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Your donation helps provide Special Olympics Champions with the opportunity to experience what sports can do: confidence, friendships, and a true sense of belonging.

  • $120Provides 1 Champion a season of sports
  • $600Provides 5 Champions a season of sports
  • $1,200Provides 10 Champions a season of sports
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A smiling Special Olympics athlete in a blue Special Olympics shirt with both fists raised in celebration
Miles For Champions Backyard Ultra

4.167 Miles. Every Hour. On the Hour.

Run 100 miles solo, build a relay team, or join us for a few loops. Every mile helps give 200 Special Olympics Champions a season of sports.

  • Feb. 27–28, 2027
  • Near Lake Arcadia, Oklahoma City
  • 1:00 PM start

24 loops · 100 miles · 24 hours · Solo, relay, or a few loops

Claim Your Spot View Race Rules
Countdown to the first loopSaturday, Feb. 27, 2027 · 1:00 PM
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The Race

Pick your challenge

You don't have to be an ultrarunner. Go the full 100 miles, share the distance with a team, or come run a few loops. Everyone runs for the same mission.

“I'm running 100 miles, but I don't want to do it alone. Come run with me!” — Ryan Latham

Option 01

100 Miles Solo

24 loops. 100 miles. One runner.

Take on the full challenge: one 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour, for 24 hours.

Take on 100 Miles
Option 02

Relay Team

100 miles. One team. One mission.

Build a team and split the 24 loops however you like. Together, your team covers all 100 miles.

Build or Join a Team
Option 03

Run a Few Loops

Your distance. Your pace. Your mission.

Join us for one loop, a few loops, or as many as you'd like. Every mile matters.

Run a Few Loops
Rules & Format

The Backyard format

Simple rules, big challenge. Here's how a backyard ultra works.

The Yard

4.167 mi

Every loop is the same 4.167-mile course. Run it, walk it, and be back at the start before the next loop begins.

The Clock

Every hour

A new loop starts at the top of every hour. You have 60 minutes per loop. Finish early and the rest of the hour is yours to rest and refuel.

The Goal

24 loops

24 loops in 24 hours adds up to 100 miles. Go solo, share it with a relay team, or run a few loops toward the mission.

Full race rules

The Mission

Run with a bigger purpose

Giving everyone the opportunity to experience what sports can do.

Every loop at the Backyard Ultra helps give Special Olympics athletes, who are called Champions, a full season of sports.

“Sports changed my life. Now I'm using my miles to help change someone else's.”

Ryan Latham, who grew up with dyslexia and found confidence, teammates, and discipline through sports.

Our goal
$24,000

to help give 200 Special Olympics Champions a season of sports

$1201 Champion
$6005 Champions
$1,20010 Champions
Sponsor a Champion

The road to Boston

Ryan will be running the 2027 Boston Marathon. “Qualifying was for me. These miles are for the mission.”

  1. Dec 2026

    Dallas Half

    13.1 miles
  2. Jan 2027

    Houston Marathon

    26.2 miles
  3. Feb 2027

    Backyard Ultra

    100 miles · 24 hours
  4. Apr 2027

    Boston Marathon

    26.2 miles
FAQ

Questions, answered

How do I register?

Click Register Now, pick your challenge (100 Miles Solo, Relay Team, or Run a Few Loops) and complete the form. Your registration is official once you make a $50 donation through our fundraising page. Relay captains register first and create the team; teammates then register on their own and pick that team.

Do I have to run 100 miles?

Not at all. You can go the full 100 miles solo, split the 24 loops with a relay team, or run one loop, a few loops, or as many as you'd like.

How do relay teams work?

Your team works together to complete 24 loops. One designated runner represents the team on each hourly loop, and exchanges happen at the start/finish area between loops. Rotate runners however you like, as long as each loop is finished within 60 minutes.

Can my crew set up at the course?

The start/finish area is the central gathering point for runners, relay teams, crews, and supporters. Details about crew setup, aid, water, and restrooms will be shared with registered participants before race day.

What do I need for night loops?

The event runs overnight. If you're running after dark, you must carry a headlamp or other appropriate lighting and wear reflective or high-visibility gear.

What if I need to drop or stop?

Let event staff know if you withdraw or run into an issue on the course. Runner safety comes first, and event organizers may stop a runner's participation when it's necessary for safety.

Where exactly is the race?

On private property approximately 3 miles from Lake Arcadia in Oklahoma City. The exact address and arrival instructions go out to registered participants before race day.

How much does it cost to register?

Registration is a $50 donation to Special Olympics Massachusetts through our Miles for Champions fundraising page, and every runner makes their own. Want to go further? $120 gives one Champion a full season of sports, and every dollar counts toward our $24,000 goal.

Give your miles a mission

100 miles. 200 Champions. One mission. Claim your spot at the Miles For Champions Backyard Ultra.

Register Now Sponsor a Champion