Racing Focus: Competing With Self, Not Others

Backyard ultras are one of the most brutal formats in endurance sports: 4.2 miles every hour… until only one runner is left standing.

And today’s guest is the best in the world at it.

Phil Gore is the 2025 Big’s Backyard Ultra World Champion, running 764km over nearly five days to outlast the best endurance athletes on the planet. Earlier that same year, he set the Backyard Ultra world record with 119 laps at Dead Cow Gully.

But what makes Phil so fascinating isn’t just the distance he runs — it’s the strategy, mental resilience, and precision behind it all.

In this episode, Phil breaks down:

• How he plans sleep in races that last 4–5 days
• The fueling strategy that keeps him moving for 100+ hours
• Why he doesn’t take caffeine until day three
• The mental framework that allows him to keep going when others stop
• How his job as a career firefighter helped build the resilience needed for backyard ultras

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to push the absolute limits of human endurance, this episode will completely change how you think about ultrarunning.

SHOW LINKS:

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Follow Phil on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil.gore.ultrarunner/?hl=en