(Ep.25) Three Big Mistakes Everyone Makes in the First 10 Yards

Описание: Most runners think backyard ultras fall apart in the middle of the night.


They don’t.


They fall apart in the first 10 yards.


In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, we break down the most common mistake runners make early in backyard ultras: letting pacing, ego, and adrenaline take control.


Because the reality is: You’re not going too fast in an obvious way… You’re going too fast in ways you don’t feel yet.


This episode walks through:

• Why the first 10 yards feel deceptively easy
• How small pacing mistakes compound into big problems later
• The subtle ways adrenaline shows up early
• How ego influences decisions (even when you think it’s not)
• What proper early pacing should actually feel like
• A simple framework to set yourself up for a strong, long race

If you’ve ever blown up at 18–24 hours and couldn’t figure out why, this episode will help you connect the dots.


 


What You’ll Learn

• Why backyard races are lost early, not late
• The difference between running the clock vs running the day
• How adrenaline quietly drains your energy
• Why “this feels too easy” is a warning sign
• What true patience looks like in a backyard ultra
• How to pace with longevity in mind
• The compounding cost of small early mistakes

 


Key Takeaways

• The goal of the first 10 yards is preservation, not performance
• If it doesn’t feel almost boring, you’re likely going too hard
• Finishing faster early ≠ better — it often costs you later
• Ego shows up in subtle ways (and it can end your race)
• The runners who go far are often the most restrained early

 


Practical Framework for Your Next Backyard

• Cap your effort, not your pace
• Walk earlier than you think you need to
• Enter camp smoothly — don’t rush in
• Sit less than your ego wants to
• Detach from what everyone else is doing

And most importantly: Don’t make emotional decisions early. There’s nothing to solve yet.


 


Final Thought


The first 10 yards aren’t about proving you belong. They’re about proving you can wait. Master that and you give yourself a real shot at going one more 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 (  / onemorehourpodcast  )


📩 Got a story about going one more? I’d love to hear it. Email me at → [email protected]


🎁 Freebie → 5 Mental Traps Backyard Runners Fall Into (and How to Fix Them) (https://the-runner-s-toolbox-with-coa...)


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