Choose Strong

A staple in the Choose Strong Podcast is listening to your questions and answering them here! We love to hear from you and often, many of you have the same questions! Join Eddie and Sally as they sift through a balance of both deep and light hearted questions. We know you'll enjoy this episode! Thank you for listening!

Have you tapped into your powerful mind in difficult situations? Do you believe a strong mind is only for "some" people? Listen as Eddie and Sally break down Sally's grueling journey to finish Tahoe 200, the second race in the GRAND SLAM OF 200s SERIES.

From illness to blacking out while alone on the trails, Sally encourages her listeners to believe in the strength we all possess despite the dark and painful challenges in racing, but most importantly, in life.

THE YELLOW NIKE TRAIL CHOOSE STRONG HAT will be gifted to 8 people who leave a podcast review! Listen to hear the details and we thank you in advance for your kind and encouraging reviews!

Mental toughness, fortitude, and overcoming. What & How you think has the power to crush you or strengthen you no matter the season/situation in life. Listen to the start of this multi-series episode and leave encouraged & inspired to work on your mental game.

Hellah Sidibe aka HELLAHGOOD on social media is well known globally not only for his incredible run streak (since 2017) but for his relentless light and positivity. I was so honored to sit down with my good friend and listen to him share about his upbringing, his soccer career that ended up brining him to running; and his first experience running Western States 100.

Sally answers your questions with candid responses and encouraging insight.

We did it- Sally's first 200+ mile race is complete and we have a solid 3 hour episode to break it all down. You'll want to save this for your extra long run or to power you through the next few days as every segment is insightful and encouraging. As with all our episodes, we hope you find strength and encouragement for your own journey in what we have to share. You'll hear the background leading up to the race, the challenges Sally faced, why she chose to wear that green suit and sun hat with the mouth shield; and what it felt like to push through feet wounds for more than 80 hours. And....YES, you'll be entertained again by Eddie's presence and lighthearted insight on what it was like to crew his first 250 mile race! There's something for everyone in this episode and we thank you advance for the ratings and comments.

Get ready for an hour of entertainment & a whole lot of inspiration as Eddie and Sally talk about the build up to the first of 4, 200 mile races this year…building a team, crewing, and of course choosing strong! We want to thank YOU for your support and being a part of the community!

Today I sit down with Mac Jackson - a new runner in the ultra world who recently crushed his first 100 mile race in under 20 hours. Mac talks about juggling life as a husband, father, and career man while fitting in the training. Be sure to give Mac a follow @Maction17 on IG!

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Are you frustrated with your training or tired of people saying you are training wrong?

In this special episode, Sally shares her personal story of overcoming self-doubt and a sea of critics to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a professional athlete. We guarantee you will be encouraged and inspired by this episode no matter where you are in your dream journey- running or not.

Episode Topics:

1. The foundation of customized training and letting go of the "perfect way to train."

2. Why blanket statements, even from so called "experts" should be taken lightly.

3. Sally's personal story from young mother of two, in debt, and carving her own path to be a pro athlete.

4. Using your powerful mind, research and discernment to carve your own path.

5. Only you can work on your dreams.

6. The words you need to hear today.

7. Choose Strong.

Tim Tollefson is one of the most well known and accomplished American ultra runners in the world. Since signing his first pro contract 9 years ago, Tim has powered his way up mountains and varied terrain to stand on podiums all over the world, including the most competitive of them UTMB, where he twice placed 3rd as well as 2nd in the CCC. In addition to a long list of 1st place finishes, Tim is well known and loved in the ultra community simply for who he is as a person. Last year, Tim shared a raw and personal story of struggle, which I highly recommend you check out (link below) and he created and launched the first ever MAMMOTH TRAIL FEST (which happens to be smack in the middle of my favorite mountain range, Eastern Sierra). Check out the details of the trail fest and sign up today! It's a once in a lifetime experience that you don't want to miss! (Eddie and I plan to be there this year!)

In this episode, we discuss:

-Tim's start in sports, growing up in both Minnesota and California

-His transition from soccer to running and then to the trails

When Drew Darby and Tyler McCain were tasked with filming the CHOOSE STRONG PROJECT they had little knowledge of what they were getting into. In this episode you will learn how these two creators took big risks, overcame personal fears, and pushed beyond their limits to capture a story that has impacted thousands of people around the world. 

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!

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.

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!

-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

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!

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!

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.

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

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