MAD Backyard Ultra

⚡ THE ULTIMATE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAP ⚡

"The hardest part of a backyard ultra isn't the distance. It’s the comfort of the chair." 🪑❌

Think about it. In a traditional race, you lock into a pace and run until you physically cross a finish line. The format takes care of the ending for you.

But a backyard ultra? It plays by entirely different rules.

Every single hour, you finish your loop and come back to camp. You sit down. Your crew hands you food. You get warm. And then, the three-minute whistle blows.

The true test of a backyard ultra isn't how fast your legs can move. It’s whether you have the mental toughness to actively choose to leave a warm tent, stand up out of a comfortable camp chair, and walk back into the starting corral when your body is screaming at you to stay put.

The race doesn't stop until you decide to quit. It forces you into a completely raw, honest conversation with yourself about your true limits.

If you stepped into the yard to test your mind against a format like this... how many times do you think you'd have the grit to say "yes" to the bell? 🔔👇

Standing Champiomship

👋 MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE MADNESS! 🌀

We might be a long way out from the January 2027 edition of the MAD Backyard Ultra, but putting on an event like this takes a village—and a lot of year-round planning. Since the mind game for 2027 starts now, we wanted to officially introduce the team that rings the bell, corrals the runners, and keeps the energy alive at Camp Jordan!

❤️ What's in a Name? The "MAD" Origin
Ever wonder where the "MAD" in MAD Backyard Ultra comes from? It’s not just about the crazy format—it actually stands for Mandy and David! This race was born from their shared passion for the endurance community, turning a husband-and-wife teamwork dynamic into the ultimate backyard challenge.

🏔️ David Lane – Race Director & Founder
David is an RRCA Certified Race Director and the mastermind behind the Chattanooga Ultra Championship. If it involves running in circles for hours on end in the Chattanooga area, David probably has his hands on it. Along with MAD, he directs the Locomotion Endurance Event, Circle Endurance Event, and the upcoming handicap-style Wauhatchie Trail Race. He lives for the strategy of endurance sports and loves watching runners smash through their mental limits.

⏱️ Amanda "Mandy" Lane – The Glue & Volunteer Coordinator
They say behind every great race director is an even better team, and Mandy is the ultimate glue holding it all together. She assists with logistics across all events, but her most crucial role is Volunteer Coordinator. From managing the 3:00 AM shifts to making sure the pancake griddle stays hot, Mandy ensures our volunteer village is unparalleled.

📢 Michelle Sledge – Co-Race Director, MAD Backyard Ultra
We are thrilled to introduce Michelle as our newest official member and Co-Race Director for MAD! While the title is new, Michelle is backyard royalty. She has been involved with MAD every single year as our Start Line Master of Events. If you’ve stepped into the MAD corral, you absolutely know her—she’s the commanding, high-energy voice behind the megaphone keeping you on schedule when the countdown ticks away!

Whether you are a seasoned backyard veteran or just starting to look into what this "4.1667-mile" thing is all about, this team is already working hard to make 2027 our best year yet.

Drop a comment below to say hello to the crew, or shout out your favorite memory of Michelle’s megaphone from years past! 👇🛎️

Ever wonder why a Backyard Ultra loop is exactly 4.1667 miles? 🌀🤔

It’s not just a random number plucked out of thin air. There is some beautiful, brutal math behind it:

If you run 4.1667 miles every hour on the hour for 24 hours... you hit exactly 100 miles. 💯

That means the backyard format is the ultimate equalizer. You don't have to be the fastest runner on the paved loop to hit a legendary milestone. Speed doesn’t win here—pacing, relentless consistency, and pure mental grit do. You just have to be able to finish the loop, grab a snack, check on your crew, and step back into the starting corral before the next bell rings. 🔔

At the MAD Backyard Ultra, we watch runners completely redefine what they think their bodies are capable of. Whether your goal is 3 loops or 30, the yard will test you like nothing else.

We are a long way out from the January 2027 edition, but the mind game starts now. Have you ever wondered how many bells you could survive?

🔥 ONE DOWN. TWO TO GO. ARE YOU IN FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP? 🔥

You survived the MAD Backyard Ultra—now it’s time to keep the momentum rolling!

If you want to be crowned in the 2026 Chattanooga Ultra Championship, your next stop is the Locomotion Endurance Event this April! To be eligible for the championship awards and that final series medal, you MUST compete in all three legs:

1️⃣ MAD Backyard Ultra (COMPLETED! ✅)
2️⃣ Locomotion Endurance Event (April 25) 🏃‍♂️💨
3️⃣ The Circle Endurance Event (November 21)

Why Locomotion?
Whether you’re chasing a 50K, 100 miles, or just want to see how many loops you can click off in 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours, Locomotion is the perfect place to stack your mileage for the cumulative championship standings.

✨ THE PERKS:

Special Series Medals for those who complete a 50K or more at each stop!

Grand Prizes for top cumulative mileage (Male, Female, & Masters).

The road to the championship title runs through April. Let’s see those Locomotion registrations! 🛎️💪

Here are those in the running: 👇👇

🔗 https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=126530

🔥 PODCAST ALERT: THE QUEEN OF THE YARD 🔥

Want to know what it takes to crush 32 Yards (133.44 miles) and set a new Female Course Record? 👑

Check out Ashley Rolewicz Pipkin on the latest episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast! Ashley finished 3rd overall at the 2026 MAD Backyard Ultra, proving that grit, consistency, and a little bit of MADness go a long way.

Let’s show her some love in the comments! 👇 🐾

shares her incredible journey from recreational runner to competitive record-breaker. We talk about:
​🔁 The mental warfare of the "Last Person Standing" format.
​🍕 Why "eating enough" is the secret weapon most runners miss.
​🌲 The shift from social media highlights to real-world trail growth.
​⛰️ Her next big target: The Barkley Fall Classic.

​Whether you're training for your first 50k or eyeing a backyard finish, Ashley’s perspective on mental prep and personal growth is a game-changer.



​Listen now! 🎧
​Watch or listen on Spotify, YouTube, & YouTube Music or listen only on Apple, Amazon, and all other platforms.

​Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DvtJj5cfCUFIyUrMK6hYk?si=34670056371d4873

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0L464oSUKVM2qCjRrPgnPA

​

🚨 THE MADNESS CONTINUES: 2027 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! 🚨

Did you miss the bell this year? Or are you already itching to get back into the corral? Whether you’re looking for redemption or your very first buckle, now is the time to secure your spot for the 6th Annual MAD Backyard Ultra!

Our 2026 race was our biggest yet, and with the "MADness" spreading, we expect spots for 2027 to go faster than a 15-minute yard. Don’t get stuck on the waitlist—come join Harley and the crew at Camp Jordan for the ultimate test of will.

📅 Save the Date: January 16, 2027 📍 Location: Camp Jordan, East Ridge, TN 🛎️ The Format: 4.1667 miles. Every hour. Until only one is left.

Why sign up now?

The First Leg: MAD is the official kickoff for the Chattanooga Ultra Championship. Start your journey to the triple crown early!

Bronze Ticket: We are proud to continue as a qualifying event for the Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra series.

The Community: There is no atmosphere quite like the MAD village.

Are you ready to see how many yards you have in you? 🌀🏃‍♂️

🔗 https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=134935

MAD Backyard Ultra Register Now!

Proud to say the MAD has a new female course record holder. Ashley Rolewicz Pipkin. With 133 miles / 32 yards.

Peter Rosenblad last one standing. Kyle Kalbus assist. New course record 145 miles.

This epic race is now down to the top two runners, Kyle Kalbus & Peter Rosenblad! Female course record has been set by Ashley Pipkin at 133Miles!