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

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 of doing the same loop thousands of times.

For runners familiar with backyard ultras (he's got experience in backyard ultras as well), the mindset might feel familiar.

Just like backyard racing, Burrito League became a constant question: Can you go one more?

In this conversation, TJ shares:

• What it’s like to move 12–14 hours a day for nearly a month
• How he managed the mental lows of repetitive endurance
• Why community became the biggest factor in finishing
• The physical consequences of jumping from low mileage to 300-mile weeks
• Lessons about pain, persistence, and perspective

TJ also talks about the emotional comedown after the challenge ended. The sudden loss of routine, community, and movement that had defined his life for 26 days.

If you’ve ever wondered how far your mind can take you when your body wants to stop, this episode explores exactly that.

Because sometimes endurance isn’t about speed.

It’s about deciding to take one more step.

Follow TJ on Instagram

TJ's Substack

TJ's website https://coachcrewpace.com/

Key Takeaways

1. Break the challenge down. When the full distance becomes overwhelming, shrink the goal.
2. Community Changes Everything. Even though the challenge was individual, TJ says the biggest reason he kept going was the people around him.
3. Perspective Makes Hard Things Manageable. One of TJ’s most powerful coping strategies was perspective.
4. The Body Can Do More Than We Expect. TJ believed his legs were finished around 300 miles, then ran over 700 more miles.
5. The Aftermath Is Part of the Experience. One of the hardest parts came after Burrito League ended.

👉 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 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 intensity
• How suffering can forge endurance, character, and hope
• The shift from outcome goals to values-based living
• How your weakest moments are your defining moments
• Confidence tokens
• Suffering is a gift to find out what you can endure
• Why daily, unseen work shapes who you become
• The power of backyard and last-one-standing formats to reveal your true limits
• How to match fear with courage when you step to the line

Jon also shares why he runs six miles every single day. Not for performance, not for validation, but as a commitment to holistic strength: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

This episode is an invitation to volunteer for discomfort, to show up when motivation is gone, and to inspire yourself first.

Because the finish line isn’t what defines you; the daily decision to stand the line again does.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re capable of “one more,” this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Phase One at https://www.phase1missions.com/ and follow on Instagram.

👉 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

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 running community reignited her passion and led her to explore longer distances, ultimately excelling in the backyard ultra format.

Megan's insights provide valuable lessons for both seasoned and aspiring ultra runners. She recounts her experiences at the Summit Backyard Ultra, where she progressively improved her performance over the years, culminating in a remarkable 62-yard finish. She reflects on the mental challenges of ultra running, including the importance of pacing, nutrition, and the camaraderie that develops among participants.

The conversation also delves into her recent success at the Raven 24 Hour event, where she achieved a US team qualifying mark at 132 miles, showcasing her adaptability and strategic approach to different race formats.

Megan also delves into her training philosophy, highlighting the importance of consistent mileage and strength training to prepare for ultra events. She shares practical advice for runners, especially those new to the backyard ultra format, encouraging them to embrace the experience and focus on their personal goals rather than specific mileage targets.

For Runners Hesitant to Try a Backyard

Megan says: If you're already curious, what’s the downside?

• You’re never more than 2 miles from camp.
• You can self-rescue anytime.
• You can’t go out too fast.
• You get built-in rest.
• The camaraderie is unmatched.

Some people try one and never look back.

This episode is about:

Consistency over flash.

Adjusting without drama.

Fueling like it matters (because it does).

And choosing to stay one more hour.

Follow Megan's journey on Instagram @runningnutmeg and Strava as she takes on Banana Slug Backyard for a Silver Coin on the US Team and her other big future adventures.

👉 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

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 pace
• Why walking the hills early conserves energy and delays fatigue
• How improving hiking speed often gives more return than trying to run faster
• Why coming in with too much time left each loop is wasted energy
• How walking helps regulate heart rate, body temperature, fueling needs, and GI stress
• The two biggest walking mistakes new backyard runners make
• Why efficient hill hiking actually makes you faster on flat terrain

If you haven’t already, listen to Episode 8 on pacing, which pairs perfectly with this conversation.

The backyard ultra is easy until it isn’t. What makes it hard isn't walking; it's running too much too soon.

Learning how (and when) to walk is how you stay in the game longer.

👉 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

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 be uniquely suited for the backyard format, yet underrepresented in it.

Whether you’re backyard-curious, training for a timed event, or simply interested in learning how runners push past perceived limits, this episode offers powerful insights into endurance, belief, and staying present one yard at a time.

Follow Mary on Instagram @maryrunsultras.

Mary's website

Bob's Big Tom's Backyard Ultra

The Bullshit Backyard Ultra

What We Cover in This Episode

• Mary’s path from marathon running to ultras and backyard events
• What running 260+ miles at Across the Years taught her about patience and recovery
• Why going too fast early is one of the biggest mistakes in both backyards and timed events
• How backyard ultras build skills that transfer to longer fixed-distance races
• The importance of systems over motivation in long endurance events
• Managing pain vs. identifying true injury red flags
• Why “keeping your feet moving” is often the most powerful strategy
• Night loop strategies, rest, and “pretending to sleep”
• The role of crew and how the right kind of push matters
• Overpacking vs. preparedness in backyard setups
• Why looser goals can lead to better outcomes
• The misunderstood nature of the backyard ultra format
• Why women are underrepresented in backyard ultras and why they may actually excel
• Reframing the DNF narrative and redefining success in last-person-standing races

Key Takeaways

• Curiosity can take you farther than rigid goals
• Decision fatigue ends races; systems extend them
• Pain is something to manage; injury is something to respect
• The hardest part is starting the next yard
• Backyard ultras aren’t about suffering early, they’re about patience
• Women belong in the backyard, and the format has the potential to unlock confidence in powerful ways

👉 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