Heather Jackson on the Grand Prix, triathlon, and ultrarunning

There was a point when Payson thought there were two Heather Jacksons racing the Grand Prix. How could one person excel in so many sports? The former hockey star who landed a spot on the Olympic track cycling team is now known mostly for her career as a star triathlete on the Ironman circuit. Lately, however, she’s transitioned into gravel racing and ultrarunning, competing at the highest levels of both at the same time. 

Heather sat down with Payson before the final round of the Life Time Grand Prix to talk about why she started racing off-road events, what gravel racers can learn from ultrarunners, and how on earth she trains for two completely different sports simultaneously. She also talks about her early career as a hockey player, studying political science at Princeton, and why she still gets imposter syndrome on the start line of races.