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