THE LAST COWBOY
Welcome to the third annual Last Cowboy Backyard Ultra in O'Neill, Nebraska!
Nebraska's original official Backyard Ultra returns for another year on the Cowboy Trail. Whether you're looking to set a new personal distance record, run your first ultramarathon, or compete to be the last person standing, The Last Cowboy is an opportunity to find out just how far you can go.
The course is about as runner-friendly as it gets. Each 4.167-mile out-and-back consists of crushed limestone on the Cowboy Trail, with approximately 15 feet of elevation change per lap. It's flat, nontechnical, and incredibly runnable. If you've been looking for a Backyard where you can pile on some serious mileage, this is it!
Our start/finish at the O'Neill Community Center offers another big advantage: plenty of indoor and outdoor crew space just steps from the starting corral. With a climate-controlled building, indoor restrooms, and room to set up your own crew area, you'll have everything you need to stay comfortable and ready for the next yard, regardless of what November in Nebraska throws at us!
We're heading into our third year with big plans to make The Last Cowboy better than ever, and we'd love to have you be part of it. Whether your goal is 25 miles, 100 miles, 200 miles, or being the last person standing, there's a place for you at The Last Cowboy. Get registered, bring your crew, and come find out just how far you can go!
RULES
RULES
The Last Cowboy follows the official Backyard Ultra format. Runners must complete a 4.167-mile yard every hour, on the hour, until only one runner remains.
Each yard begins precisely at the top of the hour, and runners have 60 minutes to complete it. Finish in 45 minutes? You've got 15 minutes to rest, refuel, and get ready to do it again. Take 59 minutes? You've got one minute before the next yard begins! Fail to finish within the hour or be in the starting corral when the next yard begins, and your race is over.
There is no predetermined finish distance or time limit. The race continues until only one runner completes the final yard.
While there's only one official winner, we celebrate everyone's accomplishments. Whether you're chasing your first marathon, a new distance PR, 100 miles, or 200 miles and beyond, the goal is to push yourself farther than you thought possible.
All runners must follow official Backyard Ultra rules, including no outside assistance while completing a yard. Please review the Runner's Manual for complete event rules and requirements.
SWAG
Every runner at The Last Cowboy will receive a high-quality race shirt and a belt buckle displaying their exact completed mileage. Whether you're chasing your first ultramarathon, a new personal record, or a distance you've never dreamed of reaching, you'll have a buckle that commemorates exactly how far you went!
And for those who really pile on the miles, we've got something special! Any runner who completes over 200 miles will receive a personalized Sheridan buckle recognizing their incredible accomplishment.
The overall winner will also receive a Sheridan buckle.
We also want to recognize the runners who push the competition to its limits and keep our Backyard community coming back! The winner, assist(s), and last runner standing of the opposite sex will receive complimentary entry to the following year's Last Cowboy Backyard.
Whether you run 25 miles or 200+, we want you to leave with something that celebrates your effort and reminds you of what you accomplished.
And stay tuned! We've got some exciting additions planned for 2027 that we'll be announcing in the coming weeks.
WITHDRAWAL & RACE CREDIT POLICY
NO REFUNDS OR BIB TRANSFERS. RACE CREDITS ONLY.
We understand that plans change and sometimes runners are unable to participate. While we do not offer refunds or bib transfers, we do offer race credits based on how far in advance you withdraw.
Our race credit schedule is as follows:
60 or more days before the race: 100% credit
30–59 days before the race: 50% credit
14–29 days before the race: 25% credit
Less than 14 days before the race: No credit
These deadlines are firm, and we cannot make exceptions.
HOW TO WITHDRAW
All withdrawals must be completed by the runner through UltraSignup. Sending us an email or message does NOT withdraw you from the race or qualify you for a race credit.
To withdraw, log into your UltraSignup account, navigate to your registrations, select the event, and click "Edit" to withdraw.
HOW YOUR RACE CREDIT WORKS
Your credit can be used toward registration for ANY Ultraverse Supplements race, not just The Last Cowboy.
The credit is automatically attached to your UltraSignup account and will be applied when you register for another eligible Ultraverse event.
You can view available credits under "Outstanding Credits and Coupons" in your UltraSignup registration history.
Credits are valid for one year from the date of withdrawal, are nontransferable, and must be redeemed using the same UltraSignup account associated with the original registration.
IMPORTANT: If you do not withdraw at least three days before the race, you will still be listed as DNS (Did Not Start). This does not change the race credit deadlines listed above.
We appreciate your understanding. These policies help us plan and prepare for the event while still providing runners with flexibility when circumstances change.
CREW AREA & AID
CREW & AID
One of the best things about The Last Cowboy is our start/finish setup at the O'Neill Community Center. Runners and crew have access to spacious indoor and outdoor areas just steps from the starting corral, making it easy to rest, refuel, and prepare for the next yard.
The Community Center provides a climate-controlled indoor space with tables, chairs, and restrooms. Runners are also welcome to set up their own crew areas outside near the corral. Whether you prefer having everything set up outdoors or want a warm place to recover between yards, we've got you covered!
We will provide water, Proxima C Endurance Fuel, and Proxima C Ultra throughout the event. Runners should plan to bring their own food, additional nutrition, and any personal supplies they may need. Crew members are welcome and encouraged, but runners are also welcome to participate without a crew.
Crew assistance is permitted between yards in designated areas. In accordance with official Backyard Ultra rules, runners may not receive outside assistance while completing a yard.
Our goal is to provide a comfortable, convenient setup so you can focus on what matters most: getting back into that corral every hour!
Event's current local time: 7:46 AM CT
