MAD Backyard Ultra

10/20/2026

🌊 EXCITING NEWS FOR OUR RUNNING COMMUNITY! 🌴The Chattanooga Track Club, MAD Backyard Ultra, and Circle Endurance Event are thrilled to partner with the Big Beach Marathon in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama!
Planning your race calendar?
Whether you're looking to crush a flat, scenic marathon/half marathon or trade the trail and track for white sand beaches, this is an event you won't want to miss!
🎉 SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR OUR ATHLETES & CLUB MEMBERS:
Save on your registration using our exclusive discount code!🎟️ USE CODE: CTC27 💰 SAVINGS: 15% OFF your entry! Head over to bigbeachmarathon.com to check out course maps, race weekend details, and claim your spot on the start line!
Scan the QR code in the flyer or click the link in our bio to register today! 📲🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ More information to come at the Circle Event.

10/18/2026

Did you know that since our inception in 2022, MAD Backyard Ultra runners have logged over 16,400 total miles on the Camp Jordan loops? 🤯🛣️

That is enough concrete miles to run across the United States more than 5 times—all accumulated 4.167 miles at a time.

Across 5 years, 222 unique runners from 21 different states (and 3 countries!) have stepped into the starting corral to test their limit against the clock. Whether you logged a single yard or stacked up hundreds of miles toward our all-time leaderboard, every single loop contributes to the legacy of this event.

With our updated 2027 course layout—featuring high-and-dry tent ground by the pavilion and seamless continuous loops—we're ready to add thousands more miles to that grand total. ⛺🏃‍♂️

How many of those 16,400+ miles belong to you? Tell us your MAD total in the comments! 👇

10/11/2026

The MAD Backyard Ultra race directors took a road trip down to Columbus, Georgia to tackle the River City Half Marathon, put on by the awesome crew at Revolution Running!
It’s always a treat to cross a finish line as runners rather than organizing one, and Revolution Running put on an incredible, well-organized event along the river. Big thanks to their team and volunteers for hosting such a fantastic morning of racing.
Now, it’s back to basecamp to keep dialing in the final preparations for our own upcoming events! ⏱️⛺
Who else snagged a finish line medal this weekend? Drop your race recaps below! 👇

10/10/2026

Consistency is the real secret to conquering the yard! 🏃‍♂️🔁

While running a backyard ultra requires immense stamina, coming back year after year to face the concrete at Camp Jordan takes a special kind of dedication. Across the 5-year history of the MAD Backyard Ultra (2022–2026), these runners have made stepping into the starting corral an annual tradition.

Here are the Top 7 Most Frequent Participants in MAD Backyard Ultra history:

The 4-Timer Club (Most Appearances):

Kyle Kalbus
David Kyle
Shawn Parnaby
Keith Guillot
Jimmy Layne
Kristen Weitz
Sonya Reagor

A massive shoutout to these runners for making Camp Jordan their home away from home every January!

How many MAD Backyard Ultras have you completed so far, and are you planning to add another year to your tally in 2027? Drop your streak in the comments! 👇

10/04/2026

Runners, let’s talk about the true X-factor for the MAD Backyard Ultra weekend: the weather.

In a last-runner-standing format, the elements will test your grit just as much as the mileage. Historically, mid-January in Chattanooga is brisk, cold, and breezy. You can expect average daytime highs to peak around 48°F to 50°F, while the overnight hours will routinely see temperatures plunge to a freezing 30°F to 33°F.

When you are out there grinding through the hours at Camp Jordan Park, be prepared for a heavy canopy of overcast skies and about a 33% historical probability of rain on any given day. If the precipitation does hit, it typically comes down as a steady, moderate rain. Add in an average wind speed of nearly 11 mph, and that deep nighttime chill is going to cut right through you if you aren't layered up properly.

The MAD Backyard Ultra is won by the stubborn and the prepared. The freezing nights are when the mental game truly begins. Pack those waterproof layers, bring plenty of extra dry socks, and make sure your crew is dialed in to keep your core temperature up during those brief rests between yards.

Who is ready to outlast the cold? 🥶🏃‍♂️

09/28/2026

🚨 COURSE UPDATE: A Smoother, Drier Yard! 🚨

We’re making a major upgrade to the MAD Backyard Ultra course layout, and it is going to be a huge win for both runners and crews!

We are officially moving the start/finish line. We will no longer be setting up at the far end of the gravel parking lot. Instead, the central hub is moving up to the beginning of the parking lot, right near the large pavilion.

What this means for race day:

🏃‍♂️ A Better Course Flow: The distance remains exactly 4.167 miles, but we’ve eliminated the out-and-back section in the middle of the yard. Now, the out-and-back happens at the very beginning and end of your lap. You’ll head out, settle into two continuous loops around Camp Jordan, and cruise straight back into the finish area.

⛺ Higher & Drier Camping: Moving the hub near the large pavilion puts all runner tents and canopies on much higher ground. If the weather decides to test us with rain, you’ll have far fewer issues with water pooling in your personal aid station.

A better rhythm out on the paved loops and a much more comfortable basecamp experience between laps.

Who is ready to set up camp and stack some loops on the updated layout? Let us know below! 👇

09/19/2026

For years, my training routine involved pushing the pace, stacking up the miles, and always chasing the next endurance milestone. But lately, some of my most important miles are the slow, stiff ones walked alongside my oldest training partner.

Harley has been by mine and Amanda's side forever. Watching a companion who once bounded effortlessly down the trail now take her time navigating the sidewalk has been a profound lesson in patience and the changing seasons of physical fitness.

As endurance athletes, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in the metrics—tracking heart rates, chasing a 3:30 marathon finish, or pushing our bodies to the absolute limit over 100 miles. We always want to go further and faster. But watching my senior pup adapt to a slower, more deliberate rhythm reminds me that true longevity isn't just about refusing to quit. It is about having the grace to adapt. It is recognizing that our bodies change, and that there is immense value in simply keeping moving, no matter the pace.

Some days, a successful effort isn't a massive long run on the Camp Jordan concrete or logging dizzying miles on the track. Sometimes, it is just a slow morning walk, letting her sniff every single tree, and being deeply grateful for the miles we have shared over the last decade. It completely shifts the perspective from what we might be losing to what we are lucky enough to still do.

To everyone out there managing the aches, the stiffness, and the shifting seasons of their own athletic journeys—keep moving forward, even if the pace looks a little different these days.

09/13/2026

Looking for a different kind of dizzy? 🔄🏃‍♂️

If you're currently building your endurance base for the next MAD Backyard Ultra, why not test your pacing on the track? We are gearing up for the Circle Endurance Event on Saturday, November 21st, right on the rubber at the Ringgold High School track.

It’s the perfect opportunity to lock into a steady rhythm and see exactly how many laps you can stack up before the clock runs out. There are no hills, no roots, and no navigation to worry about—just you, the track, and the mental game of turning left.

Whether you are looking to set a new personal distance record or just want a highly controlled environment to test your fueling and shoe rotation, the track is the place to do it.

Registration is open—who is ready to hit the track with us this November? 🏃‍♀️💨
https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=132950

November 21, 2026: Circle 24 race in Ringgold, GA. Organized by Chattanooga Track Club. Register now on UltraSignup.

09/05/2026

The MAD Backyard Ultra isn’t just about who lasts the longest on race day—it’s about who keeps coming back to the concrete, year after year, lap after lap. 💥🛣️

Since our very first starting whistle in 2022, hundreds of runners have tested their limits on the Camp Jordan paths. While a single long run on this 100% paved course is physically demanding, returning annually to compound that distance requires an entirely different level of joint conditioning and mental fortitude. A select few have logged truly staggering lifetime mileage totals, proving they have absolutely dialed in their shoe rotations and impact resilience.

Top 10 All-Time Mileage Accumulators

Kyle Kalbus — 537.79 miles

Melody Diehl — 279.32 miles

Dusty Elliott — 254.31 miles

Jamie Ryan — 254.27 miles

David Kyle — 250.17 miles

Bob Adams — 241.86 miles

Jonathan McKenzie — 237.69 miles

Patrick O'Hagan — 229.29 miles

Shawn Parnaby — 212.56 miles

Matthew Williams — 208.38 miles

A massive shoutout to Kyle Kalbus for sitting completely alone in the 500+ mile club! Logging over 500 miles across multiple years on a hard-surface loop is an incredible feat of endurance and persistence. The margins in the rest of the top five are razor-thin, with mere fractions of a mile separating some of these legendary backyard efforts.

Who is moving up this leaderboard next year? Drop a comment if you are aiming to add to your lifetime total and hit a new personal best on the concrete! 👇

08/31/2026

Trail legs are great. But do you have concrete legs? 🛣️💥

The MAD Backyard Ultra loop is 100% paved concrete around Camp Jordan. It makes for an incredibly fast, predictable, and weather-resistant course—no ankle-rolling roots or deep mud bogs here.

But make no mistake: concrete takes a toll over 12, 24, or 30+ hours. The runners who survive the longest in the yard are the ones who dial in their shoe rotations and prepare their joints for the hard surface.

If you're building a base for 2027, don't just run the soft trails. Get some time on the greenways.

How often do you rotate your shoes during a 50+ mile effort? 👟