The Backyard Ultra Swimrun Amsterdam is a pure endurance race for swimrunners who want to push their limits. In a unique nature reserve close to Amsterdam, you tackle the same lap every hour. No frills, no shortcuts, just you, the course and the clock. How long will you last?
The Backyard Ultra is a swimrun ultra with a simple but relentless concept. A new five-kilometer lap starts every hour. You keep going as long as you complete each lap within the hour. Resting is allowed, but only in the time you have left after finishing a lap.
The goal is simple, but the execution demands everything from your physical and mental resilience.
Each round starts exactly at the beginning of the hour. This means:
The next round always starts again at the whole hour. If you are not at the starting line on time, you are out.
Each lap consists of a set combination of swimming and running.
The rules are clear and the same for everyone.
You lose weight when:
You do not complete a round within the hour
You don't get ready in time for the next start
You yourself decide to stop
There are no retakes. One missed hour means end of race.
The Backyard Ultra ends one of these ways:
All participants dropped out except one
The maximum ten rounds have been completed
The organization ends the race after the last lap allowed
Participants who complete all 10 rounds are considered finishers of the full Backyard Ultra.
You run the Backyard Ultra Swimrun Amsterdam solo or as a duo, starting and finishing each lap together. Everyone gets individual time registration and there are podium finishes for solos and duos. The race takes place in Natura2000 area Het Twiske, a rugged and peaceful setting close to Amsterdam. Hour after hour is all about perseverance, timing and mental strength.
