Trap #1: Thinking too far ahead
“We’re only three hours in. I still have 21 hours and 91 miles to go to my goal…” That thought will end your race before your legs do.
Fix it: Focus on THIS hour. One lap. One whistle. One hour. One more yard. Then reset.
Trap #2: The chair trap
Once you sit too long, your body thinks you’re done.
Fix it: Use breaks wisely. Sitting down to rest your legs is great, but keep moving around some. Stretch, massage your legs, refuel, move around. Whatever you do, don’t quit in the chair. If you are feeling stiff from sitting or from stopping running, remind yourself that you’ll be feeling warmed up and better after one mile into the next yard.
Trap #3: Comparing yourself to others.
It doesn’t matter who looks fresh or who’s struggling. Some runners may be playing mind games.
Fix it: Your only job is to line up when the one minute whistle blows. Don’t pay attention to how the other runners are looking and don’t assign a “freshness” scale.
Trap #4: Setting a distance goal
Setting a distance goal places a ceiling on the mind. Once you hit that distance, your mind will quit.
Fix it: Have an open mind. Approach the race with curiosity. What can you achieve? How far can you go? It’s great to have some B, C, D, etc. goals, and they can include mileage (e.g. I want to hit at least 50miles) but don’t put a number on your A goal.
The backyard isn’t won by the fastest runner. It’s lost in the mind, one hour at a time.
Want to learn more about the backyard ultra format? Stay tuned! My podcast ONE MORE HOUR: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras and the Ultra Mindset of “One More” is coming soon!
