Expected November 2027
Distance
Climb
Cutoff
Terrain
The Reservoir Dog Backyard Ultra sends runners around a 6.706km loop of the Marton Reservoir every hour on the hour until a single runner is left standing. The ground underfoot is a mix of walking tracks and mountain bike trails with very little climbing, so the challenge comes from the clock rather than the hills. Before each lap the Race Director flips a coin, with heads sending the field clockwise and tails sending it anticlockwise. Entrants can take part solo or as a two-person team, where either member may run any lap in any order using the team's single bib. The event raises support for the Tūtaenui Stream Restoration Society and starts from the reservoir in Marton on 14 November 2026.
Lap around the Marton Reservoir
Walking and mountain bike tracks
Direction decided by a coin toss before every lap
Last one standing format with no set finish time
Minimal vertical gain
Start / Finish
Marton Reservoir, Marton, Rangitikei. Runners gather at the lap start point beside the reservoir
The finish line is the same lap point beside the Marton Reservoir, reached on the final lap when one runner remains
Terrain
Route
Race Day
On the day
Before you enter
Other questions
A backyard ultra is a last one standing race. Every runner sets off on a fixed loop at the top of each hour, and anyone who fails to complete the loop within the hour, or who does not start the next one, is out. The race continues until a single runner remains. At the Reservoir Dog the loop is 6.706km and it runs around the Marton Reservoir.
Yes. The event can be run solo or in two-person teams. Either team member can run any lap in any order. Each team has one bib, and whoever is running that lap wears it.
No. You can turn up and run a single lap if that is what you want from the day, or you can stay in until you are the last person standing. Everyone who stops before the winner is recorded as a DNF, which is simply part of how the format works.
Before every lap start the Race Director flips a coin. Heads means the field runs clockwise and tails means anticlockwise. This keeps the racing varied and shares the wear evenly around the tracks.
The event website at reservoirdog.co.nz carries the rules and further details. Backyard ultra events usually set out clear requirements for lap timing, assistance, pacer rules and what happens at the finish, so it is worth reading before race day.
Entry fee
Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.Marton, New Zealand
Expected November 2027
Provisional date, around Nov 13Are you the organiser of Reservoir Dog Backyard Ultra - 6.706K per hour, last one standing?
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