Photo credit: Michael Kennedy
ENTRY FEES
SOLD OUT!
SOLD OUT!
FIRST RELEASE
$230
ENDS 30 APRIL 2026
*All entries are subject to booking and credit card fees.
SECOND RELEASE
$240
ENDS 17 JULY 2026
*All entries are subject to booking and credit card fees.
EVENT DETAILS
Photo credit: Daniel Harapa
WHO
Red’s Backyard Ultra
WHEN
8:00 am Saturday 1 August 2026
WHERE
Integral Energy Park, Darkes Road, Kembla Grange NSW
WHAT
RUN - Just One More Loop.
6.7 km Every hour. On the hour.
Until one remains.
WHY
Why not?
Sleeping is overrated anyway.
COURSE
The Red’s Backyard Ultra course consists of two sections following a NSW state cross-country course: the first section runs clockwise (red), and the second section runs anticlockwise (blue). It is a relatively flat, non-technical course with a mixture of manicured grass and trail. The course will be well-marked with red and white peg flags, signs, bunting and reflective markers (for the night).
ENTRY PROCESS
ENTRIES OPEN
5:00 pm Saturday 21 February 2026 (AEDT)
ENTRIES CLOSE
10:00 am Friday 17 July 2026 (AEDT)
* unless all positions are filled
WAITLIST
We will start a waitlist if entries sell out. If a position becomes available, runners on the waitlist will be contacted in order and given one week to register (unless otherwise stated) before the spot is offered to the next runner on the list.
REFUNDS
Refunds will only be available if the waitlist is in place and a runner takes up the available position. This option will expire on 4:00 pm Thursday 16 July 2026 (AEDT) subject to the terms set out in the Race Manual.
TRANSFERS
Red’s Backyard Ultra is a small event with a waitlist option, so transfers will not be offered.
EVENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY 31 JULY 2026
3:00 PM
Site open for runners/support crew to set up a personal aid station and early check-in
4:00 PM
Walk/run through the course
SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2026
5:10 AM
Check-in opens
7:10 AM
Check-in closes
7:15 AM
Welcome to Country + Smoking Ceremony
7:40 AM
Race briefing
8:00 AM
Race starts
???
Race concludes when there is only one runner standing or all runners DNF
EVENT HUB
This is where the magic happens…
Where loops begin, stories are made, friendships are forged and the Red’s family comes alive.
The Event Hub is the heart of Red’s Backyard Ultra — the place runners, crew, volunteers and spectators come together. It’s designed to keep everything close, connected and community-focused, while still giving runners the structure they need to go deep.
Red’s is situated within Integral Energy Park where there is a kids’ play area very close to the event hub. There will be a couple of spectator areas with fire drums along with various food/beverage vendors available over the weekend.
Getting There
Red’s Backyard Ultra is held at Integral Energy Park, 88 Darkes Road, Kembla Grange NSW.
Approximately:
• 15 minutes from Wollongong
• 1.5 hours south of Sydney
Enter via Darkes Road, off the Princes Highway.
Parking
There are three main parking areas. On Saturday morning, a volunteer ‘Carpark Marshall’ will manage the parking area. If the three main areas are full, the Carpark Marshall will direct you to an overflow carpark (indicated as a purple dotted line on the map). Please ensure you do not park any other cars in.
Runners’ Personal Aid Stations
Each runner will be allocated a 3 × 3 m space within a six-cluster layout to keep the event hub organised and ensure easy access to the starting corral. A Personal Aid Station Set-up Marshal will be available to assist. Further instructions will be provided at check-in.
Food & Beverage
We are excited to welcome Principle Brewing, Just Wing It, Steve’s Woodfire Piza Oven, Cruzin Red Cafe and Big Pink Soft Serve across the weekend.
* Full details set out in the Race Manual
TUTUS & TIARAS
🎀 Tutus & Tiaras
Each year, when the Race Director’s daughter celebrates her birthday, we mark the occasion with our much-loved Tutus & Tiaras loop. What started as a fun surprise at our inaugural event has become a Red’s tradition — glitter, tutus, tiaras and all the sparkly things, along with plenty of laughs out on course.
This year, loop 5 kicks off at midday — the perfect time to grab a bite from the food trucks, relax in the hangout areas and cheer on the runners as they dazzle their way around the course. There are two winners for best-dressed, chosen by the birthday girl herself, with prizes kindly provided by our sponsors Coast to Mountain Running and Principle Brewing.
Runners will receive full details in the pre-race event communications — but start planning your sparkle now ✨
TUTUS & TIARAS WINNERS
2025
Start of Loop 4
2025 Winner - Michael Bilboe
2025 Winner - Jessica Gehrels
2024
Start of Loop 3
2024 Winner - Tony Parry
2024 Runner Up - Hannah Pearson
2024 Runner Up - Nathan Queripel
2023
Start of Loop 2
2023 Winner - Simon Macauley
2023 Runners Up - Crayg Mayo & Tony Parry
EXTRA FUN!
From community tributes to late-race laughs, these moments are part of what makes race weekend so special…
🌊 The Seacliff Coasters Loop
Loop 3 will honour our amazing local trail running community — The Seacliff Coasters — a permanent part of the Red’s experience.
Why loop 3? Glad you asked… The loop number is a nod to the year the RD joined the group (2019 → 2+0+1+9 = 12 → 1+2 = 3).
Many of our runners and volunteers are part of the Coasters, and we’re proud to celebrate the friends and families who make Red’s such a special community.
We encourage runners and spectators to come down, wear your Coasters shirt and show your support.
If you’re interested in joining The Seacliff Coasters, you’ll find an open and inclusive trail running community that brings together runners from across the Illawarra (and a few beyond) to celebrate endurance running and the escarpment they call home.
🩰 A Tutu for Loop 22
Inspired by Phil Gore, the tradition of wearing a tutu on Loop 22 continues at Red’s.
If you’re still standing at the 22-hour mark, we encourage you to join in and keep the spirit alive. It’s one of those uniquely Backyard moments that brings smiles when they’re needed most.
More details will be shared with runners closer to race day.