the race started at 10:00 AM on Saturday and ended early on Monday, after 41 hours.
Where can I follow the Weserbergland Backyard Ultra live?
RaceResult’s live results show each runner’s laps and distance. The organizer also streams the start and finish area on YouTube around the clock, without commentary, and links both from its home page.
How many runners are in the Weserbergland Backyard Ultra 2026?
RaceResult’s start list holds 170 runners, 139 men and 31 women. The organizer meant to cap the field at 150, but 26 people entered early through a test registration, and the race was fully booked with no waiting list.
Is the Weserbergland Backyard Ultra a qualifier?
Big’s Backyard Ultra lists the race as Bronze, and Yardlore says the winner qualifies for a Silver Ticket event. The organizer says it is also the first official Last Soul Ultra qualifier in Germany: whoever is left at the end gets a guaranteed free place at next year’s Last Soul Ultra.
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
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 November 7, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Organizer’s home page with live links and Hall of Fame (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/
- Organizer’s final pre-race news, November 1, 2026 (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/11/01/die-wirklich-letzten-news-vor-dem-wbu/
- Organizer’s 2026 race information (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/09/09/alle-infos-zum-wbu-2026/
- Organizer’s 2026 info sheet (German, PDF) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/alle-infos-zum-wbu-2026-ueberarbeitet.pdf
- Organizer’s race tips (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/10/06/ein-paar-tipps/
- Organizer’s note on the 2026 entry cap (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/05/02/ich-habe-einen-fehler-gemacht%f0%9f%ab%a3/
- Organizer’s course description (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2025/05/06/die-neue-strecke-weitere-infos/
- Organizer’s livestream note (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/11/04/livestream-beim-wbu/
- Organizer’s trophies note (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/2026/10/08/danke-rudiger/
- Organizer’s imprint (German) — https://weserberglandbackyardultra.com/impressum-und-datenschutz/
- RaceResult live results — https://my.raceresult.com/377115/live
- RaceResult start list — https://my.raceresult.com/377115/participants
- Organizer’s 24/7 livestream (YouTube) — https://youtube.com/live/NnphvYgfQYc
- DUV calendar: 2026 race details — https://statistik.d-u-v.org/eventdetail.php?event=136880
- Big’s Backyard Ultra race page — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/lutmarser-backyard-ultra/
- Yardlore: Weserbergland Backyard Ultra edition history — https://www.yardlore.com/backyards/weserbergland-backyard-ultra
- Yardlore: 2026 edition — https://www.yardlore.com/backyards/weserbergland-backyard-ultra/2026-11-07
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: November 7, 2026.