Canberra’s newest ultra-running event is about going your own way, one lap at a time

Posted on 8 October, 2026

From first-time ultra runners to those chasing 100km, Hybrid Athletic Canberra is bringing a fresh, welcoming, and community-minded approach to endurance running to Stromlo Forest Park this December.

Running is addictive, and the runner’s high is REAL…

That morning jog around the block often turns into your first park run, then you join a run club,  and soon enough your whole social life revolves around running, and finishing at your local bakery or coffee shop with friends for a post-run pastry (a training essential). 

But what if you didn’t have to commit to a particular distance for a milestone run? You could attempt a marathon without the fear of not finishing?

That’s the thinking behind the Hybrid 24 Backyard Ultra, a first-of-its-kind event for Canberra that’s inviting runners to challenge themselves.

Hosted by Hybrid Athletic Canberra, the event will take place at Stromlo Forest Park on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, with participants taking on a 6.7km loop every hour, on the hour, for up to 24 hours. 

The catch? There’s no set distance you have to complete. You can run one lap, aim for a marathon, chase 100km, or simply see how far you can go. And when your tank is empty, you can simply call it a day. 

For Liam Slater, Hybrid Athletic’s Director and Lead Exercise Physiologist, it’s about making endurance running feel a little less intimidating.

With more than a decade of experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and high-performance sport, including work with Volleyball Australia, the ACT Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders, Liam knows plenty about what it takes to build athletic performance. But he also recognises that not everyone wants to approach running as a competition.

Traditional backyard ultras can be fiercely competitive, with runners completing repeated loops until only one participant remains. The Hybrid 24 takes inspiration from that format, but puts a different emphasis on the experience.

Rather than feeling as though you have to keep going to prove something, the event gives you the freedom to decide what your own achievement looks like.

“You can aim to do your first ultra or just see how far you go” Liam explains. “You can also run with friends in the same event, if you’re at different levels.”

For Liam, running has always been about more than the kilometres. His own weekly running group has grown organically, bringing together friends who train, encourage one another and celebrate seeing each other improve. He hopes the Backyard Ultra can create that same sense of connection on a bigger scale. While there will undoubtedly be runners with ambitious distance goals, there will also be plenty of opportunities to simply enjoy being part of the day.

The team is planning a central event village, with local food vendors, music, merch and other activities helping create an atmosphere that people can enjoy whether they’re running, supporting a friend or stopping by. If you’re a local business interested in getting involved in this unique Canberra event, reach out to Liam and the team.

And did we mention it’s all for a great cause? 

One hundred per cent of profits from the Hybrid 24 Backyard Ultra will be donated to the Shake It Up Australia Foundation, which supports Parkinson’s research. Through his work as an exercise physiologist, Liam has seen first-hand the impact Parkinson’s can have on people living with the condition. 

The team is also looking to connect with local businesses, food vendors, product suppliers and potential corporate sponsors who would like to be involved in bringing the event to life. 

So whether you’re a seasoned ultra runner, a regular parkrunner who’s ready to try something different or someone who’s simply curious about how far you could go, the Hybrid 24 Backyard Ultra is an opportunity to give yourself a new challenge, without someone else deciding what success should look like.

Whatever your reason for being there, the idea is simple: show up, give it a go and see where the day takes you.

And who knows? That first lap might just be the start of your long-distance running career.