Dan Camac ran 87 yards and 362.5 miles at the 2026 Backyard Ultra World Team Championships, becoming Australia's last runner standing and helping lead his country to second place in the world.
Tanner and Garrett sit down with Dan to hear how he pulled off the biggest victory of his backyard career despite an injury scare and illness leading into the race, what happened during Australia's dramatic battle with Team USA, and why the experience meant far more to him than simply being the last runner standing.
For much of the championship, Australia was leading the world. Then came the fourth night, when runners began dropping one after another and the team's commanding position suddenly became a fight for survival. Dan and Ben Nicholls were the final two Australians left. During yard 87, Ben told Dan he wasn't going to make it back. They shared a hug on the course before Dan continued alone, securing his first backyard victory in a moment that was as bittersweet as it was remarkable.
Dan also reveals that he and Ben had discussed stopping early when it became clear how difficult it would be to hold off Team USA. His crew refused to let him give up without giving everything he had, reminding him of a written contract he had signed with himself before the race. It was one of several moments that reinforced just how much of his success belongs to the people around him, particularly his parents, who have supported and crewed him throughout his remarkable rise in the sport.
The conversation also covers:
Dan's progression from running a mile a day in 2019 to completing 93 yards at Big's Backyard Ultra in 2025, and how thinking too far ahead toward 100 yards may have ultimately cost him an even bigger performance
The nearly 750-mile Heysen Trail fastest known time he completed with his teammates in honor of Randall Taylor, whose tragic death gave their record attempt a much deeper purpose and helped inspire a $40,000 fundraising effort for Autism Camps Australia
His unforgettable battle with Phil Gore at Gili Backyard Ultra, where extreme heat, humidity, flooded roads, and severe dehydration turned their race into an extraordinary test of endurance
How Dan ran a 2:49 marathon wearing Crocs, earned an official Guinness World Record, and discovered that racing 26.2 miles in footwear he'd barely trained in wasn't quite as simple as he'd imagined
His self-coached "speed, steady, specific" training philosophy, why he believes faster running can make someone a better backyard athlete, and how he balances marathon-level speed with the endurance required to run for days
The changes to his sleep strategy that made such a difference in 2026, including alternating fast and slow night loops, delaying caffeine, and finally getting meaningful sleep during a backyard instead of simply trying to survive the nights
Beyond the performances, Dan shares something far more personal. He speaks openly about a difficult period in his life involving drugs and alcohol, the faith he credits with saving his life, and why he hopes his experiences can inspire others to find something positive and meaningful in their own lives.
What makes Dan such a compelling guest isn't just his ability to run extraordinary distances. It's his humility, his willingness to share what he's learned, and the genuine appreciation he has for the people who have helped him get here.
He started running to pass a fitness test. Seven years later, he's representing his country on the world stage and inspiring runners around the world.
And through it all, he hasn't lost sight of what matters most to him.
If you want backyard ultrarunning covered like its own sport, not an afterthought inside the larger ultra world, you're in the right place.
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