Sandy McCallum

“I set a world record. It shows what you can accomplish when you have a great coach.”

I have just completed a world record (running 6 DESERT ULTRAMARATHONS in a single calendar year).. and I could not have done it without the help of my coach and friend, Lisa. When I told her last year that I was thinking of doing this she was supportive and encouraging... "You can do this!" she said. Lisa set up a plan for me and we forged ahead.

Attempting the record involved travelling to 6 different countries around the world, encountering different obstacles in each... sandstorms, freezing temperatures, heat, high altitude, salt flats, salt marshes, rocky terrain and dunes. I also struggled with various injuries from each race, and extreme reactions to certain medications I had to take to prevent disease.

Please see my schedule below - the six desert ultramarathons I completed and my final rankings. 

When I set out to do this record, my only thought was to finish each event. But I placed extremely well in each one, except Libya, and had my best placing ever at MdS. It shows what you can accomplish when you have a great coach. In the time that I have been working with Lisa I have improved with each and every race. If that is not an endorsement, I don't know what is. Of course, every person that works with Lisa knows this, but to those of you reading this that do not have a coach, or are looking for a coach... I would strongly recommend that you talk to Lisa if you want to improve your performance. I am happy to be done, and have enjoyed my off time so far. I have something major in mind for next year... and am just awaiting word as to whether I can get the required permission. I will let you know.