PUNE
19 September 2026 · Tukai Camping, Shindewadi
Up into the Sahyadris. Down into the cane. Back for the bell.
CHOOSE YOUR DISTANCE
Every category runs the same loop, on the same bell, on the same day. They differ only in where they stop. Pick the one that's yours — what it costs is waiting for you at checkout.
A capped category is a finish, not a placing — you are a FINISHER at exactly its loop count, and completing the cap ends your race. Only the unbounded category has a winner.
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 STAKES
Winner takes 53K on this loop.
₹53,000
To the last runner standing.
₹52,000
The runner whose last loop sent them out alone. The record is not possible without them, so they are paid almost the same.
CHAPTER BEST
PUNE — PAST EDITIONS
Every prior running of the Pune chapter, with the result as the ledger recorded it.
INCLUDED, AND NOT
The same entry, in every city. Confirmed with the race director — if anything below changes for your chapter, the chapter page says so.
- Every loop timed at the desk, and a permanent entry in the BFAI ledger under your own runner ID
- Your finisher certificate, downloadable from your account once the result is signed off
- Race photographs from your chapter
- Aid at the corral every hour — water, electrolytes and light snacks. Cupless event, so carry your own bottle
- Meals at the venue, for you AND your crew
- Your race t-shirt
- Camping and tent space at the venue
- Travel to the city, and any stay away from the venue
- Your crew’s travel and their stay
- The race nutrition you personally run on — your gels, salts and on-loop food
- Mandatory gear: headlamp, reflective vest or tape, and hydration. Checked at sunset
- Anything you order at the venue that is not on the house
- The payment-gateway charge, which is not refundable even on a full refund — see the refunds policy
KIT, CREW AND THE CORRAL
Reporting 0500 HRS · First bell 0700 HRS
Dedicated crew zone at the raceway, same as every chapter. For extra pre- or post-race stay, book paid camping directly with Tukai Camping (Instagram: @tukai_camping).
Water, electrolytes, dates, oranges and fruit, plus breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot water, coffee, and eggs — all at the single aid station at the race venue, per format rules. First aid on site.
Standard BFAI Backyard Ultra kit list. No changes for Pune.
Tukai Camping, Shindewadi is about 27–30 km from Pune airport — roughly an hour by road, more in heavy traffic. Pune is well connected nationally by flight (Pune Airport, PNQ) and train (Pune Junction).
THE GALLERY
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 hello@bigfootadventuresindia.com with your booking ID to start the process.
What time do I report, and when's the bell?
Reporting is 5:30 AM. The bell — and the first loop — starts at 7:00 AM, standard across every BFAI chapter.
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 in October 2024. 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.
TOE THE LINE IN PUNE
You do not have to be sure you can finish. Nobody is. You only have to answer the next bell.
Not ready this season? START WITH A TRIAL RUN →