Sally McRae
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Yellowrunner |
| Occupations | Ultramarathon runner, author, coach, podcast host |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Ultramarathon / Trail running |
Events | 100-mile races, 200-mile races, multi-day ultramarathons |
| Team | Nike Trail (2014–2026) |
Sally McRae is an American ultramarathon and trail runner, author, coach, speaker and podcast host. She is known for winning the Badwater 135 in 2021, winning the Moab 240 in 2023, and completing a 2023 series of four 200-mile and longer ultramarathons. McRae is also the author of Choose Strong: The Choice That Changes Everything and co-host of the Choose Strong podcast.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and background
[edit]McRae has described endurance running and strength training as part of a wider philosophy of resilience, often expressed through the phrase "Choose Strong".[5][6] She has been associated with the nickname "Yellowrunner" through her social media, coaching, podcasting and public speaking work.[citation needed]
In 2014, iRunFar profiled McRae as an Orange County-based runner and Nike Trail athlete after her second-place finish at the Sean O'Brien 50 Mile, which earned her entry into the Western States Endurance Run.[7]
Running career
[edit]McRae has competed across a wide range of ultramarathon distances, including 50-kilometre, 100-kilometre, 100-mile, 135-mile, 200-mile and 250-mile events.[1][2][8] Her major results have included appearances at the Western States Endurance Run, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Mozart 100 by UTMB, Badwater 135, Cocodona 250 and Moab 240.[1][8]
In 2019, McRae won the women's race at Mozart 100 by UTMB in Salzburg, Austria.[1][8] In 2021, she won the women's race at the Badwater 135, finishing seventh overall in Death Valley, California.[1][9][10]
In 2023, McRae completed a series of four 200-mile and longer races that included the Cocodona 250, Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and Moab 240.[3][11] She won the women's race at the Moab 240 in 86 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, capping the year-long project.[3][2][12]
In 2026, McRae returned to long-distance racing after injury and finished the Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon across Arizona.[2][13]
2023 200-mile race series
[edit]McRae's 2023 season drew attention because she completed four 200-mile and longer races in a single year: Cocodona 250, Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and Moab 240.[3][11] Trail Runner reported that the year culminated in her Moab 240 win, and described the project as a test of mental endurance as much as physical durability.[3] COROS also published an athlete feature on the project, describing it as a Grand Slam of 200-mile races.[11]
Her Moab 240 win was also discussed in endurance-running media and podcasts, including the Choose Strong podcast, the Ali on the Run Show and The Adventure Jogger.[14]
Book and media work
[edit]In 2023, McRae published Choose Strong: The Choice That Changes Everything, a memoir and motivational book centered on endurance, grief, faith, family and mental resilience.[6][4] Women's Running reviewed the book and described it as a work that connected McRae's athletic identity with emotional strength and personal history.[4]
McRae also co-hosts the Choose Strong podcast with Eddie McRae. The podcast describes itself as focused on choosing strength over fear and includes race recaps, training discussions and personal reflections.[15]
McRae has appeared in endurance-running films and video projects, including films documenting her 2022 "Choose Strong" race project and her 2023 Moab 240 run.[16][17]
Nike Trail sponsorship (2014–2026)
[edit]McRae was associated with Nike Trail for about a decade, beginning in the mid-2010s, until early-2026. In 2014, iRunFar described her as an Orange County-based runner and Nike Trail Team recruit after her second-place finish at the Sean O'Brien 50 Mile earned her entry into the Western States Endurance Run.[7] By 2016, she was appearing internationally as a Nike Trail athlete, including in race media connected to Sciacchetrail in Cinque Terre, Italy.[18]
Nike Trail was absorbed into Nike ACG (All Conditions Gear), and in interviews, McRae has discussed the business side of professional trail running, and the significance of her Nike contract to her career. For instance, a 2024 episode of the Singletrack podcast discussed her Nike Trail contract signing in the mid-2010s, the development of her professional running career, and how athletes and creators can think about the business side of the sport.[19]
Public profile and media coverage
[edit]McRae has been covered by specialist running publications, endurance-media outlets and sports podcasts. iRunFar profiled her in 2014 as a Nike Trail athlete before her first Western States appearance.[7] iRunFar also reported her 2021 Badwater 135 victory.[10] Trail Runner covered her 2023 Moab 240 win and her completion of four 200-mile and longer races in one season.[3] Women's Running reviewed her book Choose Strong in 2023.[4]
McRae has also been covered by COROS, Fleet Feet, TrailCon, Strength Running, Ginger Runner, Singletrack and Road to Cocodona in relation to her racing, coaching, speaking and media work.[11][20][21][22][5][23][24][13]
Selected results
[edit]| Year | Race | Location | Distance | Time | Overall place | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sean O'Brien 50 Mile | Malibu, California, United States | 50 mi | — | 2nd female | Earned entry into Western States | [7] |
| 2014 | Western States Endurance Run | Olympic Valley to Auburn, California, United States | 100 mi | 20:27:33 | 35th | Seventh female | [8] |
| 2018 | Badwater 135 | Death Valley, California, United States | 135 mi | 35:13:35 | 23rd | Seventh female | [1] |
| 2019 | Mozart 100 by UTMB | Salzburg, Austria | 112 km | 14:38:59 | 32nd | Women's winner | [1][8] |
| 2019 | Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc | Chamonix, France | 171 km | 32:27:06 | 185th | 23rd female | [1][8] |
| 2021 | Badwater 135 | Death Valley, California, United States | 135 mi | 30:48:47 | 7th | Women's winner | [1][9][10][2] |
| 2022 | Badwater 135 | Death Valley, California, United States | 135 mi | 29:17:32 | 36th | Sixth female | [1] |
| 2023 | Jackpot Ultra Running Festival | Henderson, Nevada, United States | 100 mi | 17:42:23 | 9th | Fourth female | [2] |
| 2023 | Cocodona 250 | Arizona, United States | 250 mi | 87:48:49 | 22nd | Fourth female | [2][20] |
| 2023 | Tahoe 200 Endurance Run | California, United States | 200 mi | 74:08:25 | 11th | Third female; masters winner | [2] |
| 2023 | Bigfoot 200 | Washington, United States | 200 mi | — | — | Part of 2023 200-mile series | [3][11] |
| 2023 | Moab 240 | Moab, Utah, United States | 240 mi | 86:18:33 | 12th | Women's winner; completed 200-mile series | [3][2][12] |
| 2026 | Long Haul 100 | Dade City, Florida, United States | 100 mi | 23:27:57 | 41st | Return from injury | [2] |
| 2026 | Cocodona 250 | Arizona, United States | 250 mi | 95:30:07 | 67th | 17th female | [2] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "McRae, Sally". DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Sally McRae's Race Results". UltraRunning Magazine. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gleason, David (November 1, 2023). "How Sally McRae Won the Moab 240 in Her Fourth 200+ Mile Race of the Year". Trail Runner. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Tervalon, Jinghuan Liu (June 6, 2023). "Strong Body, Strong Mind, Strong Love: A Review of 'Choose Strong' by Sally McRae". Women's Running. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "The Value of Challenges: Sally McRae on Seeking Out Adversity & Scary Goals". Strength Running. May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 McRae, Sally (2023). Choose Strong: The Choice That Changes Everything. YellowRunner Press.
- 1 2 3 4 Powell, Bryon (February 24, 2014). "Solar Flair: An Interview With Sally McRae". iRunFar. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sally MCRAE - Her Trail results and UTMB Index". UTMB World. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sally McRae - Badwater Historical Data". AdventureCORPS Badwater 135. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Hicks, Meghan (July 21, 2021). "2021 Badwater 135 Results: McRae Wins First Women's Race, Lewis Wins Second Men's". iRunFar. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Sally McRae Wins The Grand Slam of 200 Mile Races". COROS. November 14, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sally McRae's Results". UltraSignup. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sally McRae is Flagstaff Bound at the 2026 Cocodona 250". Apple Podcasts. Road to Cocodona. April 30, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Episode 497: Sally McRae - Grand Slam of 200s Champion". Sandyboy Productions. The Adventure Jogger. November 3, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Choose Strong". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ Running 507 Miles. YouTube. Sally McRae. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ Moab 240 Documentary. YouTube. Sally McRae. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Sciacchetrail 2016: Interview with Sally McRae (Nike Trail Elite)". Sciacchetrail. February 27, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Sally McRae: Nike Trail Running Start, Pro Trail Runner Business, Western States Stories". Apple Podcasts. Singletrack. July 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "How to Train for Your First Ultramarathon: Sally McRae's Top 5 Tips". COROS. June 4, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Choose Strong with Sally McRae". Fleet Feet. September 20, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Sally McRae". TrailCon. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ GRL #328 - Sally McRae: Relocating, Training & Inspiring. YouTube. The Ginger Runner. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ What It Really Takes to Go Pro in Trail Running — with Sally McRae. YouTube. Singletrack. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
Bibliography
[edit]- McRae, Sally (2023). Choose Strong: The Choice That Changes Everything. YellowRunner Press.