The Cottonwood Countdown
Saturday October 9, 2027, 9:00 a.m.
The Nelson Backyard Ultra is a project of the Nelson Running Club, a registered Non-Profit Society in B.C. The goals of this event are simple: to have a low-key, inexpensive, and outrageously fun and friendly race, open to runners of all ages and abilities. Proceeds from the race go to help pay for trail building and maintenance through multiple local organizations.
Race Director,
Stephen Harris
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Supporting Sponsor:
Prize sponsors
2026 Winner: Kai Pearson, 66 hrs, 36 loops, 241.4 km!
2026 Assist: Hugh Beedell, 35 hrs, 35 loops, 234.5 km!
What's a
Backyard Ultra?
The devious brainchild of Lazarus Lake, the creator of the Barkley Marathons, a Backyard Ultra is a no-frills trail running race that almost anyone can attempt.
The rules are simple. At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, the horn sounds to start the race. Runners complete a lap of the 6.7km trail (compact gravel rail trail, beside a lake, partially forested, and partially in a mountain meadow. It's deceptively challenging). Runners need to finish within one hour - which is achievable by most, even beginners.
At the end of their lap, they have whatever time is left in the hour to rest, eat, and stretch. At exactly 10:00 a.m., the horn sounds again, and everyone heads off for lap #2.
If you don't finish in the hour, or choose not to start the next hour, you're eliminated from the race and you're listed as DNF (did not finish).
The race ends when only one person successfully completes a lap. That person is the winner.
Backyard Ultras often go for 18-24 hours, but it's not uncommon for them to go MUCH longer than that. As long as you complete a lap in an hour, and are in the start/finish corral for the start of the next lap, you're still in the race. In 2024, we went 31 hours to find our winner (see below for details).
Backyards are 'no-frills' events, meaning runners are responsible for their own aid and support. We'll have porta-potties, water, and some basic supplies at the start/finish corral, but runners need to have their own support crew if needed.
It's competitive, but based in camaraderie, because everyone starts each lap together. It's accessible to most runners, because it's about endurance and perseverance, not necessarily speed.
It's a great test of your ability to push through pain, fatigue, and exhaustion. Classic Type-2 fun!
Route details
Rail Trail - Cottonwood south to Apex
After a family of Grizzly bears forced a last-minute relocation of our race in 2023, we've decided that the bears actually did us a favour, and we're sticking with our 'replacement' route at Cottonwood Lake!
Cottonwood Lake Regional Park is about 10 minutes south of Nelson on Hwy 6. There's ample parking, washrooms, and lots of space for racer crew and spectators.
The race route is a simple - but deceptively challenging - out-and-back loop on the rail trail. 3.35km out, and 3.35km back. The route surface is compacted gravel/dirt path that is mostly shaded by mature trees, and winds alongside Cottonwood Lake. Towards the turnaround point, runners emerge from the forest into a clearing at the Nelson Nordic XC ski area.
2026 Race Recap: PR, or ER - it's your choice
RACE RECAP:
Cottonwood Countdown — Nelson Backyard Ultra 2026
After a sunny start, a bit of drizzle settled in - followed by one drenching hour - and then it cleared again for the next 30 hours. But the weather didn't dampen spirits. There’s something about this race that amplifies good energy—Jaclyn Dexter once called it “the Shambhala of running,” and the vibe lived up to that name.
**Why Backyard Ultras Feel Different**
A Backyard Ultra isn’t about speed. It’s about endurance, perseverance, motivation, support, consistency, and strategy. Each hour brings a fresh start and a shared countdown, which keeps the start-line energy constant. Even when your personal reserves are low, the group’s encouragement can carry you to “just one more loop.”
**Results and Top Performances**
- Kai Pearson, a young and relatively new runner, pushed to the end with a massive 36-hour effort, notching more than 241km for a big PB.
- 2-time champion Hugh Beedell took the Assist, with 35-loops and 235km.
- Rosie Gibson, last year's assist, hung on for 31 loops and 207.7km to finish in third overall, and top female.
When Kai and Hugh headed out together on lap 35, Hugh took a few strides, and then decided to call it quits. He shook Kai's hand and congratulated him, and sent Kai on his solo lap to finish for the win. But Kai, being a little delirious, didn't quite recognize what was going on, and convinced Hugh to run on with him. Hugh did another 10 minutes with Kai before officially returning to base camp to DNF.
Kai then finished his loop solo, but approaching the finish line, he didn't believe that he won. In his sleep-deprived and exhausted state, he told me he thought Hugh had somehow become invisible and sneaked past him to get the win! (Kai wasn't the only one hallucinating; Hugh also described the challenge he had running in a non-existent concrete tunnel!)
With Kai safely across the line for the win, we started to get the finish line administrivia under way: photo with the DNF board (now marked 'F' for finished), cheque presentation, etc. And it was then that Kai turned white as a ghost, and fell backwards into his fiancee's arms unconscious.
His fiancee is a nurse, so he was in good hands, but we decided to be responsible and call 9-1-1 to be safe. While on the phone with emergency services, Judith started screaming at me from the parking lot that Hugh had also just passed out!
Both guys were fine, and were all smiles in the ambulance together. Pure exhaustion, dehydration, calorie deficits are to blame.
***other race notes***
We had 82 starters this year, and compared to previous years, we had a much stronger field. For example, in 2025 at hour 16 (107km) we had 9 runners still in the field. This year at that same hour we had 19 still going!
As is normal for us, our field was more than 60% female. And we also had a much higher number of out-of-town racers in for the event.
Total distance run by all runners combined: 5,5659.49km. That's the distance from Nelson, BC to the Panama Canal.
Make sure you check out our photo album https://photos.app.goo.gl/TJ6M7rA7zowKDLSXA
And set your calendar to remind you to register for 2027, with tickets on sale on Feb. 1: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/2027-cottonwood-countdown-nelson-backyard-ultra
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, crew, and especially runners for another amazing event!
Stephen Harris
Race Director