BBU 2026 Newsletter #1

Intrepid BBU Runners!

Whether your goal is 2 loops or 20+, we can already promise you one thing: BBU weekend is going to be BIG. 🔔🔥

If this is your FIRST Brandberg Backyard Ultra… you are in for an absolutely unforgettable weekend filled with gees, laughter, suffering, spectacular people, jaw-dropping scenery, sleep deprivation, encouragement from strangers and memories that will stick with you forever.

And if this is NOT your first BBU… you already know the magic. ✨ But trust us — this year still has plenty of surprises up its sleeve.

The vibe, community, fires, gees and all the beautiful madness that makes BBU special will remain exactly what you love… just BIGGER, more fun and with even more spoils this year. 🎉 A few things have been tweaked slightly to streamline the event and improve the experience for runners and supporters alike — but the heart of BBU remains exactly the same:

❤️ Wild. ❤️ Remote. ❤️ Rocky. ❤️ Unforgettable.

And once again, a MASSIVE thank you to RMB Namibia for returning as our title sponsor! 🙌 BBU simply would not be possible without the incredible support of RMB and all our amazing partners.

🔔 THE LEGENDARY COWBELL MEDAL RETURNS 🔔 Back by popular demand… THE legendary BBU cowbell medal is returning this year! 🔥 Over the years it has become the quintessential symbol of BBU — a medal that jingles with pride, pain, determination, dust, gees and unforgettable loops. Earn one… and everybody knows exactly where you’ve been. 😎

ULTRA RUNNERS – IMPORTANT PLEASE READ 👀 Because our ultra field has grown this year, we need your assistance to help us keep track of laps accurately.

👉 Runners must sign in before race start on Saturday morning. Please come early (all runners will sign in, so add extra time).
👉 Instead of volunteers ticking ultra runners off after every lap, YOU will now confirm your final number of laps at the end of your race before receiving your medal.
👉 As BBU veterans know, we work with a very small but absolutely phenomenal volunteer crew ❤️ and we want to ensure every single hard-earned lap gets captured correctly.

Please help us help you. 🙏

🌙 NIGHT LOOPS = A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD Once darkness falls and the long-haul runners continue battling it out… BBU transforms completely… and this is where the action is. This year… we have a few tricks up our sleeves. 👀🔥 We’re planning some seriously jaw-dropping nighttime entertainment and experiences to keep the fires burning and the gees sky-high through the night.

So DON’T disappear to bed too early. Get comfortable. Bring your camp chairs. Stay in the race village. Kuier properly. 🍻🔥 Trust us: those who leave early are going to suffer major FOMO. 😅

💡 NIGHT GEAR REQUIREMENTS As in previous years, all ultra runners intending to run night loops MUST present their night gear during registration on Friday in order to receive their race number. You will receive a sticker on your race number which allows you to continue into the night.

🚫 No sticker = no night loops.

Please think carefully about your visibility and safety:
• Black clothing is VERY difficult to see at night.
• Wear lighter colours like white, neon yellow, bright orange etc.
• Reflective strips and bold reflective areas are strongly encouraged.
• Make sure your headlamp is strong enough for VERY uneven rocky terrain in complete darkness.

Remember: this is Damaraland. 🏔️ The trails are rugged and wild.

🎉 SUPPORTERS — THIS YEAR IS NEXT LEVEL! BBU supporters are an essential part of the magic. And this year we’re making the supporter experience even bigger and better! 🔥

Our favourite legends from Habitat — Charl, Salomé and friends — will once again spoil runners and supporters with incredibly delicious braai snacks during the morning hours. 🙌🔥 Thank you Habitat!

And of course… what would BBU even BE without Two Beards Coffee on tap? ☕🔥A huge thank you to Two Beards and all our incredible sponsors and partners. BBU simply cannot happen without you.

🚐 INTRODUCING: ALL NEW AND EXCITING IN 2026! 🔔 This year we are launching something completely NEW:

TURNAROUND CHEERS! 🎉

Supporters will be transported to the turnaround point during selected day and night loops aboard the legendary 🔔 COWBELL CRUISER 🔔 courtesy of Uis Elephant Lodge! 🙌 (YES — bring your cowbells!)

Because no supporter vehicles are allowed on the route, this will be the ONLY official supporter transport to the turnaround point. Guides will take supporters out to cheer runners on in places previously not accessible.

Go for one loop. Stay for five. Doesn’t matter. Bring gees. Make noise. Cheer loudly. 🔥🔔🔥

And to make things EVEN better… enjoy a complimentary gin on the house courtesy of Atlantic Stillhouse! 🍸🔥 Thank you Atlantic Stillhouse!

Turnaround Cheers tickets will be sold at the event and spaces will be limited — so sign up early.

🍽️ DINNERS Pre-booked dinner tickets for Friday and Saturday evening will be released closer to the event. More info soon.

⚡ ELECTROLYTES ON TAP A massive thank you again to Deopharma for returning with the electrolyte support that has become a trusted BBU staple over the years. 🙌

🌍 WE RACE GREEN Very importantly: BBU races GREEN. 🌿

🚫 No single-use plastics.
🚫 No styrofoam cups.

Please bring your own cup, mug or water bottle. And please: leave NO litter behind. Help us keep Namibia wild, clean and beautiful. 🇳🇦

⛺ ULTRA RUNNER SETUP & RACE VILLAGE INFO Ultra runners, please remember to bring a gazebo (or arrange to share one with friends) to set up at the race venue.

Your gazebo setup becomes your race aid station and crew area during the event — your home base between loops where your supporters, nutrition, hydration, chairs, gear and crew will be stationed. 🔥

🚫 Please note:
This is NOT intended as a sleeping area and we do not allow fully enclosed sleeping tents inside the race village setup area.

Sleeping and overnight accommodation should happen at the campsite or your booked accommodation.

🍌 IMPORTANT – NO OFFICIAL AID STATION
There will NOT be an official race aid station supplying runners with race food. As in the past, Ultra runners are responsible for bringing their own nutrition and race food to sustain themselves for the duration of the race. 🥪🍉🍌🥨

Please plan properly for your own:
🥤 Nutrition
⚡ Energy requirements
🧂 Salt/electrolyte needs
🌙 Nighttime food requirements
☀️ Hot weather hydration

We WILL provide:
💧 Drinking water (please bring your own bottle or mug) and Hot water (for making your own tea or noodles)
☕ Coffee on tap (bring your own mug, milk and sugar)
⚡ Electrolytes during the hotter hours of the day

⚡ VERY IMPORTANT: There are NO power outlets available in the race village.

Please make sure you bring:
🔋 Fully charged power banks
🔌 Your own charging solutions
💡 Rechargeable lights/headlamps
🔦 Backup batteries for night gear

Please also remember:
🪑 Camp chairs
🪑 Extra seating for supporters/crew
🪑 Tables
💡 Lights
🧊 Cooler boxes
🥤 Nutrition & hydration supplies

Also VERY importantly:
Please bring camp chairs for Friday evening dinner and the official race briefing (time TBA), which will take place after dinner on Friday evening around the main event area. 🔔🔥

🎒 Race pack collection and registration will take place on Friday late afternoon. More exact timing and logistics will follow closer to race weekend.

🇳🇦 BACKYARD ULTRA WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIER This is a BIG one: BBU 2026 is the SECOND and FINAL qualifying event for Team Namibia for the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships taking place in October! 🔥

Only Namibian citizens and permanent residents may qualify (proof required).

🏆 The TOP 8 runners of overall (not split by gender) BBU 2026 will automatically qualify for Team Namibia.

The stakes are VERY real this year…

🎁 SILENT AUCTION & CONSERVATION Immediately after BBU, our legendary silent auction will once again take place with incredible prizes and packages sponsored by amazing Namibian businesses and supporters.

Funds raised go toward:
🦏 Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT)
🌊 Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN)
🦔 Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF)

These organisations do phenomenal work protecting Namibia’s wildlife and wild places. ❤️

Please visit them at the event, chat to them, learn about their work and support them.

Follow them:
📱 @savetherhinotrustnamibia
📱 @ocnamibia
📱 @pangolinconservationresearchfoundation

🔥 BBU HAS GROWN… A LOT Since the very first BBU in 2022, this event has grown tremendously. The level of competition has exploded. The ultra field has grown massively. And BBU is now attracting some of the biggest names in Namibian ultra running. 👀🔥

We’re incredibly proud that BBU has also helped grow the backyard ultra scene in Namibia itself.

Over the next few weeks we’ll start introducing our official BBU Watchlist athletes…

And trust us: this year is a BIGGY. 😎🔥

PS. If you still have supporters who would like to enter the FUN RUN, please do so soon as entries will close by the end of this week.

Thank you again for being part of this adventure. We cannot wait to welcome you to Uis. 🏔️

🔔 ONE LOOP AT A TIME 🔔

The BBU Team