PUNE
19 September 2026 · Tukai Camping, Shindewadi
Up into the Sahyadris. Down into the cane. Back for the bell.
THE FORMAT, IN PUNE
6.706 KM · 60 MIN · last runner standing.
Every hour, the bell sends you out on a 6.706 km loop through the Sahyadri foothills around Tukai Camping — tarmac out, then trail through village farmland, a steep drop into sugarcane and sweet corn fields, past working poultry farms, and back through open fields to the venue.
No finish line, no medal — you run until one runner’s left standing, or you don’t. This is the third Pune chapter at Tukai Camping, the same property that hosted BFAI’s first-ever backyard ultra in India — the loop and the Last One Standing format grew up here together.
For the purist and the elite, it’s the format at its rawest: no shortcuts, no course record, just the next bell. For everyone else, it’s the coolest race party Pune throws all year.
THE LOOP
6.706 km through the foothills of the Sahyadris at Tukai Camping, Shindewadi. About 20% tarmac, the rest trail — a flat start, a gradual climb into village trails, a steep drop into sugarcane and sweet corn fields, past working poultry farms, out into open farmland, and back on tarmac for the final stretch to the venue.
The certified PUNE course, walked and GPX-mapped — goes live here 24 hours before the first bell.
THE GALLERY
CHAPTER BEST
PUNE — PAST EDITIONS
Every prior running of the Pune chapter, with the result as the ledger recorded it.
DISPATCHES FROM PUNE
Written at the desk, loop by loop, from the timing ledger.
THE PUNE JOURNAL
Writing about this chapter, and about the backyard in general.
OTHER CHAPTERS
PUNE is one of six. Same loop, same bell, different ground — see the rest of the season.
PUNE
Up into the Sahyadris. Down into the cane. Back for the bell.
- RACE DAY
- 19 Sep 2026
- VENUE
- Tukai Camping, Shindewadi
QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
The backyard, the bell, the DNF — the things every first-timer wants to know before they toe the line.
How do I reach the venue?
Tukai Camping, Shindewadi is about 27–30 km from Pune airport, roughly an hour by road. Pune connects nationally by flight (PNQ) and train (Pune Junction).
What's the refund and cancellation policy?
Cancel 30+ days before race day: full refund, less the non-recoverable payment-gateway fee. Cancel 7–30 days out: 50% refund. Cancel within 7 days, or don't show: no refund. Transfers to another chapter or runner stay open up to 7 days before race day. Email bigfootadventuresindia@gmail.com with your booking ID to start the process.
What time do I report, and when's the bell?
Reporting is 5:30 AM onwards. BIB distribution starts 6:00 AM and closes at 7:00 AM sharp — no BIBs collected after that. The race briefing is at 7:00 AM and mandatory for every runner. The bell — flag-off for every category — goes at 8:00 AM.
Could the race get cancelled?
No — a backyard ultra runs rain or shine. The only thing that stops it is a major weather event or a genuine safety mishap.
What about crew, camping, and stay?
There's a dedicated crew zone at the raceway. Food is included in the ticket for runners and crew; anyone else can buy from Tukai Camping's on-site kitchen. Outstation guests can book extra nights directly with Tukai Camping (@tukai_camping).
What's the weather like in September?
Tail end of monsoon — expect rain, days around 27°C, nights near 21°C. Pack for heat and a cold night both.
Do I get a finisher certificate?
Yes, including DNF runners. Certificates generate to your runner profile page for download.
Are race photos included?
Yes, included in your ticket. Once the race is done, the official photo album link is posted to your dashboard.
Is there live tracking for people following along?
Live yard tracking is in development — confirm on the chapter page closer to race day.
What is a backyard ultra?
A 6.706 km loop, run every hour on the hour, until one runner remains. No finish line, no fixed distance. The last runner standing is the only finisher — everyone else records a DNF.
Do I need to be an ultrarunner to enter?
No. Backyard 4 is designed as a first ultra. If you can run 6.7 km in an hour, four times, you're in the game.
Where does the 2026–27 season run?
Six chapters: Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Same loop distance, same rules, same clock in every city.
How do I register?
Through the chapter page for each city. Registration opens city by city — the community hears the dates first.
What is the Indian backyard record?
52 yards — 52 loops, 52 hours, roughly 348 km — set by Sunil Sharma at Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, in October 2024 — the longest last-one-standing run by any Indian. Ashwini Ganapathi holds the women's mark at 28 yards, set at our Bengaluru chapter.
What happens if I DNF?
You take home the exact number of the loop where you stopped, and a DNF memento. In a backyard, that's not failure — it's the receipt of a real attempt.
Can I walk?
Yes. Walking is strategy, not weakness. Many strong backyard runners walk parts of every loop.
THE BELL, BEFORE ANYONE ELSE
Dates, entry openings and the Pune race report — sent when there is something real to say, and not otherwise.
Nothing is lost. All is learnt.