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 → 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