In this powerful episode, Colleen MacDonald shares the five-year journey behind her Fastest Known Time on Mt. Kilimanjaro. A journey that started long before she stepped foot on the mountain. Colleen opens up about how a period of personal transition led her to seek a goal big enough to anchor her, challenge her, and reconnect her with the bold version of herself she feared she’d lost.

We explore what it takes to hold a dream for years: the mental discipline, the self-reinvention, the systems that keep you committed, and the emotional grit required when no start line or finish line is ever guaranteed. Colleen talks through the physical training, the dark moments, the doubt-as-data mindset, and the micro-decisions that carried her through altitude, exhaustion, and uncertainty.

More than a story about setting an FKT, this is an honest conversation about identity, belief, long-term resilience, and what it means to choose a goal that changes you from the inside out. If you're craving a challenge that scares you, stretches you, or asks you to become someone new, this episode will feel like permission to start.

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Takeaways

• Mental strength is 90% of achieving big goals.
• Setting a long-term goal can help overcome stagnation.
• Having a larger purpose can enhance motivation.
• Resilience is built through grit and endurance.
• Training for altitude is crucial for success.
• Quitting should not be an option when pursuing goals.
• Flexibility in planning is essential for overcoming challenges.
• Building a supportive team can elevate the experience.
• Reflecting on experiences helps in personal growth.
• Every challenge presents an opportunity for learning. The first time you face a challenge, it makes the second time easier.
• Problem-solving is essential for personal growth.
• You can feel better in an hour; give yourself that chance.
• Taking quitting off the table allows for deeper learning.
• Experiences outside your comfort zone build resilience.
• Doubt can serve as a data point for growth.
• Getting comfortable with discomfort is a learned skill.
• Celebrating small wins reinforces confidence during challenges.
• Verbalizing struggles can help alleviate mental burdens.
• The journey is as important as the destination in achieving goals.

👉 Don’t miss the next yard. Hit Follow on The One More Hour Podcast: An Insider’s Guide to Backyard Ultras, Timed Races, and the Ultrarunning Mindset.

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