• Login
Ultra Running Magazine
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Renew
    • Gift Subscription
    • Subscriber Login
  • Magazine
    • All Issues
    • Purchase Back Issues
    • Find a Retailer
    • Become a Retailer
  • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Training & Racing
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Race Reports
    • News and Notes
    • Ultra Running 101
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • UltraRunners of the Year
  • Podcast
  • Training Plans
  • Old School Ultras
  • Events
    • Upcoming Races
    • Map View
    • By State
    • By Cutoff
    • Stats
      • Finishes
      • Top Performances
      • Biggest Races
    • Race Director
      • Register
      • Login
  • Results
    • Latest Results
    • Runner Search
    • All Time List
  • Shop
    • Back Issues
    • Digital Back Issues
    • Hats
    • Stickers
    • Odds and Ends
    • Cart
  • About
    • About UR
    • Columnists
    • Staff
    • Ambassadors
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Change of Address
    • Editorial Submissions
  • 0
Subscribe Today
Terumichi Morishita and Harvey Lewis at the 2021 Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Photo: Howie Stern

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — October 21

Jeffrey Stern 10/18/2023
Jeffrey Stern 10/18/2023
2K

Sponsored By:

We’re nearly a month into fall, but our UltraRunning Calendar is still heating up. Highlights for the weekend of October 21 include Big’s Backyard Ultra last person standing in Tennessee, Surf the Murph 50/50 in Minnesota, Lake Sonoma 55/100k in California, and as always, a ton more.

In Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Big’s Backyard Ultra World Championships is going down with 77 entrants from over 30 countries. Participants will race around the 4.167-mile loop starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 21, with a time limit of 1 hour. The event will continue with a lap each hour until there is only one runner remaining who can complete the lap within the hour. If no single runner completes it, there will be no winner. Follow along on Instagram as UR columnist Jared Beasley covers the event live from Bell Buckle. 

Flying north, we land at the Surf the Murph 50k/50-mile races also Saturday in Savage, Minnesota. The race will be held at Murphy-Hanrehan Park adjacent to the birdwatching haven of Murphy Lake just 30 minutes south of the Twin Cities. The 50k is two loops and the 50-miler will be three loops, both with some single-track sections. Prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costumes. Join in on the fun and register here. 

Out west in Healdsburg, California, is the second Lake Sonoma weekend of the year, with the 55k and 100k events. Considered one of the most relentless course profiles anywhere, runners will take on winding single-track trails around the lake and conditions are expected to cool off just in time for race day. The weekend will be a lively scene for all athletes and crew, complete with on-site camping, live music, local food and drinks from Sonoma County. As always, the Lake Sonoma Race Series is a community event, with proceeds from all races supporting the Children of Vineyard Workers Scholarship Fund. Registration is full for this year.

There’s always more fantastic races to choose from on our extensive UltraRunning Calendar including, but certainly not limited to, the Palo Duro Trail Run 50k/50-miler in Amarillo, Texas, the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd 50k/100k/100-miler in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the Pony Express Trail Run 50/100-miler in Faust, Utah, the Southern Discomfort 6/12/24/30-hour races in Albany, Georgia, the Tussey Mountainback 50k/50-Miler in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, Bimblers Bluff 50k in Guilford, Connecticut, and the Lake Hodges Trail Fest 50k in San Diego, California.        

Where are you racing this weekend? Be sure to drop a note in the comments so everyone can follow along with What’s Up in Ultra in your local community.

FacebookTwitterThreadsBlueskyEmail
Jeffrey Stern

More from UltraRunning

Ultra PT: Upper Body Issues

Ultra Weekend Recap — July 13, 2025

Abby Hall’s Journey to a Western States Victory

What’s Up in Ultra This Weekend — July...

REVIEW: HOKA Mafate X

I Thought I Was Writing a Book. Then...

2 comments

Monica Rose 10/20/2023 - 3:00 am

TROT, Texas Trail Racing Over Texas, is holding its own BIGS even (Big Tex) this weekend! We start at 7 a.m. at the 7 IL Ranch near Katy. Cal, RD, has a great course for us. In true Texas style, we are looking at a high of 90 degrees. This course gives no shade so it’s full sun during the day. We are all ready to get a loopy and see how far we can go.

jesse riley 10/25/2023 - 1:19 pm

Big’s Backyard is my pick for being cutting-edge and progressive in our sport. By having in essence a stage race (one-hour stages), it has made multidays accessible to many who would never try them otherwise. Results far beyond what I would have thought, in every corner of the Earth. It’s a format that’s also proven cheap and easy to replicate in other countries, for runners of all ages and abilities. Gary predicted they would head toward 500 miles, and so far it’s true!

Comments are closed.

Recent Results

Weekly Newsletter

A roundup of the week's content and race results. Sent every Thursday.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Podcast

  • Ryan Montgomery: Racing with Purpose

  • Adam Popp & Dave Mackey

  • What’s the Issue w/ Amy Clark (June/July 2025)

  • What’s the Issue w/ Amy Clark (Apr/May 2025)

  • Reader’s Questions Answered with Dr. Nick Tiller

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Spotify

Back To Top
Ultra Running Magazine
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Renew
    • Gift Subscription
    • Subscriber Login
  • Magazine
    • All Issues
    • Purchase Back Issues
    • Find a Retailer
    • Become a Retailer
  • Articles
    • Reviews
    • Training & Racing
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Race Reports
    • News and Notes
    • Ultra Running 101
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • UltraRunners of the Year
  • Podcast
  • Training Plans
  • Old School Ultras
  • Events
    • Upcoming Races
    • Map View
    • By State
    • By Cutoff
    • Stats
      • Finishes
      • Top Performances
      • Biggest Races
    • Race Director
      • Register
      • Login
  • Results
    • Latest Results
    • Runner Search
    • All Time List
  • Shop
    • Back Issues
    • Digital Back Issues
    • Hats
    • Stickers
    • Odds and Ends
    • Cart
  • About
    • About UR
    • Columnists
    • Staff
    • Ambassadors
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Change of Address
    • Editorial Submissions

Shopping Cart

Close

No products in the cart.

Close