Episode 544: Heather MacLean – 2020 Olympian in the 1500m on 2024 Olympic Trials Heartbreak and Overcoming Injury

2024-08-02

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Heather MacLean is a returning guest on the show and she was in Raleigh, North Carolina (where I live) for the Sir Walter Mile this week. So we got to record this interview in person, which is always exciting!! Heather runs with Team New Balance Boston. She ran in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the 1500. This year at the Olympic trials, she placed seventh in a record-breaking year. It took crazy records to make that 1500-meter team for Team USA. And although Heather placed seventh, she still ran a personal best time of 3:58. This result comes...

Heather runs with Team New Balance Boston. She ran in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 in the 1500. This year at the Olympic trials, she placed seventh in a record-breaking year. It took crazy records to make that 1500-meter team for Team USA. And although Heather placed seventh, she still ran a personal best time of 3:58. This result comes after a year full of injuries last year. She is coming off a stress fracture where she had to take six months off of training leading into the Olympic year. So it’s safe to say she is coming back and coming back strong. I am SO excited to see what she accomplishes over the next few years!

Heather has been on the podcast before, she was episode 337 when she came on right after she made her first Olympic team in 2021. So wow, it’s already been three years since she’s been on the podcast!!

Enjoy this conversation and go give Heather some love at the Sir Walter mile tonight!!

What we talked about:

4:00- How Heather is feeling leading into the Sir Walter Mile

8:00- Her feelings coming off of the Olympic Trials

13:30- The injury struggles that she’s had

25:45- What’s next for Heather

28:25- Her progression in the sport

32:05- Working with Mark Coogan as her coach

37:50- End of podcast questions

Show notes:

Heather on Instagram

Heather on Episode 337