FORGE is a race built around a unique and growing format known as the "backyard ultra." Unlike traditional races where runners aim for a set distance or time, backyard ultras follow a simple but demanding structure: runners complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour, on the hour. Whatever time remains after finishing a lap becomes their rest period before starting again at the top of the next hour. This continues until the event reaches its predetermined duration—in FORGE’s case, 12 hours. The format is gaining popularity worldwide because it removes the pressure of speed and replaces it with a test of endurance, pacing, and mental toughness. Fast runners and steady runners line up together every hour. Everyone starts at the same time, and the race unfolds differently for each participant. Some will aim for a personal-best distance, while others will push to complete all 12 laps. One of the most unique aspects of this style of racing is the community it creates. The time between laps—when runners gather, recover, and prepare for the next start—becomes a shared experience. Conversations happen. Encouragement is exchanged. Whether you’re completing your first backyard-style event or chasing a new personal milestone, you’re not doing it alone. At its core, FORGE is about stepping into a challenge and discovering what you’re capable of. There’s no finish line waiting for you at a set distance—just another lap, another opportunity to push forward. It’s an event designed to be hard, but also to be welcoming, rewarding, and deeply memorable.
Date and Time
Saturday Jun 6, 2026
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM PDT
June 6, 2026 7am-7pm
Location
Trails and dirt roads south of Swinomish Casino, Skagit County, WA
Fees/Admission
$154
Contact Information
Chad Sage, What The Heck, LLC
or-
Stephanie Snyder, City of Anacortes
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