The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset

🎉 The One More Hour Podcast is ONE!

One year ago, I hit publish on an idea I'd been sitting on for more than a year. I was scared, overthinking the technical details, trying to figure everything out before I started, and ultimately learning that sometimes you just have to stop waiting until you're ready and take the next step.

In this one-year anniversary episode, I'm looking back at Year One of The One More Hour Podcast: 54 episodes, 26 guests, and a whole lot of conversations about backyard ultras, ultrarunning, and the mindset of going one more.

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What if the hard part of your run isn't actually the problem?

This episode of The One More Hour Podcast talks about one of the strangest contradictions in endurance sports: we spend months preparing ourselves for discomfort, and then act surprised when discomfort actually shows up.

“This is supposed to be hard” doesn't mean you should ignore pain, injury, or warning signs. It means that difficult, uncomfortable, exhausting moments are a normal part of asking your body and mind to do something challenging. Hard doesn't automatically mean bad. Tired doesn't automatically mean unprepared. And struggling does...

You can have the mileage, the strength, the aerobic base, and the ultra experience, and still have a terrible backyard ultra if you pace it poorly.

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, we’re talking all about backyard ultra pacing and why fitness alone isn’t enough. The goal of a backyard isn't to see how fast you can run 4.167 miles. It's to find an effort you can repeat over and over again for an unknown amount of time.

We’ll talk about:

Why the first few yards can be the most d...

Your expectations are not reality.

Have you ever trained for a race, prepared for every possible detail, and then found yourself struggling because race day didn't feel anything like you expected?

This episode of The One More Hour Podcast explores the gap between expectations and reality, and why that gap can derail runners faster than physical discomfort itself.

From 50Ks to backyard ultras, we spend months preparing our bodies, practicing nutrition, planning pacing, and imagining how race day will unfold. But expectations are predictions, not promises. When reality doesn't match the picture in...

Your brain doesn't usually tell you to quit. It tells you to be reasonable.

After hours of running, fatigue, discomfort, uncertainty, and doubt can cause your mind to start building a convincing case for why stopping is the logical thing to do. You've already exceeded your goal. You have work Monday. You're worried about getting injured. You can always come back next year.

Suddenly, quitting doesn't feel like quitting anymore. It feels like the smart decision.

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, we takes a deeper look at the backyard...

What does it take to keep going when the race stops being about miles and becomes a battle between your mind and your body?

Levi Yoder knows a thing or two about that.

Levi went from starting his running journey in 2019 to completing his first 100-miler in 2022 and then winning his first backyard ultra and earning a spot at Big’s Backyard Ultra. Since then, he has competed at Big’s three times, including the 2022 World Team Championship, the 2023 Individual Championship, and the 2024 World Team Championship, where he reached an incredible 75 yards and more than 312 mile...

What does it actually take to crew a Backyard Ultra?

Your runner has spent months preparing for the race. But what about the people sitting at camp?

A great backyard ultra crew doesn't just hand out bottles and cheer when their runner comes through. They're the runner's second brain: managing logistics, protecting their energy, thinking ahead, solving problems, and helping them make good decisions when fatigue starts to take over.

This episode is a complete Backyard Ultra Crewing 101 guide, created specifically for runners to send to their...

What does it take to go from a 27-yard backyard ultra runner to consistently running 60+ yards and still believe you have more to learn?

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, I’m joined by Dave Kwiatkowski, one of the most intriguing young athletes in the backyard ultra world. Dave has built his success through a process of experimentation, problem-solving, and learning from every race.

We talk about how his approach has evolved since his first backyard ultra, the mistakes that have shaped his training, and why he believes every runner is...

Backyard ultras are rarely won because someone is the fastest or strongest runner. More often, they’re won by the runner who can manage their mind when the race gets long, uncomfortable, and uncertain.

This episode of the One More Hour Podcast, breaks down 5 mental traps that can derail a backyard ultra and what to do when you recognize them happening in real time.

You’ll learn about:

Time Traveling: Looking too far ahead and becoming overwhelmed by the hours, miles, darkness, or discomfort still to come. Learn how to use...

What does it really take to crew an ultrarunner through a backyard ultra?

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, I’m joined by Veronica Pardo, a runner, chiropractor, and the wife of Nick Petterson, who you may remember from Episode 16 after his run at Summit Backyard Ultra.

Since then, Nick has gone on to win Ode to Laz, earning a Silver Ticket, and will represent Team USA at Big’s Backyard Ultra this October. Veronica has been there crewing him through both races, giving her a unique perspective on what happ...

A backyard ultra simulation should be much more than an overnight long run.

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, we break down how to use a backyard simulation as a skills test, not a fitness test. The goal isn't to see how many yards you can complete. It's to collect data, create problems, practice solving them, and eliminate as many unknowns as possible before race day.

We dive into:

How to practice backyard-specific pacing and conserve energy earlyWhy the fastest runner on the course early in the...

Can one mile break you?

This week on The One More Hour Podcast, I sit down with trail runner and ultrarunner Audrey Carter to talk about her first experience at Mid-State Mile, one of the most unique and brutally challenging last-person-standing races in the country.

Unlike a traditional Backyard Ultra, runners have just 20 minutes to complete a 1.1-mile loop with 340 feet of elevation gain before heading back out to do it again. Loop after loop after Loop. Until only one runner remains.

Audrey sh...

How do you keep going when your brain is already worrying about miles that haven't happened yet?

In backyard ultras and other endurance races, one of the biggest mental traps isn't physical fatigue. It's looking too far ahead.

At yard 5, you start thinking about running for two days. At mile 17, you're worried about mile 100. Before the sun has even set, you're imagining the second night and convincing yourself you can't possibly keep going.

This episode of The One More Hour Podcast, explores why our brains naturally "borrow suffering from the future,"...

What happens when an experienced ultrarunner steps into a completely new race format?

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, I sit down with fellow Minnesota runner and coach, Wendy Krause, to talk about her first-ever Backyard Ultra at Blacks Grove Backyard Ultra. Although Wendy has years of experience racing trail ultras and 100-milers, the Backyard format challenged her in entirely new ways. From pacing and self-crewing to fueling, staying present, and embracing the unknown, Wendy was curious about what she could learn.

We also dive into what it's...

If you're listening to this episode, chances are you're in the middle of your race and your brain is trying to convince you to quit.

This is a special race-day episode of The One More Hour Podcast, created specifically for runners tackling backyard ultras and last runner standing events. Whether you're sitting in your chair questioning if you should answer the next bell or you're out on the course fighting the clock, this episode is here to help you remember why you started.

Through a mix of calm reassurance, mindset coaching, and high-energy...

How far should your longest long run be before a backyard ultra?

It’s one of the most common questions runners ask, and in this episode, I explain why it might be the wrong question.

Backyard ultras aren’t won because you survived one massive training run. They’re won because you practiced the skills that allow you to keep showing up every hour: pacing, fueling, problem-solving, sleep management, mental resilience, efficiency, and adaptability.

In this episode, I break down 11 different types of long runs you can use to prepare for your next backya...

Most runners finish a race and immediately focus on one thing: the result.

How many yards did I get?
How far did I go?
Did I hit my goal?

But what if the most valuable part of your backyard ultra isn't the result, but it's what the race is trying to teach you?

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, I break down how to reflect on your Backyard Ultra in a way that actually helps you improve. We'll talk about why the thing that ended your race may...

In Part 2 of this two-part series, we explore what happens after the race when the dust settles and a familiar thought starts to creep in: “I think I still had one more loop in me.”

If you've ever finished a backyard ultra, timed event, or endurance race and wondered whether you could have gone farther, this episode is for you.

We discuss:

why so many runners realize after the race that they may have had more leftthe difference between reaching your physical limit and reaching your willingness to stay uncomfortablewhy ultras are nonlinear and how...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we’re talking about the moments during an ultra when your brain starts trying to convince you that you’re done.

Not necessarily physically done, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually done.

If you’ve ever sat in a chair during a backyard ultra convinced there was “no way” you could do another loop, this episode is for you.

We dive into:

why your brain becomes so convincing during low momentsthe difference between discomfort and true physical limitationwhy runners often quit emotionally before they quit physicallyhow psychological flexibilit...

Are you ACTUALLY ready for your backyard ultra? This episode dives into the often overlooked mental, logistical, and emotional readiness required for backyard ultras and timed events.

We discuss the importance of process goals versus only having outcome goals, mental resilience, decision making and handling emotional low points, and strategic preparation to succeed in ultra-distance running.

What questions do you need to ask yourself before training begins to ensure your goals align with your season of life? We cover the thought process needed and how to understand your life support system and training capacity.

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Backyard ultras require physical fitness, but they are really a test of the mind!

Your brain is designed to keep you safe, not help you perform. You can show up to race day as the fittest runner out there, but your mental game can bring you down the fastest if you haven't practiced it or you've thought "I've got a good mind."

In this episode, Jaci sits down with Neal Palles, a licensed clinical social worker, certified mental performance consultant, ultrarunning coach, and ultrarunner, to break down what’s actually happening in your mind during tr...

Backyard ultras aren’t won with big moments, flashy workouts, or hype. They’re built on the things no one talks about and the things most runners try to avoid.

In this episode, we break down the “unsexy skills” that actually determine how long you last in a backyard ultra or timed event. The quiet, repetitive, often overlooked habits that become everything when the race stretches into hours 18… 24… 30… and beyond.

Because the truth is, backyard ultras don’t reward excitement. They reward consistency, patience, and discipline.

If you’ve ever wondered what really separates the runn...

Ultra running might look like an individual sport, but this episode proves it’s anything but.

Jaci sits down with Ashley, creator of Ultra Widow, to pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at ultra races. From chaotic aid stations to all-night crewing shifts, Ashley shares what it takes to support a runner through the highs, lows, and everything in between.

They dive into the biggest mistakes both runners and crew make, how to actually prepare your crew (hint: it’s more than just handing them a checklist), and why clear comm...

What do you do when life keeps telling you “no”?

For Parker Stinnett, the answer is simple: find another way forward.

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, Parker shares his unconventional path, from being a backup college football kicker, to failing out of BUD/S prep, to becoming an officer in the Navy flying both helicopters and the Osprey, and how that same mindset carried him into ultrarunning.

In just two years, Parker has gone from his first brutal 50K to winning his first backyard ultra. What makes his story stan...

"You don't need to be like Goggins to succeed."

What does it actually take to keep going when your body hurts, your mind is spiraling, and the race won’t end?

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, Jaci sits down with ultrarunner Dylan Ledbetter to break down the mindset and strategy behind succeeding in the Last Man Standing format and how his strategy has changed over time.

He's ran Midstate Mile three times, Barn Creek Backyard Ultra two times, Mad Backyard Ultra, and many other timed events and fixed distance ev...

At some point in every backyard ultra or timed event, you’ll hit it: 2:00 a.m.

The moment where everything suddenly feels heavier, harder, and a little bit hopeless.

In this episode, we break down the psychological shift that happens in the middle of the night and why your brain becomes a completely unreliable narrator when fatigue, darkness, and sleep deprivation collide.

Because here’s the truth: Most runners don’t quit because their body is done. They quit because they believe the story their brain is telling them at 2 a.m.

You’...

This episode takes you inside Elm Creek Backyard Ultra, not just as a race, but as an experience shaped entirely around the athletes who show up to test their limits.

Race director, Nick Oswald, shares what makes Elm Creek different from other endurance events: an intentional, athlete-first approach where every decision, from logistics to volunteers, is designed to help runners go further than they thought possible.

At its core, Elm Creek feels less like a traditional race and more like a family picnic that just happens to last for days. Crews...

A 55-yard backyard ultra doesn’t happen by accident—and it definitely doesn’t happen alone.

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, Jaci sits down with Stormy and Samantha Hild to break down Stormy’s massive 55-yard performance at Queeny Backyard Ultra from both sides of the chair.

Stormy shares how he’s evolved from going out too fast and learning the hard way to developing a steady, repeatable approach that carried him over 200 miles. He dives into his mindset of “buying into the race,” why he believes most runners quit before their true lim...

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, Jaci sits down with Jeff Walker. Teacher, father, husband, and newly crowned silver ticket winner to unpack the race (Queeny Backyard Ultra) that is sending him to Big’s Backyard Ultra.

Jeff shares his journey from a post-college fitness reset to running over 200 miles in a backyard format, and what finally clicked at Queeny to produce his breakthrough performance.

Jeff was drawn to backyard ultras not for distance but for the challenge of pushing past the moment he wanted to quit. He believes most backyard finishes ar...

Most runners think backyard ultras fall apart in the middle of the night.

They don’t.

They fall apart in the first 10 yards.

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, we break down the most common mistake runners make early in backyard ultras: letting pacing, ego, and adrenaline take control.

Because the reality is: You’re not going too fast in an obvious way… You’re going too fast in ways you don’t feel yet.

This episode walks through:

Why the first 10 yards feel decep...

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, Jaci sits down with ultra runner TJ Harms-Synkiew, who took on one of the most unusual endurance challenges in running: Burrito League.

For the entire month of January, runners gathered in Tempe, Arizona (and many other Burrito League locations) to repeat the same 0.2-mile Strava segment (segments varied based on location) as many times as possible.

TJ ended the month with 1,070 miles, earning second place while navigating sleep deprivation, pavement fatigue, injury, and the mental grind...

In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, Jaci sits down with Jon Fischer, founder of Phase One, to explore what it really means to “stand the line” in racing and in life.

From surviving military training and near-death experiences to battling suicidal ideation and rebuilding his life through faith, fatherhood, and daily discipline, Jon shares the raw journey behind his evolution from performance-chasing ultrarunner to values-driven man.

Together, they unpack:

Why consistency matters more than intensityHow suffering can forge endurance, character, and hopeThe shift from outcome goals to values-based livingHow your weakest moments are your defi...

This is an episode about progression.

About adjusting on the fly.

About nutrition saving races.

And about learning to stay when your brain tells you to quit.

In this episode of the One More Hour podcast, Megan Smyth shares her evolution from middle-distance track athlete to one of the strongest and most consistent backyard competitors in the country. Megan discusses her evolution as a runner, emphasizing the importance of maintaining joy in the sport, especially after experiencing burnout during her college years. She highlights how finding a supportive...

 Walking isn’t a failure in a backyard ultra. It’s a skill. 

 In this episode, Jaci breaks down why hiking and intentional walking are essential for going further in the backyard format and why most runners underestimate how much speed and efficiency they can gain by improving their slowest miles. 

 You’ll learn: 

Why trail pace should never be compared to road paceWhy walking the hills early conserves energy and delays fatigueHow improving hiking speed often gives more return than trying to run fasterWhy coming in with too much time left each loop is wasted en...

What happens when curiosity leads the way?

Mary Namestnik shares her journey from road racing to ultras, falling in love with the backyard ultra format, and most recently running 260+ miles at Across the Years, her first six-day timed event. Together, they unpack the mental and physical lessons that come from races without a fixed finish line, where patience, systems, and self-awareness matter more than pace or ego.

This conversation dives deep into mindset management, pain vs. injury decision-making, pacing mistakes, night loop strategies, crewing dynamics, and why women may actually...