Cyprus Backyard Ultra
Basic Information
The Cyprus Backyard Ultra takes place in the coastal village of Oroklini, a few kilometers from Larnaca, on a hillside with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. It follows the rules of Big Dog's Backyard Ultra and is held every year in March.
Historical Background of the Race
The history of the Backyard Ultra begins in the hills of Tennessee with Gary Cantrell (known as Lazarus Lake), co-founder of the infamous Barkley Marathons. In 2009, inspired by a bet, he designed the first Backyard Ultra on his property. It was named Big’s Backyard Ultra, after his beloved dog, and developed into an annual event, attracting ultrarunners from all over the world.
The first Backyard Ultra in Cyprus was held in 2024, initiated by Nikola Aristokleous, who observed that Cyprus was the only country in the region without such a race. In recent years, the Backyard Ultra has spread across the globe, with more than 60 countries hosting similar races and over 170 races held annually.
The world record in the Backyard Ultra is 110 loops, achieved by Merijn Geerts, Ivo Steyaert, and Frank Gielen at the 2024 Team Championships. The previous record was 108 loops, set by Harvey Lewis at the Backyard Ultra – Individual World Championships 2023.
The Cyprus national record is held by Stefan Stankovic with 24 loops (Rasselbock Backyard Ultra, United Kingdom, 2023). The record of the Cyprus Backyard Ultra belongs to Lukasz Jarocki with 28 loops in 2025, surpassing the previous record of 17 loops by Irina Masanova in 2024.
Course and Checkpoints
The course is circular, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. The terrain is dirt road.
Elevation
The course has 95 meters of elevation gain per loop.
Challenges and Difficulties
The Backyard Ultra is a test of both physical and mental endurance. The main challenges include:
Accumulated fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Strict time limit for completing each loop.
Minimal rest time before the start of the next loop.
Management of nutrition, hydration, and rest strategy.
Special Features
The location offers impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea, Larnaca, and the village of Oroklini, with the sunrise as a highlight.
Participation Criteria
The annual race is open to everyone with a maximum limit of 55 participants.
In the team championship, the 15 athletes of the Cyprus National Team are selected based on the best performances of the last two years.
Support During the Race
Support is provided only at the start/finish of each loop, where the race headquarters and athlete gathering area are located.
Finish and Symbolism
The race has no set distance to be covered or fixed finishing time. Runners must complete a designated 6.705 km loop every hour. The last runner remaining who completes a loop alone is declared the winner. All others are recorded as DNF (Did Not Finish).
Race Rules
Loop distance: 6.706 km.
All runners start exactly on the hour.
Time limit to complete the loop: 59:59 minutes.
Runners are not allowed to start late.
Disqualification if a runner fails to finish on time or fails to start on time.
Artificial aids (poles, pacers) are prohibited.
Music is allowed, but headphones must be removed in the start/finish area.
The winner is the last runner who completes a loop alone.
If no one can complete a loop alone, there is no winner.
The race is open-ended, with no time or distance limit.
International Recognition
The race attracts top ultra athletes, such as Irina Masanova, who has participated in all three editions. In the latest race, 58 runners from 14 countries gave the event an international character. Many joined the CBU as part of their training, to adapt to conditions and terrain similar to those of future longer races.
Useful Links
Email: cyprus.backyard@gmail.com
Web: cyprusbackyardultra.com
Social Media: facebook / instagram / strava
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