The Jon Noll Interview

Jon Noll has now run 100+ yards twice at Big’s, helped Team USA win two world team championships, and built one of the most consistent records in backyard ultrarunning. Garrett and Tanner sit down with Jon after his 106-yard assist at the 2026 Backyard Ultra World Team Championships to talk about what makes him so dependable, how Team USA actually worked together behind the scenes, and why his race strategy looks almost completely different from what many backyard runners are taught. The conversation also covers: Jon’s 161.42-mile win at Six Days in the Dome and his longtime goal of representing Team USA at the 24-Hour World Championships Why he runs nearly every Big’s loop between roughly 52 and 56 minutes, eats almost everything while moving, and uses nearly all of his time in camp to lie down and rest How Kendra manages the details Jon no longer trusts himself to handle deep into a race, from electrolytes and food to shoes, socks and the little things that can completely change how he feels Why Jon disconnects from his phone completely during Big’s, and somehow had to explain an MP3 player to Nicholas Steele The moment Nick Steele disappeared into a roadside ditch late in the race, then stayed beside Jon as Jon helped him fight through another yard What actually happened when Jon’s race suddenly ended on yard 107 after looking nearly untouchable deep into day five Jon’s honest perspective on Team USA’s controversial decision to move to the road course early, why he voted to stay on the trail, and why he does not want runners making that decision themselves again in 2028 Why the Big’s trail means so much to him, even as he admits Team USA may need a new home if the goal is to optimize the team championship course And whether 100 yards is rapidly becoming the new minimum standard for the very top of the backyard world Jon is not the loudest runner on Team USA. He is not chasing attention, and he is not trying to manufacture a persona. He shows up, runs the same controlled loop over and over again, helps the people around him, and keeps finding himself near the very end of the biggest backyard races in the world. That consistency has made him one of the most dependable athletes in the sport. #BackyardUltra #JonNoll #Ultrarunning