Airdrie Backyard Ultra 2026

To all of the Airdrie Backyard Ultra runners taking on the Death Race this weekend,

We want to wish each of you the very best of luck as you take on this incredible challenge. We know the dedication, training, and determination it takes to reach the start line, and we can’t wait to see what you’re capable of.

Remember to trust your training, stay present, and don’t quit in the chair.

Your entire Airdrie Backyard Ultra team is cheering you on from start to finish. We hope you have an amazing race, and we look forward to celebrating your accomplishments when it’s all said and done.

Good luck—we’re all rooting for you! 🧡

🚨 THEY’RE HERE. 🚨
The official Airdrie Backyard Ultra hoodies have arrived, and we couldn’t be more excited! 🔥 Every race detail is coming together, and seeing these stacked up makes race weekend feel that much closer.

We can’t wait to hand these out and see our runners wearing them as they take on Airdrie’s first-ever Backyard Ultra. Whether you’re chasing one more lap, crewing a runner, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, you’re part of something special.

The countdown is on, the energy is building, and we can’t wait to make history with all of you. See you at the start line! 🧡🏃🏃‍♀️

🌮 We’re excited to welcome Tequila & Tacos to the Airdrie Backyard Ultra! 🔥

Whether you’re racing, crewing, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines, you’ll have some incredible food waiting for you.

From authentic tacos and flavorful birria to churros and more, they’ll be serving up fresh, delicious food all day long to keep everyone fueled and happy.

We’re incredibly grateful to have local businesses like Tequila & Tacos supporting our inaugural Airdrie Backyard Ultra. Be sure to stop by, grab a meal, and show them some love while you’re at the event! ❤️

📍 Ed Eggerer Athletic Park
📅 July 17, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Come for the challenge. Stay for the atmosphere. Leave with a full stomach. 🌮🏃‍♂️

The countdown is on. ⏳

Race day is getting closer, but there’s still time to claim your spot on the start line.

Whether you’re chasing a new challenge, testing your limits, or just curious to see how far you can go, the Airdrie Backyard Ultra is waiting for you.

One loop. Every hour. On the hour.

🔥 Last-minute registrations are still open—but not for long.

📅 July 17, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM Start
📍 Ed Eggerer Park, Airdrie

Don’t be the one watching the stories wishing you had signed up. Be the one creating them.

Register now and see how many loops you’ve got. 💪🏃

🌐 WWW.AIRDRIEBYU.COM

We need YOU on the crew. 🏃
Airdrie's first ever Backyard Ultra goes down July 17, and a race like this doesn't run without an incredible volunteer team behind it.
Runners tackle a 6.7 km loop every hour, on the hour, until one person is left standing. To keep them moving, we need help with lap timing, the start and finish corral, aid station support, setup, and teardown.
No running required. Just good energy, a few hours of your day, and a front row seat to something Airdrie has never seen before.
You'll be part of the story from day one, and trust us, Year 1 is the one people will talk about.
Grab your spot here 👉 https://www.airdriebyu.com/volunteer

🔥 Spots are filling faster than expected. Have you claimed yours yet?

The question isn’t whether you can finish.
The question is:

How far will you go before you decide you’re done?

🏃 One loop. Every hour. On the hour.

The Airdrie Backyard Ultra is coming to Alberta on July 17, 2026, and runners of all abilities are already securing their place on the start line.

Whether your goal is 1 loop, 10 loops, or to be the last person standing, you can’t test your limits if you’re watching from home.

⚠️ Registration numbers continue to climb and available spots won’t last forever.

✅ Secure your spot now
📅 July 17, 2026
📍 Airdrie, Alberta
🌐 www.airdriebyu.com

Tag the friend you’d want beside you when the next hour starts. 👇

🏃 One loop. Every hour. Until only one runner remains.

How many times will you answer the bell?

Whether you’re chasing your first ultra, testing your limits, or seeing just how far your mind can take you, the Airdrie Backyard Ultra is where it happens.

📅 July 17, 2026
📍 Airdrie, Alberta
🕘 Starts at 9:00 AM

Every lap is a fresh start. Every hour is another decision.

🔥 Spots are filling, and race day will be here before you know it. Don’t wait until it’s too late to secure your place on the start line.

👉 Register now at www.airdriebyu.com

Tag your crew, challenge a friend, and let us know in the comments…

How many loops do you think you can complete? 👇

RUNNER SPOTLIGHT 🏃‍♂️

Meet Taylor Hrncirik — and he's not just running for himself.

Taylor signed up for the Airdrie Backyard Ultra as part of his yearly Misogi — a modern take on the ancient Shinto practice of doing something extremely difficult, once a year, to find out what you're really made of.

But here's where it gets even better: he's turning his loops into a fundraiser for men's mental health through Movember. People can bet/donate based on how many laps they think he'll run. 💙

His background? Primarily CrossFit, with a handful of ultras under his belt at varying distances. This is his first backyard.

His race day plan? Hard line at 24 laps. But in his words: "I'm sure I'll surprise myself and find a new goal once I hit the 24th lap."

Let's get behind this guy. 🙌

👉 Support Taylor's Movember fundraiser:
https://movember.com/m/13923635?mc=60

📘 Facebook: Taylor Hrncirik

REGISTRATION IS OPEN. 🔥

The Airdrie Backyard Ultra is coming fast, and the start line will be here before you know it.

On July 17 at 9:00 AM, runners and walkers from across Alberta will gather at Ed Eggerer Park to see just how many loops they can survive.

Whether you’re aiming for 1 loop, 10 loops, a new personal best, or the title of Last Person Standing, none of it happens unless you’re registered.

✅ Limited entries available
✅ Sanctioned Backyard Ultra format
✅ All experience levels men and women welcome

Don’t wait until the last minute and miss your chance to be part of it.

Register now at AIRDRIEBYU.COM

The clock is ticking. The question is: will your name be on the start list?

RUNNER SPOTLIGHT
Meet Captain Mitch Walz.
Infantry officer with the Calgary Highlanders (10th Canadians). Woodworker. Gamer. Family man. And one of the most driven runners you'll meet at this year's Airdrie Backyard Ultra.
But Mitch's story didn't start at the front of the pack.
He used to be very overweight. Twenty years ago he started running, and for most of that time it was simply something he did. Then, two years ago, something shifted. He decided to compete. Not just finish, but compete. This past May in Toronto he ran a 3:04 marathon and beat his age group by a full minute. He knows he needs to get closer to three hours flat to officially qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2027, so he's lining up in Edmonton this August to chase it down again.
That's the kind of person Mitch is. He sets the bar high, then keeps showing up until he clears it.
A few years back, Mitch stood up the Calgary Highlanders run team. It started as a fitness initiative inside the regiment, but it became something bigger: a way to build morale, brotherhood, and esprit de corps. The team races road and trail events all over Alberta, and every September they line up for their biggest one, the Canada Army Run in Ottawa.
One of the people who helped Mitch build that team is his friend, Corporal (retired) Damien Stanley. Damien has long been one of the top fundraisers in the entire country for the Army Run. In 2024, he was diagnosed with grade 4 brain tumours and given six to twelve months to live.
Damien is still here.
He has blown past the median survival window by a full year, and he's still going strong. Still positive. Still generous. Still one of the most remarkable people Mitch has ever known. Last year, the team dedicated their entire fundraising effort to Damien and made him the number one individual fundraiser in Canada. The team finished second overall, just shy of nineteen thousand dollars.
This year, Damien has one goal: he wants the team to finish first in the country.
And Mitch has made it his personal mission to take over Damien's reign as the top individual fundraiser in Canada. In his own words, it's the least he can do for a man who has helped countless veterans and serving members.
That's why he's running the Airdrie Backyard Ultra.
When Discover Airdrie asked him why he chose the backyard format as his platform, his answer said everything. The format mirrors what the infantry holds dear: resilience, dedication, no quit, passion. And it's local. Close to home. Close to his heart.
Every single loop Mitch runs on race day will honour those who have sacrificed the most for this country. He's taking pledges per yard, with funds going to Soldier On and Support Our Troops, two organizations that help ill and injured service members, veterans, and their families recover, heal, and keep moving forward.
His official goal is 15 loops, roughly 100 kilometres. But let's be honest, he's quietly eyeing 24.
This is Mitch's first ever backyard ultra, and he's building the crew and support around him to push as far as humanly possible.
Here's how you can get behind him: pledge per loop and watch the total climb on race day. Every lap counts. Every dollar goes to people who have earned every bit of it.
Support Mitch's fundraiser here:
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/110811/canada-army-run-2026-course-de-larmee-du-canada-2026/pledge/participant/43339721

Let's help him take the top spot in the country. For the veterans. For the families. And for Damien.