Mauritius, April 13, 2026: Mark your calendars! Following the sell-out success of its inaugural edition in 2025, The Loop Backyard Ultra will be back for the second edition of the challenging ultra running race to be held on 28 August, with pre-registration opening on 15 April.
This unique event, based on the popular Backyard Ultra format, will once again test the endurance and mental fortitude of runners in a demanding yet supportive environment of Domaine de Labourdonnais in the northern region of Mauritius.
The ultimate knock-out competition
What makes The Loop Backyard Ultra unique? Participants must complete a 6.706 km (4.167-mile) loop every hour, on the hour. Runners must finish each loop within 60 minutes. Any remaining time within the hour allows them to rest, eat, change gear, or recover before the next loop commences. The race continues, hour after hour, until only two runners remain.
The competition then intensifies into a head-to-head battle. The last two runners will continue until one fails to complete a loop within the hour or chooses to stop. The remaining runner, provided they complete their final loop within the hour, is declared the winner. The runner who completes the second-to-last loop is designated the “assist”.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition
The Loop Backyard Ultra is the vision of founder Estelle Poupinel de Valence, a passionate runner with a deep connection to the trails and the spirit of ultra-running. Her running journey began in 2007 with 10 km races, evolving into a love for challenging 40 km trail runs. After a hiatus due to personal and professional commitments, Estelle returned to the trails in 2023 with renewed energy and a passion for ultra-distances.
Sharing her perspective, Estelle Poupinel de Valence commented: “We are excited to launch the pre-registrations for our second edition, which will be even bigger and better than last time. The Loop Backyard Ultra is not just a unique concept, it’s an experience that uplifts people and brings them together to celebrate the incredible spirit of the ultra-running community. It is truly inspiring to see the commitment and dedication of our runners, and we look forward to expanding our community to welcome new runners this year.”
Pre-registration encouraged as places limited
To ensure a focused and competitive race, places will be limited to 90 runners. If pre-registration applications exceed this cap, selection will prioritise runners with significant prior experience in ultra-distance events, specifically their longest single-event distance.
Interested runners and spectators are encouraged to visithttps://the-loop.run/backyard-ultra/for further information or email: hello@the-loop.run
