Show Notes
In this episode , Sally chats with ultrarunner Kat Anderson in an honest conversation about the winding road that shaped her life—one filled with unexpected detours, difficult seasons, and a renewed sense of purpose. From growing up in a hardworking family to rediscovering her passion for running, Kat shares how every chapter prepared her for the next. Enjoy!
Other Episode Highlights: Why Kat walked away from running—and what brought her back The dangers of tying your identity to performance How a toxic coach nearly ended her running career The power of faith during life's hardest seasons How CrossFit prepared her for 200+ mile races The Cocodona 250 lessons that changed her forever What it takes mentally to race at the elite level The value of hard work learned from childhood How to find purpose beyond winning and losing
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More from Choose Strong
In this episode, Sally sits down with longtime friend and fellow podcast host Jonathan Levitt for an honest conversation about the power of running, meaningful friendships, taking risks, and building a life around what you love. Jon opens up about navigating a difficult breakup, finding emotional strength through running, leaving his corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship, and the importance of staying true to yourself in a world driven by social media and outside expectations.
***AUDIO ONLY Recorded live at Mammoth Trail Fest, Sally sits down with longtime friend, professional ultrarunner, and race founder Tim Tollefson for an inspiring conversation about perseverance, personal growth, and finding purpose beyond athletic achievements. Tim reflects on his journey from an overlooked young runner to one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes, opening up about setbacks, personal struggles, and the lessons learned along the way. Together, they explore the power of vulnerability, the importance of community, and how running can become something far greater than chasing finish lines.
In this episode, Sally gets a chance to chat with friend, ultrarunner, and world-record holder Meg Eckert about her remarkable journey from being too afraid to show up for her first 5K to becoming one of the world’s top multi-day runners. Meg recently ran more than 636 miles in six days, becoming the first woman to surpass 1,000 kilometers in the event. She opens up about pacing, fear, joy, discomfort, her relationship with running, and the mindset that continues to push her toward discovering what she’s capable of. Thanks for pushing play. Enjoy!
In this episode, Sally chats with her friend, and Elite ultrarunner, Rachel Drake, who shares what it looks like to pursue big dreams while raising two young children and working 65–80-hour weeks as an anesthesia resident. She opens up about UTMB, returning to running after pregnancy, leaning on family support, and learning that different priorities can take the lead during different seasons of life. You will be encouraged by Rachel's drive and commitment to excellence in all she does! Enjoy!
Fresh off an incredible second-place finish at UTMB, Rachel shares what it was really like navigating the overwhelming crowds, racing alongside the best in the world, and fighting to hold onto second place in the final miles. She also opens up about her surprise mountaintop engagement, life with Will, wedding plans, Switzerland, pickleball, her upcoming Snowman Race in Bhutan, and why she’s more committed than ever to doing things her own way! You'll love this conversation. Enjoy!