Text me. I’d love to hear from you! Can you relate to anything we said? What do want to hear more about?

What does it take to keep running through a stroke and open-heart surgery?

Host Sally Hed Dahlquist sits down with Tom Pedersen, a 73-year-old retired CPA, lifelong runner, and living proof that the body, and the will, can be rebuilt. After a minor ischemic stroke and a six bypass open-heart surgery, Tom didn't just survive. He found his way back to the finish line.

Now on the verge of completing another World Marathon Majors in Tokyo, Tom shares the health scares he almost ignored, the doctors who believed in his passions, and why he's still putting one foot in front of the other.

In this conversation, Tom shares what has kept him moving:

• Listening to his body, even when the signs were subtle
• Finding doctors who shared his "keep running" philosophy
• Recovering from a stroke and then open-heart surgery and getting back to the race course
• Giving back through free tax preparation services in his community

This episode is a reminder that unstoppable isn't about being fearless, it's about refusing to stop.

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• How a minor stroke in 2017 became a turning point 
• The two types of stroke: ischemic vs. hemorrhagic 
• Why he fired his first doctor for telling him to stop running marathons
• Symptoms that don't scream "emergency" 
• Post-bypass recovery: walking around the block, then a mile, then marathons
• The pineapple guy at the Berlin marathon (and why Tom is blaming him for those extra 35 seconds)
• Big Cottonwood Canyon Marathon: winning his age group, qualifying for Boston, post-stroke
• What gratitude looks like after surviving two major health events

Listener Takeaways

If you're inspired by Tom's story, here are your reminders:

• Don't dismiss subtle symptoms. A dragging foot and a drooping face got Tom to the ER... barely. Pay attention.
• Find doctors who support your goals. If your doctor tells you to quit, find a doctor who doesn't.
• Running is medicine. Tom's blood pressure drops 20–30 points after a run. Every time.
• Know your family history. It doesn't have to define you, but it should motivate you.
• Recovery is incremental. Around the block → a mile → a marathon. There's no shortcut, and that's okay.
• Gratitude is a practice. After his heart surgery, Tom committed to being grateful for every single day.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Ischemic stroke vs. hemorrhagic stroke vs. TIA (transient ischemic attack)
• The Six World Marathon Majors (Abbott World Marathon Majors): Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Tokyo
• Sydney Marathon (the new seventh major)
• Big Cottonwood Canyon Marathon, Utah
• Jack and Jill Downhill Marathon, Washington State
• Grandma's Marathon, Duluth, Minnesota
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) — free tax prep services nationwide
• Accountability Minnesota — free tax prep sites in the Twin Cities area
• ARC tax prep sites in Hudson, River Falls, Baldwin, Richmond, and Ellsworth, Wisconsin
• Marathon Tours & Travel
• Britney Runs a Marathon (Netflix film)

Support the Mission

If Tom's story reminded you that it's never too late to get back out there, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

We're raising $1 million for medical research, and every dollar from listeners like you makes a real difference.

Learn more + donate at UnstoppableStoriesThatMove.com