Lake Merced | September 5, 2026 | 7am
Our Story
I’ve been running ultras for the past 4 years. The most fun race I’ve ever ran was the Sparks Backyard Ultra. Why? Because my family and friends were right along the path cheering me on the entire time.
But, that race was too far away for most of my community to come. And there was no other races like this being put on in the Bay Area.
So, I decided to start it myself.
What is a Backyard Ultra?
Every hour, on the hour, runners complete a 4.16-mile loop. Finish early and the rest of the hour is yours to rest. Miss the cutoff and you're out. The race continues until only one runner remains — that person wins, and everyone else is recorded as a DNF, regardless of distance covered. There's no fixed distance or time limit.
FAQs
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The Fog City Ultra is free for all participants. Click here to register.
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There is no electrical hookup. Water is provided in containers for each athlete.
Full catering is not provided—every participant must manage their own nutrition.
There is an aid station at the base camp stocked throughout the event, but it is intended only as a supplement and does not replace self-sufficiency.
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Before the start, every athlete must sign a waiver. This document, including all terms and conditions, will be made available ahead of time.
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Base camp will be set up in the Lake Merced parking lot on a first come first serve basis. There is no space limit per participant, but be mindful of other runners.
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In the base camp, crew members can fully assist their athlete - with setup, nutrition, and preparation for the next loop. However, once the athlete enters the course, any kind of support is strictly prohibited. Even handing over food or gear during a loop will result in the runner's immediate disqualification (DNF).
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The Lake Merced route is open to the public during the event.
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All highlights, updates and important information will be shared on the official Instagram channel @paincaverunningco.