Jingle Balls Backyard Ultra (JBBU) 2023

Race Format

Race Summary

The Philippines’ 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚 (𝐉𝐁𝐁𝐔) was the first backyard ultra to be held in the Philippines. The first edition was held in December 2019 with the second edition in December 2023. JBBU holds the enviable reputation of being the venue of the Philippine Backyard Ultra record of 22 loops (since December 2022). Now it’s back with greater force. 

JBBU is run in the mountain town of Baguio (or the “City of Pines” as it's commonly known), on the Philippines’ Luzon island.  The former US military camp of Camp John Hay (CJH) is the venue.  Baguio is particularly popular with local and international tourists due to the cooler weather conditions year round.

For the 2023 JBBU the route has the following attributes:

• For the 2023 JBBU route there are some changes as compared to 2022.
  • The daytime route is almost entirely off-road.
  • The route will be well cleared of vegetation and overgrowth in order to allow easier and safer running conditions and better visibility of the trail terrain. This will also provide more space for overtaking along the route and better counter flow conditions near the turnaround point where competitors will be moving in opposite directions.
  • This year we are introducing a new night-time loop to assist runners in the darkness.
  • Electronic timing will also be implemented to ensure accurate capture of loop/lap times.

Our goal at Intrepid Spirit is to provide a safe, friendly encouraging opportunity for people to connect with trail running and enjoy the outdoors and our trails and mountains and take on a challenge that otherwise might have seemed unreachable.  The Backyard Ultra sole survivor format is certainly different to many types of running events.  Not only will you have to manage your loop/lap times but you will need to fight the desire to want to stop and eventually, also the sleep demons.

Backyard Ultra Rules

1. Route - Can be a loop or out-and-back format and must be 4 miles, 880 feet in length (metric equivalent: 6.7056 km)
2. Starting Corral - Must be sized to fit the entire starting field and must stay the same size throughout the event.  Competitor's must be in the Starting Corral at the bell on the hour.
3. Starts - Each loop/lap starts precisely 1 hour after the last.  Warnings must be given 3, 2, and 1 minutes prior to the start.  All competitors must start at the bell (no late starts).
4. Loops - Except for a comfort room visit, competitors may not leave the route until each 6.7 km loop is completed.  No non-competitors are allowed on the route (including eliminated competitors).  No personal aid is allowed during a loop/lap (common aid stations are allowed).  Each loop/lap must be completed within an hour to be officially counted … including the final loop/lap.  No artificial aids (including trekking poles or music) are allowed.  Slower competitors must allow faster competitors to overtake when requested.
5. Timing - Timing of loops/laps is optional.
6. Winner / Result - The winner is the last competitor to complete a loop/lap.  All other competitors are technically ranked as Did Not Finish (DNF).  Results of each competitor in terms of distance covered are to be given.  If no competitor can complete one more loop/lap than any other competitor, then there is no winner.
7. Limit Cap - Race must be open ended.  That is, the race continues until there is just one competitor remaining.

For the new comers let us offer a couple of bits of advice on how to get the most from yourself in this format:

• Pace yourself from the very start.  It’s not a sprint race.
• Walk the uphill's and jog the flats and the downhill's.
• Minimize rest breaks to avoid stiffening up.
• Fight the sleep demons.  The new day's sun will re-energize you again.
• Get your fueling strategy worked out early.
• Let your crew help, but don’t let them stop you unless your health is at risk.
• It's better to miss completing a lap than not starting at all.  You never know.  It just could be your revitalization lap that kicks you up a gear to keep going.  So try the "just one more lap" approach.
• When lap times permit, don’t delay getting into the Starting Corral..  You must be in the Starting Corral before the start of the hour.

But most of all, we wish you a safe and amazing experience at Jingle Balls Backyard Ultra.

If you finish earlier than planned, please do hang around and encourage other competitors.  Perhaps you'll learn a thing or two from those still going.  It's a great place to chill out after your run so enjoy the atmosphere.

Mandatory Gear

• Headlight (including spare batteries)
• Waterproof jacket (with hood)

Recommended Gear

• Minimum 350ml hydration container
• Personal first aid kit
• Spare shoes / clothes in case of wet weather
• Comfortable chair
• Warm blanket
• Personal food and drinks
• Awesome support crew

Insurance

Our event insurance policy does not extend to personal injury.  It is mandatory that each competitor have at least personal accident insurance cover in time for the event.

Tents and Shelter

We have a shared sheltered tent area.  But you also can bring your own tent if you prefer.  Tents can be set up in the field adjacent to the shared shelter.  Our crew will guide you exactly where.  Be prepared for rain or sun.

• Each competitor can provide their own shelter, if desired (nothing bigger than a 3m x 3m tent).
• Portable toilets will be provided for competitors.  There are public toilets approximately 350m from the event venue for support crew to utilize.
• You will not be able to crew from your car.
• Field spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis.  Please be mindful to set up in a logical manner in order to provide access space for competitors walking to the Starting Corral.

Competitor’s Space

We have a shared, sheltered area next to the start line for competitor's.  You cannot "spread out" in this space due to the limits on size, but as other competitor's stop, you can add more space to your area here.   Support crew are able to help competitors out, but please be mindful of space and try to limit crew to just one per competitor early on in the event.  As competitors stop more crew can assist.  Competitors are always welcome to go to their tents in between loops/laps.

Portable Comfort Rooms

Portable comfort rooms will be lined up to be accessed during the transition period before or after each loop/lap.  Competitors may only leave the course directly to use the comfort room – as the comfort rooms are directly adjacent to the course, competitors will not technically be off the course.  However do not get stuck in a toilet as you must be in the Starting Corral and begin your loop/lap with the ringing of the bell.  Support crew and volunteers are asked to not use the portable comfort rooms between fifteen minutes to the hour and directly after the start of a loop/lap in order to allow competitors to have access.

Aid Station

The race will provide quality aid station nutrition, but it's always a good idea to bring your own to supplement what is available.  We will have hot cacao tablea and coffee going 24 x 7.   Hot cup noodles will be available for the evening and night.  Pizza will be provided for the evening - starting around 6 pm.  Typical aid station items will be provided also - fresh fruit, chips, pan de sal, boiled egg, sticky rice, yoghurt, soda, buko, etc.  A list will be sent out to competitors a week or two prior to the race with specific items.

Competitor Tracking

Competitors will be electronically timed.  We will do our best to update social media, pending a good internet connection, so friends and family can follow along.  We will log everyone’s distance, although only the sole survivor will be considered a finisher as everyone else will be technically ranked as Did Not Finish (DNF).

Support Crew

Competitors may only have one crew member in the shared shelter while more than half of the runners are in the event.  This is due to space considerations in the competitor’s area.  As space increases between competitors and opens up, competitors may have more crew members assisting in the shelter.  Competitors and their crew are asked to try to have no more than two cars per competitor.  Crew may not assist their competitors while on their loop/lap.

Recommended Parking Space