The City of Joy Is About to Turn Brutal
Beneath the poetry, history, and sweet rasgullas of Kolkata lies a quiet resilience. A fighting spirit. On January 10th, that spirit takes form on a looping dirt trail in the wetlands, as runners from all corners answer the Backyard call.
Welcome to the Calcutta Backyard Ultra — where heritage meets hurt, and the only thing louder than the Howrah honks is your heartbeat echoing in your ears at the start of every hour.
🌿 The East Indian Grind — Wetlands, Willpower, and War
This isn’t a polished park jog. This is a raw, humid battlefield tucked in the green lungs of the city. With soft trail underfoot and marshland breeze in your face, each loop is a slow boil of endurance.
Choose your poison:
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Backyard 8
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Backyard 15
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Backyard 24
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Signature Backyard Ultra (Last One Standing)
Each format dares you to play with time — and pay the price with your legs.
⏳ The Format: Tick. Tock. Burn.
6.7 kilometers. Every hour. Until you break.
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It begins at 6:00 AM sharp.
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Each loop has a 60-minute deadline.
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If you finish it in time — you reset and go again.
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If you don’t — you stop.
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If you’re the last one standing — you rise.
The Signature Category doesn’t care about your Strava. Only one survives.
Everyone else walks away with a Did Not Finish and a story worth limping through.
🇮🇳 From Tennessee to Bengal: A Backyard Revolution
Inspired by Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell’s legendary Big’s Backyard Ultra, this format has challenged ultrarunners across the globe.
Now, Kolkata brings its own sweat-soaked chapter to the legacy.
This is India’s eastern answer to the call of the Backyard Ultra — with addas between loops, but no mercy on course.
🌍 Win Here, Go Global
Victory in Kolkata opens the door to something bigger.
Backyard Ultra victors earn a shot at the world stage — where the last ones standing gather at Big’s.
This isn’t just about the race. It’s about claiming your place in history.
📌 Race Details
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Start Time: 6:00 AM sharp
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Location: East Calcutta Wetlands (exact coordinates TBA)
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Terrain: Flat dirt trail with subtle humidity and terrain shifts
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Loop Length: 6.7 km
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Crew Zone: Hydration, nutrition, chaos, and comfort
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Bell every hour. Dropouts every hour. Survivors every loop.
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Official finisher tees and quirky DNF awards
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Eternal bragging rights for the Last One Standing
⚔️ It’s Not a Race. It’s a Reckoning.
This isn’t for those chasing medals.
It’s for those chasing their own breaking point.
Calcutta will witness your fight. Loop after loop after loop.
🌀 And When the Bell Rings, Your War Begins
In the heart of Bengal, where rebellion and poetry share space —
you will run.
You will fall.
And maybe… just maybe, you’ll be the last one left.