Registration will open in April 2026. For the latest details and access to early registration options, be sure to join the UNFINISHED Newsletter.

UNFINISHED is an endurance running event built around the Backyard Ultra format — where runners test their limits through repeated 6.71 km Yards called ‘Yards’

Unlike traditional races with fixed distances, UNFINISHED allows participants to choose their challenge through three different formats: Backyard Ultra (Solo or Team), Endurance (Solo or Team Relay), and the Sunshine Yard.

At its core, the event is about resolve, repetition, and community.

The name reflects the spirit of endurance.

In a Backyard Ultra, no runner knows how far they will go when they start.

Each Yard becomes a new decision: Do I go again?

The answer is never fully known until the race is finished.

The Backyard Ultra is a unique endurance race format in which runners tackle a 6.71km loop—called a Yard—every hour on the hour.

Run – Recover – Repeat

If you finish the Yard within the hour, you earn the right to start the next one. If you fail to start the next Yard on time, your race is over (‘Endurance’ categories exempt).  The last runner standing wins.

The Backyard Ultra format was originally created by ultrarunner Gary Cantrell, the founder of the iconic Barkley Marathons.

Running 6.71 km every hour equals 100 miles over 24 hours if a runner completes 24 Yards.

The time remaining in the hour becomes the runner’s recovery window.

Athletes (participating in the Backyard Ultra format) will use this time to:
• rest
• refuel
• hydrate
• adjust gear
• receive support from their crew

Every hour the bell rings again — and runners must decide if they are ready to continue.

Not at all.

UNFINISHED welcomes runners of many experience levels.

Some participants will aim to compete deep into the event, while others may simply want to test themselves for a few Yards – 21km? 50km? 100km?

Whether you choose the ‘Backyard Ultra’ format (Solo or Team) or the ‘Endurance’ format (Solo or Team Relay) or join us for the ‘Sunshine Yard’, UNFINISHED celebrates personal limits, persistence, and the incredible support of the running community.

Of course.  UNFINISHED is about running what feels right for you. Whether it’s a couple of laps or many more, every effort counts.

Backyard Ultra — Solo
– The traditional format.
– Runners complete a 6.71 km Yard every hour until they can no longer continue.
– Solo runners compete individually.

Backyard Ultra — Team
– Teams of three run together and must complete every Yard as a group.
– Runners complete a 6.71 km Yard every hour until they can no longer continue.

Endurance — Solo
– Run as far as possible within the event time window.
– Unlike the Backyard Ultra, runners in the Endurance category are not restricted to starting on the hour.
– Participants manage their pace and rest as they choose while aiming to complete as many Yards as possible before time expires.
– This format rewards strategy and pacing.

Endurance — Relay
– Run as far as possible within the event time window.
– Unlike the Backyard Ultra, runners in the Endurance category are not restricted to starting on the hour.
– Teams/Participants manage their pace and rest as they choose while aiming to complete as many Yards as possible before time expires.
– This format rewards strategy, pacing, and teamwork.

Sunshine Yard

– Everyone starts together.
– Participants complete one 6.71 km Yard to help launch the event.
– It’s designed for: runners who only want to run 6.71km (Friends and family, crews supporting athletes, community members who want to experience the start-line energy, etc.)
– After the first Yard, Sunshine Yard participants celebrate the event and support the athletes continuing on.

Yes — the Sunshine Yard can be enjoyed as a standalone 6.71km run. It represents an opportunity to kick-start the energy of the day and to immerse yourself in the Backyard Ultra community. The Sunshine Yard will be a social run, where you go at your own pace and enjoy the beauty of the waterfront route.

• 1 Yard | 6.706km
• 3 Yards | 20.1km
• 8 Yards | 53.7km – Ultra Marathon Complete
• 15 Yards | 100.5km – You have run 100 kms

After 14 Yards, all remaining runners line up for one final Yard — the Omega Lap. This time it’s a race. The fastest time wins UNFINISHED.

While details may be adjusted as the event approaches, here is a draft of the event day agenda for UNFINISHED:

6am – open time for participant arrival

7:45am – opening remarks

8:00am – official start of Yard #1 (The Sunshine Yard)

9:00am (hourly) – Yards will continue every hour on the hour

3:00pm – start of the 8th yard – finishers will have completed 50km

10:00pm – start of the final yard (The Omega Lap) – finishers will have completed 100km

11:00pm – Official cut-off / event conclusion

11:15pm – closing remarks (picnic area #1)

While a traditional Backyard Ultra continues until only one runner remains (The world record is 119 Yards – over 5 DAYS!), UNFINISHED will be limited to 15 Yards, with the final Yard (The Omega Lap) starting at 10pm (due to municipal bylaws)

Absolutely. Partner with the UNFINISHED to align your brand with a lifestyle event that will deliver 15 hours of energy and exposure at Toronto’s Woodbine Beach Park.

For a customized sponsorship proposal, as well as event demographics and reach, please contact Run@UnfinishedSeries.ca

Yes, please. Volunteers are the heart of UNFINISHED. Put simply, UNFINISHED could not happen without the energy, enthusiasm, kindness, commitment, and passion for delivering an unforgettable experience.

Whether you’re supporting in the Athlete Village or guiding participants along the route, your energy makes all the difference. Please register by clicking here.

Absolutely. The newsletter is a great tool for staying up to date on the latest details about UNFINISHED. Please click here to sign up