What does it take to go from a 27-yard backyard ultra runner to consistently running 60+ yards and still believe you have more to learn?

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, I’m joined by Dave Kwiatkowski, one of the most intriguing young athletes in the backyard ultra world. Dave has built his success through a process of experimentation, problem-solving, and learning from every race.

We talk about how his approach has evolved since his first backyard ultra, the mistakes that have shaped his training, and why he believes every runner is an “experiment of one.” Dave shares how he trains his quads and glutes, why uphill hiking and stair repeats have become staples, and how he balances running by feel with the data he does pay attention to.

We also get into the less glamorous, and often overlooked parts of going deep in a backyard: electrolyte balance, bathroom breaks, sleep deprivation, caffeine, and what happens when your brain starts seeing basketballs and treehouses that aren't actually there.

Dave also shares his philosophy on crew, including why he believes the crew camp should be designed primarily for the crew, and how running with other athletes has helped him push through those moments when he wants to quit.

And we talk about Big's Backyard Ultra, what makes Laz's backyard so special, where Dave thinks the backyard format could go in the future, and his new project, Yard Lore, a backyard-ultra data hub designed to bring athlete and race history together in one place.

If you're fascinated by the process of getting better, not just the final result, this episode is for you.

Show links:
Dave's website and blog
Dave's Instagram @davekwiatkowski
Yardlore
Andy's Backyard on October 24, 2026 (Dave's dad's race)
Big's Backyard Ultra

In this episode:

• Dave's unconventional introduction to ultra running
• The story behind his first 27-yard backyard
• How he's progressed to multiple 60+ yard performances
• Learning from failure and turning every race into an experiment
• Training for the physical demands of multi-day backyards
• Sleep, caffeine, and hallucinations
• Electrolytes and the surprisingly important problem of bathroom breaks
• Building an effective crew camp
• Why running with other athletes can be the difference between quitting and continuing
• Dave's experiences at Big's Backyard Ultra
• The future of backyard ultras
• The story behind Yardlore and its unique “Lore Score”

👉 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

Backyard ultras are rarely won because someone is the fastest or strongest runner. More often, they’re won by the runner who can manage their mind when the race gets long, uncomfortable, and uncertain.

This episode of the One More Hour Podcast, breaks down 5 mental traps that can derail a backyard ultra and what to do when you recognize them happening in real time.

You’ll learn about:

1. Time Traveling: Looking too far ahead and becoming overwhelmed by the hours, miles, darkness, or discomfort still to come. Learn how to use micro-anchoring to stay focused on the loop you’re actually running.
2. Running Their Race: Comparing yourself to runners who appear stronger, faster, or more comfortable. Learn why appearances lie and why focusing on someone else's race can cost you your own.
3. The False Alarm: When your brain interprets normal ultra-running discomfort as danger. Fatigue, stiffness, blisters, GI issues, fear, and the inevitable highs and lows of an ultra, and how to stop catastrophizing a bad loop.
4. Borrowing From Tomorrow: The early-race comfort lie that convinces you to skip fueling, hydration, or body care because you feel great. Backyards reward systems, routines, and athletes who stay ahead of problems rather than waiting for them to appear.
5. The Lawyer: When your brain becomes a defense attorney and starts building a convincing case for why it’s reasonable to quit. Your brain rarely says "quit, "it says "be reasonable."

Jaci also dives into the Identity Trap, where success becomes permission to stop, and explains why even experienced backyard runners and eventual winners can fall into these mental patterns.

The goal isn't to eliminate negative thoughts, discomfort, fear, or doubt. Those things are going to show up. The goal is to recognize them sooner, understand what your brain is doing, and have the tools to respond without letting a temporary low become the end of your race.

The winner isn't necessarily the runner who never has these thoughts. It's the runner who doesn't give them power.

One more yard. Then another. Then another. Until everyone else has stopped.

👉 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

What does it really take to crew an ultrarunner through a backyard ultra?

In this episode of the One More Hour Podcast, I’m joined by Veronica Pardo, a runner, chiropractor, and the wife of Nick Petterson, who you may remember from Episode 16 after his run at Summit Backyard Ultra.

Since then, Nick has gone on to win Ode to Laz, earning a Silver Ticket, and will represent Team USA at Big’s Backyard Ultra this October. Veronica has been there crewing him through both races, giving her a unique perspective on what happens on the other side of the course.

We talk about what a crew member actually does between loops, how to recognize when your runner is struggling, how to balance encouragement with pressure, and why knowing your runner is so important when the race gets deep.

Veronica also shares what she learned from participating in a 100-hour timed event herself, including some eye-opening lessons about nutrition, how strong the body really is, and how to get through the messy middle when there’s still a LOT of time left on the clock.

We also dive into:

• How runners can better prepare and communicate with their crew before race day
• Why crew members need to take care of themselves, too
• How to keep camp organized and efficient as the hours add up
• The emotional side of watching someone you love suffer for days
• How Veronica and Nick balance their running goals with their life together
• What changed between Nick’s Summit and Ode to Laz races
• What Veronica is most looking forward to, and nervous about, as Nick heads to Big’s
• Why runners shouldn’t feel guilty about asking someone to crew for them

Whether you’re an ultrarunner preparing for your next big race, someone who has been asked to crew, or a spouse or family member trying to understand this crazy sport, this episode will give you a look at the race that happens behind the runner.

Ultras are rarely a solo effort. Sometimes, going one more hour takes a whole team.

Follow Veronica on Instagram @drveronicapardo 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