3 Hour | the clacky
three hours on the loop. purrfect if you want a taste of backyard ultra life without a full sleep deprivation experience.
- run or hike as many laps as you like
- chill, friendly vibe
- great for first timers and friends
returns 5.30.26
✶
backyard ultra with barn cat energy
Cat Lap 2026
backyard and fixed-time racing on a private course in lyle, washington. three formats and plenty of cats.
limited field, weird vibes, good people. exact schedule and registration details coming soon.
countdown to cat lap 2026
000
days
00
hours
00
minutes
00
seconds
race day: may 30, 2026 · lyle, washington · backyard loop course
race formats
same loop, different flavors. choose your level of chaos and stay out until the cats tell you to take a paws.
6 Hour | the tony
double the mischief. hold pace, manage your breaks, and see what happens as the hours stack up.
- mid-length grind on the same loop
- perfect tune-up for longer ultras
- more snacks, more laps, more stories
last cat | the klicky
a twist on the classic backyard format; complete each 0.69 mile loop every 10 minutes. repeat until only one runner remains.
- question everything :)
- strategy, stubbornness, and snacks required
- supervised by three judgmental house cats
meet the feline race committee
three very serious professionals oversee cat lap: one for vibes, one for rules, and one for chaos.
Clackamas
Director of Chaos & Morale
- randomizes when the vibes go from “chill” to “what is happening.”
- insists on bonus meow breaks at unpredictable intervals.
- monitors snack table integrity and rogue chip bags.
signature move: stares directly into your soul on lap 27.
Klickitat
Head of Timing & Lap Audits
- oversees lap counts with ruthless blue-eyed precision.
- disapproves of cutting corners & suspicious walk breaks.
- may appear on the course to investigate your pacing decisions.
signature move: materializes at the start corral when you’re “just stretching.”
Washington
Course Vibes & Hospitality Chair
- in charge of cozy pre-lap hangs and finish-line energy.
- approves all music, lawn chair placements, and blanket allocations.
- strong opinions on which humans get head boops mid-race.
signature move: pretends not to notice you until you’ve earned it.
questions you might actually ask
a backyard ultra is held on a looped course. in the classic version, you start a new lap every hour until only one runner is left. for cat lap, we bring that spirit to the last cat standing format, which requires runners to complete a 0.69 mile loop every 10 minutes, and also offer 3 and 6 hour options on the same loop.
cat lap takes place on private property in lyle, washington, overlooking the columbia river gorge. exact address and parking details will be shared with registered runners before race day.
you do not have to love cats, but you will definitely be around them. they will roam, observe, and occasionally demand attention between laps. if you strongly dislike cats, this is probably not your race.
parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. we will email you a week before the race with parking details. if you're carpooling, you may park across from confluence café near old highway 8.
for the 3-hour and 6-hour event, you can choose to walk or run. for last cat standing, aim for an average pace of 14 minutes per mile to return in time.
we request one crew member per runner. if your friend is running, they can also crew for you during last cat standing.
a jbl speaker will be playing at the start/finish area. music will be turned off at 10 p.m. due to neighborhood restrictions.
porta potties will be on-site, with an option for a compost toilet. all facilities are located at the start/finish area.
yes. please bring your own seating if you plan to sit during the event.
no, you must rely on your own watch and follow the honor system.
yes. it is silly on purpose, but we will still track laps, times, and results for each format. think low-key community event with an actually organized spreadsheet behind it.