Mike Ruth
Twisting and turning on mostly single track trails, the Little Backyard Adventure Races celebrates the City of Olympia’s recently preserved L.B.A. neighborhood forest park. Our Little Backyard Adventure Races are inviting you to loop through the lush canopy of ferns, moss and forest. These races are a great introduction to trail running, with a course that will push even the strongest of runners.
Each ~4 mile loop has about 200ft of elevation gain, a couple fun hills and technical trails full of twists and turns. Under the cover of trees and around the famous LBA woods, this course will continue to impress with each loop. And oh boy are there loops, so many loops.
Little Backyard Adventure is now part of our inaugural OLYMPIA TRAILFEST. A weekend of fun actives in and around the city. We’re planning stuff for you to do for the entire weekend. Come and explore Olympia!
All runners run the same loop. The race begins and ends at the main LBA park shelter. The trail encircles the park area and ballfields but most of the course is on single track in the woods just south of the ballfields. You'll be surprised how twisted and fun that course is going to be.
We will have clear signage, trail markings and course markings on all intersections on race day. Marking tape will be located before and after each intersection. Consult the course map for exact details for the course.
New start time for 2025: Due to city park requirements the start time has been moved to 8am for both races!
Challenge yourself at LBA. Come and run as many loops as you can. And yes, you may stop anytime, after just one loop, four loops or fifteen - this is your race, and there are no DNFs. Completed loops is what matter here, not the fastest time. We'll crown the LEGENDS OF LBA with the most loops completed at our LBA after party and ceremony.
There is plenty of space at the start/finish area and shelter for you to spread out and build your own supply station. You're welcome to build you little personal pit stop area.
We will have an aid station next to the race head quarters by the start/finish of each loop. Aid station is stocked with water, Tailwind, soda, fruit, chips, pickles and a few other treats. Basic first aid supplies are available too. Later on in the day we'll offer quesadillas and soup.
All our races are cupless events. Bring a collapsible cup for fluids at the aid stations. For folks who forgot their cup you'll be able to purchase one at race pickup.
In our effort to reduce waste we will have very few trash cans at the event. We aim to recycle an and compost most of our waste. Please be mindful of our environment.
The trails are open to all other forest users on race day. Most everybody will be stoked to see you out there. Please be respectful and be a good representative of our trail running community.
Race packets and bibs can be picked up on race day starting at 7:00am at LBA Park.
We have plenty of parking at main parking lot at 3333 Morse-Merryman Road SE, Olympia, WA. If needed additional, overflow parking will be announced before race day.
Address: 3333 Morse-Merryman Road SE, Olympia, WA
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