Can one mile break you?
This week on The One More Hour Podcast, I sit down with trail runner and ultrarunner Audrey Carter to talk about her first experience at Mid-State Mile, one of the most unique and brutally challenging last-person-standing races in the country.
Unlike a traditional Backyard Ultra, runners have just 20 minutes to complete a 1.1-mile loop with 340 feet of elevation gain before heading back out to do it again. Loop after loop after Loop. Until only one runner remains.
Audrey shares what drew her to the infamous "Murder Mile," how she approached a format she'd never raced before, and what she learned about pacing, fueling, mindset, and pushing through the mental darkness that comes when your body wants to quit.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What makes Mid-State Mile so unique
- How Audrey trained for her first last-person-standing race
- Pacing strategies for steep, repetitive climbing
- Fueling mistakes and lessons learned
- The mental battle that begins after the sun goes down
- The importance of community in endurance sports
- Why getting comfortable with being uncomfortable extends far beyond running
Whether you're curious about Mid-State Mile, training for your first Backyard Ultra, or simply looking for inspiration to tackle your own hard challenges, this conversation is full of practical lessons and honest reflections.
Follow Audrey on Instagram: @easttnmotherrunner
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another runner who loves chasing "one more."
One more loop. One more hour. One more chance to discover what you're capable of.
👉 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
