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!
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.
The Fifth Annual Vernal Equinox will once again take place on the beautiful grounds of Majestic Farm in Batavia, Ohio on April 5 - April 7. Majestic Farm is Cincinnati's premier equestrian facility with beautiful wooded trails, along with scenic paths along the woods, and around lakes. This is truly a unique venue! Again this year we are offering free clean horse stalls by the start/finish area to use to store your supplies during the race. The 48-hour runners will have the stalls located closest to the Start/Finish. You can share stalls with friends, just let us know who you want to share with. The stalls are generous in size and four runners can easily share a stall.
Vernal Equinox will be a cupless race. You will receive a reusable cup with your race packet. There will be no paper cups at aid station. We will provide bowls and plates for hot food.
Cash Prizes for 48 and 24-Hour Course Records.
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.
The course is 2 miles in length and traverses through wooded trails, lush growths, and gorgeous meadows. Beautiful, smooth, and fast trail with a large barn at start/finish of every loop. Typical ultrarunning food will be provided at the aid station along with some hot food items such as homemade soup, grilled cheese, fresh coffee, etc. Vegan options will be available.
All participants can reserve free clean horse stalls at the time of registration to use as staging/napping/storage areas during the race. RV hookups are available for $45. Superior swag with high-quality Rabbit long-sleeved shirts and custom finisher awards that are handmade in Ohio. Belt buckles for those who run 100 miles in 24 or 48 hours as well as 150 mi and 200 mi buckles. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Project Congo, a charity founded by local resident, endurance athlete, and philanthropist, Dr Sylvia Gleason. Please check projectcongo.org and watch a moving video about Dr Gleason’s work in Congo!
We offer four different events:
- 48 Hour (starting Friday at 7 am, finishing Sunday at 7 am)
- 24 Hour (Saturday 7 am - Sunday 7 am)
- 12 Hour (Saturday 8 am - 8 pm)
- 8 Hour (Saturday 8 am - 4 pm)
Empower Ultras is proud to be Trail Sisters approved race.
