What can the world's best backyard ultra runners teach you about your next race?

The 2026 Backyard Ultra Team World Championships featured (it's still going at the time of this recording!!!) athletes pushing beyond 100 hours, running through multiple nights, and discovering just how far they could go. But you don't have to run 100 yards to learn from the best.

This episode breaks down 10 lessons from the Backyard Ultra Team World Championships that you can apply to your own backyard ultra, whether you're chasing your first 24 hours, trying to break through a plateau, wanting to run 70 yards, or looking to push your personal best even further.

You'll learn why you should:

• Get off your feet early and make recovery a habit from the very first lap.
• Close your eyes, even if you can't sleep, to give your brain a break from constant stimulation.
• Have a variety of fueling options to combat palate fatigue and keep eating when your favorite foods stop sounding appealing.
• Prepare your crew to reduce your mental load, solve problems, and help you execute your race plan.
• Run boring, repeatable laps instead of wasting energy trying to bank time early.
• Protect your buffer and manage your time between laps so the clock doesn't end your race.
• Expect to suffer and learn how to navigate the low moments without assuming your race is over.
• Plan beyond yard 24 instead of allowing the 24-hour mark to become an automatic stopping point.
• Give and accept help because you don't have to navigate every low alone.
• Recognize that your personal best isn't your ceiling. Your past performance is information, not a limit on what's possible next.

The biggest takeaway? You don't need to be a world-class athlete to apply world-class principles. Small decisions around pacing, fueling, recovery, crew support, and mindset can make a meaningful difference in how far you go.

Ready to build your backyard ultra strategy?

Join Jaci's free workshop (recording available), You Know How to Run, But Do You Know How to Backyard? Learn how to approach pacing, fueling, mindset, crew, race-day logistics, and execution so you can prepare to go farther than ever before.

Keep learning. Keep experimenting. And remember: you don't have to figure out the entire race right now. You just have to figure out the next 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