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Artwork for Choose Strong
Running
Ultra Running
Nutrition
Trail Running
Mental Health
Personal Growth
Community Support
Strength Training
Parenting
Mindset
Fitness
Cocodona 250
Health and Wellness
Western States 100
Mental Toughness
Marathon Training
Running Community
Mental Resilience
Injury Recovery
Community

Hosted by Eddie and Sally McRae, Choose Strong is about choosing strength over fear in every situation in life. Strong Mind, Strong Body, Strong Love. Each episode is filled with candid insight, raw and relatable stories and interviews. As a pro athlete, wife, mother, and biz owner, Sally seeks to encourage others to live a strong and courageous life and uses her running as a metaphor for life. Th... more

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Artwork for Choose Strong

Latest Episodes

Just days before Badwater 135, Sally received an unexpected call offering her a spot in the race after she had already stopped heat training and shifted her focus toward TDS in the Alps. With only five days to prepare, she chose to say yes, reset her... more

Fresh off the finish line in Chamonix, Sally recaps her first TDS—one of the most rugged races in the UTMB week—after battling rain, massive climbs, a brutal fall, a badly injured leg, and the loss of her poles. She shares how gratitude, perspective,... more

In this episode, Sally chats with Mackenzie Jolliffe and Billy Garner. They take us behind the scenes of crewing Max Jolliffe during his historic Badwater 135, revealing the planning, pacing, nutrition, split-second decisions and teamwork required to... more

In this episode, Sally chats with her good friend, rockstar pacer, podcast host and ultrarunning coach, Joe Corcione! Joe shares how running helped transform his life from addiction and unhappiness into nearly eight years of sobriety, a coaching care... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Billy Garner
Crew member and team partner, Max's coach
Self/Team Max
Episode: #153 | Inside the Crew Behind the Fastest Badwater 135 Ever | Mackenzie Jolliffe & Billy Garner
Mackenzie Ross Jolliffe
Crew member and wife of Max, intuitive contributor to race logistics
Self/Team Max
Episode: #153 | Inside the Crew Behind the Fastest Badwater 135 Ever | Mackenzie Jolliffe & Billy Garner
Joe Corcione
Ultrarunner, coach, podcaster
Everyday Ultra / Everyday Ultra Coaching
Episode: #152 | Joe Corcione | The Western States - Badwater Double & Reinventing Your Life
Max Jolliffe
Professional ultra endurance runner
Sponsor/Brand partnerships mentioned in episode
Episode: #151 | Max Jolliffe | Badwater 135 CHAMPION
Anna Gibson
Multisport endurance athlete (track, trail, ski mountaineering)
Athlete
Episode: #149 | Courage, Curiosity & the Road to the Olympics | Anna Gibson
Kat Edwards Anderson
Ultra runner, coach, entrepreneur
Athlete and coach, founder of personal brand and coaching business
Episode: #148 | Identity, Purpose & the Road Back to Running | Kat Edwards Anderson
Kilian Korth
Ultra endurance athlete, Triple Crown winner, cocodona veteran
Independent athlete / sponsor network
Episode: #147 | From Failure to Triple Crown Champion | Kilian Korth on Mental Toughness & Never Quitting
Rachel Entrekin
Professional endurance athlete; two-time Coca-Dona 250 champion; founder of Choose Strong podcast
Choose Strong / Nike ACG (track program mentions)
Episode: #145 | LIVE with RACHEL ENTREKIN | TrailCon 2026
Andy Glaze
Ultra runner, author, endurance athlete
Athlete and author
Episode: #143 | Andy Glaze is Back

Hosts

Sally McRae
Host of Choose Strong; endurance athlete, coach, entrepreneur
Eddie McRae
Host of Choose Strong; endurance athlete, co-host, interviewer

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 3.9k ratings
  • You gave me the power. Thank you Sally and Eddie 🙏

    A couple of days ago, I’ve completed my first real ultra marathon : 135 km with 6000 m of elevation. This course (Quebec Mega Trail 135) is considered one of the toughest in Canada. It took me a lot of determination to run that course in a little less than 25h. That was the toughest thing I’ve ever done… My body wasn’t responding well towards the end but I kept telling myself “Choose Strong” over and over again during the last kilometers. My crew chief made some cards for me : every time I see I... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FélixLamontagne
    Canada2 months ago
  • Inspiring! Strong and Tender!

    Sally's story of overcoming is truly inspiring. I feel like I know her after reading the book. Such a sweet, strong soul! Thank you Sally!!

    Audible
    5
    Matt
    United States5 months ago
  • Incredible Podcast!

    I’m always so excited when I see a new podcast from Sally and Eddie. Such encouragement, inspiration and wisdom from their wealth of experience. Thank you for the generosity and life in all you share through these conversations. Much love from the UK ✨

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emma Joy Henderson
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Encouraging, uplifting

    All I needed today during my long run was Sally’s encouragement to runners at the beginning of the episode (#137). My run still felt hard, but it really helped. Thank you Sally.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gooooooooo
    Canada5 months ago
  • Five stars

    Best running podcast of all time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr G12
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise honesty, encouragement, and practical coaching tips.
Fans love the hosts' chemistry and motivation to choose strength in life and sport.
Feedback highlights how stories inspire persistence through tough races and life events.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#158
Singapore/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#232
Finland/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#155 | Sally's Badwater 135 Race Recap
Q: How did you manage your knee and overall knee health through Badwater and what did you learn?
Relying on strength work, PT evaluations, and a conservative pacing plan; learning to respect inflammation and to slow down, which ultimately preserved long-term health and allowed a strong recovery post-race.
#155 | Sally's Badwater 135 Race Recap
Q: What was the turning point that made you decide to join Badwater on short notice?
A last-minute call from Chris suggesting a possible replacement crew opportunity and recognizing the rarity and potential significance of such an invitation, which outweighed the logistical concerns and my initial hesitation.
#151 | Max Jolliffe | Badwater 135 CHAMPION
Q: Can you walk us through your race-day strategy from the elite wave start through the final climb?
Starting with a cautious, patient approach in the cooler night, maintaining a steady rhythm and frequent crew contacts, then progressively increasing effort on climbs as stomach and heat stress stabilized. The key was strict adherence to a personalized pace plan, smart aid-stop timing, and leveraging aero-physiological tools to manage heat and hydration, culminating in a final surge to the finish.
#151 | Max Jolliffe | Badwater 135 CHAMPION
Q: What was the most valuable part of working with your coach, and when did you realize you should have done it sooner?
The most valuable part was having daily direction and a clearly defined training block with precise workouts and race-plan execution. Realization dawned during and after Cocodona, when the structured approach showed how much more efficient and effective training could be, leading to a breakthrough Badwater build.
#150 | How to Push Past the Wall, Recover From an Ultra & Believe You Belong
Q: What should a first-time ultra runner expect in the recovery period after a 50-mile race?
A listener asks about post-ultra symptoms. Sally explains dehydration, sleep disruption, and caloric/sodium imbalances are common, and emphasizes gradual rehydration, electrolyte management, and mindful recovery; she cautions about red flags that could require medical attention and notes the recovery period can last days to weeks as the body rebalances.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Choose Strong

What is Choose Strong about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on choosing strength in every aspect of life, using endurance running as a lens for mindset, wellness, parenting, and purposeful living. Across episodes, listeners hear candid conversations about training, injury recovery, sponsorships, race strategy, and the mental side of pushing through tough moments. The hosts blend personal anecdotes with guest insights from elite ultrarunners, coaches, and athletes, emphasizing resilience, community, and balancing life goals with family and work. A notable throughline is turning fear into action and building a supportive, growth-oriented mindset that translates beyond running into daily life and leadership.

A standout aspect is the warm, relatable banter between the hosts, paired wi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Choose Strong?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Choose Strong:

1. Everyday Ultra
2. Singletrack
3. The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman
4. The Trail Network Podcast
5. Some Work, All Play

How many episodes of Choose Strong are there?

Choose Strong launched 5 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Choose Strong?

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What guests have appeared on Choose Strong?

Recent guests on Choose Strong include:

1. Billy Garner
2. Mackenzie Ross Jolliffe
3. Joe Corcione
4. Max Jolliffe
5. Anna Gibson
6. Kat Edwards Anderson
7. Kilian Korth
8. Rachel Entrekin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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