Heather Jackson

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 30 DECEMBER '25

Those of you who have watched Heather Jackson (former Pro Triathlete and now Pro MTB and Gravel rider) over the years understand and respect what an incredible endurance athlete she is. But when you take away her incredible talent and all-pro ability, it’s easy to imaging chatting with her about what we might be thinking of doing in the coming year for events. 

It’s her genuine joy of a challenge and the communal feeling of taking part in big endurance events that makes her extremely relatable to a lot of athletes. 

In this Outside Online article, “Heather Jackson: Always Pursuing the Next Adventure”, we get a real sense of her love of sport and competition. And that competition has evolved from just being against others to now including against herself. It’s something we all can connect with. Here are some of her quotes:

“I’ve always been super curious about trying new things,” she says, "I see other people do something and I’m always like, can I do that? That looks crazy, or that looks so cool.”

When she’s unsure, her husband is there encouraging her to take that next leap. “That’s usually the hardest part,” she added. “Taking that first step.” “That element of challenge is 100 percent what motivates me.”

On big, knarly events: “I don’t think you can prevent yourself from saying, ‘I’m never doing this again,'” she said. “I quit thousands of times out there. I went through so many moments of doubt, because I truly thought I was at my limit.”  

From the article, "She believes that stepping outside our comfort zone, even when it feels intimidating, opens the door to deeper motivation and fulfillment. As she puts it, there is rarely a “perfect” time to make a change – only the decision to stop waiting.”

And finally, "Whether that means choosing races that reignite your own passion for sport, or finding ways to share parts of the journey with the people you love, Jackson believes joy isn’t a bonus – it’s essential for long-term success in endurance sport.” Honestly, I couldn’t have said it any better.

What’s on your calendar for 2026? ;)

Gratefully,Mark

CEO Team MPI