Challenge Running Ltd
Next Race: 07/06/2025 + 1 other
High Lodge Thetford Forest
Next Race: 07/06/2025 + 1 other
High Lodge Thetford Forest
Our famous highly competitive Summer Suffolk Backyard Ultra Event.
Run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour until only one person remains who can complete 1 "Yard" (loop) in the 1 hour time limit.
Held at High Lodge Thetford Forest in Suffolk
Chip timing and a £500 prize for the winner.
Discounts for Elite Runners
See website race pack section for full in depth event details.
Main Event Info
Timings
Arrive from 8am on race day to set up.
11:30 Race Brief
12:00 Race Start
Deadlines
Please see our Policies page for info on refunds/transfers or deferals.
Closing date for entries is 2 weeks (14 days) before race day.
Deadline for changing details such as club is 2 weeks (14 days) before race day.
You must create an account to see all edit/transfer options
Parking
We have aranged a flat parking fee for runners and crews of £10 for the whole event from Saturday to Wednesday, You must purchase this from the Merchandise section (for those with no race entry) of the website or with your race entry as an additional order item. You may need an account to see this option.
Parking timing restrictions - The site entrance gate closes in the evening from 9pm till 8am, you will be able to leave outside those hours but there is no entry to the site during that 9pm-8am window.
CP's
There is only one aid station at the start/finish area. From the race start to 8pm Sunday it will have hot and cold water for crews and some basic sweet and savoury snack for runners including things like pot noodles/pasta pots but up to 8pm Sunday hot food will only be available from the onside vendors or the High Lodge Cafes and Shops a short walk away.
After 8pm Sunday when the vendors leave and there are much fewer runners and crews we will have a cooking station where crews can use or borrow our stoves in a safe area and we will prepare hot food like pasta every few hours as needed.
Facilities
Onsite there will be a Coffee Vendor and a Food Van supplying hot and cold drinks and food such as Burgers and Fries and Wraps etc. Alternatively crews can take the short walk to the High Lodge Cafes and purchase items there.
We have Portaloos and Urinals onsite near the edge of both camping areas and these will be kept stocked and clean.
Route
Its a wide and flat route through stunning forest areas and firm underfoot with good drainage, only one small "Hill" on the route and suited to very fast laps. Mostly gravel or grass footpaths. It will befully signed.
Camping
Runners and crews camp for free but please keep tent/gazebo sizes to the smallest size possible as we have to squeeze up to 500 people onto the field.
There are two camping areas either side of the start area and route in and out of the field for runners. When you arrive you will be shown where to place your tent so we can get everyone camped safely. You will not oick where you sare camped but may move as numbers reduce to a space closer to the start.
There is no facility to pitch tents or camp on the friday night.
There can be no stoves or cooking of any kind in or around the tents under any circumstances as the forest is subject to strict fire rules. See CP info above for info on food vendors.
Rubbish/Waste
Please take your personal waste home and recycle as the site does not have the facility to collect rubish or handle hundreds of peoples waste. Our Skip we will have onsite is for our event rubbish only.
Power
There is no power and patchy signal onsite so please plan to bring powerbanks for your needs, we will have a charging station with a couple of extension lead for runners only to top up phones and public starlink wifi but data will be limited and can't be relied on especially when it's busy.
Crews
We don't put a limit on crew numbers but please keep crews to the minimum you need especially in the early stages when the site will be at it's busiest. No pets in the camping areas. No smoking in camping areas.
Media
We wil have a fantastic media team at the event doing photos, interviews and video updates. If you have no desire to be on camera please let them know during the event. Any photos or media at the event may be used to promote the event in future.
Records
As this is a new course it's open for new records but SBYU and UK records are as below.
UK and SBYU Womens record Claire Bannwarth 61 Yards 2023
UK and SBYU Mens Record Lukasz Wrobel 88 yards 2024
Volunteering
As you can imagine it takes a huge numbe of volunteers to make sure this event runs smoothly, if you want to volunteer please look at our Volunteering page where you shoukld find the info you need and our volunteering form to complete. You will also see the volunteering spreadsheets for each event so you can see what roles are still needed.
Overall Rating