Pro Mountain Runner Sally McRae in Workout Gear Says “Believe and Keep Climbing”

Professional ultra-mountain runner Sally McRae is sharing some inspirational words with her fans and followers. Mcrae, 43, shared pictures of herself wearing black leggings and a matching t-shirt, running up a mountain trail. “Believe it’s actually the difficulties that strengthen you; Believe you don’t need to SEE the end to know it’s possible; believe you’re equipped for every second & every situation of YOUR ONE life. May I gently suggest you give yourself ONE option? Believe and try again. Believe and keep climbing. Believe- again and again,” she captioned the post. Here’s how this elite athlete trains, eats, and lives her best life.

1. Weights and Yoga

Aside from running, McRae hits the gym three times a week. “I lift heavy weights, do 40 minutes of non-stop core and functional exercises, and then I’ll spend a solid 20 minutes stretching and rolling out any tight areas,” she told Outside. “I like hot yoga but I can only manage it in doses. The idea of staying on my little mat for 90 minutes is difficult for me and how I operate. Typically, I’ll do yoga if I’ve discovered an imbalance or have an injury. Aside from that, the gym is quite enough inside time for me.”

2. No Vegan Diet

McRae is sensible about her diet, saying she has run the gamut when it comes to trying different things such as a vegan diet. “I try to eat as much real food as possible and I pay attention to what makes me feel good,” she told Outside. “I feel best when I’m eating eggs, fish, veggies, and fruit. I love coffee but feel better when I stick to tea. I did not feel strong as a vegan. Do I splurge? Absolutely. I like pie and donuts after a solid race—they’re definitely a treat!”

3. Running Shouldn’t Hurt

McRae believes most people misunderstand their capabilities when it comes to running. “We hear people say they don’t run because it hurts too much, but it isn’t necessarily the running that hurts,” she told Women’s Running. “It’s the fact that if you have weaknesses in any area of your body, you’re going to feel that when you run. You’re not sitting on a bike or floating in the water, both places where you can compensate for areas that don’t feel great. When you run, you’re picking up your body and slamming it onto the earth with every single step.”

4. Training With Kids

McRae never stopped training when her children were small. “Early on in motherhood, I learned that if I wanted to maintain peace in my daily schedule, I would have to learn the art of balancing discipline with flexibility,” she told Outside. “When my kids were babies, I ran with a jogging stroller, and when they were a little older, I took them to the kids’ club at the gym and did all my runs on a treadmill (close to 80 percent of my training for my first ultra was on a treadmill).”

5. Power Of the Mind

McRae is constantly amazed at what her body is capable of. “I had so many moments of wondering: how on earth am I going to do this?” she told Trail Runner Magazine. “But the biggest lesson was how powerful our minds are. Your brain has so much power to propel you forward, even when you don’t have feelings that are good. When you have emotions that are low or sad, or you’re feeling kind of lost, your brain has the ability to turn all of that around. That’s helpful in 200-mile races, and it’s helpful in life.”