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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes154Founded5 years ago
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Health & Fitness

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Artwork for Choose Strong

Latest Episodes

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

Fresh off his historic Badwater 135 win, in a time of 20:53:41 (the new course record!), Max Jolliffe joins the Choose Strong podcast to chat with Sally about his race & training leading up to race day. You'll gain insight into his mindset as he race... more

In this episode, Sally answers listener questions about overcoming mental barriers during races, stepping up from the half marathon to longer distances, recovering after a first ultra, and building a career in trail-running media. We also have an hon... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

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
Andy Glaze
Ultra runner, author, endurance athlete
Athlete and author
Episode: #143 | Andy Glaze is Back
Rachel Entrekin
Two-time Cocodona 250 champion and elite ultra runner
Episode: #126 | Running Back to Life | Rachel Entrekin on Recovery, Resilience, and Redemption
Tara Dower
Known as the Candy Mama, Tara is an accomplished endurance athlete who set a historical record at the Javelina 100.
Episode: #121 | Tara Dower | A Star
Tommie Runz
Influencer and ultra-marathon runner known for his inspiring journey in overcoming addiction
Episode: #120 | Figure it Out w/ Tommie Runz

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
    Canadaa month 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 States4 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 Kingdom4 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Five stars

    Best running podcast of all time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr G12
    United States6 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
#141
United States/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#222
Canada/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#201
Australia/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#117
Argentina/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#134
New Zealand/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#194
South Africa/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#150 | How to Push Past the Wall, Recover From an Ultra & Believe You Belong
Q: How do you know when you're ready to jump from half marathon to full marathon, and where to start with increasing distance?
Natalie asks Sally about readiness and starting points. Sally responds with two keys: believe you can pursue the goal, and use a gradual long-run progression (10% weekly guideline with a larger build over 2-3 weeks followed by a recovery week). She also highlights long runs as the biggest change, and suggests trying a marathon distance by following established training philosophies (Hanson, etc.) and adapting to one's life schedule.
#148 | Identity, Purpose & the Road Back to Running | Kat Edwards Anderson
Q: How did the experience of Cocodona 250 shape your perspective on rest, mental space, and your approach to racing?
It underscored the importance of rest and mental reset, prompting a shift to a healthier balance, counseling support, and retooling nutrition and sleep strategies for future races.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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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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How many subscribers and views does Choose Strong have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Choose Strong has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 154 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. Joe Corcione
2. Max Jolliffe
3. Anna Gibson
4. Kat Edwards Anderson
5. Kilian Korth
6. Andy Glaze
7. Rachel Entrekin
8. Tara Dower

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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