After 27 consecutive hours of competition and a total distance of 181 kilometres, Argentine athlete Leonardo Álvarez has been crowned the winner of the fifth edition of the Ulala Backyard Ultra Paraguay. The event took place on 15 and 16 August, 2026, at the Club El Cortijo in San Bernardino. Paraguayan runner Tobías Zañón secured second place after completing 26 laps, equivalent to 174 kilometres over 26 hours.
The race attracted nearly 300 competitors from Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Leonardo Álvarez, who is from Jujuy, Argentina, outlasted the entire field in a gruelling test of endurance that concluded in a tense final showdown with Zañón.
A unique test of endurance
The Backyard Ultra format is distinct from traditional races as it does not have a set finish line. Instead, participants must complete a 6.706-kilometre circuit in under 60 minutes. Every hour, on the hour, all remaining competitors begin a new lap. This process is repeated until only one runner is left able to continue.
In this format, speed becomes secondary to resilience, strategy, and the mental fortitude to keep going. Álvarez successfully completed 27 laps, staying in the competition for more than a full day. Consequently, Zañón, who completed one less lap, finished as the highest-placing Paraguayan athlete in this year’s event.
Growth of the sport in Paraguay
Event organiser Patricia Ascarza commented on the high level of participation, viewing it as a sign of the discipline’s increasing popularity within the country. The event was held at Club El Cortijo, a social and sports club founded in 1996 in the popular lakeside city of San Bernardino.
“Reaching 300 runners shows that the Backyard Ultra already has a solid community in Paraguay and that more and more athletes are looking to challenge their own limits,” Ascarza stated.
The 2026 edition held particular significance for local athletes. It served as a key event for selecting the Paraguayan team that will compete in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship in October. This global event is expected to feature representatives from 86 countries, all competing simultaneously in their home nations.
National record remains unbroken
The competition also provided a notable boost to tourism in San Bernardino. The influx of runners, along with their families and support teams from across Paraguay and neighbouring countries, benefited local hotels, restaurants, and other services.
Despite the intensity of the 27-hour contest, the Paraguayan record for a Backyard Ultra remains intact. The national benchmark was set by Christian Aranda in a previous edition, where he completed 28 consecutive laps, running for 28 hours and covering a distance of approximately 188 kilometres. In this weekend’s demanding race, Leonardo Álvarez proved to be the last runner standing, ultimately claiming the title of the Ulala Backyard Ultra Paraguay.
