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

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 → [email protected]
🎁 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 → [email protected]
🎁 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 → [email protected]
🎁 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 → [email protected]
🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them)
⭐️ Learn more about working with me on my website

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