Text me. I’d love to hear from you! Can you relate to anything we said? What do want to hear more about?

After fleeing Vietnam as a teenager in the 1970's, Thanh Truong built a new life in the United States, one marked by quiet determination, an adventurous spirit, and an unshakable love for running. Now, he’s on the verge of his 200th marathon and his second completion of the 50 States Marathon Challenge.

In this heartfelt episode, host Sally Hed Dahlquist chats with Thanh about his extraordinary journey, from "boatperson" to becoming a globetrotting marathoner. Along the way, Thanh has raced across continents, built lifelong friendships, and proved that grit, humility, and curiosity can carry you across any finish line.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Thanh’s migration from Vietnam and life in an Indonesian refugee camp
• How a church sponsorship brought him to Virginia
• Why running marathons around the world became his passion
• The mental and physical challenges that keep races exciting, even after 198 finishes
• How friendships with fellow runners make the miles even more meaningful
• Why Hartford 2025 will mark not one, but two monumental milestones for Thanh

Whether you’re chasing your first 5K or your own 50 States finish, Thanh’s story is a reminder that resilience isn’t loud, it’s consistent, steady, and built one step at a time.

🏅 Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research: unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

Feeling inspired? Have you ever crossed a finish line that changed the way you saw yourself? Share your story with us.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little proof that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Text me. I’d love to hear from you! Can you relate to anything we said? What do want to hear more about?

Mega-marathoner and host Sally Hed Dahlquist keeps it real with this Sally’s Hotline episode on one of the least glamorous, but most important, aspects of long-distance running: going to the bathroom.

From porta-potty strategies and poop horror stories to the science of gut reactions and electrolyte overload, this hilarious and surprisingly helpful episode is all about how to handle your bathroom business on race day without shame.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why holding it in is a terrible idea
• A bonus tip for keeping your “back door” chafe free like a pro
• How chafing, salt pills, and hydration all affect your GI system
• Sally’s top tips for porta-potty survival (hint: don’t drop your phone!)
• Tales from the toilet: including Aspen 2025, Berlin, and a first-time marathoner’s unforgettable “Jobby” journey
• A special dedication to Meghan, a tough-as-nails first-time marathoner who proved just how unstoppable she is, even with bloody knees and bathroom emergencies

Equal parts funny and functional, this episode is a must-listen for every runner who’s ever had to make an unscheduled pit stop...or will someday. Because no matter how many marathons you’ve run, the bathroom is always part of the journey.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your favorite running buddy (especially the one who’s not shy about TMI).

Question for you: in the comments, tell us what is your most memorable Tale from the Toilet?

💖 Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com

Text me. I’d love to hear from you! Can you relate to anything we said? What do want to hear more about?

Host Sally Hed Dalquist drops in with a quick, powerful Sally’s Hotline mini-episode to share how exercise can do more than strengthen your body, it can help exorcize your demons.

Whether it’s stress, trauma, or emotional weight you’re carrying, this tip explores how physical movement (especially running) can help process what’s stuck inside. Sally shares her own experiences with running as meditation, how it helped her overcome financial struggles, and why movement can bring surprising moments of emotional clarity.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why running can be a form of moving meditation (even if you've rolled your eyes through a yoga class)
• How stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol affect your runs, and your weight
• The unexpected way Sally lost weight when she wasn't running marathons
• Why emotional clarity often strikes mid-run
• A dedication to Aaron Burrows, author of Metal Monday and guest on Episode 4, who used running and faith to transform his life

Sally reminds us that whether you’re praying, pacing, or just trying to process the week, movement can be medicine. It can help you uncover what’s been buried and guide you toward peace, purpose, or even your next big breakthrough.

Inspired?
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this tip with someone who needs a mental health reset.

Support Sally’s mission to raise $1 million for medical research:
unstoppablestoriesthatmove.com