TEAM USA BACKYARD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR: JEFF WALKER | THE THRESHOLD PODCAST What does it take to go from your first backyard ultra to representing Team USA on the world’s biggest backyard ultra stage? For Jeff Walker, it’s a combination of grit, consistency, mental toughness, and learning how far you can go when you refuse to count yourself out. On this episode of The Threshold Podcast, Tanner and Garrett sit down with Jeff Walker, winner of the 2026 Queeny Backyard Ultra, where he punched his ticket to Team USA with an incredible 61-yard performance. A two-time Prairie on Fire champion and Grind on the Grid winner, Jeff has quickly established himself as one of the most competitive names in backyard ultra running. Jeff takes us through his journey from a former wrestler and high school runner to a serious contender in the ultrarunning world. We dive into his breakthrough at Queeny, the influence of Harvey Lewis on his racing philosophy, and why teamwork, pacing, and staying present can make all the difference when the hours start piling up. We also break down his preparation for the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships at Big’s Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. From 100-mile training weeks and 4 a.m. runs to elevation preparation, race-day strategy, sleep management, and the mental battle of pushing through another yard, Jeff shares what goes into preparing for ultrarunning’s ultimate endurance test. Plus, we discuss the importance of family and crew support, how experience can become an advantage as runners get older, the evolution of backyard ultras, and Jeff’s thoughts on the growing popularity of livestreamed events like Last Soul Ultra. In this episode: Jeff Walker’s journey into backyard ultras and ultramarathon running Winning Queeny Backyard Ultra and earning a spot on Team USA Learning from Harvey Lewis and embracing the power of teamwork Training for Big’s Backyard Ultra with 100+ mile weeks Mental toughness, visualization, pacing, and race-day problem-solving The importance of crew support, family, and believing things can change Why your best backyard ultra performances might still be ahead of you Prairie on Fire, Last Soul Ultra, and the future of backyard ultra racing Whether you're a backyard ultra competitor, ultrarunner, endurance athlete, or fan of the sport, this episode is packed with insight into the physical and mental demands of running one more yard. 🎧 Subscribe to The Threshold Podcast for ultrarunning interviews, backyard ultra race previews, endurance training discussions, and conversations with the athletes pushing the limits of human performance. #TheThresholdPodcast #JeffWalker #BackyardUltra #BackyardUltras #TeamUSA #BigsBackyardUltra #Ultrarunning #UltraRunningPodcast #EnduranceRunning #QueenyBackyardUltra #HarveyLewis #LastSoulUltra