Race

October 18th 2025

Starts and finishes at East River Front Park

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24HR Backyard 8:00 am

Early - $100 (ends 5/19)

Normal Registration - $110

Late - $120 (begins 9/19)

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12HR Backyard 8:00 am

Early - $80 (ends 5/19)

Normal Registration - $90

Late - $100 (begins 9/19)

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Morning 6HR Backyard 8:00 am

Afternoon 6HR Backyard 4:00 pm

Midnight 6HR Backyard 12:00 am

Early - $60 (ends 5/19)

Normal Registration - $70

Late - $80 (begins 9/19)

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What is a Backyard Race?

Backyard races have exploded in popularity around the world. The race is simple and yet imbues everything a runner looks for in a race. We have taken the best parts of the backyard and added our own little twist with the Legacy loop at the end of each backyard event. Comradery, motivation, great outdoors, and food, lots of food.

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• This race is a 4.167 mile loop course that runners will do once every hour for either 6, 12, or 24 hours total

• If you are unable to complete a loop in the hour or choose to not start a loop at the hour, you are removed from the race

• All runners who complete at least 1 loop will receive a finishers medal

• All runners who complete 50 miles or 100 miles will receive a custom leather patch beanie

• The goal is to push yourself to new limits. You will never know how far you can run until you try

• Finish line becomes home base. Fun for friends and family to come cheer you on and hang out

• Backyards require a sound strategy with how you manage your hour as well as being physically and mentally tough

• Legacy loop will be the last loop for each race and will be timed to determine the overall winners in that race

 

Awards

• All runners who complete at least 1 loop will receive a finishers medal.

• All runners who complete 12 loops will receive a leather patch beanie custom made to reflect their 50 mile accomplishment

• All runners who complete 24 loops will receive a leather patch beanie custom made to reflect their 100 mile accomplishment

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd male and female will be determined first by distance completed. Should distance be the same then time on last lap completed will be taken into account to determine placement.

• Each race has its own winner pool. Morning 1st place may have a slower time than afternoon 3rd place. That means we will have 18 plaques for the 6hr races in total.

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Legacy Loop 

The last loop in the race will be timed and that time will be used to determine overall winners 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

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• Legacy loop will always be timed even if only one runner remains

• This is a key difference in our backyard races, the race will not end if only one runner remains in that distance unless they choose to drop before the legacy loop

• This allows you to keep working on your goal and do what you signed up to do, run!

• This is a backyard race blended with a timed race, best parts of both races

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Why?

Seriously though, when we first heard of this new race idea we thought it was crazy. The more we thought on it the more we realized just how amazing and fun this kind of setup is.

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Runners of all levels can participate, great way to push yourself to new limits, and the finish line turns into the best aid station you ever had. What better way to spend your Saturday than hanging out with fellow runners in the great outdoors.​

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24hr Backyard is for runners looking to run 100 miles in under 24 hours. The coveted goal of many ultrarunners but much more difficult than it sounds. Hats off to the brave souls who will take on this challenge.

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12hr Backyard is for the runners who like pain but know when to go to sleep. 50 miles in 12 hours is again no easy feat and as of writing this seems to be the most popular choice.

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6hr Morning/Afternoon Backyard is for runners who want to see what this is all about. Maybe you just can't run in the morning so an afternoon and evening race is perfect.

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6hr Midnight Backyard is for runners who want to give running at night a try or maybe have a friend in the 24hr race. Running under the stars is a good bit of fun. Who needs sleep?

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Give the Backyard Ultra a try, you might just enjoy it. Makes for a great story!

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Packet pickup

Race day pickup starts at 6:30 am.

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We recommend all runners arrive at least 45 minutes before the race begins to ensure a stress free and smooth start if you do not pickup your bib the day before. Pre-race announcement 15 minutes before start time.​

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Food

We will be providing all kinds of snacks at the finish line just like you would see at any Ultramarathon aid station. Tailwind will be the electrolyte drink. We will order pizza at the conclusion of the 12hr backyard. Great Harvest Bread throughout the day. If you have specific food you need be sure to bring it yourself to have at your tent. We want the finish line to be a party and the race director does love food.

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Finish Line​

Make it a party. Bring your friends and family. There is plenty of room to setup tents, chairs, etc. Feel free to bring outside games as well. Backyard Ultras are all about coming together as a community and having a great time. Stakes are not allowed. Use weight, tie downs, or any means necessary to anchor tents. Nothing can go into the ground, sprinkler lines are everywhere in the park.

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The Park

East River Front Park is nestled in a business park with thousands of parking spaces and plenty of room to setup in. This beautiful location gives us privacy to hold an event like this but also offers amenities for both runners and spectator such as a pavilion, playground, pickleball courts, grassy areas, and lots trees to provide shade. Great place to start and finish hours and hours of running! ​​

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Navigation

Course is marked with pink flags, cones, and signs.

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Parking

Free parking and plenty of it. We will send out a map of suggested parking and setup the week of the race. Lots of room at this park.

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Word of mouth

Friends and family are the best way to promote this race.  Running is much more fun with a buddy and people cheering you on!

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Volunteers

These events are not possible without help! To show our appreciation all volunteers will receive a $70 credit for any future Happy Trails race. Expires after one year. Click here for more info!

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Late Registration

Begins September 19th and closes October 17th at 11:59 pm

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We cannot guarantee all participants registering after September 19th will be able to order a shirt. We will order extra to do our best to accommodate late registration. If we do not have your size or you do not want a shirt you can use code NOSHIRT at checkout for $10 off registration.

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Capacity

Total capacity for 12hr and 24hr combined will be capped to 100 runners.

Capacity for each 6hr will be capped to 50 runners.

These caps are to ensure trail congestion does not occur. These numbers may change year to year based on observation and runner feedback.

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Rules

• Runner must be in starting corral when each loop begins unless they wish to drop

• Warnings will be given 5, 2, and 1 minutes before the loop begins

• No leaving the course or receiving aid on the course once the lap begins - Exception being restrooms

• No artificial aid (including trekking poles) and no pacers allowed

• Slower runners must allow passes

• Loop must be completed in the hour to receive credit for that loop.

• When you finish your lap you may use the time you have until the next loop to do what you please.

• Crew and support may come and go at the starting area.

• Plenty of space to setup, get cozy, and make some new friends. Can not block the course or starting corral in anyway.

• Must have fun.

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Awards and Legacy Loop Example

Runner A, B, and C finish loop 19. Runner A drops. Runner B drops after completing loop 22. Runner C goes on to finish all 24 loops with loop 24 completed in 58 minutes.

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Results would be as follows, 3rd place runner A with 19hr total, 2nd place runner B with 22hr total, 1st place runner C with 23hr 58m total. Only runner C has actual loop time shown due to that being the legacy loop.

 

Runner C would take 1st place plaque and 100 mile beanie. Runners A and B would get 2nd and 3rd place plaque as well as a 50 mile beanie as they still completed 50 miles.

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By using time on the last loop completed it also allows runners to compete for course records as well from previous years.

 

Weather

Average high is 62*F and average low is 44*F

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Race Director - Don Hantla

801-230-5070

happytrailsrace@gmail.com

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Loyalty Discount

 Save $5 with code HAPPY if you plan to do more than one of our events this year or if you have referred a friend to sign up for one of our races this year.

 

Happy Trails Marathon 3rd Saturday April

Corner Canyon 5k Series May through Oct

Corner Canyon Half Series May through Oct

South Mountain Half 1st Saturday May

Butterfield Backyard 3rd Saturday May

Rose Canyon Ultra 1st Saturday June

Deer Creek Half 2nd Saturday July

Butterfield Canyon Half 3rd Saturday August

Jordan River Marathon 3rd Saturday September

Dimple Dell Half 2nd Saturday October

Jordan River Backyard 3rd Saturday October

Traverse Mountain Half 1st Saturday November​

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As a small company we depend greatly on word of mouth and runners coming back to run with us. This is another way we can say thank you! ​

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