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

Jaci Wilson
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Running

Can you keep going when everything in you wants to stop? One More Hour is the podcast for backyard ultra runners, ultramarathoners, trail runners, and people who want to master the ultrarunning mindset and push their limits. Hosted by run coach and backyard ultra expert Jaci Wilson, this show dives into the strategies, stories, and science behind going one more hour. Each week, you’ll hear from athletes, race directors, sports psychologists, sleep specialists, nutrition experts, etc., on what it takes to thrive in endurance running and timed races. From fueling and pacing strategies, to building mental toughness and overcoming fatigue, you’ll gain the tools to train smarter, race stronger, and stay in the game when it gets tough. Whether you’re training for your first ultramarathon, curious about the backyard ultra format, or chasing a new PR, this podcast will help you go beyond what you thought possible. Hit follow and join the community of runners learning to embrace the challenge, trust the process, and keep going, one more hour at a time.

  1. 1d ago

    (Ep.45) The Race Behind the Runner: Crewing a Backyard Ultra (and for DAYS!) with Veronica Pardo

    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 happens on the other side of the course. We talk about what a crew member actually does between loops, how to recognize when your runner is struggling, how to balance encouragement with pressure, and why knowing your runner is so important when the race gets deep. Veronica also shares what she learned from participating in a 100-hour timed event herself, including some eye-opening lessons about nutrition, how strong the body really is, and how to get through the messy middle when there’s still a LOT of time left on the clock. We also dive into: How runners can better prepare and communicate with their crew before race dayWhy crew members need to take care of themselves, tooHow to keep camp organized and efficient as the hours add upThe emotional side of watching someone you love suffer for daysHow Veronica and Nick balance their running goals with their life togetherWhat changed between Nick’s Summit and Ode to Laz racesWhat Veronica is most looking forward to, and nervous about, as Nick heads to Big’sWhy runners shouldn’t feel guilty about asking someone to crew for themWhether you’re an ultrarunner preparing for your next big race, someone who has been asked to crew, or a spouse or family member trying to understand this crazy sport, this episode will give you a look at the race that happens behind the runner. Ultras are rarely a solo effort. Sometimes, going one more hour takes a whole team. Follow Veronica on Instagram @drveronicapardo 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  2. Jul 28

    (Ep.44) Backyard Ultra Simulation: Stop Testing Fitness & Start Testing Your Systems

    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 race may not be the one who goes the furthestHow to practice shorter camp turnarounds without panickingCreating an efficient, repeatable camp and transition routineNutrition and hydration experiments, including what sounds good at 2 a.m.Why foot care should be preventative, not reactivePracticing night running when you're already fatiguedTesting your gear, lighting, clothing, shoes, and entire camp setupHow to use crew as an extension of your brainWhat to do when your carefully planned strategy inevitably goes wrongWhy backyard racing rewards runners who can problem-solve quicklyQuestions to ask yourself after a simulation to identify your biggest weaknessesHow to determine what would stop you first if the simulation kept goingMost importantly, we'll talk about the mindset shift that changes how you approach a simulation: Your goal isn't to see how fast you can cover 4.167 miles. Your goal is to see how little energy you can spend covering 4.167 miles. The best backyard runners aren't necessarily the ones who show up with the most fitness. They're the ones who show up with the fewest unanswered questions. It's time to stop guessing and start practicing. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  3. Jul 21

    (Ep.43) Can You Survive the Murder Mile? | Audrey Carter's Mid-State Mile Experience

    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 shares what drew her to the infamous "Murder Mile," how she approached a format she'd never raced before, and what she learned about pacing, fueling, mindset, and pushing through the mental darkness that comes when your body wants to quit. In this episode, we discuss: What makes Mid-State Mile so uniqueHow Audrey trained for her first last-person-standing racePacing strategies for steep, repetitive climbingFueling mistakes and lessons learnedThe mental battle that begins after the sun goes downThe importance of community in endurance sportsWhy getting comfortable with being uncomfortable extends far beyond runningWhether you're curious about Mid-State Mile, training for your first Backyard Ultra, or simply looking for inspiration to tackle your own hard challenges, this conversation is full of practical lessons and honest reflections. Follow Audrey on Instagram: @easttnmotherrunner If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another runner who loves chasing "one more." One more loop. One more hour. One more chance to discover what you're capable of. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  4. Jul 14

    (Ep.42) The Mental Cost of Looking Too Far Ahead in Your Backyard Ultra

    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," how this creates unnecessary overwhelm, and why the best backyard runners aren't necessarily mentally tougher, they're simply better at staying present. You'll also learn eight practical ways to train your brain during everyday runs, including: Breaking long runs into smaller segmentsGiving yourself one job at a timeDelaying decisions during low momentsPracticing mental resetsRecognizing when you're projecting future sufferingTraining without distractionsEnding some runs with something left in the tankAsking better questions after your long runsPresence isn't something you magically find on race day. It's a skill you build every time you train. Because the future version of you will handle the future miles. Your job right now is simply to handle this one. One more hour. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  5. Jul 7

    (Ep.41) Stay Curious: Wendy Krause's First Backyard Ultra | Midlife Running, Running with Dogs & Backyard Lessons

    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 like to coach midlife runners, why your best running doesn't have to be behind you, and how curiosity (not chasing numbers) can lead to some of your biggest breakthroughs. Along the way, we discuss: What surprised Wendy most about her first Backyard UltraSelf-crewing, pacing, and fueling lessons she'd change next timeWhy staying present one hour at a time is the key to successMidlife running, longevity, and overcoming limiting beliefsTraining and running with her two VizslasWhy "stay curious" has become one of her biggest lessons as both an athlete and a coachWhether you're preparing for your first Backyard Ultra, chasing your next ultramarathon, or simply looking for inspiration to keep growing as a runner, this conversation is full of practical takeaways and encouragement. Follow Wendy on Instagram @Wendyrunsfree Follow Wendy's dogs on Instagram @indykodarunsfree Follow the Heartland Trail Series coming in 2027 (10K•13.1•50K•100K) @heartlandtrailseries  Wendy's coaching link 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  6. Jun 30

    (Ep.40) When You Want to Quit (Listen to This First) | Backyard Ultra Motivation

    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 motivation, you'll reconnect with your purpose, trust your training, silence the voice that's looking for an out, and find the courage to keep going one more lap. When the race gets hard, and it will, press play before you make your decision. Because your race isn't over until the race says it's over. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  7. Jun 24

    (Ep.39) Backyard Ultra Training Long Runs That Train More Than Your Legs

    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 backyard ultra or last person standing race, including: • The Confidence Builder Long Run • The Fueling Experiment Run • Backyard Ultra Simulation Runs • Sunset-to-Sunrise Runs • After-Work Long Runs • Time-of-Day Challenge Runs • The Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge • The Yeti Challenge (5x4x24) • Adversity Runs • Curiosity Runs • The "Drop the Hammer" Run We’ll talk about what each run teaches, when to use it, and how to determine which experiences you still need before race day. Because the goal of training isn’t simply to accumulate miles. It’s to accumulate lessons. By race day, you want to have answered as many questions as possible: Can I fuel? Can I stay awake? Can I handle boredom? Can I solve problems? Can I trust myself when things get hard? The runners who go the farthest aren’t always the ones with the biggest long runs. They’re often the ones with the biggest library of experiences. If you're training for a backyard ultra, timed event, or last person standing race, this episode will help you build long runs with purpose. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

  8. Jun 17

    (Ep.38) How to Reflect on Your Backyard Ultra So You Go Further Next Time

    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 not be the thing you think ended your race, how to identify the real limiting factors in your performance, and how to turn race-day lessons into smarter training. You'll learn: Why Backyard Ultras are one of the best learning environments in endurance sportsThe biggest mistakes runners make when reflecting on a raceHow to identify the difference between symptoms and root causesWhy studying what worked is just as important as studying what failedHow to spot energy leaks that quietly sabotage performanceWhat the best runners do differently and how to learn from themHow to use your race reflections to build a better training planWhether you ran 10 yards or 100, every Backyard Ultra leaves clues. The runners who improve the fastest aren't always the most talented. They're the ones willing to study those clues honestly. Your next breakthrough may already be hidden inside your last race. 🎙 Download the free Backyard Ultra Post-Race Reflection Worksheet and start uncovering the lessons from your own races. 👉 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 → theonemorehourpodcast@gmail.com 🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)  ⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

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Can you keep going when everything in you wants to stop? One More Hour is the podcast for backyard ultra runners, ultramarathoners, trail runners, and people who want to master the ultrarunning mindset and push their limits. Hosted by run coach and backyard ultra expert Jaci Wilson, this show dives into the strategies, stories, and science behind going one more hour. Each week, you’ll hear from athletes, race directors, sports psychologists, sleep specialists, nutrition experts, etc., on what it takes to thrive in endurance running and timed races. From fueling and pacing strategies, to building mental toughness and overcoming fatigue, you’ll gain the tools to train smarter, race stronger, and stay in the game when it gets tough. Whether you’re training for your first ultramarathon, curious about the backyard ultra format, or chasing a new PR, this podcast will help you go beyond what you thought possible. Hit follow and join the community of runners learning to embrace the challenge, trust the process, and keep going, one more hour at a time.

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