Tulsa's Backyard Blaze

Kick off National Trails Day with the Tulsa’s Backyard Blaze, a 5K race through Turkey Mountain. Stick around for the Herman & Kate Kaiser YMCA Grand Opening.

The Backyard Blaze includes:

• Beautiful trails.
• Finishers award to all that finish the 5K.
• Custom shirts to all participants that register before we run out.
• Awards to the top three overall male & female.
• Standard five-year age group awards.

Race begins at 7:00am.

Without rules there would be nothing but chaos, well maybe mayhem. Tulsa's Backyard races have just a few rules but plenty of helpful tips and advice to make this a great race.

• Rule #1 - Leave No Trash On The Course. If you bring it in, you must take it out. There are trash cans at every aid station. Anyone caught littering will be disqualified. Anyone.
• Rule #2 - Appreciate the volunteers. Many volunteers were up before you preparing for the day. Many will stay out longer cleaning up. Most will do both. Rude or disrespectful behavior towards a volunteer will get you disqualified. This is not negotiable.
• Rule #3 – No short-cuts. If you find yourself off course, return to the last location you know you were on the course and continue on.
• Rule #4 - Have fun.

That's it, so it should be easy. The rest is up to you.

• The course is heavily marked with orange or pink ribbon and caution tape. Follow the ribbon. Don't cross the yellow caution tape.
• We recommend you don't blindly follow the person in front of you. They may take you off course. They may be in a different race. Keep your eye on the ribbon.
• While the course never crosses itself there are many locations where runners are on another trail a few feet away – probably running a different direction. Don’t skip over and follow them (especially since they could really be behind you). Use your best efforts to stay on course.

If you are knocking down spider webs you are either in the lead or off course.
--Ken Childress, off-course expert

• There will be two manned and fully stocked aid stations on the 12.5K/25K course with sweet & salty foods, soda, water and Gatorade. One on the 5K course.
• Aid stations will be near miles 1.5 and 5.5. You should bring a water bottle/hydration pack while running in Tulsa's Backyard.
• The Herman & Kate Kaiser YMCA is located north of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness area and can be difficult to find if you are not familiar with the area. The main entrance is on the southeast corner of the I-44 / Hwy 75 interchange. It is located along the service road. Google maps provides accurate directions. Expect a zig-zag approach and use caution around the road construction.
• There are several hotels within a few miles of the Herman & Kate Kaiser YMCA. There is a good selection of hotels and restaurants at Hwy 75 and 71st Street in the Tulsa Hills shopping center. The Herman & Kate Kaiser YMCA is an easy 10 minute drive from downtown Tulsa.