2004 Olympian Carrie Tollefson, was born and raised in the small tightly knit community of Dawson, Minnesota, where she won thirteen state championships - eight in track and five consecutive cross country titles, a national record that still stands today.
Carrie won her first national collegiate title at the 1997 NCAA Cross Country Championships, overcoming stress fractures in her metatarsal and a heel tumor that would need a bone donor and surgery. This Villanova student-athlete superstar was on crutches for two months post-surgery, setting her sights on proving the doubters wrong, as she returned to lead the Wildcats to win the NCAA Cross Country team title the following year.
After college Carrie won three USATF National Championships, including an Olympic Trials victory in the 1500 meters in 2004. She represented Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, earning a number one USA ranking by Track and Field News in the 1500 meters.
This running standout has put her broadcast journalism and communications degree to work as an analyst and commentator for ESPN2, NBC, and USATF.TV with regular media appearances at the NYC Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, and events worldwide. In 2010 she began her online video show, C Tolle Run, now a podcast—which can be enjoyed on your favorite podcast platform. Carrie has graced covers of Track and Field News, Running Times, with five cover appearances on Runner’s World. This Minnesota sports luminary was inducted into the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 2015 and The National High School Hall of Fame in 2018.
Join me in catching up with this gracious champion, who lives and trains in her home state of Minnesota with her husband Charlie and their three children, Ruby, Everett, and Greer. What a treat to host Carrie on this episode of Intrinsic Drive ®.
Intrinsic Drive® is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton. Special thanks to Andrew Hollingworth, our sound engineer and technical editor. For more information on this and other episodes visit us at www.whartonhealth.com/intrinsicdrive. Follow us on socials (links below) including Instagram @intrinsicdrivelive
Photo: James Nichols
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