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One lap. One hour. Repeat. Until everyone else gives up.
The Giba Backyard Ultra isn’t your average trail run. There's no finish line waiting after a set distance. Instead, runners tackle the same 6.7km loop at Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park every hour, on the hour, for as long as they can.
When the bell rings, you're back on the start line. Miss it? Your race is over.
The winner is simply the last runner still standing.
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Beautiful setting. Ultimate endurance.
That's the wonderfully brutal beauty of the Backyard Ultra format. It's less about outright speed and more about pacing, mental strength, strategy and figuring out just how many ‘one more lap’ moments you've got left in the tank.
Set among Giba Gorge's flowing single-track, technical sections and punchy climbs, the course keeps runners honest. Some laps will feel effortless. Others will have you negotiating with yourself before the next starting bell.
The event has become one of the most anticipated endurance challenges on the local trail-running calendar, attracting everyone from ultra veterans looking to test their limits to curious runners eager to experience the unique atmosphere that only a Backyard Ultra can create.
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Easier option introduced this year
And if the thought of running through the night sounds slightly terrifying, there's good news.
For the first time, organisers have introduced a Single Lap Challenge, giving newcomers the chance to experience the course, soak up the electric atmosphere and see what all the fuss is about…without committing to endless laps.
Backyard Ultras have an atmosphere unlike almost any other sporting event. Support crews become pit crews, runners cheer each other on despite being competitors, and every hour brings fresh drama as the field slowly gets smaller.
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What you can expect
- Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
- Start: 6am
- Venue: Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park, Pinetown
- Events: Backyard Ultra OR Single Lap Challenge
- Cost: Full Backyard Ultra R950 | Single Lap Challenge R125 at gibagorge.co.za or contact 031 769 1419
- More information: info@gibagorge.co.za
More than just a race venue
Since opening in 2007, Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park has grown from a network of mountain bike trails into one of KwaZulu-Natal's favourite outdoor playgrounds.
The park is home to scenic mountain bike, trail running and hiking routes, an international-standard BMX track, a restaurant and trail hub, bike shop, gallery and family-friendly picnic spots, making it a place where everyone can spend a day immersed in nature.
Behind every well-maintained trail and successful event is a passionate team dedicated to preserving the valley and creating memorable outdoor experiences. Giba Gorge continues to prove that some of Durban's best adventures begin just minutes from the city.
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