Episode 683: Sara Hall: The Story Behind For the Love of the Grind

This episode is brought to you by Kava Haven, Tailwind Nutrition and Batch. Sara Hall joins the podcast to talk about her new book For the Love of the Grind, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller. Sara has been one of the most consistent and compelling figures in American distance running, with a 2:20 marathon personal best, a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Olympic Trials, and a career defined by longevity, resilience, and a deep love for the process. In this conversation, Sara reflects on her career arc, from being the first professional athlete to say yes to this podcast back in 2016 to becoming a veteran of the sport who continues to push her limits. She shares what it has looked like to race at a high level while raising four daughters, staying grounded in her values, and following what feels most authentic to her, even when it doesn’t follow a traditional path. The conversation also dives into the themes of her book, including faith, identity, motherhood, and the emotional highs and lows of a decades-long career. Sara opens up about how her beliefs have evolved over time, how she’s navigated criticism, and why she chose to tell her story in her own voice. This episode is a deeper look at what it means to commit to the long game, both in running and in life, and how growth often comes through the hardest seasons. What we talked about: Writing For the Love of the Grind and telling her story in her own voice Faith, deconstruction, and evolving beliefs Growing up in a strong religious background and rethinking it as an adult Choosing which moments and races mattered most in her story The emotional weight of motherhood and pursuing elite goals Adoption journey and family dynamics Balancing ambition with presence as a parent Career longevity and gradual marathon progression The Olympic Trials and processing near-misses Super shoes era and competing across changing generations of the sport Relationships and community throughout her career Transitioning perspective from outcomes to process Media mentions:  For the Love of the Grind Love Wins Thank you to our sponsors:  BatchBatch is a Wisconsin-based wellness brand creating small-batch, science-backed CBD and THC products designed to help with stress, sleep, and overall balance. Their formulas are developed in-house using high-quality hemp and third-party testing for consistency and transparency. Go to hellobatch.com/another and use code &#8220;Another&#8221; for 30% off your order! <strong data-start="477"