Backyard Ultra Podcast

Nikolay Kotenkov

*UNSCRIPTED* - Nikolay is Director of Biotropika, which is the biggest Backyard Ultra in Russia.  In 5 years, it has grown into a large, family-oriented sports festival and a key development platform for the Backyard format in the country.  Three Russian records have been established on the Biotropika course, including the current Russian record of 106 yards, set by Ivan Zaborskiy.

Ruben Zandman

*UNSCRIPTED* - Ruben made a massive life changing decision in 2022 which steered his life towards running and Backyard Ultra's.  He absolutely loves Backyard Ultra's and ran his first in 2024 at Birdys where he ran his PB of 12 yards.

Jacob Garlick & Paul Pratt

Jacob and Paul both had epic races when they ran at MVP Backyard Ultra last weekend.  Jacob ran 41 very impressive yards and finished as the Last One Standing while Paul showed that he is tough as an ox with his 40 yards and the assist.

Michael Sheekey

Michael is one of the rising stars on the Australian Backyard Ultra scene.  He ran 32 yards at his first Backyard at Sydney's last year.  He returned with 34 yards at Coffs in June and showed everyone how gritty and tough he is when he finished off the year running 48 yards at Sydneys in September.

Claudine Chi

Claudine has built winning mindsets for scores of champion ultra runners and Backyard Ultra runners that include James Blanton and Joel Sexton.  
Claudine is a 16-time national and international karate champion, with a wildly diverse background. She has worked with thousands of elite performers, teaching them how to build a winning mindset, back themselves, and win. 
Claudine is the creator of The Athlete’s Ultimate Self-Belief Journal, a 365-day mental training program designed to teach real, authentic and unstoppable self-belief–in just 5 minutes a day. Learn more at www.claudinechi.com/journal 

Tim Nelson

**UNSCRIPTED** Tim ran his first Backyard Ultra in 2023 when he ran 9 yards at GV.   He has been around the sport ever since, running his PB of 12 yards when he returned to GV in 2024 and then ran at 2 Rivers in Echuca last year.  Tim and Patto teamed up at GV last year with Tim crewing for Patto for the first 24 hours of the race.  All the best at 2 Rivers in April Tim!

Michael Distefano

*UNSCRIPTED* Michael was absolutely frothing to come on the podcast and talk all things running and Backyards.  Michael has crewed and volunteered at a number of events and offers his own unique perspective on the format.  Michael is planning on making his BYU running debut at Red's later this year.

Jeremy Curtis

*BUP UNSCRIPTED* - Jeremy ran his first BYU in 2024 at GV where he completed 28 yards.  He returned to GV in 2025 and ran a new PB of 30 yards.  Jeremy is fired up for a big 2026 and is going to be running at 2 Rivers BYU in April.

Tammy Wickham

Tammy ran the most yards by any woman in Australia in 2025.  She had a huge year, running totals of 27, 35, 31 and 28 yards.  It was over the new year at Glasshouse Standing where Tammy hit two huge milestones, she finished as the Last Female Standing as well as also finishing as the assist.

Dom Halbert

Dom ran in his first Backyard Ultra in 2021 at Suffolk.  Since then he has run many more, including five this year alone.  In Dom's most recent Backyard Ultra he finished as the Last One Standing and ran a PB of 32 yards in doing so.