Die to Run Backyard Ultra
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Event format and rules
Die to Run is a backyard ultra variant where the lap distance changes each hour. Five minutes before the top of each hour, a six-sided die is rolled at the start line to determine the number of miles for the next 60-minute cycle. Distances may be:
- 1 mile
- 2 miles
- 3 miles
- 4 miles
- 5 miles
- 6 miles
If a runner completes the declared distance within the hour, they may continue to the next roll. Failure to complete the distance within the hour ends that runner’s race. Special adjustments apply: during the first two hours, a roll of 5 or 6 is set to 4 miles; after six hours, any roll of 1 becomes 3; after 12 hours, any roll of 2 becomes 4. The event continues hour after hour until only one runner remains.
Logistics and support
The course is a flat, measured out-and-back on the paved path at Hatbox in Muskogee, Oklahoma. A main aid station at the start/finish offers water, ice, energy drinks, fruits, sweet and savory snacks, and a grill offering warm food every six hours. The current hour’s distance is written on a dry-erase board and announced over a PA system. Parking and restroom facilities are available on site. Crews are permitted in designated areas. Registration is handled through UltraSignup with a fee of $100. For lightning in the immediate area, the race will be paused for at least one hour; more severe weather may cause further delays or cancellation, and registration fees are non-refundable in the event of a weather-related cancellation. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.