The Threshold Podcast

Garrett DuPont and Tanner Elmore
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

The Threshold Podcast is a conversation about pushing limits and finding clarity. Hosted by Tanner Elmore and Garrett DuPont, the show explores what it really takes to chase big endurance goals while balancing family, work, and everything else life demands. Each episode dives into the mindset, strategy, preparation, gear, nutrition, and lessons that runners often have to learn the hard way. Welcome to The Threshold Podcast.

  1. 1d ago

    UTMB 2026 Preview & Predictions

    UTMB 2026 brings the trail-running world to Chamonix for 108 miles (174 km) and roughly 32,500 feet (9,900 m) of climbing through France, Italy and Switzerland. Garrett and Tanner break down UTMB, CCC and OCC, the biggest names in every field, and make full podium picks, winning-time predictions, dark-horse calls and DNFs before race week begins. UPDATE — Episode recorded Tuesday, August 18. Since recording, Kilian Jornet has withdrawn from UTMB because of his ongoing knee injury, and Jim Walmsley is also out. You’ll hear discussion on both runners and predictions based on the field as it stood when recorded. We also discuss: How Running Stones, the UTMB Index and the lottery determine who gets to the starting line in Chamonix Courtney Dauwalter vs. defending champion Ruth Croft, with Rachel Entrekin and Riley Brady trying to break into the UTMB women’s podium Vincent Bouillard attempting the Western States–UTMB double and Caleb Olson going all-in on Mont-Blanc after skipping his Western States title defense Why Garrett predicted a Kilian DNF and neither host had Jim Walmsley in the top five before the late withdrawals Jennifer Lichter entering the 62-mile (100 km) CCC after winning Western States, plus a men’s field with 18 of the top 19 entrants carrying a UTMB Index above 900 Tove Alexandersson at OCC and Francesco Puppi vs. Rémi Bonnet over roughly 37 miles (60 km) and 11,500 feet (3,500 m) of climbing Plus, Project 168: Phil Gore begins Project 168 on August 23: one 4.167-mile (6.71 km) lap every hour for 168 consecutive hours. If he completes the full seven days, he’ll cover 700 miles (1,127 km) while raising money for Telethon. We talk about joining Phil for a virtual lap and our group order for the official Project 168 shirt. If you want the names, numbers and picks to know before UTMB, CCC and OCC , you’re in the right place. Links Watch and track UTMB live — https://live.utmb.world/ HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc — https://montblanc.utmb.world/ UTMB Index, Running Stones and qualification — https://utmb.world/ Phil Gore / Project 168 — https://philgore.com.au/ Rafael Hidalgo YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@rafaelhidalgo #UTMB2026 #UTMBMontBlanc #TrailRunning

  2. 5d ago

    Ryan & Steve Koivisto & the SISU Backyard Ultra

    The inaugural SISU Backyard Ultra starts September 5 at 9 a.m. at Lake Rebecca Park in Rockford, Minnesota, on a 4.167-mile hourly loop. Co-race directors Ryan and Steve Koivisto join Garrett and Tanner to explain how the race went from a text sent while mowing the lawn to a permitted backyard event, and what runners can expect on race weekend. We also discuss: How Sydney Backyard Ultra helped spark the idea for a new Minnesota backyard race The Lake Rebecca course, including the paved climb, trail sections, and debate over reversing direction every six hours Why the backyard format works for someone chasing four yards just as well as someone chasing 40 Pancakes, quesadillas, grilled cheese, live timing plans, and a sauna at the start/finish The larger Sisu Project mission to “create moments that demand growth” Plus, race predictions: Ryan and Steve predict 51 runners on the starting line, 10 reaching 24 hours, a winning total of 37 yards, and at least one runner doubling their previous backyard PR. If you’re looking for another Minnesota endurance event or want to see what goes into building a new race from year one, you’re in the right place. Links Sisu Backyard Ultra registration — https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=140416 Sisu Project MN — https://www.sisuprojectmn.com/ Sisu Backyard Ultra Athlete Guide — https://www.sisuprojectmn.com/new-page Sisu Project MN Strava Club — https://www.strava.com/clubs/sisuprojectmn Sisu Backyard Ultra course on Strava — https://www.strava.com/routes/3504592220097932820 Sisu Backyard Ultra on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/sisubackyardultra Official Backyard Ultra race listing — https://bigsbackyardultra.com/races/sisu-backyard-ultra-at-lake-rebecca/ #SisuBackyardUltra #BackyardUltra #MinnesotaRunning

  3. Aug 10

    Phil Gore & Project 168

    Phil Gore holds the Backyard Ultra World Record at 119 laps and is the reigning Big's Backyard Ultra World Champion, having taken the title with 114. This week on The Threshold Podcast, Tanner and Garrett sit down with him three weeks before the biggest feat he's ever attempted: Project 168 — a solo, seven-day, 700-mile run. We also discuss: How a back-of-the-pack high school cross country runner turned a 2015 commitment to run 5K every day into a marathon, then his first ultra in 2019, then a 39-yard assist finish at his first backyard ultra in 2020 that hooked him for good The evolution of his race plan, from a notebook with no strategy to a dialed three-fast-one-slow lap rotation, a nutritionist calculating every calorie and sodium gram, and a mindset coach and hypnotist who joined the crew almost by accident and never left What it actually felt like inside his head during the roughest overnight stretch of his Big's Backyard Ultra win, including a patch where he genuinely couldn't remember what country he was in The full shape of Project 168: why seven days and not six, the lake-loop course fifteen minutes from his house, his eight-person crew running on color-coded wristband roles, and the one thing he says could actually stop him Why he's framing this as his own four-minute-mile moment: not an official record, but a number he wants the rest of the sport to start chasing Plus, how you can actually be part of it: Booking a lap to run alongside Phil in person if you're near Perth, or a "virtual lap" from wherever you are in the world Where every dollar of the fundraiser goes — Telethon, supporting sick and disadvantaged kids in Western Australia If you've been wondering what's actually possible with hard work, consistency, and the right mindset... you're in the right place. Links: Project 168 — live stream, donate, book a lap, virtual laps: https://philgore.com.au Donate directly to Telethon via Project 168: https://project-168.raiselysite.com/ Project 168 tee ($10 from every shirt goes to Telethon): https://occlothingco.com.au/shop/project-168 Phil Gore on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil.gore.ultrarunner/ Background — Phil's world record at Dead Cow Gully (ABC News): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-26/phil-gore-backyard-ultra-world-record-at-dead-cow-gully/105461266 Background — Phil's Big's Backyard Ultra World Championship win (ABC News): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-23/phil-gore-wins-backyard-ultra-world-championship/105757780 Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 274H9DMD4ZWGKN4I

  4. Aug 3

    2026 Badwater 135 Results, Phil Gore's Project 168, & Josh Kerr's Mile World Record

    Max Jolliffe just became the first man in history to break 21 hours at Badwater 135, running 20:53:41 in a photo finish up the final climb to Whitney Portal. This week on The Threshold Podcast, Garrett and Tanner break down a historic weekend in Death Valley, where Carmen Maria Perez also set a new women's course record at 21:05:32 — finishing second overall, ahead of every runner except Jolliffe himself. We also discuss: Minnesota Voyageur 50's deep field on a brand-new start/finish venue, including 57-year-old John Bauer finishing 4th overall in 8:02Nick Petterson's course-record 63-yard win at Ode to Laz, and where Team USA's backyard roster stands with the qualifying window closing in two weeksJosh Kerr breaking Hicham El Guerrouj's 27-year-old mile world record at 3:42.66, then backing it up with Commonwealth Games gold five days laterThe Michael McKnight/Sage Canaday doping controversy shaking up the ultrarunning communityPlus, we shift gears to the backyard ultra world: 99 Laps, the new 100-runner elimination race out of Germany where the last-place finisher gets cut every 15 minutesPhil Gore's Project 168 — a solo, seven-day attempt to run a backyard ultra loop every hour for 700 miles straightGarrett's next backyard ultra this October, and why he's already back in the format after Elm CreekWhy sitting in a hot car after a summer run might be the free heat training you're missingIf you've been chasing a new PR, curious about your first backyard ultra, or trying to figure out how to actually use this summer heat to your advantage, you're in the right place. Links: Badwater 135: http://www.badwater.comMinnesota Voyageur 50: https://www.voyageur50.comOde to Laz Backyard Ultra: https://odetolaz.comJosh Kerr's world record (World Athletics): https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/london-athletics-meet-2026-josh-kerr-world-mile-recordBig's Backyard Ultra World Team Championship: https://bigsbackyardultra.com/world-team-championship-2026/99 Laps: https://99laps.comPhil Gore's Project 168: https://philgore.com.auRunning Magazine on the McKnight/BPC-157 story: https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/pro-ultrarunner-opens-up-about-taking-banned-peptide-bpc-157/

  5. Jul 14

    How to Run Your First Backyard Ultra, Hardrock 100 Results & Biotropika's Voided World Records

    Ludovic Pommeret just became a three-time Hardrock 100 champion at age 50, breaking his own course record by 22 minutes with a 21:11:36 finish. This week on The Threshold Podcast, Garrett and Tanner break down a historic weekend at Hardrock, where Courtney Dauwalter also set a new clockwise course record at 26:03:10 for her fourth win, and Tara Dower completed a brutal Western States-Hardrock double, finishing third just 13 days after taking sixth at States. With 147 runners taking on 33,000 feet of climbing through the San Juan Mountains, this year's edition delivered one of the most dominant performances the race has seen. We also discuss: Tom Evans' DNF at mile 58 due to altitude sickness, after leading the chase pack through the early milesJimmy Elam and David Ayala rounding out the men's podium in 23:48 and 24:28The Willow Fire forcing Life Time to cancel Leadville's Silver Rush events, and what it means for the Leadville 100 in August Plus, we shift gears to the backyard ultra world: Lazarus Lake voiding the men's and women's world records set at Russia's Biotropika Backyard Ultra, after video showed non-competitors accompanying runners on courseWhat the voided results mean for Dmitry Klimov, Dmitry Sheremet, and Ivan Zaborsky, who all ran further than the previous 119-loop world recordOur full 10-point breakdown on how to run your first backyard ultra, covering training, race strategy, nutrition, crew, gear, and the mental side of a race with no finish line From record-breaking runs in the San Juans to a voided world record in Russia, this episode covers a wild stretch for ultrarunning, plus everything you need to run your first backyard ultra this season. Links: iRunFar's 2026 Hardrock 100 Results: https://www.irunfar.com/2026-hardrock-100-resultsHardrock 100: https://hardrock100.comColorado Sun on Colorado's fire-affected races: https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/09/colorado-fires-race-events/Leadville Race Series: https://www.leadvilleraceseries.comMarathon Handbook on the voided Biotropika records: https://marathonhandbook.com/backyard-ultra-records-voided/Big's Backyard Ultra: https://bigsbackyardultra.com

  6. Jul 6

    Hardrock 100 Watch, Boston Marathon's New Rules, & Heat Training Protocols You Need For Summer

    Hardrock 100 is six days from its scheduled start in Silverton, and for the first time in years, it may not happen at all. This week on The Threshold Podcast, Garrett and Tanner break down the Gold Mountain Fire's threat to the race, the same fire that already forced the Ouray 100 to cancel less than two weeks before its own start. If Hardrock goes down too, it's only the fourth cancellation in the race's 34-year history. Is proactive cancellation the responsible call? We also discuss: Boston Marathon cutting its qualifying times by five minutes across the boardThe new downhill penalty coming to 2027 qualifying, adding up to 10 minutes back onto times run on steep net-downhill coursesResults from the Afton Trail Run 50K and 25K, including Nick Marshall's seventh-fastest 50K in the race's history Plus, we shift gears into training and mindset: A Bangor University study showing runners who added a 40-minute hot bath after workouts ran about 5% faster in a 5K time trial in hot conditionsKara and Nate's backyard ultra documentary, "The Race That Finally Broke Me," and a moment from race director Tim Walsh that stuck with usGarrett's new running streak, one mile minimum every single day for a year, inspired by John Naslund completing all 50 Grandma's Marathons this JuneAn early look at Tanner's plan for Superior 100 in September, including where Garrett steps in to pace him From wildfire watches to backyard ultra breakthroughs, this episode covers a little bit of everything happening in the sport right now. Links: Hardrock 100: https://hardrock100.comiRunFar's 2026 Hardrock Preview: https://www.irunfar.com/2026-hardrock-100-previewColorado Sun on the Ouray 100 cancellation: https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/05/colorado-fires-aspen-acres-willow-gold-mountain-ouray-100/Boston Marathon qualifying standards: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify/The heat acclimation study (Zurawlew et al., 2016): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26661992/Kara and Nate — "The Race That Finally Broke Me": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgKmIVEytNIAfton Trail Run: https://www.aftontrailrun.comSuperior 100: https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.comJohn Naslund's 50th Grandma's Marathon (MPR News): https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/06/17/with-50-years-of-grandmas-marathon-only-one-man-will-have-ran-them-all

  7. Jun 29

    2026 Western States 100 Race Recap, Mid-State Mile Recap & New Backyard Ultra World Record

    Western States 2026 may go down as one of the most historic editions in race history. This week on The Threshold Podcast, Tanner and Garrett break down a record-shattering day at the Western States 100, highlighted by Vincent Bouillard's stunning 13:46:15 victory. Bouillard not only smashed Jim Walmsley's course record by more than 23 minutes, but became the first athlete ever to break the 14-hour barrier at Western States. With Francesco Puppi, Ryan Montgomery, and Thomas Cardin all running under the previous course record, was this truly "The Year of the Euros?" On the women's side, Jennifer Lichter continued her incredible rise by setting a new course record of 15:28:05, while Riley Brady and Marianna Hogan rounded out an impressive podium. We also discuss: • The massive performances from 100-mile debutants Francesco Puppi and Thomas Cardin• Whether Zach Miller silenced burnout concerns• Major DNFs from Jim Walmsley, Kilian Jornet, Hans Troyer, Abby Hall, and Yngvild Kaspersen• Is Walmsley's DNF the beginning of a changing of the guard in men's ultrarunning?• How unexpectedly cool weather impacted race strategies and performances• Our pre-race predictions vs. what actually happened Plus, we shift gears to the backyard ultra world: • Harvey Lewis captures the Mid-State Mile Backyard Ultra with an incredible 147 yards as backyard livestream production continues to elevate the sport• We discuss why professional race coverage matters and what races deserve the spotlight next• The Biotropika Backyard Ultra in Russia delivers arguably the most controversial and historic backyard ultra ever, with both the men's and women's world records falling—and questions surrounding race procedures igniting debate across the global backyard community From course records to controversy, this episode covers one of the wildest weekends ultrarunning has seen in years.

  8. Jun 22

    Patto from Backyard Ultra Podcast Interview

    Connect with Patto and follow the Backyard Ultra Podcast community: 🎙️ Listen to the Backyard Ultra Podcast on Spotify: Backyard Ultra Podcast on Spotify 📸 Follow on Instagram: @backyardultrapodcast on Instagram In this episode of The Threshold Podcast, we sit down with one of the most recognizable voices in the world of Backyard Ultras—Patto, host of the Backyard Ultra Podcast. Patto shares his journey from a recreational marathon runner to becoming one of the sport's biggest storytellers and advocates. After discovering the Backyard Ultra format and realizing there were virtually no resources dedicated to the discipline, he launched his own podcast to fill that void. Today, his show has become essential listening for athletes, fans, and anyone fascinated by the unique challenge of last-person-standing racing. We dive deep into: • How Patto discovered Backyard Ultras and what drew him to the format• The story behind starting the Backyard Ultra Podcast• Lessons learned from his first races and the steep learning curve of the sport• The evolution of his training, nutrition, and race strategy across 18 Backyard Ultras• The mental and physical demands of competing deep into multi-day events• His personal best of 38 yards and what it takes to push beyond perceived limits• The growth and future of Backyard Ultra racing worldwide Whether you're training for your first Backyard Ultra, chasing a 100-mile finish, or simply fascinated by endurance, this conversation offers valuable insight into one of running's fastest-growing disciplines. If you enjoy conversations about ultrarunning, Backyard Ultras, endurance training, race strategy, and the stories that unfold when athletes test their limits, this episode is for you. Be sure to follow The Threshold Podcast for more conversations with runners, coaches, race directors, and personalities shaping the endurance world.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

The Threshold Podcast is a conversation about pushing limits and finding clarity. Hosted by Tanner Elmore and Garrett DuPont, the show explores what it really takes to chase big endurance goals while balancing family, work, and everything else life demands. Each episode dives into the mindset, strategy, preparation, gear, nutrition, and lessons that runners often have to learn the hard way. Welcome to The Threshold Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Garrett DuPont and Tanner Elmore
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Garrett DuPont and Tanner Elmore
  • Show Website
    The Threshold Podcast