Recent and upcoming events
Race season is here - for real!
16-Jun-2021
We are still affected by the corona pandemic, but at least we are able to organize sports events again. The SMVE, with it's adaptations due to local pandemic regulations, was a success. As was the newcomer 'Nøsen hundreds' last week. Lofoten UltraTrail went down last week, with only norwegian participants this time. The national ultra-trail championship in Molde had to postpone until september, but most races scheduled from mid June and onwards are good to go. Hell Backyard this weekend, Xreid next week and so on. Good luck to everyone. Looking forward to see you soon - it will be great to meet again!
ITRA and UTMB...
16-Jun-2021
The International Trail Running Association - ITRA - has updated their web site. Not without challenges. The downtime was several days, and the result is not an obvious improvement. Sadly, the conversion from old to new seems to have introduced many errors. Check your runner profile, results files etc. If you are a race organizer (like KrUltra), you should also check your events for errors. I have found several, and haven't been able to correct them yet.
In the meantime, UTMB has - finally - approved the applications from KrUltra for this years events. This means that both MMC, MVRF and KBUTC now have their races approved as UTMB qualifiers as follows:
- Meråker Mountain Challenge, Ultra: 3 points
- Moon Valley Run Festival, 7 lakes: 2 points
- Moon Valley Run Festival, 17 lakes: 3 points
- Kruke's Backyard Ultra-Trail Challenge
- 4 loops: 1 point (approved)
- 8 loops: 2 points (pending)
- 12 loops: 3 points (approved)
- 16 loops: 4 points (pending)
- 20 loops: 5 points (pending)
- 25 loops: 6 points (pending)
KBUTC update
07-Jun-2021
ITRA has adjusted their score for KBUTC, and we now need 8 loops to gain 2 points. Web site and race manual has been updated to reflect this.
We now have 18 registered participants for the 2021 event. Startlist.
Summer-time is running-time!
26-May-2021
May is coming to an end, and summer is here. Warm winds, bright sun and dry tracks awaits!
Many take the opportunity to complete this year's virtual Malvikingen Opp. We count 17 finishers so far, and expect a few more as the weather forecast promises perfect conditions for the last-chance-weekend that is coming up.
We also have 17 brave people registered for the KBUTC. With only 8 vacant spots, those who are sitting on the fence should consider coming down before it's too late!
KBUTC 2021 half full
14-Apr-2021
Half empty or half full? No matter how you see it, half of the available places for this years KBUTC have been reserved. Many familiar names on the startlist. We LOVE return customers 
We are also happy to present this year's motto:
KBUTC 2021 open for registration
31-Mar-2021
As from now, the registration for KBUTC 2021 is open. Please check out the race's home page for more information and links!
Please also note the date for the 2021 event: 16th of October (not 23rd)!
Malvikingen Opp 2021
31-Mar-2021
Vi ser oss dessverre nødt til å kansellere Malvikingen Opp for andre gang på rad på grunn av korona-pandemien. Det blir for usikkert med gjennomføring tidlig i mai, og vi satser i stedet på en åpen variant som i fjor. Det vil si at de som gjennomfører løypa, med dokumentert bevis, i løpet av mai vil få registrert godkjent gjennomføring på adelskalenderen for Malvikingn Opp. Mer informasjon på løpets hjemmeside og facebookside.
Jon Asphjell wins again!
20-Oct-2020
Weather and trail conditions were challenging, but Jon Asphjell returned to defend his victory from last year - with success! He finished 12 loops, while the runner up, Kentaro Indo, quit after 11.
Check in on the KBUTC page, where you will also find link to the race results for 2020 and an updated Hall of Fame.
KBUTC 2020 - ready to rumble!
11-Oct-2020
Last details are coming in order, and we are very excited to welcome 20+ participants to this years edition of Kruke's Backyard on Saturday 17th!
We are working to provide live results this year as well, and link will be provided on race day. We try to add some new improvements each and every year. Still, we follow the KISS principle - keeping it stupid simple - whenever we can, so don't expect too much luxury!
Our KBUTC home page links to the updated list of participants, and you will also find a brand new "Hall of fame" as well as a collection of DNS'ers 'laying flat'. Check it out!
This year's motto is "Marching On Together" - appropriate for a very special pandemic-ridden year (as well as paying tribute to my fav English football team, Leeds United, finally back in the top league again!) 
Steady growth for MVRF
23-Aug-2020
The second Moon Valley Run Festival (MVRF) went down this weekend and was a great success. The ultra distance - 17 Lakes - had 15 finishers, and Kilian Jornet was of course the winner with a solid course record just below 8 hours.
The weather was great for running, with nice temperature, good visibility and only gentle and sporadic showers. The course is at times very technical, going up and down to cross steep ridges between the lakes of Måndalen. Wet surfaces, tricky boulders and off-track sections with only gps navigation takes down the speed considerably. The views are spectacular and the organizers do a splendid jobb at 17 checkpoints and three food stations.
Next year's event will take place on the 14th-15th of August, and I predict a solid growth in participation - at least if the pandemic is under control at that time. Congratulations to the organizers and all participants at both the vertical, 7 lakes and 17 lakes runs!
KBUTC 2020 - registration closed
12-Aug-2020
Despite minimal PR and advertisements, registration for the 2020 KBUTC is now closed because we have reached the limit of participation - including a generous no-show buffer. The KBUTC startlist shows 32 names, including familiar ones like defending champion Jon Asphjell and local heroes Sindre Johannessen and Geir Jakobsen. We are also happy to welcome quite a few newcomers. Do they know what awaits? I wonder... :-)
KBUTC environmental footprint
11-Jul-2020
As the KBUTC startlist keeps filling up with participants from all over the world - 21 runners from eight nations so far - the question is how this is possible with both corona travel restrictions and the race's aim to keep a low environmental footprint? As it happens, all participants are traveling by car, local public transport or even on bike or by walking from their nearby homes. Many foreign runners live in Norway, and most of our participants work or study in the Trondheim area.
Off to a good start
03-Jun-2020
The 2020 KBUTC registration of applications has had a good start. A total of 18 have already been cleared for the competition. We see many familiar names from the previous years, but also some newcomers. The startlist is updated and available.
KBUTC 2020 - registration open
27-May-2020
The 2020 KBUTC is now open for registration of applications!
Malvikingen Opp 2020
07-Apr-2020
The 2020 edition of Malvikingen Opp has been cancelled due to corona.
Or has it?
The organizers has launched a new challenge; those who complete the race course any time between now and the 10th of May will be recognized as valid 2020 participants on the race's all-time list. This would count towards reaching the various Malvikingen Opp shields. Some may even reach the silver level this year by completing all 10 events since the inaugural 2011 edition. Others may reach for the bronze level, wich requires 5 participations.
More info on the web site (link in the menu above) and on facebook.
KBUTC 2020
26-Dec-2019 - edited 26-Feb-2020
The 2020 edition of KBUTC will take place on the 17th of October. The race will be open for applications early April. (Please note the change of date, as early announcements said October 24th)
KBUTC 2019 is history
22-Oct-2019
Jon Asphjell managed 14 rounds - a new course record. Congrats! For full details see the Live standings and results
Follow the KBUTC 2019 live!
17-Oct-2019
This year we will try to make the standings available for followers on the internet! Click here for Live standings and results
KBUTC 2019 fully booked
7-Sep-2019
The startlist now contains 24 names, and further registration has been closed for the 2019 edition of the KBUTC.
Five nations...! and counting?
2-Sep-2019
18 participants are now on the startlist for the 2019 KBUTC, and would you believe it: they represent five different countries! With our two last entries we add Portugal and France to the list of Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. There is still time to fill up the last 6 spots, and maybe add even more international flavour to this years edition!
The main reason that KBUTC is profiled and marketed in English, is to open up the race to foreign runners who has relocated to, or has other business in, this region of Norway. I really want to keep the environmental impact at a minimum, so long distance travel just to participate in the KBUTC is not encouraged. However, no such long distance travel required for this years foreign participants. It will be a true joy to welcome you all to my backyard in just over six weeks! 
Moon Valley Run Festival success!
12-Aug-2019
The Moon Valley Run Festival took place on the 10th of August, and was a huge success. The participation was fairly thin - around 50 all in all - but I'm sure there will be more in years to come. Race reports can be found on Kondis (www.kondis.no).
Ultra Trail Running
29-Jul-2019
Ultra Trail Running is a pretty new sport that is still in rapid development. I feel a need to sort out some terms and keep track on how the sport is organized both in Norway and internationally. I have created a menu item for Ultra Trail Running where I adress these and related matters. So far it is mainly in Norwegian, but I will probably convert to English as I don't have the resources to maintain a bi-lingual site.
Latest updates on MVRF
16-Jul-2019
I have spent the last few days in Romsdal, and got to talk to the organizers of the Moon Valley Run Festival (MVRF). This is going to be a spectacular experience! I really hope the trail running community picks up on the news in time to mobilize a sizeable group of participants for the inaugural year.
KrUltra has helped to register the 17 Lakes Run with ITRA, and the approval came with the following comment: "This race looks sooooooo nice :=)"
(Registration is open: https://www.moonvalleyrunfestival.com)
Moon Valley Run Festival
A huge shout out to Måndalen Idrettslag who is launching a new running festival extending the established fell race Klauva Opp with two trail runs, including a +55 km ultra trail run named "Moon Valley 17 Lakes Rim". Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg are ambassadors for the festival. The two ultra running superstars have been living in Måndalen ("Moon Valley") for some years now, and this is truly their own backyard now.
The festival is planned for 10th-11th of August 2019. Check out their home page, and subscribe to their newsletter if you consider going. I am!
KBUTC 2019
Preparations are well on their way for the 2019 edition of KBUTC, scheduled to take place on the 19th of October and continuing into the 20th for those who persist! Applications are ticking in, and the startlist is now half full.
MMC 2019
Meråker Mountain Challenge (MMC) hosted the Norwegian ultra trail championships of 2018. The event saw a new course record and record participation. Hope to see you at the 2019 edition!
Malvikingen Opp
Malvikingen Opp, 9th edition, is now history. In 2020 we will celebrate our 10th edition, and we are looking for a date that doesn't collide with big events like Holmenkollstafetten. We are currently looking at 2nd or 3rd of May. Hope to see you then!
Last Man Standing
Østmarka Backyard Ultra
First edition of Last Man Standing - Østmarka Backyard Ultra took place 23.-24. March. See our videos from our 'sister' event!
KBUTC 2018
See results and read about KBUTC's first year