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

Packing for a backyard ultra can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first one. In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, I break down what gear actually matters, what runners tend to overthink, and how being organized and practiced can make or break your race.
Backyard ultras reward preparation, not perfection. You don’t need everything. You need the right things, practiced systems, and the ability to move efficiently between loops as fatigue sets in.
Whether you’re running self-supported or with a crew, this episode will help you simplify your setup, reduce decision fatigue, and focus your energy where it matters most: staying in the game.
What we cover in this episode:
Gear to consider bringing
What not to overthink
How to think about organization
Practicing everything in training
Reducing decision fatigue
You don’t win a backyard ultra by having the most gear. You go farther by knowing what to bring, where it is, and how to use it without thinking. Preparation isn’t about control. It’s about conserving energy for the work that matters.
Related Episodes
Episode 6: Mastering Footcare in Ultras with Trail Medic Natasha Swartley (aka Thor)
Episode 8: Pacing for Backyard Ultras
Episode 9: Crew vs. Self-Supported
Episode 18: Preventing Foot Issues in Multi-Day Ultras with Dr. Tonya Olson
👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a quick review. It helps more runners find the show and keep going when they want to stop.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram → @onemorehourpodcast
📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

In this episode of the One More Hour podcast, we welcome Dr. Tonya Olson, a board-certified doctor of physical therapy and co-author of the seventh edition of "Fixing Your Feet." The conversation centers around the critical importance of foot care for runners, especially those participating in endurance events like marathons and ultra marathons.
Dr. Tonya emphasizes that foot issues are often one of two leading cause of dropouts in ultramarathons (the other is GI problems), and she shares practical advice on how to prevent common problems such as blisters, hot spots, and toenail issues. She advocates for a proactive approach to foot care, encouraging runners to incorporate foot health into their training plans and to be mindful of their foot mechanics and shoe choices.

Dr. Tonya also discusses her extensive experience in foot care at events like Western States 100 (going on 17 years the Michigan Bluff Aid Station at mile 55) and highlights the need for runners to develop a foot care kit and routine. She stresses the importance of understanding the body's signals and being curious about one's own foot health. The episode is packed with insights on how to maintain foot health for longevity in running, making it a must-listen for anyone serious about their running journey.

Things every runner should have for foot care:
• Needle
• 72% alcohol hand sanitizer
• Liquid resin: Skin-Tac or Mastisol
• Pre-cut tape
• Alcohol swab
• Scissors
Dr. Tonya's links:
Website
Book
Instagram @tonyakolsondpt
YouTube (dozens of videos on taping your feet and on footcare products)
Heel raise protocol
Foot strengthening video
Takeaways
  • Prevent maceration
  • You don't have the luxury of not liking feet.
  • Every runner should know how to tape toes and feet.
  • Foot care is largely completely preventable.
  • Calluses are information; they're telling you that you have a concentrated area of friction.
  • Never in the history of a blister has one ever gotten better by ignoring it.
  • Be curious about your foot health and why issues are occurring.
  • You should have a foot care kit with the basics: resin, hand sanitizer, pre-cut tape and a needle.
  • The best way to test your ankle mobility is the knee to wall test.
  • Runners need to communicsate symptoms clearly to their crew.
  • Understanding the mechanics of why things are getting injured is crucial.
👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a quick review. It helps more runners find the show and keep going when they want to stop.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram → @onemorehourpodcast
📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

If you’ve ever felt confused about bronze tickets, silver tickets, gold tickets, or how runners actually qualify for Big’s Backyard Ultra, this episode breaks it all down in a clear, no-fluff way.
In this short episode, we walk through how the backyard ultra qualification system works, what each “ticket” really means, and how runners progress from local backyard races all the way to the World Championships at Big Dog’s Backyard in Tennessee.
This episode is designed to help you understand the system without assuming you’re already chasing Big’s, whether you’re brand new to the backyard format or just curious about how the pathway works.
In This Episode, We Cover:
What a Bronze Ticket is and how you earn one
What a Silver Ticket Event is and why winning matters
How National Backyard Ultra Teams are formed
The role of At-Large qualifying and why big performances still matter
What people mean by the “Gold Ticket” and the World Team Championships
How runners ultimately qualify for Big’s Backyard Ultra
Why most runners don’t need to worry about Big’s yet and why that’s okay
 
Key Takeaways:
Tickets are awarded to the Last Runner Standing, not based on mileage alone
You don’t need to win a race to be competitive through the At-Large pathway
Strong backyard performances over time are what open doors
The backyard system rewards patience, consistency, and experience
Links:
Big's Backyard website
Silver Ticket Events
2026 World Championship Team
The Road to Big's World Team USA Brackets
👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a quick review. It helps more runners find the show and keep going when they want to stop.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram → @onemorehourpodcast
📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

Nick Petterson finished 65 yards (270 miles) at Summit Backyard Ultra: The Last Dance, placing top three in a stacked silver-ticket field.
In this episode, Nick joins Jaci to talk about what it takes to keep showing up hour after hour, day after day, in the backyard ultra format. From pacing and fueling to mindset, crew dynamics, and late-race decision-making, Nick shares the lessons learned from competing deep into the field, and then how he turned around to win another backyard just weeks later.
This conversation dives into the mental battles, the resets between yards, and why backyard ultras may be one of the most accessible ways to step into ultrarunning.
Who This Episode Is For:
Runners curious about Backyard Ultras or timed events
Ultrarunners looking to improve mindset and late-race decision-making
Athletes who want to understand what it takes to go beyond 100 miles
Anyone fascinated by the mental side of endurance sports
Key Takeaways:
Backyard ultras aren’t about speed; they’re about consistency, restraint, and resets
Mental toughness isn’t fixed; it’s built through repeated exposure to discomfort
The hardest decisions often happen between the loops, not during them
Community and shared effort can push runners farther than competition alone
You don’t need to know how far you can go, just whether you’re willing to start again
Follow Nick on Instagram @nickp_runs and Strava
👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a quick review. It helps more runners find the show and keep going when they want to stop.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram → @onemorehourpodcast
📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

Looking to improve at your next ultramarathon OR looking to run your first ultra? A backyard ultra will help you with both!
Backyard ultras and timed events often get misunderstood. They’re seen as intimidating, extreme, not a real ultra, or a soft ultra. But in reality, these formats are some of the most accessible, supportive, and effective ways to explore ultra running, especially if you’re stepping beyond the marathon for the first time.
In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, I break down why backyard ultras and timed events are such powerful entry points into endurance racing. We talk about how the format reduces logistical overwhelm, allows you to test gear and fueling safely, builds mental resilience through repetition and quick resets, and completely reframes what success looks like in ultra running.
Whether you’re ultra-curious, training for your first long event, or simply wondering how far you’re capable of going, this episode will help you see the backyard format in a new way.
In this episode, we cover:
Why you don’t need a crew to run a backyard ultra, and how built-in community support changes the experience
How frequent access to aid makes gear and fueling experimentation easier and safer
Why simplified logistics lead to better focus, less stress, and stronger execution
How backyard ultras help you train your mindset through small, repeatable challenges
How timed events and backyard formats redefine success and remove the fear of “DNF”
Who this format is best suited for and how it can build confidence for future ultra goals
Thinking about running your first backyard ultra?
If you want help building the strength, mindset, and strategy to go farther than you ever have before, this is exactly what I coach runners through.
👉 Let's chat for 15min or apply for coaching
👉 Or send me a message on Instagram and let’s talk about your goals
👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a quick review. It helps more runners find the show and keep going when they want to stop.
📲 Connect with me on Instagram → @onemorehourpodcast
📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website