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A sharpening workout at 10,000 feet. A sudden stab in the chest. Vision slipping. Hours later, Abby Locke learned her right lung had collapsed—and that was only the beginning. Across one summer she weathered three collapses, seven chest tubes, helicopter flights, and two surgeries, then found her way back to 50-mile weeks with a new definition of strength.

We talk through the full arc with honesty and grit: the ER chaos, hospital routines, and why “take it easy” is dangerous advice for driven athletes. Abby details the shift from vague rest to a precise, metrics-based return—heart rate caps, minutes-based progressions, and a deliberate habit of undershooting. We dig into the identity quake that comes when sport is stripped away, and how watercolor, friendship, and a gentler mindset helped her rebuild. She shares practical wisdom on training by feel, listening for pain signals, and balancing risk without living in fear.

We also explore what’s next: genetic testing, altitude questions, and a smart path toward longer trail races where intensity spikes are fewer. Abby opens up about coaching, sub-ultra roots, and why the northeast’s technical trails deserve more love. The takeaway is bigger than running: gratitude changes performance, diversified meaning sustains motivation, and a broader life makes you braver on race day.

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