Backyard Ultramarathon
September 11th, 2027
The below information is for the 2026 event and will be updated in early 2027.
The Steven Bradbury event of ultra running. You don’t have to be the fastest; just be the Last One Standing. Complete a 6.71km lap within the hour, every hour. Only the runner to complete the last lap within the hour by themselves “finishes” the race. All others are officially DNF – but it’s a DNF with pride and smiles all round. Don’t be put off thinking you need to be an ultra runner to participate. The Backyard Ultra is about pushing yourself to go further than you have before, be that 2 laps, 8 laps or more! We are sure you will enjoy this very social race format in a very social environment.
Lap The Valley is registered with BigsBackyardUltra.com, which allows competitors to compete for world ranking status and positions on the Australian Team for the Satellite Championships. The current course record is 37 Laps, achieved by Helen Rolfe in 2025.
This is a grassroots event. There is no shiny medal or event shirt. Just an opportunity for you to challenge yourself to One More Lap.
The 2027 Prize Purse includes:
With great thanks to our very generous friends at JTW Accountants, this year’s event has some wonderful prizes!
Last Female Standing – $500 gift pack, including a ticket to Lap The Valley 2027 and a pair of Tarkine shoes.
Last Male Standing – $500 gift pack, including a ticket to Lap The Valley 2027 and a pair of Tarkine shoes.
$500 lucky draw – Every lap earns you 1 ticket into the draw to win*. More laps equals more chances to win!
*Must be present (or still out on course) at the presentations held at 6:15pm on Saturday 12th September 2026 to win. Those runners heading out on the 12th lap at 6pm will receive 11 tickets plus two extras, and if drawn as the winner, they will be notified on their return from the lap.
Registration Details
Unlimited Laps - $190
10th Lap or less - $110 (Enter "10thLap" in the Voucher section on registering)
16 years and under - FREE (Enter "FountainOfYouth" in the Voucher section on registering)
Maximum of 110 participants.
Registrations close September 8th, 2026, unless sold out prior.
Minimum age:
No minimum, however we recommend guardians are guided by the Australian Athletics Junior Athletics Guidelines available on the Australian Athletics website. Under 18 must be supervised by a participating parent or guardian.
Prior to registering for this event, please read all the information on this page and associated linked documents.
Location
The event is held at the Boyne Valley Discovery Centre, located in Ubobo, a 1 hour drive from Gladstone. Parking for the event will be at the Discovery Centre or surrounding public spaces. Please be mindful of private properties.
Schedule
Friday 11th September 2026
7am - Gazebo setup open.
4pm to 7pm - Check in at the race precinct open.
4.30pm to 5.30pm (approx) - Course inspection open.
Saturday 12th September 2026
6am - Check in at the race precinct open.
6.45am - Race briefing (Mandatory attendance by all competitors).
7.00am - First lap starts. All competitors must be in the starting corral before the bell rings.
6.15pm - To celebrate the day, as the continuing competitors head out on the 12th lap, we will host a presentation near the starting corral. Enjoy the music, food, drinks and continue to support the competitors.
Event Rules
- Participants must be present for the mandatory briefing and must start on lap 1. You can not join in the event on any other hour.
- Each lap starts on the hour. Competitors must be inside the starting corral before the bell rings to start the hour. If not, they are disqualified.
- Laps between 7am and 9pm: A warning whistle will sound 3, 2 and 1 minute before the start of the next hour, with a bell ring to start the lap.
- Laps between 10pm to 6am: Due to noise restrictions, no whistle will be used for night laps. There will be a verbal 3, 2 and 1 minute warning. Competitors and their crew are responsible to ensure the competitor is back in the corral before the start of the next lap.
- Each lap must be completed in the hour for the competitor to be allowed to start the next lap.
- Except for the use of the restroom, competitors may not leave the course at any point until the lap is complete.
- No support crew, eliminated competitors or spectators are allowed on the course or Bruin Park property at any time.
- No personal aid during a lap. This includes being handed anything from those not competing.
- No artificial aids (Including trekking poles).
- "Stashing" of aid on the course is not allowed. Anything taken out on course each lap, must be brought back.
- This is not a relay event. Each person registered must complete each lap to be able to continue.
Course Description
Day Lap (7am to 6pm): Leaving the Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre, competitors will enter the beautiful Bruin Park cattle property, following a 6.71km course on dirt trails with approximately 65 meters of elevation.
Night Lap (6pm to 7am): Leaving the Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre, competitors will cross Railway Terrace onto the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail, completing a 6.71km out and back. This lap provides a safer night course with minimal elevation.
The course may change at any time prior to, or during the event, if the organisers or authorities deem it necessary.
Accommodation
The Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre is home base for this event. Competitors and spectators are encouraged to contact the Discovery Centre directly to make bookings. Multiple accommodation options are available (NOTE - If you are wanting an unpowered site, just arrive and check-in, no need to make a booking). This is a volunteer run facility and only manned limited hours, so please be patient on hearing a response regarding bookings. It will help them if on the Booking Form - Further Details section you state you are attending the Lap The Valley event. Please note that services are limited in the Boyne Valley, so ensure you have enough fuel and supplies to get you through the weekend. Telstra mobile reception is available, but not Optus. The Ubobo General Store is across the road, but is closed Sunday. The Grand Hotel Many Peaks (20 minute drive) is open for lunch and dinner, except Tuesdays.
General Information
- Competitors may set up their own 3x3M gazebo nearby the starting corral to use as a rest area between laps.
- The course will be marked with signage and flagging.
- Throughout the night course, vehicular traffic has priority at all road crossings. If you are asked to stop by a race official, or if there is oncoming traffic at an unmanned crossing, you must stop.
- Keeping noise to a minimum so to not disturb neighbouring properties will also be important during night laps.
- Toilet access is available via port-a-loos nearby the corral or at the Boyne Valley Community Discovery Centre. The corral will be approximately 100 meters from the toilet building. There will be one camp-style toilet located mid-course on the day laps. No toilet facilities on the course for the night laps.
- All rubbish must go in provided bins. Anything you take onto the trail must come back with you.
- Adjacent the starting corral will be an aid station with water, fruit and some hydration products for competitors use only. There will be a water station mid-course on the day lap but competitors must be self-sufficient on the night lap. No cups will be provided at the aid station, please BYO cup or water bottle. Competitors are also encouraged to bring their own nutritional supplies.
- If you need to withdraw from the event at any point after signing on, please ensure you let the Milepost Events race director know prior to leaving the area so that we don't end up with a search and rescue operation on our hands.
- Be courteous on the trail. Keep to the left to allow room for faster runners to pass. If passing another competitor, give them notice of your intention and only do so when safe for yourself and the other competitor.
- Under whatever circumstances, the race director has final say on any competitors ability to continue due to health or injury concerns or regarding changes to the event in the case of issues on the trail. Please cooperate with our team, volunteers and contracted personnel.
- All events held by Milepost Events are showcasing our team and the running community to the public. We want everyone involved or affected by these events to allow us to continue for many years to come. All it takes is a smile, a G'day or a wave.
Risks
Trail events come with their own set of risks, and Lap The Valley is no different. Milepost Events have developed a risk assessment providing steps to mitigate the impact of hazards; however, being that the event is held in a natural setting, there are many things we cannot control. Rainfall, fires, fauna interactions or tree falls are all naturally occurring in the valley. Whilst any excessive risk would require us to cancel or postpone the event, minor instances where Milepost Events consider the event safe to continue, leaves isolated incidents of personal safety up to competitors. The below Indemnity Form is required to be understood and acknowledged by all competitors as part of the event registration process. Competitors will also physically sign a document at race sign-in confirming they agree to all inherent risks involved in their participation in this event, as detailed on this web page and the Indemnity Form. If you are injured on the trail, require medical attention or are unable to return to the event precinct, please make this known to a volunteer or another competitor who in-turn can alert our trained first aiders.
Mandatory Gear
During the night laps, a headlamp or torch is mandatory and to be used at all times whilst out on course. Sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, sunglasses, snake bandage, mobile phone and the ability to carry hydration products are all recommended, but not mandatory.
Spectators
The Boyne Valley Discovery Centre is not a public space. Spectators are more than welcome, however, unless having made an accommodation booking with the Discovery Centre, vehicles must be parked outside the grounds and the event precinct accessed on foot. There is not a carpark onsite. All spaces are reserved for accommodation bookings. Spectators are not to access the course or the Bruin Park property at any time during the event. A spectator area will be set up near the start/finish area.
Please note that the event area and services provided by the organisers are retained for use by competitors and their support persons only. Any risks taken by spectators to cause incident or injury is of their own responsibility.
Proudly Supporting
Milepost Events are committed to supporting the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail Inc. A not-for-profit incorporated association led by a team of committed volunteers who manage and develop the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail, a disused railway corridor across the Gladstone and North Burnett regions of Queensland, aiming to create Australia's longest rail trail for tourism and recreation. The trail offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and horse riding, and the organization is responsible for fundraising, promotion, and working with government bodies and local councils to open and improve sections of the trail. 5% of all registration fees go to support their endeavours.
Proudly Supported By
Milepost Events are both thankful and proud to have aligned ourselves with Australian businesses that support what we do and love. Lap The Valley is supported by the below.
