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 [email protected] 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 

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