Episode Details

Your brain doesn't usually tell you to quit. It tells you to be reasonable.

After hours of running, fatigue, discomfort, uncertainty, and doubt can cause your mind to start building a convincing case for why stopping is the logical thing to do. You've already exceeded your goal. You have work Monday. You're worried about getting injured. You can always come back next year.

Suddenly, quitting doesn't feel like quitting anymore. It feels like the smart decision.

In this episode of The One More Hour Podcast, we takes a deeper look at the backyard ultra exit narrative. Aka the moment your brain starts looking for an out, and the psychology behind why these thoughts can become so believable during an ultra.

You'll learn:

• Why your brain starts searching for relief when faced with prolonged discomfort and uncertainty
• The difference between having a thought and treating that thought like a fact
• How cognitive fusion can cause runners to become hooked by thoughts like "I can't do this" or "I need to quit"
• Practical cognitive defusion techniques, including "I'm having the thought that..." and "Thanks, brain"
• How to recognize and name your recurring exit narratives before they take over
• Stories from her first backyard ultra and how she unknowingly built a logical case for her own exit
• The coyote story from her second backyard and what it taught her about the brain's ability to create an out
• The identity trap: when success becomes permission to stop
• How to establish predetermined stopping criteria so you aren't making important decisions in your most fatigued state
• Why your crew can either help you stay grounded or accidentally add evidence to the lawyer's case
• How to practice cognitive defusion and psychological flexibility in everyday life and during training

The goal isn't to eliminate negative thoughts, fear, doubt, or discomfort. Those things are part of being human and part of ultra running.

The goal is to create enough space between you and your thoughts that you can choose your response instead of automatically obeying the story your brain is telling you.

Because your thoughts aren't commands.

They're thoughts.

And sometimes, all you need to do is recognize the Lawyer, say "Thanks, brain," and decide what to do next.

One more yard. 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

📩 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) 

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