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 limit, and how small decisions, like reacting to competitors, can make or break a performance late in the race.

But this conversation goes far beyond the runner.

Samantha gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually means to crew a backyard ultra, from tracking every carb and decision, to anticipating needs before they’re spoken, to managing the emotional rollercoaster of watching someone you love push to their absolute edge. She shares how crewing has shaped her as a runner, why communication (or lack of it) matters, and what most people don’t realize about the role crew plays in these races.

Together, they explore:

• Why pacing is one of the hardest (and most important) lessons in backyards
• The balance between trusting your runner and stepping in when it matters
• How fueling, gut issues, and decision-making evolve over 50+ hours
• The mental battle of choosing to start “one more loop”
• Why the backyard format exposes both your strengths and your blind spots

Stormy also shares his creative “Pledge to the Park” fundraiser, where every completed loop turned into a donation, raising nearly $5,000 for local trails and adding an extra layer of purpose to every step.

Whether you’re a runner, a crew member, or someone curious about the backyard format, this episode gives you a raw, honest look at what it actually takes to keep going and why you might be capable of more than you think.

• Follow Stormy on Instagram @stormyhild
• Follow Samantha on Instagram @samanthahild_
• Stormy's Queeny blog post
• Work Hard Company

Key Takeaways

• Most runners don’t hit their true limit, they stop when their mind gets loud
• If you are looking to go far, the first 12–24 hours of a backyard are just the “buy-in”
• Crewing is proactive, not reactive. It’s about anticipating needs before they happen
• Small mistakes compound late in the race (fueling, foot care, mindset)
• You can’t control other runners but focusing on them can still cost you
• The backyard ultra is as much about decision-making as it is about fitness

👉 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

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 aren't physical - they're mental. He's never felt like he truly reached his physical ceiling. The limiter is often what your brain convinces you is enough.

This conversation dives deep into the mental, strategic, and human side of backyard ultras, from pacing and sleep to self-talk and community.

Key takeaways:

• Protect the early hours
• Expect problems. Ultra running is problem solving.
• Simple training done consistently
• Most backyard ultra finishes are mental, not physical
• Community is a performance enhancer
• A plan changes everything
• Stop projecting. Stay in the hour.

Follow Jeff on Instagram @jcpwalker

👉 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

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 deceptively easy
• How small pacing mistakes compound into big problems later
• The subtle ways adrenaline shows up early
• How ego influences decisions (even when you think it’s not)
• What proper early pacing should actually feel like
• A simple framework to set yourself up for a strong, long race

If you’ve ever blown up at 18–24 hours and couldn’t figure out why, this episode will help you connect the dots.

What You’ll Learn

• Why backyard races are lost early, not late
• The difference between running the clock vs running the day
• How adrenaline quietly drains your energy
• Why “this feels too easy” is a warning sign
• What true patience looks like in a backyard ultra
• How to pace with longevity in mind
• The compounding cost of small early mistakes

Key Takeaways

• The goal of the first 10 yards is preservation, not performance
• If it doesn’t feel almost boring, you’re likely going too hard
• Finishing faster early ≠ better — it often costs you later
• Ego shows up in subtle ways (and it can end your race)
• The runners who go far are often the most restrained early

Practical Framework for Your Next Backyard

• Cap your effort, not your pace
• Walk earlier than you think you need to
• Enter camp smoothly — don’t rush in
• Sit less than your ego wants to
• Detach from what everyone else is doing

And most importantly: Don’t make emotional decisions early. There’s nothing to solve yet.

Final Thought

The first 10 yards aren’t about proving you belong. They’re about proving you can wait. Master that and you give yourself a real shot at going 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