Centurion Backyard Ultra is a Backyard / last one standing ultra marathon in Goring, United Kingdom. Elevation: 50m D+. Difficulty: brutal (Challenge Rating 34/100). DNF rate: 97%. Time limit: 72h. Surface: trail. Established 2019.
Centurion Backyard Ultra
Goring, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
"6.706km every hour. Last one standing wins. Everyone else DNFs."
The UK's premier backyard ultra — last person standing.
The Course
A 6.706km loop through the beech woodlands and chalk paths of the Chiltern Hills near Goring-on-Thames. The route follows a mix of riverside trails and gentle woodland paths, repeating every hour on the hour. Despite the benign terrain, the relentless repetition and sleep deprivation make this one of the UK's most brutal endurance tests. The course is flat enough that pace is rarely the problem — the mind is.
flat
backyard
1
Runner Experience
Loop-based format with continuous access to a central aid area between laps.
Warm, inclusive finish line with a strong community feel. Runners celebrate together regardless of finish time.
Race Day Weather
15°C
8° – 20°
70%
35%
English early autumn — mild but damp.
Stats & Records
2019
1
58:00:00
Dan Lawson (2023)
48:00:00
Debbie Martin-Consani (2022)
Entry
£75
February
days
Lore & Trivia
Centurion Running — the UK's most respected ultra organisation — launched their backyard format in 2019, bringing Lazarus Lake's last-one-standing concept to England. The Chiltern Hills setting is deceptively pleasant: rolling English countryside, tea and cake at the aid station, birdsong at dawn. But 40 hours in, runners are hallucinating through familiar woodland paths they've run dozens of times. The event serves as a UK qualifying race for Big's Backyard Ultra in Tennessee, adding international stakes to the psychological warfare.
- ▸ Only one person can 'finish' — last one standing.
- ▸ The backyard format was invented by Lazarus Lake.
- ▸ UK qualifying event for Big's Backyard Ultra.
Centurion's backyard is polite suffering. Tea, cake, and the slow destruction of your will to continue.
Notable Editions
Dan Lawson's 58-Hour Stand
British ultra legend Dan Lawson lasted 58 hours — 58 loops of the Chiltern Hills — to set the event record, cementing Centurion's backyard as a serious last-person-standing event.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Centurion Backyard Ultra? +
Centurion Backyard Ultra is a Backyard / last one standing ultra with 50m of elevation gain on trail terrain.
How hard is Centurion Backyard Ultra? +
Centurion Backyard Ultra is rated brutal with a Challenge Rating of 34/100 (Moderate). The DNF rate is 97%. Runners have 72 hours to finish.
What is the weather like at Centurion Backyard Ultra? +
Average temperature is 15°C (range 8°C to 20°C) with 70% humidity and a 35% chance of rain. English early autumn — mild but damp.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Centurion Backyard Ultra? +
Crew access is allowed. Pacers are not allowed.
What is the course record for Centurion Backyard Ultra? +
The men's course record is 58:00:00 set by Dan Lawson in 2023. The women's course record is 48:00:00 set by Debbie Martin-Consani in 2022.
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