MAY 21, 2022
 6:00 AM

At 0600 hours on Saturday, May 21st, we will start a 4.166667 race on the Big Springs Trail. The time limit will be one hour. At 0700 hours, we will begin another race on the trail. We will do the same at 0800, 0900, and so on, every hour, until only one runner can complete a race within the time limit. Any runner not in the starting corral for any race, is not eligible to continue. No late starts! If no single runner can complete a race at the end, there will be no winner.

The 2nd Annual Arkansas Backyard Ultra Championship will take place at the Historic Big Springs Park in Cotter, Arkansas. The flat & scenic out-and-back route follows an old railroad bed along the White River and there's a Natural Spring to re-invigorate your beaten body after the race.  Food will be provided every 6 hours at the "One More Yard Cafe" and a menu will be announced prior to the event so you know what to expect. There will also be water and electrolyte coolers available throughout the race at the starting area but all other energy/food support is provided by the runner. Each runner will have room for a chair and small bag/cooler by the corral. Runner spots by the corral are not first come, first gets. Once a runner times out, or decides they will not continue, they will ceremoniously bang the massive gong announcing they're done and remove their chair and belongings from the starting corral area; allowing other runners to move closer.

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The beauty of the backyard format is that it 'smooths' the advantages that age, gender, and speed oftentimes play in running events and rewards to a higher degree the runner with mental toughness and grit. There will be ONE winner; everyone else gets the gong and DNF. Let's get Arkansas on the Backyard map as a competitive destination race by putting up some big miles. As Laz often says, "It only takes two to tango" 

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**Race Perks**

Every registered runner will receive a commemorative ABUC soft cotton t-shirt, a commemorative clay award for your DNF if you complete a minimum of 12 yards (50 miles), pasta dinner the night before, access to the "One More Yard Cafe" for meals every 6hrs, post-race beer, and the opportunity to be stoopid and amazing. 

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**New in 2022 - Team Competition!**

To encourage even more friendly competition and after seeing some of the great comraderie and groups that worked together in 2021, we are excited to announce that we'll also have a unique award for the top team! Round up 5 or more of your friends and include your "Team Name" during registration. We'll tally up the total yards from your team's Top 6 performers. In the event of a tie, we'll tally the top 3 to tie-break. If you're looking for a team to join, announce it on our Facebook page or reach out to the RDs for help. This should add an additional fun and competitive element to ABUC 2022...get your running clubs signed up!

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**New in 2022 - Bronze Ticket Race Status!**

In 2022, we are a Bronze ticket event. The ABUC winner will receive a Bronze coin, free entry to Bob's Big Timber Backyard Ultra (a Silver ticket event), where they will get to compete for a Silver ticket. Silver ticket winners are invited to a satellite event where they'll have the opportunity to win a Golden ticket to Bigs Backyard Ultra.