Sally McRae
Sally McRae, known worldwide as “Yellow Runner”, is one of the most recognizable and resilient figures in ultra/mountain racing. She has stood on podiums at some of the most iconic races around the world, including first place finishes at Badwater 135 and Moab 240. Sally is a sponsored professional endurance athlete, bestselling author, and highly sought-after keynote speaker. Sally is known for her mental fortitude and the ability to push through extreme discomfort, but her real strength wasn’t built in the gym.
Sally’s story begins in hardship. She grew up with an emotionally & physically abusive father, and her mother lost her battle with cancer when Sally was just a teenager, leaving Sally to mature quickly and develop fierce independence. In the months following her mother’s death, her father was publicly arrested, forcing Sally’s younger siblings into foster care. Instead of allowing pain to define her, Sally made a decision that would become the anchor of her life’s philosophy and the title of her book, Choose Strong. At its core, Choose Strong teaches that strength is not a feeling – it’s a decision made repeatedly in moments of pain. Sally pulls back the curtain on the full arc of her life – abuse, family illness, faith, fear, marriage, motherhood, and elite sport.
From the stage, Sally candidly shares her story of pain, loss, and wild resilience that laid the foundation for who she is today. Executives, entrepreneurs, sales teams, women’s groups, athletes, and everyday individuals connect to her because she doesn’t offer hype – she offers hard-earned truth. Sally’s message is honest, raw, and relatable. She teaches that:
- Pain is inevitable; quitting is optional.
- The middle is messy – but it’s where the growth happens.
- Your past can shape you without owning you.
- Discipline creates freedom
Interested in working with Sally McRae
Book Sally McRae for your next event or access meeting planner / event materials.
Speech Topics & Descriptions
Choose Strong
In the world of endurance sports, one of the greatest motivators for athletes battling challenges mid-race is to remind them of what they can’t see- the finish line. Sally McRae is a professional ultra-trail runner known for enduring through the most grueling races on the planet. Her story of perseverance began as a child and has been shared all over the world to encourage others to keep going even when they can’t see what lies ahead. At the end of the presentation, attendees will learn how their personal work impacts the world beyond office hours and how curiosity and courage can change your life.
Don’t Quit in the Middle
In this inspiring and powerful keynote, Sally shares lessons drawn from her experiences conquering grueling endurance challenges and life’s toughest moments. Sally explains the difficulty posed in the middle of a race or challenge. The middle is where vulnerability lies and your courage demands your attention. Because when it’s the hardest, that is where you are carved into a stronger person. That is how you get strong. Too often, we think we become strong when we achieve…We become strong in the struggle.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to push through the “messy middle” – whether in business, personal goals, or relationships – and develop the resilience to cross their own finish lines. Perfect for anyone seeking to cultivate grit, determination, and a champion’s mindset.
What people are saying
“Sally has a remarkable gift for connecting with people on an emotional level through her words and story. She knows how to read a room and tailor her delivery perfectly — our event included attendees ranging from under 10 to over 60, and Sally provided something meaningful for everyone. Her story of grit, pain, love, and strength was powerful and deeply moving. We’re so grateful she shared it with us and our audience. Sally was so kind, incredibly helpful, professional, and easy to work with. I would highly recommend her to any audience!”
“As a professional in the solar door-to-door industry, I live in the importance of grit, tenacity, and an unwavering pursuit of success. Recently, I had the privilege of inviting Sally McRae renowned for her achievements in ultramarathons, to speak to our region’s top leadership group. The experience was nothing short of phenomenal.
Sally shared powerful stories of perseverance through adversity, emphasizing the concept of failing forward, the law of attraction, and maintaining an abundance mindset while tackling difficult challenges. Her “choose strong” message deeply resonated with our core values, igniting passion and motivation within our team.
Sally’s ability to convey her experiences and insights brought a renewed sense of purpose to our group, encouraging us all to face challenges boldly and to embrace failure as part of our journey. Her message is invaluable and should be shared with everyone who needs to choose strong and do hard things! The impact she made on our team was remarkable, and I cannot recommend her highly enough as a speaker for anyone seeking to inspire and uplift their team.”
“Sally gave an amazing talk about her personal challenges and resilience in life and running …and her ability to choose strong throughout each. She was genuine, compassionate, funny, and captured the hearts of the audience.”
“Sally is a confident and thought-provoking speaker. She has a great message on resilience and never letting fear of failure hold you back from trying.”
