Flying High

✈️ Welcome to the Flying High Half Yarder

Half the Distance. Half the Rest Time. Twice the Decisions.

A brand-new endurance adventure has landed.

The Flying High Half Yarder is an exciting evolution of the world-famous Backyard Ultra. It takes everything runners love about the Backyard format, strategy, endurance, mental toughness and camaraderie, and gives it a completely new twist.

With half the distance and half the rest time, every lap becomes another departure, every break becomes a countdown, and every decision could determine how long you stay in the air. Whether you're taking your first step into endurance running, chasing your first marathon or 50km, aiming for 100km, or dreaming of becoming the Last One Flying, this event has been designed so everyone can line up together and share the same incredible adventure.

📍 Event Details

Date: Friday 28th August 2026 til it ends First Departure: 7:00pm Location: Woodlands Historic Park Living Legends Located at the northern end of Melbourne Airport's main runway, where aircraft soar overhead and every lap feels like another take-off. Woodlands Drive, Off Oaklands Road

✈️ Choose Your Flight Plan

One event. One start line. One competition. Choose where your journey begins, with the flexibility to upgrade your destination if you're still flying. 🟦 Mystery Flight – 3 Laps (10km) 🟩 Domestic Flight – 7 Laps (Half Marathon) 🟧 Trans Continental – 15 Laps (50km) 🟥 International Flight – 30 Laps (100km) 🟪 Space Travel – Continue until you're the Last One Flying No matter which Flight Plan you choose, everyone shares the same start line and the same adventure.

🛫 How It Works

The Flying High Half Yarder follows a unique elimination format.

• Complete a 3.35km loop within 30 minutes
• Every 30 minutes, everyone departs together on the next lap
• Finish early and enjoy whatever rest time you've earned
• Miss the next departure... and you're Grounded
• Continue until only one runner remains

This isn't a race about speed.

It's about pacing, strategy, resilience, and making smart decisions when everyone else is getting tired.

🛬 The Aviation Experience

From the moment you arrive, you'll feel like you're part of an airport departure lounge. Throughout the event you'll hear: 🟢 Boarding Now – Time to line up 🔵 Cleared for Takeoff – Your next lap begins 🟠 Final Boarding Call – Less than one minute to departure 🔴 Grounded – You missed your departure 🏆 Last One Flying – The final runner remaining With aircraft passing overhead and the atmosphere building through the night, no other endurance event feels quite like Flying High.

🏆 Why You'll Love It

Whether your goal is to complete 10km, conquer your first marathon, finish 50km, reach 100km or simply discover how far you can really go, Flying High is designed to challenge every runner. You'll laugh. You'll question yourself. You'll make new friends. You'll discover that every lap is another opportunity to continue your journey. There is no finish line waiting. Just another departure. Another lap. Another decision.

How far will you fly before you're finally grounded?

Welcome aboard another Trailsplus adventure. Your departure is waiting.