In this episode of the One More Hour podcast, we welcome Dr. Tonya Olson, a board-certified doctor of physical therapy and co-author of the seventh edition of "Fixing Your Feet." The conversation centers around the critical importance of foot care for runners, especially those participating in endurance events like marathons and ultra marathons.

Dr. Tonya emphasizes that foot issues are often one of two leading cause of dropouts in ultramarathons (the other is GI problems), and she shares practical advice on how to prevent common problems such as blisters, hot spots, and toenail issues. She advocates for a proactive approach to foot care, encouraging runners to incorporate foot health into their training plans and to be mindful of their foot mechanics and shoe choices.

Dr. Tonya also discusses her extensive experience in foot care at events like Western States 100 (going on 17 years the Michigan Bluff Aid Station at mile 55) and highlights the need for runners to develop a foot care kit and routine. She stresses the importance of understanding the body's signals and being curious about one's own foot health. The episode is packed with insights on how to maintain foot health for longevity in running, making it a must-listen for anyone serious about their running journey.

Things every runner should have for foot care:
• Needle
• 72% alcohol hand sanitizer
• Liquid resin: Skin-Tac or Mastisol
• Pre-cut tape
• Alcohol swab
• Scissors

Dr. Tonya's links:
Website
Book
Instagram @tonyakolsondpt
YouTube (dozens of videos on taping your feet and on footcare products)
Heel raise protocol
Foot strengthening video

Takeaways
• Prevent maceration
• You don't have the luxury of not liking feet.
• Every runner should know how to tape toes and feet.
• Foot care is largely completely preventable.
• Calluses are information; they're telling you that you have a concentrated area of friction.
• Never in the history of a blister has one ever gotten better by ignoring it.
• Be curious about your foot health and why issues are occurring.
• You should have a foot care kit with the basics: resin, hand sanitizer, pre-cut tape and a needle.
• The best way to test your ankle mobility is the knee to wall test.
• Runners need to communicsate symptoms clearly to their crew.
• Understanding the mechanics of why things are getting injured is crucial.

👉 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

If you’ve ever felt confused about bronze tickets, silver tickets, gold tickets, or how runners actually qualify for Big’s Backyard Ultra, this episode breaks it all down in a clear, no-fluff way.

In this short episode, we walk through how the backyard ultra qualification system works, what each “ticket” really means, and how runners progress from local backyard races all the way to the World Championships at Big Dog’s Backyard in Tennessee.

This episode is designed to help you understand the system without assuming you’re already chasing Big’s, whether you’re brand new to the backyard format or just curious about how the pathway works.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• What a Bronze Ticket is and how you earn one
• What a Silver Ticket Event is and why winning matters
• How National Backyard Ultra Teams are formed
• The role of At-Large qualifying and why big performances still matter
• What people mean by the “Gold Ticket” and the World Team Championships
• How runners ultimately qualify for Big’s Backyard Ultra
• Why most runners don’t need to worry about Big’s yet and why that’s okay

Key Takeaways:

• Tickets are awarded to the Last Runner Standing, not based on mileage alone
• You don’t need to win a race to be competitive through the At-Large pathway
• Strong backyard performances over time are what open doors
• The backyard system rewards patience, consistency, and experience

Links:

Big's Backyard website

Silver Ticket Events

2026 World Championship Team

The Road to Big's World Team USA Brackets

👉 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

Nick Petterson finished 65 yards (270 miles) at Summit Backyard Ultra: The Last Dance, placing top three in a stacked silver-ticket field.

In this episode, Nick joins Jaci to talk about what it takes to keep showing up hour after hour, day after day, in the backyard ultra format. From pacing and fueling to mindset, crew dynamics, and late-race decision-making, Nick shares the lessons learned from competing deep into the field, and then how he turned around to win another backyard just weeks later.

This conversation dives into the mental battles, the resets between yards, and why backyard ultras may be one of the most accessible ways to step into ultrarunning.

Who This Episode Is For:

• Runners curious about Backyard Ultras or timed events
• Ultrarunners looking to improve mindset and late-race decision-making
• Athletes who want to understand what it takes to go beyond 100 miles
• Anyone fascinated by the mental side of endurance sports

Key Takeaways:

• Backyard ultras aren’t about speed; they’re about consistency, restraint, and resets
• Mental toughness isn’t fixed; it’s built through repeated exposure to discomfort
• The hardest decisions often happen between the loops, not during them
• Community and shared effort can push runners farther than competition alone
• You don’t need to know how far you can go, just whether you’re willing to start again

Follow Nick on Instagram @nickp_runs and Strava

👉 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