CAPACITY: 120 runners
PRICE: $105 ($115 after 6/30/2023)
This race is part of the Road to Big’s. It is a BRONZE TICKET RACE! There are two ways to secure a spot at BIG’S BACKYARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
1. The winner of this race will get an AUTOMATIC ENTRY into BOB’S BIG TIMBER Backyard Ultra. The winner of BIG’S BACKYARD ULTRA gains automatic entry into Big’s Backyard Ultra World Championship.
2. The second way to get into Big’s is by completing enough yards to earn one of the “At Large” spots. These spots are awarded to the top 25 runners from around the world for the World Individual Championship (odd years), and the top 9 USA runners for the World Team Championship (even years).
Course
DAY: The race takes place on beautiful and very runnable trails on Countryside YMCA property. Fairly smooth, wooded trails, with small elevation changes. There are some roots and rocks on the trails, and the weather can play a role in trail conditions (mud). The course will be 4.1667 miles, wheeled and measured with GPS watches. The trails are accessible to YMCA members and the community. Detailed course map and Strava data coming soon!
NIGHT: The course is an out-and-back (2.08 out and 2.08 back) run on the Lebanon bike path. There are no road crossings and no car traffic on the bike path, making it an ideal, safe place for night running. The night course passes through residential areas (some properties back up to the Lebanon Bikepath). Please be respectful of private properties and keep your voices down passing through the area at night. No loud music etc to be played on the bike path. There is a gradual downhill and uphill on the bike path but no steep hills.
SUNRISE: 7:54 AM
SUNSET: 6:48 PM
DAY COURSE: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (10 yards)
NIGHT COURSE 6:00 PM – 8:00 AM (14 yards)
Shirt deadline
Please register by 9/27 to guarantee your shirt
Rules
Empower Backyard Ultra is a Lazarus Lake-sanctioned event. Every hour runners will line up to run the 4.1667 mile course (“yard”) until there is only one runner standing. The race will start at 8:00 am on October 22. Every hour runners will run the trails of Countryside YMCA, starting their loops at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, etc. until 5:00 pm when the last day loop will start. After 6:00 pm runners will run the night course (Lebanon Bikepath) every hour starting at 6:00 pm, then 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, all the way until 7:00 am (last night loop) or until no runners are remaining.
RULES :
Runners must be standing in the starting corral when the bell rings and the next race starts, or they may not continue.
Runners will also not continue if they choose to stop (drop from the race).
No late starts once the bell is rung.
Races will continue until only one runner remains, and at that point, once that person completes a loop on their own, that runner is the winner.
All other runners are considered DNF.
At 3 minutes till each race, 3 whistles will be blown.
At 2 minutes till each race, 2 whistles will be blown.
At 1 minute till each race, 1 whistle will be blown.
At 30 seconds till each race, an announcement is made.
At 10 seconds till each race, a countdown will begin.
Once the bell is rung, runners may not visit their crew, their tent, their vehicle or receive aid from anyone.
Runners must stay on the course once the bell is rung.
The only reason for leaving the course once the bell is rung is to use the bathroom.
Once you finish your loop you may choose to do what you want, but must be back in the starting corral before the bell rings.
Runners will need to provide their own aid.
Crews are permitted but limited to just three crew members per runner at a time. Crews may leave and come back if needed.
There will be a space next to the start and finish line to set up a chair, cooler, and other small personal items.
A staging area will be close by where you may set up a tent.
Any runner that DNF’s must immediately vacate their spot close to the finish line to allow surviving runners to move closer. DNF runners are welcome to continue spectating. Porta-potties will be located near the start line.
A T-shirt will be provided to all entrants.
Alcohol is NOT permitted.
Water, coffee, and (non-caffeinated) Tailwind will be provided.
The winner of Empower Ultras Backyard Ultra will get automatic entry to BOB’S BIG TIMBER Backyard Ultra and be eligible to compete in Big’s Backyard Ultra if enough “yards” are achieved.
The winner will receive a cash prize of $3 per “yard” up to $300.
Thank you to Countryside YMCA and the City of Lebanon for allowing us to use their beautiful property and incredible bike path for our event.
About Our Hosts
COUNTRYSIDE YMCA
The second largest YMCA in the world is located in beautiful Lebanon, Ohio, only 30 minutes from Cincinnati and Dayton. Countryside YMCA programs are part of their mission to create a strong, vital, and caring community. When you think of the Y, you might first think of exercising or swimming. But the Y offers so much more. As a non-profit organization, our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that help build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The money given to our Annual Campaign through individual donations and corporate partnerships is used to provide outreach programs for our community. https://countrysideymca.org/about-us/annual-campaign/support-us.html
CITY OF LEBANON / LEBANON BIKE PATH: the bike path is adjacent to the YMCA grounds and offers a beautiful, wide paved path that passes through residential areas.
The City of Lebanon offers many amenities: there are several restaurants near the course, a beautiful old town area, several grocery stores, hotels, and medical services (Bethesda North and Kettering Hospital emergency branches). https://www.lebanonohio.gov/visitors/lebanon_charm/index.php
About Empower Ultras
Empower Ultras was founded by Aneta (Nettie) Zeppettella and Jennifer Russo, who met through ultrarunning and over the years gained a ton of experience finishing some of the hardest ultras on the East Coast and beyond. Additionally, Jennifer competed in Ohio Backyard, Capitol Backyard, and Big’s Backyard. She ran 250 mi at Capitol, 225 mi at Ohio, and 200 mi at Big's. We both want to empower you to try to push your limits and create your new adventures. Please join us. We will cheer for you with our whole hearts!
Introducing a new timed event produced in cooperation with the beautiful city of Lebanon, Ohio!
This event is a combo of a 100 mi race and a 24-hour timed event. The course loop is 1.05 mile long and will be USTAF-certified. The loop is flat with minimal elevation and crushed gravel, offering pretty views of the park as well as an ample place to set up your tent along the course.
We will also have a central aid station at the start/finish area offering a typical ultrarunning fair as well as a rotating menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items (including fresh fruit smoothies, pancakes, avocado wraps, popsicles etc).
This is a 24-hour event, however, if you want to run your fastest 100 miler - we will count this instead (for example: you ran 100 miles in 17 hours and want to stop, we will count you as a 17-hour 100 miler finisher, not a 24 hour. Or: you ran 100 mi in 17 hours but want to keep going, hoping to set the American Age Group record in 24 hours. You keep on running and we will count you as a 24-hour finisher. Let’s say you ran 140 mi in 24 hours. We will post this as your result. Only one result will be posted on ultrasignup. Either 24 hours or 100 mi - you can decide during the race, depending on how you feel.
We love this course- it’s so fast and gentle, flat, but not too boring (and our finish line will keep you entertained).
Brought to you by Empower Ultras, a women-owned and women-led Southwest Ohio-based company. We know timed events, having directed Vernal Equinox 48-24-12-8 Hour event for the past five years. Vernal Equinox grew to a nationally known event bringing in people from well beyond the Dayton/Cincinnati area and selling out every year.
You will get a high-quality swag, personalized, made in Ohio by a local artist, and awarded with your distance completed, and a beautiful belt buckle for everyone who runs 100 mi or more.
There are no refunds.
Runners of all races, ethnicities, and gender identities are welcome at Empower Ultras events and races. We are a women-owned and immigrant-owned company and inclusivity is very important to us. We encourage everyone, regardless of ability, age, body type, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression/identity, nationality, political affiliation, race, religion, or any other demographic to participate in all our events. We support diverse groups through our donations. We are proud to offer Athletes With Disability divisions in our races. We are constantly learning and we encourage input into our efforts to improve diversity at our events.
Packet pickup will be at the start/finish area
Friday 9/20 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Saturday 9/21 5:30-6:30 am
NEW DISTANCES! Second year event in Beautiful East Fork State Park
Please join us for our second annual race at East Fork State Park! In 2024 we will also offer a 100 mile distance and a 15 mile distance in addition to the 100K and 50K. The course will travel counterclockwise on beautiful and challenging trails around the William H. Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park. The entire loop is 33-ish miles, so 1 loop for the 50K, 2 loops for the 100K, and 3 loops for the 100 miler, how cool is that?? The 15 miler will be an out-and-back on a really nice and smooth backpack and MTB trails. The loop course will follow some mountain bike trails, hiking trails, a tiny bit of park road, and a fair amount of the Steve Newman Worldwalker Perimeter trail. In August most of the trails should be fairly dry but you will cross several creeks (two of them could potentially be waist-deep - the rope will be provided). The creek crossings will give you a chance to cool off (they will feel amazing in August)! Throughout your journey, you will experience some beautiful lake views, glorious single-track trails, a waterfall in a beautiful pine forest area, an open field full of wild hibiscus flowers, fast and smooth miles on MBT, and a bit of a bike path, and some refreshing creek crossings. This is an experience you don’t want to miss!
All entrants will receive high-quality swag and unique awards for finishers.
Let’s run the trails at night!
Night Owl races are offered twice a year. Join us on June 1, 2024 in beautiful Caesar Creek State Park for a little night trail magic. Whether you are a seasoned ultra runner or just getting started on trails, this is a perfect way to experience the thrill of running through the woods at night. We are offering full marathon, half marathon, and 10K distances. • Great Company • Excellent Food • Gorgeous trails! THIS IS A CUPLESS RACE! THERE WILL BE NO CUPS AT AID STATIONS. PLEASE CARRY A COLLAPSIBLE CUP WITH YOU to get drinks at aid stations. The course is a beautiful single-track trail around Caesar Creek Lake (a combination of yellow perimeter loop and red/green trail near Wellman Meadow). There will be different start times for the different distances to allow participants to spread out on the trail and experience the gorgeous sunset over Caesar Creek Lake. All participants must carry mandatory gear: headlamp and/or waist light with extra batteries, water bottle (or bladder), collapsible cup, and fully charged cell phone. Finishers will receive cool owl medals that glow in the dark. All registered runners will receive high-quality swag. We will have awards for top finishers in both genders.
There will be 4 aid stations on the course:
1. Wellman Meadow (10K turnaround point): it will be manned until all 10K runners come through, unmanned for the remainder of the night. Will have water and Tailwind.
2. Fifty Springs (manned and fully stocked aid station with water, Tailwind, and typical ultra fare (pretzels, trail mix, potato chips, PB&J, bananas, etc).
3. Day Lodge (water and tailwind and limited nutrition (granola bars and/or gels).
4. Start/Finish (fully stocked aid station with water, Tailwind, pretzels, potato chips, PB&J, hummus avocado wraps, and warm food (including vegan options).
Empower Ultras is proud to be a Trail Sisters-approved race. We offer Equal Podium Spots. Equal Prize Money & Awards. Women’s specific swag & apparel. (no unisex t-shirts). Menstrual products at all aid stations. Equal opportunity/space for women on the starting line.
Empower Ultras was founded by Aneta (Nettie) Zeppettella and Jennifer Russo, who met through ultrarunning and over the years gained lots of experience, finishing some of the hardest ultras on the East Coast and beyond. Nettie has directed ultrarunning events for several years as a volunteer RD for a local club and Jennifer has extensive marketing experience. We want to empower you to try to push your limits and create your new adventures. Please join us. We will cheer for you with our whole hearts!
Course and Cutoffs
Cutoffs are for the safety of our runners and volunteers and will be strictly enforced.
Full Marathon cutoffs:
- Race starts at 6 pm. Runners will have 9 hours to complete the race (until 3 am).
- Runners will have to start loop 2 by 10:15 pm (4 hours 15 minutes to complete loop 1 (there will be daylight for the first three of the marathon race with sunset at 9 pm), 4 hours 45 minutes to complete loop 2. (Loop 2 will be done completely in the dark.)
Half Marathon cutoff:
- Half Marathon starts at 7:30 pm. Runners will have 7.5 hrs to complete the race.
10K cutoff:
- 10K starts at 8 pm, runners must complete the race by 3am.
Sunset is at 9 pm. Caesar Creek trails are heavily wooded and will get dark sooner. The course is mostly single-track trail with rolling hills. There are no significant climbs on the course, but - especially back part of the marathon and half marathon loop - has a lot of back-to-back rollers. The difficulty level is very weather-dependent - if the trails are dry - they are pretty runnable, if we have a wet spring, the mud can be unrelenting.
There will be some running on the wide shoulder of the road (North Clarksville (all distances) and Rt 73 (marathon and half) - please stay in the shoulder at all times and never run more then two people abreast as roads are open to car traffic. Those violating this rule might be disqualified. Winners of our marathon race will receive a free entry to Winter Night Owl .
Refund Policy
There will be no refunds. If we need to postpone the race, we will roll over all registrations to the new date or offer participants an opportunity to run a future Night Owl event.
Volunteers
Trail and ultrarunning wouldn't exist without the help of incredible volunteers. Please help us make this event successful. Volunteers can earn credit towards future Empower Ultras races.
