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Christelle Douillet returns to the podcast to chat with host Sally Hed Dahlquist about coming to the states from France. Ascending the ranks from being "extra hands in the lab" to doing powerful research about the correlation between arsenic and diabetes because there's more to health than running shoes.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How resilience can be strengthened just like any other muscle
• Christelle's exciting acceptance into a major race
• How science translates to the race course

Want to support Sally’s mission to raise $1M for medical research? Visit 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?

After crisscrossing the globe to run on every continent (yes, even camping on ice in Antarctica), Levi Shank is closing in on a milestone: 200 marathons. With 191 races (and a handful of ultras) under his belt, Levi joins host Sally Hed Dahlquist to talk travel hacking, mental resilience, and why community can carry you farther than you think.

Flying standby, couchsurfing with strangers-turned-friends, asking an entire race expo for a ride (“closed mouth doesn’t get fed”), and celebrating Sally’s 50th state Levi proves there’s more than one way to the start line.

• How Levi mapped a practical (and affordable) path to 200 marathons and 7 continents
• The Antarctica story: sleeping in a tent on snow, racing fast to beat the chill, and… a penguin passing someone on course
• Why running is his anxiety toolkit and how the second half of every marathon is “mostly mental”
• The power of asking for help: ride shares from expos, couchsurfing wins, and saying yes to serendipity
• Levi’s PTO & budget system (spreadsheets! countdown timers!) to keep big goals realistic
• Identity & ownership: why he changed his name to Levi—and how it shaped his life
• Favorite carb-load rules and race-day fueling that actually work when you travel
• The joy of showing up for friends: helping celebrate Sally’s 50 States finish in West Virginia

• Countdown app (for race-day timers)
• RoadsideAmerica (quirky stops between packet pickup and the start)
• Couchsurfing (community travel on a budget)
• Moonlight on the Falls Marathon (WV) — Sally’s 50th state
• Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon (Louisville) — Levi’s target #200

Feeling inspired? What’s the boldest thing you’ve done to make a start line, or your smartest travel hack for race day? Tell us!

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a nudge to chase their next big goal.

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research: 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?

With over 300 marathons, 127 ultras, and 35 x 100-milers, Charlotte Corriher proves you don’t have to be the fastest to be Unstoppable... but you can absolutely be the festive-est. Known on Instagram as @marathoncostumechic, Charlotte races in themed costumes (head-to-toe, start-to-finish) and brings big joy to big miles. From a pirate-themed 300th marathon weekend in Wilmington, NC (complete with swords and a yacht-club celebration) to the glitteriest Dopey you ever did see, she shows how grit, community, and play carry you through the pain cave.

In this heartfelt episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist chats with Charlotte about coastal running life in Wilmington, milestone magic, and the mindset that turns outrageous goals into finish-line realities.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Charlotte’s origin story → going from a non-runner to becoming the blister queen
• Costume philosophy → “If you can’t be fast, be festive,” born at Shamrock 2007
• Favorite builds & hacks → 3-tier Birthday Cake (PVC + porta-potty lessons), Alaska Salmon
• Wilmington milestone → why a pirate theme fit the Cape Fear coast and her hometown marathon’s 15th year
• Mega goals & numbers → 307 marathons, 127 ultras, 35 x 100-milers so far; the dream of 100 one-hundreds
• Ultras, the smart way → why 48-hour loop races work: strategic sleeping, heat management, and “night-moves” playlists
• Mind over miles → navigating the pain cave, chasing the buckle, stacking small wins when the distance feels impossible
• Work/life that fuels the miles → remote client management in employee benefits; “Seeing America 26.2 miles at a time”
• Tools & tips → Garmin badge buddies, Strava, hills/sprints + aqua aerobics for recovery
• Real life, real joy → Wilmington beach living and her one-eyed cat, Jack

Follow Charlotte: Instagram: @marathoncostumechic

Resources & shout-outs:0

• Wilmington Marathon (15th anniversary weekend)
• Roadside America app (oddities for race trips)
• Timed/loop ultras (why 48-hour formats help first-time 100-milers)

Whether you’re eyeing your first ultra or plotting costume glitter that’ll “get you through,” Charlotte’s story proves playfulness and persistence can happily coexist mile after mile.

💜 Support Sally’s mission to raise $1M for medical research: unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

Feeling inspired? What’s the wildest costume you’ve raced in, or the one you want to try? Tell us!

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a little sparkle with their miles.

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Host Sally Hed Dahlquist dives into one of the most underrated tools in marathon prep: the elevation profile.

From sneaky overpass bumps to high-desert dryness, Sally breaks down how to read course maps, plan for hills, and avoid signing up for the wrong race entirely (yes, that happens!). Whether you’re eyeing a net-downhill PR or bracing for altitude, this episode will help you show up prepared to run smarter.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How to actually read an elevation map and interpret the scale
• Why “flat” courses are never really flat
• Altitude factors: hydration, sun exposure, and pacing at 6,000+ ft
• The truth about net-downhill races (and Boston’s new rules)
• A Baton Rouge law firm hilly sense of humor

Packed with course stories from San Francisco to Montana, this Hotline tip reminds you that the right prep can turn daunting hills into just another part of the journey.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your favorite running buddy (especially the one who swears every race is flat).

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
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?

After winning Grandma’s Marathon, holding its course record for over 30 years, and becoming the first-ever winner of the London Marathon, Dick Beardsley is a true Minnesota running legend. But his story is so much more than medals and finish lines. From battling life-threatening accidents and addiction, to losing his son, Andy, a proud Iraqi war veteran, to suicide, Dick has faced challenges that would have stopped most people in their tracks. Instead, he’s chosen to keep moving forward with faith, gratitude, and unstoppable spirit.

Host Sally Hed Dahlquist chats with Dick about resilience, recovery, and what it really means to be “unstoppable.” From his fishing guide life in Bemidji to the race course battles of Boston and London, Dick shares stories full of heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Dick’s life as a fishing guide in northern Minnesota and why the outdoors is his happy place
• The story of his son Andy’s military service, struggles with PTSD, and tragic passing and how Dick honors him every day
• What it was like to tie for 1st place at the inaugural London Marathon in 1981
• His legendary duel with Alberto Salazar at the 1982 Boston Marathon
• Dick’s ongoing recovery from accidents, surgeries, and addiction, and how he’s stayed sober for over 30 years
• The perspective, gratitude, and joy that fuel his unstoppable approach to life

Whether you’re a back-of-the-pack runner or chasing PRs, Dick’s story is a reminder that the real victories come from perseverance, connection, and the courage to keep going.

💜 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Dick’s story and his guiding at Lake Bemidji B&B
• Suicide prevention resource: suicidology.org
• Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research: unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com
  
  

Feeling inspired? Have you ever faced a moment where you had to dig deeper than you thought possible? Share your story with us.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a runner, veteran, or friend who needs to hear that hope and healing are always possible.

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

Mega-marathoner and host Sally Hed Dalquist shares a practical, and often overlooked part of race day: making sure you actually get to the start line.

From New York’s ferry-to-bus shuffle to pickup truck rides in Hawaii, Sally covers the good, the bad, and the downright messy logistics of arriving at the start line calm, prepared, and ready to run. Because no matter how many marathons you’ve trained for, the part that might elevate your heartrate the most is just getting there.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why you need a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C for getting to the start line
• Sally’s “three-bag system” that makes pre-dawn prep stress-free
• Start-line fiascos: lost runners, canceled shuttles, and tight security delays
• How a once-in-a-lifetime floating bridge race in Seattle went sideways
• Why being early is always better than being rushed

💬 “It’s better to wait at the start than to miss the bus—and miss the race.”

Whether it’s hitchhiking with fellow runners in the rain or getting lost in London’s underground, Sally reminds us that planning ahead and asking for help makes all the difference.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your favorite running buddy (especially the one who’s always running late).

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
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?

After fleeing Vietnam as a teenager in the 1970's, Thanh Truong built a new life in the United States, one marked by quiet determination, an adventurous spirit, and an unshakable love for running. Now, he’s on the verge of his 200th marathon and his second completion of the 50 States Marathon Challenge.

In this heartfelt episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist chats with Thanh about his extraordinary journey, from "boatperson" to becoming a globetrotting marathoner. Along the way, Thanh has raced across continents, built lifelong friendships, and proved that grit, humility, and curiosity can carry you across any finish line.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Thanh’s migration from Vietnam and life in an Indonesian refugee camp
• How a church sponsorship brought him to Virginia
• Why running marathons around the world became his passion
• The mental and physical challenges that keep races exciting, even after 198 finishes
• How friendships with fellow runners make the miles even more meaningful
• Why Hartford 2025 will mark not one, but two monumental milestones for Thanh

Whether you’re chasing your first 5K or your own 50 States finish, Thanh’s story is a reminder that resilience isn’t loud, it’s consistent, steady, and built one step at a time.

🏅 Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research: unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

Feeling inspired? Have you ever crossed a finish line that changed the way you saw yourself? Share your story with us.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little proof that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

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

Mega-marathoner and host Sally Hed Dahlquist keeps it real with this Sally’s Hotline episode on one of the least glamorous, but most important, aspects of long-distance running: going to the bathroom.

From porta-potty strategies and poop horror stories to the science of gut reactions and electrolyte overload, this hilarious and surprisingly helpful episode is all about how to handle your bathroom business on race day without shame.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why holding it in is a terrible idea
• A bonus tip for keeping your “back door” chafe free like a pro
• How chafing, salt pills, and hydration all affect your GI system
• Sally’s top tips for porta-potty survival (hint: don’t drop your phone!)
• Tales from the toilet: including Aspen 2025, Berlin, and a first-time marathoner’s unforgettable “Jobby” journey
• A special dedication to Meghan, a tough-as-nails first-time marathoner who proved just how unstoppable she is, even with bloody knees and bathroom emergencies

Equal parts funny and functional, this episode is a must-listen for every runner who’s ever had to make an unscheduled pit stop...or will someday. Because no matter how many marathons you’ve run, the bathroom is always part of the journey.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your favorite running buddy (especially the one who’s not shy about TMI).

Question for you: in the comments, tell us what is your most memorable Tale from the Toilet?

💖 Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com