If you haven't heard of the power team that is Heather Jackson and Wattie yet, be prepared to add them to your "most inspirational" list of people. For 15 years Heather has crushed the Triathlon scene; a career that was lovingly encouraged by her husband, Sean Watkins. Known for her giant smile, disciplined training and relentless optimism, Heather is forging ahead to test herself in new ways in 2023! We are so excited for our community to hear this podcast because you will undoubtedly walk away with a smile and great inspiration for whatever goal you're chasing; you'll also be encouraged to give thanks for the incredible people who support you in your life- they are gold! Topics Covered in our Conversation: +Heather's start in endurance sports from soccer, ice hockey to triathlon; and how she excelled in all of them. +The day Heather and Wattie met and how it changed both their lives. +Heather's wild year of racing and her decision to race her very first ultra Javelina 100 just 2 weeks after racing Ironman World Championship in Kona +How Wattie and Heather fast-tracked into learning about crewing, pacing, and nutrition with just a handful of days to prepare for race day. +Heather's incredible, gutsy performance and sub-16 hour 100 mile finish! As long time admirers of Heather and Wattie and their awesome YouTube channel, we couldn't wait to connect with them! Heather and Wattie's humble and fierce approach to training will no doubt impress you and we believe it's safe to say that if Heather continues racing ultras, she'll be hard to beat! Aside from athletics, Heather and Wattie have an incredible company PLUSH GLOBAL  which we encourage you to check out! You can follow Heather and Wattie online (we highly recommend their YT channel!) YouTube: Heather Jackson Instagram: Heather Jackson and Sean "Wattie" Watkins We want to thank YOU for choosing our podcast and for all the incredible support and thoughtful reviews! We love our community! If you would like to support our podcast, please check out Sally's Run and Strength App here

Sally hosts this episode solo and breaks down her thoughts on how to stay motivated. She also talks about the Choose Strong 30 Challenge and gives a quick life update on family, her book, moving, and her big goal for 2023. For more information on the Choose Strong 30 Challenge happening Nov.7th-Dec. 7th, check out the info here! Check out Sally's Run and Strength app here (it's FREE for the first 7 days!) Thank you for all your support and encouragement! We truly appreciate the reviews, messages, and your support in our app!  Keep Choosing Strong!

On September 29th, Sally stood on the street corner of Main Street and Mount Whitney Portal Road in Lone Pine, CA. She had never summited Mount Whitney before, so why did she think she could pull off summiting the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states, not just once but twice? And as if the challenge of summiting twice wasn't enough, Sally chose to start at the very bottom, 23 miles away. The whole route was 92 miles and over 22,000 feet of climbing. In this episode, Sally and Eddie break down the attempt and the hidden story behind the double summit. Sally also explains why the Choose Strong Project took a surprise turn and ended in this way. The powerful meaning is one we know you will be encouraged by as Sally has reiterated again and again that this project was never about racing, finishing times, or recognition, but to send a message of hope to everyone. Topics Covered: *The story behind the attempt and why Sally chose this particular course *Training, the crew, and the various "unknowns" that made this attempt challenging *Eddie discusses his role crewing; the scare when he thought the truck was going to break down; and how he helped keep Sally going *Mindset and how to find strength to begin again- no matter you're journey *The Choose Strong Project, our newsletter; and what's coming next! Please consider supporting Eddie and Sally's work by downloading their Run and Strength app here.  You can also sign up for their newsletter here.

-We often say, we are capable of more than we know, but how will we ever know what that looks like, unless we try. As Sally stood at the Start of Race #4 in the ChooseStrong Project, she was feeling the effects of racing 3 massive races in the previous 8 weeks. She chose the word GRATITUDE as her focus word and despite the grueling course, found her way to the Finish line once again. -Topics Covered in this Podcast: +The Swiss Alps and Racing WildStrubel UTMB 108k +Training and Recovery on a tired body- Tips and Advice on Staying Healthy +Mindset in training and racing in the face of a challenge +The surprising wild adventure that took place after crossing the finish line +And of course bantering, raw insights, and maybe a few seconds of singing by Eddie and Sally Please consider supporting the podcast by downloading Sally's Run and Strength App: https://sallymcrae.app  And a special thanks to everyone already in the app as well as those who have taken time out of their day to write such kind and thoughtful podcast reviews! We appreciate it more than you know!

Sally knew as she hit the "SUBMIT REGISTRATION" button that Leadville 100 would be especially challenging for her as an athlete. This 100 mile, extreme high altitude race already poses a challenge for anyone not acclimated to altitude, and with Sally's lifelong issues with being able to breathe in and out fully, this course would undoubtedly test her mentally to keep going even when she didn't feel strong. In this episode, we detail Sally's prep going into the race; how her team kept her moving; the mental tricks and wisdom Sally applied during crucial situations; and why this race was strategically put as #3 of 6 in The Choose Strong Project. The episode wraps up with some firm and encouraging advice to listeners to look their struggles square in the eye and embrace them. We want to personally thank you for choosing to download and listen to our podcast. We greatly appreciate this community and love hearing from you! Thanks for the incredible reviews! If you're interested in supporting the podcast and helping us continue to put out content more frequently, please consider becoming a monthly contributor OR please download Sally's Strength App: https://sallymcrae.app Thank you for being here; KEEP CHOOSING STRONG!

You have a plan; you prepared relentlessly; and when you set out on your journey everything seems to be going just as planned; and then, when you least expect it; everything falls apart. How do you keep going when what you worked so hard for slips through your fingers? And how do you keep going when everything just plain hurts? In this episode Sally talks about her recent race at Angeles Crest 100 in Wrightwood, California; one of the toughest 100 mile races in the nation. Run entirely in altitude with big climbs, intense heat; and everything in between; these are the trails where Sally became a mountain runner over a decade ago. Sally breaks down the race; offers invaluable insight into tackling tough challenges; and how she kept going after her quads "blew out" with 30 miles/50km left to go.  Sally also talks about the importance of this race as number two in the Choose Strong Project and hits hard on the topic of DNFs, Caring for your one body; and Never quitting. Joined by co-host and husband, Eddie McRae; this balanced episode of laughter, real-talk...and singing (yes Singing!) marks their 10th episode! Happy Double Digits Choose Strong Podcast! Please consider supporting the podcast by downloading Sally's Strength App: https://sallymcrae.app and be a part of the Sally McRae Strength Community on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow all our social channels: @choosestrongproject @choosestrongpodcast @yellowrunner

The World's Toughest Footrace starts at Badwater Basin in California, 282 feet below sea level and travels 135 miles, over 3 mountain passes; ending at Mount Whitney Portal (the entrance to the tallest mountain in the lower 48 States). The race is known for it's extreme heat and harsh conditions with temperatures reaching close to 130F. Over a decade ago, Sally crafted a goal for herself to win the race, which she did after her second attempt in 2021. In 2018 and 2021, Sally endured constant challenges and setbacks throughout the race, which she often describes as "lessons in strength training." Having achieved her goal in 2021, Sally decided to head back to the race with a goal greater than a podium finish. In this podcast, Sally and I sit down to break down her reason for returning to Badwater; the role the race played in the Choose Strong Project; and how after 3 finishes, the race continues to not only humble her as an athlete but reveal to her what she is capable of accomplishing despite discomfort and setbacks. We dive into the lead up to the race; her training; goals; and the glimmer of hope she held after the first 50 miles of the race to run the course faster than her two previous attempts. We talk about the surprising, unique challenge that popped up in the race and how she handled it and we discuss the overwhelming realization of walking the final 70 miles to get to the Finish line in 35 hours. We want to thank YOU our listener for taking the time to hang out with us, please consider supporting our work by downloading Sally's Strength and Running app which we discuss at the beginning of the podcast: https://sallymcrae.app  You can also contact us directly about the podcast or speaking inquires at contact@sallymcrae.com or by visiting the website: sallymcrae.com  You can follow and get to know Sally's Badwater Crew at: Colin Cooley @runwicked David Daley @daviddaley74 Sarah Attar @sarahattar Eddie McRae @mobampin  Choose Strong Project @choosestrongproject  TO WATCH THIS PODCAST ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, Check out the CHOOSESTRONGPODCAST CHANNEL and Subscribe!

In this episode Sally shares about a challenging project she has been quietly working toward and how YOU can join! +Intro to the Choose Strong Project +The 6 races totaling 500+ miles that Sally will be racing in the next 5 months +The reason why 2022 is the year Sally has been anticipating for more than half her life. +How the community and how people have already been sharing their Choose Strong stories. +Run, Hike, Ride, or Lift on July 11th as Sally tackles her 3rd Badwater 135. Do 135 miles, km, minutes, reps, etc. You pick your challenge and join Sally. Take a pic and share your story. Use hashtag #choosestrongproject #choosestrong22 Show links and Sponsors Sally's Run and Strength App is the sponsor of this podcast. You can sign up for the first month for only $1 and gain access to 100s of Sally's workouts; her Strength Community and much more ! Download her app here: https://sallymcrae.app Follow our Social Media accounts: CHOOSE STRONG PODCAST: @choosestrongpodcast on IG and  CHOOSE STRONG PROJECT: @choosestrongproject on IG YELLOWRUNNER: @yellowrunner on IG SALLY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Sally McRae 

In this episode I sit down with Deb Hamberlin, as she recaps her first try at the 200 mile distance. She finished 19th woman at COCODONA 250. I coached Deb for 4 years and this was my first time carving out a training plan for this distance. Deb is one of the kindest and most helpful runners in the ultra community and so to see her accomplish this incredible feat brought me great joy! During our conversation we discuss: +Deb's background as an athlete and her humble start in sports in school and how the single decision of just "choosing to try" running and different distances led her to believe she could run a 250 mile race. +Training, workouts, and preparation to make her body strong and injury free for race day. +What she did outside of training to ensure she would be ready for any scenario during the several days she was on the course. +How Deb managed to overcome everything from nausea, a brush with Rhabdo; nerve pain; blisters; sleep deprivation and much more. If you're considering one of these 200+ mile races you will find a wealth of knowledge and insight to help you in your journey; but even if you're not training for an ultra, the lessons discussed in this podcast will undoubtedly encourage you to Keep Choosing Strong in all you do! Links and Sponsors: You can follow Deb Hamberlin on Instagram & Twitter @debrunsfar You can follow the podcast on YouTube & Instagram @choosestrongpodcast To help support the podcast and Sally's work in both speaking and coaching, please consider downloading her app at this link: https://sallymcrae.app and gain access to hundreds of Sally's customized strength, running, and mobility workouts!

You'll want to save and share this episode because it's FULL of real-life experiences Sally has had in her 20 years as an endurance runner. In this episode, Sally is joined by Eddie as she discusses some of her biggest fears when she first started running, especially on the trails and how she overcame them. She offers advice, tips, and a good dose of FIRM responses that women can used when being harassed while out on a run or when threatened.  Topics Covered: -Being stalked and followed on road and trails. -Being harassed in remote areas. -Encounters with coyotes, bears, rattlesnakes, and bobcats. -Making a terrible rookie mistake in the mountains as a pro.  -Important gear and safety measures before heading out on the roads or trails alone. -The importance of understanding the difference between the fear that paralyzes you and the fear that keeps you safe. -Choosing the Strong Mindset We want to thank you in advance for giving a rating and a review and for all your support of the podcast and the app! It is our goal to continue putting out content more frequently and we appreciate your belief in us! Thank you!  To download Sally's Run and Strength app, visit: https://sallymcrae.app