The Forest of Maâmora near Salé is about to witness a true test of grit this Friday, September 19, as 50 runners take on Backyard Ultra – a relentless race where a 6.7 km loop must be completed every hour, until only one remains.
Since launching in 2021, the Moroccan edition has grown in fame, doubling as a qualifier for the 2026 World Team Championship and the 2027 Individual World Championship. The country’s athletes have come on leaps and bounds: men now smash out up to 37 loops, women up to 30, proving Morocco is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with on the ultra-endurance scene.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The top 15 runners from recent years earn the right to represent Morocco at next year’s World Team Championship, with the ultimate winner booking a spot at the 2027 Individual World Championship.
Endurance, strategy, and mental toughness will decide who survives in Maâmora. It promises to be an epic spectacle.
