Leah Goldstein

"Mental Strength is More Powerful than Physical Strength"

From World Kickboxing Champion at age 17 to the first woman to win first place overall in the Race Across America (RAAM) at age 52, Leah Goldstein has lived an extraordinary life marked by grit, perseverance, endurance, and drive.

This is a woman who sets her mind and does whatever it takes to reach her goals. In high school, she dedicated herself to kickboxing. No social life, no drinking, no breaks. She later joined the Israeli Military, becoming an instructor for the Elite commando unit before joining the Special forces. Her next step was to become a professional cyclist. 

In 2005, she endured a high speed crash in the Cascade Classic in Oregon. It nearly ended her life. The doctors told her it would end her career, that she would never get back on her bike again, and that she may not ever be able to walk properly. She promised herself she would recover, and was race ready only 8 months later.

I listened to Leah's fascinating story in this podcast, and encourage you to do the same. In particular, if you have ever been in an endurance race or are thinking about it, she provides valuable insight into what it takes. I had no idea how gruelling RAAM is. This article gives a great synopsis, but I liked hearing Leah tell it herself. When Leah won in 2019, she cycled across the country through the "heat dome." What is normally a punishing race was amplified by extreme temperatures which reached over 120 degrees. Only 3 people were able to finish the race; Leah herself was nearly unable to complete the last few miles. She walked most of the way and got back on her bike to cruise across the finish line hours before her competitors. 

There is nothing I can say to do this justice, you have to hear it for yourself. I kept asking myself, "Could I keep going?" I don't know if I could. I don't know if anyone else could. Leah Goldstein is an absolute legend.

Photo credit: https://leahgoldstein.com/