The Roots Podcast

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Chatting with Current Backyard Ultra World Record Holder, John Stocker

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Episode notes

Current world Backyard Ultra record holder John Stocker joins me from United Kingdom to talk 'all things backyard'.

New to the backyard ultra format, John shares his motivation and inspiration to keep going in a race that has no finish line. After winning his first Backyard Ultra in October 2020 in 41 hours, John was back at the starting line in June 2021 for the Suffolk Backyard Ultra where he not only won the event but set a new world record of 81 hours -- that's 337 miles or 542.349 kilometers surpassing the previous record set by Karel Sabbe of Belgium of 75 hours -- 312.5 miles [502 kilometers] in October 2020.  

Same course both times. Competitive advantage? Maybe.

His motivation?  His children.  He wanted to show them you can always achieve more.

John's big concern right now is whether or not he'll be able to make it to Big Dog's Backyard Ultra World Championship in the United States this October.  With travel restrictions still in place, it's a waiting game. The best of the best will go head-to-head starting Saturday, October 16 in Bell Buckle, Tennesse.  

 

Fun Facts about John:

Shoes: Altra 

Go-to Fuel: Pancakes, chili and rice, baked beans, ice cream and Tailwind to inject some caffeine in the evenings.

Follow John's journey:

Instagram @Johnstockerultra

Facebook @John Stocker Ultra Runner, Personal Trainer,

Sports Therapist

Twitter @ JStockerultra

 

Backyard Ultra format:

Run 4.167 miles every hour until there is only one person left standing.

 

About John Stocker:

John started running Marathons in 2006, slowly increasing distance to the ultras. His first was a 50km in 2014. Then onto his first 50 and 100 miler in 2015. According to John both went ok, so in 2016 he managed to fit in 4-50 milers and 4-100 milers. 2017, he went beyond the 100 and started running further doing the Montane Spine Race, Grand Union Canal 145miles and the Canal Slam. 2018, saw him tackle Spartathlon, and in 2019 he broke the Monarch Way 615-mile course record and his first time to America to compete in the Tahoe 200.