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

She came back. And she finished all seven.

Sally Hed Dahlquist catches up with the unstoppable Tracy Cohen Roth, the teaching veteran, 140+ marathon finisher, and woman who just ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. First featured on Episode 22 in December 2025, Tracy returns to share the full story of what actually happened out there: the illness, the heat, the cold, the blisters, the NASA doctors, and the finish line in Miami where she had absolutely nothing left... and crossed it anyway.

Tracy didn't just complete the World Marathon Challenge. She raised thousands of dollars in grassroots donations to get there, and came home to teach.

In this conversation, Tracy shares what it really took:

• Battling a GI illness through four of the seven marathons with nowhere to stop
• Running in 107-degree heat in Australia and 40-degree rain in Spain
• Getting pulled aside by NASA doctors who almost didn't let her run in Madrid
• How Liquid IV saved her race
• Crossing the finish line in Miami in Antarctica gear with her husband waiting 

What You'll Hear in This Episode

• The full 7-7-7 route: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Forza Brazil, Miami
• What 168 hours looks like when 112 of them are spent in the air
• The GI nightmare that started in South Africa and followed Tracy through four continents
• NASA doctors, dehydration, and the Liquid IV that put color back in Tracy's face
• How Tracy trained: 20 miles a day for seven days straight over Christmas break
• The packing system: one bag per continent, stacked inside a single suitcase
• What it felt like to crawl across that last finish line with nothing left in the tank
• Coming home with swollen feet
• A recovery trip to Norway with her son filled with northern lights, reindeer sleds, and the world's northernmost McDonald's
• What she'd tell anyone who has ever said "I've always wanted to do that"

Listener Takeaways

Tracy's story is a masterclass in commitment and resilience. Here are your reminders:

• No regrets. If you've always wanted to do something, stop waiting and make it happen.
• You don't have to feel ready, you just have to show up and keep moving.
• Community carries you. 
• Your body can do more than your brain thinks it can, especially when quitting isn't an option.

Mentioned in This Episode

• World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days)
• Episode 22: Tracy's first appearance on Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Liquid IV electrolyte powder (available at Costco)
• Salt electrolyte candies for heat racing

Support the Mission

If Tracy's story fired you up, please share this episode and consider supporting the bigger mission.

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

Learn more + donate at UnstoppableStoriesThatMove.com

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

In this mini episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist shares an exciting contest announcement and a simple, encouraging tip to help you get growing this spring.

Sally is giving away five signed copies of a book by the unstoppable Joel Karsten, the Minnesota farm boy turned global change maker who developed a revolutionary technique for growing food in straw bales. His method has helped feed malnourished children in Cambodia and beyond, allowing communities to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables... even through monsoon season.

And while you're waiting for your garden to grow? Sally has a beginner-friendly tip to get you started, no digging required.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:

• How to enter the book contest to win a signed copy of Joel Karsten's book (open March 19 – April 30, 2026)
• A quick recap of Joel's incredible story and why straw bale gardening is changing lives worldwide
• Sally's beginner gardening tip: start small with herbs in a pot, basil, cilantro, sage, and work your way up
• Why straw bale gardening is the easiest way to grow your own food without digging up your yard

How to Enter the Contest:

• Visit unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com and look for "book contest"
• Enter your name and email between March 19 – April 30, 2026
• Five lucky winners will be drawn on April 30, 2026

Learn More About Joel Karsten:

• Listen to his full story on Episode 18 of Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Find his books on Amazon
• Visit his website at strawbalegardens.com

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise $1 million for medical research to help fund cures for cancer and other diseases. With NIH budgets being cut, your support matters more than ever.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to: PO Box 12, Afton, MN 55001, USA

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

In this edition of Sally's Hotline, we hear from the unstoppable Tom Pedersen, a lifelong runner and retired teacher who is back on the roads after a stroke and six-bypass open-heart surgery. Rather than dwelling on what the experience took from him, Tom shows up with hard-won wisdom about how to tackle the things in life that feel too big to start.

Tom's advice is simple, practical, and deeply lived: every overwhelming goal, whether it's training for a marathon, recovering from surgery, or finishing an attic renovation for your daughters, gets conquered the same way. One step at a time.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:

• Why the first step doesn't need to be big... it just needs to happen
• How Tom applied this philosophy with students facing overwhelming challenges over 25 years in the classroom
• The attic renovation story: a promise to his daughters that became a three-year project he figured out as he went
• Why having a meaningful "why" is often what finally gets you moving

Key Takeaways:

• Overwhelming goals become manageable when you focus only on the next step
• Progress compounds. Those "insignificant" early steps add up to something significant
• Asking for help along the way isn't a weakness, it's part of the process
• A promise to someone you love can be the most powerful motivator of all
• Getting started is always the hardest part, and always worth it

If you want to hear Tom's full story, including running marathons after a stroke, surviving six-bypass heart surgery, and chasing the Six World Marathon Majors, listen to his full story on episode 36 of Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise $1 million for medical research to help fund cures for cancer and other diseases. With NIH budgets being cut, your support matters more than ever.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to: PO Box 12, Afton, MN 55001, USA

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

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

In this edition of Sally’s Hotline, we hear from the unstoppable Mary Croft, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday by completing 80 kilometers (50 miles over two days). With more than 40 years of running behind her, Mary shares the simple, grounded habits that have helped her stay healthy, active, and engaged through every decade of life.

Rather than chasing intensity or perfection, Mary’s wisdom centers on structure, rest, and realistic self-care. From scheduling movement to embracing naps (disguised as reading time), her advice is a powerful reminder that longevity isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about caring for your body with intention.

This short but impactful tip episode is full of encouragement for anyone navigating aging, busy schedules, or changing energy levels, and it reinforces that staying active can look different in every season of life.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why having structure has been key to Mary’s long-term health and consistency
• How scheduling movement makes it easier to keep showing up
• The underrated importance of naps and rest as we age
• Why regular sleep patterns matter more than we often realize
• How volunteering and staying engaged supports both physical and mental health
• A gentle reminder to protect your energy and avoid overcommitting

Key Takeaways:

• Consistency doesn’t require intensity, it requires intention
• Scheduling rest is just as important as scheduling movement
• Sleep is foundational to long-term health and vitality
• Staying active means adapting, not stopping
• A healthy routine can evolve with you at every age

If you want to hear Mary’s full story, including her decades of running, global races, and life of service listen to her full episode on Unstoppable: Stories That Move.

Support the Mission:

Unstoppable: Stories That Move is a podcast with a purpose to raise $1 million for medical research to help fund cures for cancer and other diseases. With NIH budgets being cut, your support matters more than ever.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com or mail a check to:
PO Box 12, Afton, MN 55001, USA

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

In this unstoppable conversation, Mary Croft joins Sally Hed Dahlquist to reflect on a life that’s equal parts endurance and service. Mary recently celebrated her 80th birthday by running 50 miles at the Across the Years ultra event in Arizona. That milestone is just one chapter in a running career that includes 235 marathons and ultras, with 70 ultramarathons (up to 100 miles), races in all 50 states, and finishes on all 7 continents.

Mary’s story stretches far beyond the finish line. She grew up as the daughter of Lutheran missionaries in Papua New Guinea, spent formative years in boarding school in Australia, and later built a career in nursing including work inside the Stillwater Prison in Minnesota. Along the way, she shares what endurance has taught her about consistency, community, aging, motivation, and staying grounded when the world (and the sport) changes.

This episode is full of practical runner talk (fueling, gear, pacing, loop events, the evolution of marathons) and deeper reflections on purpose, resilience, and what it means to keep moving forward through every season of life.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• How Mary celebrated turning 80 by running 80K (50 miles) at Across the Years
• What a multi-day loop event is like (and why it creates real community)
• How fueling has changed over the decades (from water + butterscotch candies to gels and electrolytes)
• Her origin story: the wellness movement, a friend’s discipline, and the first Twin Cities Marathon
• Why Mary ended her Twin Cities Marathon streak in 2025, and how it felt to let that identity go
• How the sport has changed over the decades
• What it was like growing up in Papua New Guinea and returning later with her husband and son
• How Mary found her footing returning to college in Minnesota after years overseas
• The reality of nursing inside the Stillwater Prison and how healthcare work shows up there

Key Takeaways:

• Community is a performance enhancer. Loop races and long events create space for real conversation and connection.
• You don’t have to optimize everything to be a “real runner.” Mary’s approach is body-led, not data-led.
• Consistency outlasts trends. Fueling fads, tech, and marketing evolve — but the basics still matter.
• Goals can shift without losing meaning. Ending a decades-long streak can be an act of freedom, not failure.

If This Episode Inspired You:

• Share it with someone who needs a reminder that it’s never “too late” to do hard things
• Subscribe to Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Leave a review so more people can find these stories

And If You Want to Do Something Bigger:

This podcast supports the mission of raising $1 million for medical research. Your support helps fund real labs doing real work that saves lives. Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

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

In this installment of Sally’s Hotline, we get a little tip from Polly Letofsky, the first woman to walk around the world, about one deceptively simple idea that carried her across the continents: it’s easier to give 100% than 50%.

Polly shares a raw, unforgettable story from the center of India, where exhaustion, isolation, extreme heat, and danger pushed her to the brink, and where quitting would have been easier. Instead, she explains how committing fully, removing “quitting” as an option, and adopting what she calls the power of the resolute mind allowed her to keep going when everything in her body said stop.

This episode is a powerful reminder that commitment isn’t about willpower, it’s about clarity. When the mission matters, half-measures only make things harder.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear

• Why giving 100% is often easier than giving 50%
• How decision fatigue disappears when quitting is no longer an option
• Polly’s harrowing experience walking alone through central India
• The moment she saw herself in a mirror and realized how depleted she’d become
• Why she refused to stop even when coming home was fully possible
• How she problem-solved instead of quitting (including hiring an escort to finish safely)
• What the “resolute mind” actually looks like in real life
• Why purpose makes endurance possible

Key Takeaways

• Half-commitment creates constant internal negotiation. Full commitment creates peace.
• If quitting is off the table, your brain redirects energy toward solutions.
• Being uncomfortable is not the same as being incapable.
• When the mission is bigger than you, perseverance becomes non-negotiable.
• Commitment is a decision, not a feeling.

About Polly Letofsky

Polly Letofsky is an adventurer, author, and advocate who became the first woman to walk around the world, completing a five-year journey to raise awareness for breast cancer and promote early detection. Her walk helped save lives by starting conversations in villages, cities, and countries around the globe.

Resources Mentioned

• 3 MPH: The Adventures of One Woman’s Walk Around the World by Polly Letofsky
• Polly’s publishing work: mywordpublishing.com

If This Episode Gave You a Boost:

• Share it with someone who’s stuck in the “almost quitting” phase
• Subscribe to Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Leave a review to help more people find these stories

And If You Want to Make an Impact:

This podcast exists to raise $1 million for medical research. Your donation helps fund real labs doing real work that saves lives.

Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

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

In this unstoppable conversation, Polly Letofsky shares the story of walking solo around the world for five years to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and how that journey became an ongoing study in human nature, resilience, and community.

Polly takes us from the early spark that led her to attempt the walk, to the moment she found herself truly alone for the first time in rural Australia… and into the unexpected, life-changing support of the Lions Club. What began as one woman passing a hat in a pub turned into a fundraising network that carried Polly from town to town, country to country, and through moments of culture shock and global upheaval.

Along the way, Polly reflects on walking before GPS, navigating the world as a solo woman traveler, witnessing how communities respond to illness and vulnerability, and why she never once considered quitting even when things were uncomfortable, uncertain, or overwhelming.

This episode is a powerful reminder that big missions are built one step at a time, and that support often shows up exactly when you need it.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear

• How Polly’s walk for breast cancer awareness began and why she knew it had to be about more than travel
• How a chance encounter with a Lions Club president changed everything
• How Lions Clubs coordinated support up the Australian coast and across the globe
• What it was like traveling and planning routes before GPS and smartphones
• Why Polly used McDonald’s as her universal meeting point on highways
• Life as a visibly foreign woman traveling alone in rural and tribal regions
• The realities of cultural difference, discomfort, and safety on the road
• How she learned to expect pivots instead of fearing them
• Experiencing 9/11 abroad and relying on global service organizations for stability
• The long road from walk → book → publishing career, including hard-earned lessons about the industry

Key Takeaways

• Big goals are sustained through consistency, not comfort.
• Community support can appear in unexpected places
• Discomfort is not the same as danger, but awareness always matters.
• You don’t need to know every step in advance just the next one.
• Grassroots action is powerful, especially when research funding is at stake.

Resources Mentioned

• Lions Club
• https://www.senseofsecurity.org/

If this episode moved you:

• Share it with someone who believes big missions are only for “special” people
• Subscribe to Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Leave a review to help these stories reach more listeners

And if you want to do something even bigger:

This podcast supports the mission of raising $1 million for medical research. Your support helps fund real labs doing real work that saves lives.

Donate today at: unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

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

In this Sally’s Hotline mini-episode of Unstoppable Stories That Move, host Sally Hed Dahlquist sits back down with Rhea Deroian, an unstoppable runner who has run every single day for the last 12 years.

Rhea is a streaker in the truest sense, but her story isn’t about perfection or extreme discipline. It’s about consistency, commitment, and choosing yourself, even when life is hard.

After leaving an abusive relationship, running became Rhea’s lifeline. What once helped her escape danger eventually transformed into a source of joy, grounding, and strength. Today, she shares one of the simplest, and most powerful, mindset shifts that helped her stay consistent for over a decade: 15 minutes is only 1% of your day.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why showing up matters more than how long you show up
• How Rhea reframes time: 15 minutes = just 1% of your day
• Why consistency beats motivation every time
• How small commitments snowball into life-changing habits
• Real-life examples of fitting movement into chaotic days (yes, even at 3 a.m.)
• Why caring for yourself first helps you show up better for others

Rhea’s core advice

If you can find 15 minutes, you can change your life.

You don’t need perfect conditions, perfect gear, or a perfect schedule. You just need to start, then start again tomorrow.

As Rhea puts it: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Listen to Rhea’s full story

Want to hear more from Rhea and learn how she’s maintained a 12-year running streak?
 🎧 Listen to Episode 30 of Unstoppable Stories That Move for her full interview.

Listener reflection

What’s one thing that matters to you that you could start in just 15 minutes a day?

Running, writing, strength training, reading, learning, healing, whatever it is, we’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment and share your answer so others can learn from you too.

Support the mission

This podcast exists to do more than inspire, it exists to save lives.

Unstoppable Stories That Move is raising $1 million for medical research, supporting labs that are working on cures for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. With NIH budgets being cut, individual donations matter now more than ever.

Donate today:
UnstoppableStoriesThatMove.com

Keep moving forward—1% at a time.

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

In this unstoppable conversation, Rhea Deroian shares how running became both an escape and a lifeline for her during an abusive marriage, and later as a joyful practice that she used to test potential partners, and ultimately find her person. Rhea takes us from her earliest inspiration (a marathon-running boss named Sue) to her own marathon win, and into the bigger lessons she’s learned about situational awareness, boundaries, healing, and trusting your instincts.

Along the way, we talk with the grant writer about why research funding matters, how endurance teaches you to listen to your body, why the clock isn’t the only measure of success, and the book that helped Rhea name what was happening and find the courage to leave: The Gift of Fear.

This episode includes a clear PSA on domestic abuse warning signs and resources because nobody should have to navigate fear alone.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear

• How research funding is the real engine behind future cures and why it takes a village of specialists
• The moment running “clicked” for Rhea (and the marathoner named Sue who planted the seed)
• Why she fell in love with the marathon distance... even when she was wildly underprepared
• The kismet “Sue” connection that helped her win a marathon on a hard day
• How data can be motivating… until it becomes the only thing you value (looking at you, Garmin 😅)
• The reality of how partners can become jealous of a hobby and how that can turn controlling
• A candid, powerful conversation about abuse, silence, shame, and what helped Rhea leave
• Why Rhea believes healing is possible and why boundaries still matter
• The “sixth sense” we all have, and how to practice trusting it

Key Takeaways

• The clock is only one metric. A run (and a life) can be successful in a lot of ways.
• Support looks like encouragement, not control. If your partner punishes you for having a healthy outlet, that’s information that shouldn't be overlooked.
• Your gut knows before your brain catches up. If something feels off, it deserves attention.
• Once it becomes physical, the boundary has been crossed. Safety has to come first.
• Consistency builds self-trust. Streaks, routines, and movement can teach you how to listen to yourself again.
• You can grow from hard chapters without glamorizing them. Healing can include compassion and firm boundaries.

Notable Quotes

• “The clock is one metric, but it can’t be the be-all end-all.”
• “He doesn’t get to take this away from me.”
• “I realized I wasn’t afraid of what was outside. I was afraid of what was inside.”
• “Whatever works for you, that’s what you should do.”

Resources Mentioned

• The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.)
  • Phone: 1-800-799-7233
  • Website: thehotline.org

If this episode hit home:

• Share it with someone who needs encouragement, clarity, or language for what they’re experiencing
• Subscribe to Unstoppable: Stories That Move
• Leave a review to help more people find these stories

And if you want to do something even bigger:
This podcast supports the mission of raising $1 million for medical research. Your support helps fund real labs doing real work that saves lives. Donate today at unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com