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Miss the feeling of momentum? We hit reset and dive straight into the wild world of Backyard Ultras—the strangely simple, brutally honest format where runners tackle a 4.167-mile loop every hour on the hour until only one person remains. No prize purse. No fanfare. Just a whistle, a corral, and a test of pacing, patience, and pure grit.

We break down why the loop is exactly 4.167 miles, how the hourly restart changes everything, and what it takes to manage nutrition, sleep deprivation, and mindset when the clock rules your decisions. From flooded trails and road alternates to the chilling quiet between whistles, you’ll hear how the smallest choices—when to sit, what to eat, how to breathe—become the difference between another lap and a DNF. We revisit the jaw-dropping numbers from Big’s Backyard: 114 laps for the win, eight athletes over 100 yards, and the kind of sportsmanship that turns a race into a study of character.

Along the way, we talk benefits and risks. The 40% rule shows up when your brain says you’re done and your body proves otherwise, but there’s a cost if you ignore recovery and reality. We share practical ways to try the format safely: start with one yard, bring a simple kit, train your night legs, and consider rucking four miles in an hour if you’re building back from injury. The community matters as much as the mileage—first-timers chasing three laps get the same cheers as elites chasing records.

We’re also lacing up for the NorCal Backyard Ultra at Folsom, practicing night loops, and testing one-hour routines to stay sharp. If you need a clean slate or a challenge that fits any level, this format can be your reset button—one whistle, one lap, one decision at a time. If the episode moves you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with your guess: how many hours could you last?