Pulling Threads

Alex Cleary

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

  1. 4 days ago

    The First Race That Changes Everything

    Troy just ran his first ever 50K ultra and beat Alex by 20 minutes. This episode is the full debrief. The emotions at the finish line, the fuelling disasters, the moments where it nearly fell apart, and a pair of spray-painted gold boots that might become a family heirloom. In this episode:- Troy's complete race day breakdown from start line nerves to finish line tears- The golden Cleary boots and the sibling rivalry that will never end- How Troy's crew got zero preparation and had to figure it out on the fly- Alex pulling out at the 39K mark and why he didn't care- Fuelling mistakes that nearly cost Troy the back half of the race- The mental shift Tim Kacprzak drilled into Troy that changed the last 15K- Why the flat sections destroyed Alex more than any hill- Red cordial as the next frontier in endurance fuelling- Looking at houses for sale mid-race in Boar Gully- The plan for King of the Hill and what changes from here Timestamps:(00:00) Troy's golden moment and the Cleary boots ceremony(02:58) Full race day rundown from carb loading to start line(04:26) Immanuela getting zero prep as support crew(07:18) Running with Jared and the first 20K(08:50) The mid-race podcast habit and Hardcore History addiction(16:40) Alex's race and where it all went wrong(25:39) The emotional finish line moment(28:49) Why tearing up mid-run makes you faster(31:29) The fuelling breakdown and the no-water mistake(37:54) Training with Tim Kacprzak and the four month build(42:06) The sibling rivalry and why Alex thought he'd win without training(43:04) What changes heading into King of the Hill(48:37) Houses in Boar Gully and living next to trails(55:02) Motorbikes in the creek and growing up in Mount Isa(01:08:12) The Riverland Backyard Ultra and future races Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 11min

  2. 14 June

    Tim Kacprzak: The Sport Nobody Knows How To Get Paid For

    Tim Kacprzak is back and he's still our most listened episode by a long shot. This time he walks us through 83 days of consecutive running, coaching Troy to his first 50K, and why backyard ultra might be the most exciting sport that nobody's figured out how to pay athletes for yet. In this episode:- Tim's 83 day running streak and the moment his body just stopped hurting- Why the mental game is the only real differentiator in backyard ultra- How Australia is dominating the backyard ultra scene and why other countries can't keep up- Tim coaching Troy and why he thinks Troy has no idea how good he's getting- The IPO idea where an athlete tried to sell shares in himself to fund a race- What it's like raising a son and a daughter as a public facing ultra runner- AI replacing white collar jobs and why Tim is terrified for his kids- Troy vs Alex at Wildbar and Tim's honest prediction on who wins Timestamps:(00:14) Tim Kacprzak returns as the most listened guest ever(02:08) The Inner Game of Tennis and not identifying with your achievements(04:52) Sydney Backyard Ultra silver ticket and the satellite team(09:31) What needs to happen for backyard ultra to become a professional sport(17:52) Live streaming as the key to commercialising ultra running(20:04) Why athletes keep doing it for free and what that means for the sport(24:31) Troy racing his first 50K and Tim's honest prediction(34:47) Should athletes stop running for free to create demand(40:31) Why backyard ultra will eclipse traditional ultra running(49:36) Tim's 83 day last one standing streak and the mental shift(55:16) Eight hours a day inside your own head and what it unlocked(01:02:46) Tim coaching Troy and the subconscious self belief trick(01:08:41) Troy's honest review of being coached(01:15:25) Troy vs Alex at Wildboar race preview(01:41:49) AI replacing jobs and why Tim is nervous for his kids Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 52min

  3. 7 June

    The Birth Crisis No One Is Talking About

    Three tradies sit down and talk about the stuff blokes never talk about. Fatherhood, home births, obstetric violence, and why most men show up to the biggest moment of their partner's life completely unprepared. Then it gets loose with bush mechanic stories, mine site fuck ups, apprentice disasters, and the fertility crisis nobody seems to know how to fix. In this episode:- Building the ultimate home birth space in a rental property and hiding it from the landlord- What obstetric violence actually is and why one in three women experience birth trauma- The case for men stepping up during pregnancy, birth, and the two years after- Moving to a 200-person mining town to be home every night as a new dad- Bush mechanics hall of fame including the legendary Red Bull can fix- Things you will never hear an operator say on a mine site- The worst apprentice fuck ups including a toolbox explosion and a flooded underground cable run- Australia's fertility rate problem and why tax policy might be the answer Timestamps:(00:13) What it's actually like being a dad(02:59) Building the home birth space in a rental(09:18) The landlord knocking on the door one hour after birth(12:51) Why men need to do more than hand over a Powerade(15:49) Two years postpartum and why it matters(17:29) Moving from Perth to a tiny mining town for family(22:39) Best bush mechanics stories from mine sites(30:06) Things you'll never hear spoken on a mine site(36:00) Easiest jobs on a mine site(42:49) Worst jobs and biggest apprentice fuck ups(58:20) Raising kids in the bush vs the city(01:02:19) Australia's fertility rate crisis and what to do about it Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 6min

  4. 31 May

    The Online Course Scam That Almost Cost Me $4,000

    Alex got strong-armed by an online PT course for eight months after trying to cancel. Debt collector threats, credit score scare tactics, fake final warnings. He used AI to fight back and won without paying a cent. This one's a masterclass in not rolling over when a company tries to bully you. In this episode: - The full breakdown of how an online fitness course tried to squeeze Alex for $4,000 he didn't owe - How to formally dispute a predatory contract and why accepting a payment plan is the worst move you can make - Troy's 50K trail race prep and the real basics of carbs, sodium, and not hitting the wall - Why Australian backyard ultra race directors need to start paying their athletes - The clip from Melbourne Front Yard Ultra that fired Alex up about prize money in running - Troy's mine site hack form that caused an entire safety meeting over a squealing belt - The Rio Tinto safety story that sounds like a piss take but isn't - The male equivalent of the toilet seat debate and why your missus drives up the ass of every car Timestamps: (00:17) 1,000 followers on Instagram and begging for five stars (02:25) Troy signs up for Wild Boar 50K in the Brisbane Ranges (05:14) Race fuelling 101. Carbs, sodium, and what actually matters (10:43) How much sodium per hour and sweat testing (20:39) Melbourne Front Yard Ultra prize money clip and why Alex thinks it's a lazy answer (33:33) Dead Cow Gully prize money trial and why it never came back (36:06) Why the whole running industry is pathetic on athlete pay (48:33) Alex's online PT course cancellation nightmare begins (53:44) Eight months of debt collector threats and how AI helped him fight back (59:26) The moment they finally gave up (62:10) Online course completion rates and whether this is the whole business model (69:40) Toilet chat returns. The male equivalent of the toilet seat debate (80:08) Troy's squealing belt hack form that blew up the morning safety meeting (94:18) The Rio Tinto pressure gauge camera story Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 36min

  5. 24 May

    The Sport That Refuses to Recognise Half Its Athletes

    Blaine Burke dropped a carousel that put the entire backyard ultra world on notice. Women make up 5% of the field, the female world record holder gets recorded as a DNF, and the guy who invented the sport thinks splitting categories would ruin the whole point. Alex and Troy break down why that argument doesn't hold up anymore and what King of the Hill is doing differently. In this episode: - Blaine Burke's case for a women's category in backyard ultras and why the data backs him up - Lazarus Lake's counter-culture philosophy and whether it still makes sense 15 years in - How King of the Hill handled prize money with one woman on the start line in year one - The FTTK podcast blowup over "getting chicked" and why context matters but wording matters more - Trail running versus city running and why every runner eventually wants to move to the country - A near-death encounter with a massive kangaroo at 3am on a bush run - How tool companies scam you into buying full sets when you just need one socket - Core childhood memories with mum and dad, from cane toad hunting to jousting on scooters Timestamps: (00:42) Trail running in the bush versus running through industrial Melbourne (04:24) Getting charged by a massive grey kangaroo on a bush run (05:25) Kangaroo culling, dog meat, and the sanctuary that makes zero sense (12:14) Blaine Burke's carousel attacking the backyard ultra single-category format (17:25) Equity versus equality in ultra running and what the words actually mean (23:02) How King of the Hill approached gendered prize money over three years (25:48) Lazarus Lake's philosophy and why he refuses to split categories (35:38) Red Bull's playbook for turning niche sports into mainstream events (39:58) How tool companies jack up single socket prices to force you into full sets (47:10) The FTTK podcast controversy over "getting chicked" in elite running (56:01) When is banter just banter and when is it tone deaf (01:01:07) Core childhood memories. Cane toad hunting with dad in Northwest Queensland (01:06:30) Navigating with a Refidex and mum pretending she didn't know the way (01:09:11) Crashing your girlfriend's parents car doing clutch kicks at 16 (01:23:22) Dad making wooden swords and shields for front yard battles Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 26min

  6. 17 May

    The Sub 2 Hour Marathon That Nobody Will Remember

    A bloke runs the first ever sub two hour sanctioned marathon and the guy who came second also breaks the world record. Nobody will remember his name. That kicks off a conversation about loneliness stats, making mates as an adult, the dumbest things operators have ever done on site, and whether wearing undies under your jammies makes you a psychopath. In this episode: - Sebastian Saur's sub two hour marathon and why second place got completely robbed - The male loneliness epidemic and how 15% of men now have zero close friends - Practical ways to actually make friends as an adult without it being awkward - The dumbest things mine site and plant operators have ever done - A sparky who electrocuted herself twice in the same socket - Wearing undies under jammies and the stats behind it - Seat Gate 2026 continues with zero complaints from the women - Creatine for sleep deprivation and why it made Alex shit himself - Tim Kaprazi smashing Sydney Backyard Ultra at 75 laps Timestamps: (00:16) Tim Kaprazi smokes Sydney Backyard Ultra (01:57) Troy's 10K pace and the sub 20 minute 5K chase (04:23) Live streaming backyard ultras and why most events won't bother (15:02) Sniffing salts, creatine, and sleep deprivation tactics for backyard ultras (23:52) Crypto stories: the dumbest things operators have ever done on site (25:24) The truck tire that rolled down two storeys into an electrical board (30:47) The Red Bull can jammed under the accelerator pedal (35:41) The sparky who electrocuted herself twice in a row (46:28) Dog Act of the Week: Sebastian Saur's sub two hour marathon (54:05) Undies under jammies and the one in ten stat (58:16) The male loneliness epidemic and making friends as an adult (01:04:29) Alex's solo experience in South Korea after a breakup (01:08:50) Seat Gate 2026 update and the birth of merch ideas (01:16:03) Feeding your partner borderline expired food Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 19min

  7. 10 May

    I Prepared Like a World Champion and Still Lost

    Alex ran 38 hours at the Melbourne Front Yard Ultra and still walked away feeling like he never got to race. This is the raw, honest debrief of what went right, what went wrong, and why world-class preparation doesn't guarantee the result you wanted. In this episode: - The full breakdown of Alex's 38-yard backyard ultra debut and the knee injury that ended it - Why boring is beautiful in a backyard ultra and how Alex paced his laps - The crewing experience from Troy's perspective and what he'd do differently next time - How a wheelbarrow became the MVP of the entire event setup - The old duck with the slut dog who tried to shut down the race - Alex screaming at himself at 3am on a bridge in front of a crowd of spectators - Why Alex remembers every loss from his sporting career but forgets all the wins - The overachiever trap and why endless preparation still doesn't guarantee satisfaction - Harry's community showing up in force and the podcast listeners who surprised Alex - What's next for Alex, Harry's, and King of the Hill in 2025 Timestamps: (04:51) Welcome back and post-race depression (08:06) The full race breakdown and how the knee injury happened (16:20) Why feeling great for 35 hours doesn't matter if you're out at 38 (21:14) Backyard ultra strategy and the problem with being too rigid (27:08) Would Alex do another backyard ultra after this result (32:49) Troy's first crewing experience and event review (37:12) Screaming at himself on the bridge at 3am (42:54) The wheelbarrow hack and tradey setup that impressed everyone (46:40) Harry's street cred and the reputation growing in the community (51:55) The old duck with the slut dog who tried to shut the event down (55:05) Slut dog rankings and the French Bulldog breathing debate (01:02:51) Crewing debrief and the noodle cooking disaster (01:15:03) The overachiever who remembers every loss but forgets the wins (01:21:14) Backyard ultras as the ultimate problem solving event for tradies (01:37:19) Why Alex feels like he's stuck in a loop of preparing like a champion and still losing Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1hr 51min

  8. 3 May

    The Household Product Scam Costing You 10x More Than It Should

    Troy reverse-engineers a household scam that's been ripping off every Australian kitchen for decades, and the fix costs 17 cents and a hot glue gun. Alex breaks down the only cold weather running gear you actually need (hint: it's less than you think), and we get deep into the unwritten lore of mine sites, from the Jesus Box to the Whack Pit. In this episode: - Troy's 17-cent hack that beats the $1.70 dishmatic refill scam - The five points on your body that regulate your temperature and why gloves matter more than jackets - What Alex actually wore running in Antarctica and why it wasn't much - The toilet seat experiment that proves it was never about hygiene - Fish and chip Friday, the Whack Pit, and how one person's joke becomes workplace law - Troy's 3D printer saves hundreds on kitchen handles - The spotted gum deck disaster and why pretty timber is warped timber - Harry of the Week: Dylan Bai ran 48 hours in a Lakers jersey for charity - Sydney Backyard Ultra update and Melbourne Front Yard Ultra hype Timestamps: (00:00) Intro and the fuckup of the month calendar idea (03:06) Sydney Backyard Ultra live stream and King of the Hill hype (11:27) Running question: how to train in freezing cold weather (13:01) The five body points that regulate your temperature (16:30) What Alex wore running in Antarctica (22:05) The mindset of eating shit in training and loving it (24:24) The toilet seat experiment results after one week (29:34) Troy declares war on the dishmatic refill scam (33:27) Live hot glue gun demonstration of the 17-cent hack (38:51) Troy's 3D printer and the $0.13 kitchen handle (40:52) Spotted gum deck build and warped timber nightmare (43:27) Fish and chip Friday and how one nickname becomes law (45:27) The Jesus Box, the Hellhole, and the Whack Pit (53:19) Church night and FIFO drinking culture (56:41) Harry of the Week: Dylan Bai runs 48 hours in a Lakers jersey Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Cleary
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Cleary
  • Show Website
    Pulling Threads

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