From triathlon champion to gravel racing and ultra trail running phenomenon: discover how the KICKR RUN transformed Heather’s winter training and fueled her record-setting 2025
The snow was deep. The trails were impassable. But inside her training room in Bend, Oregon, Heather Jackson was crushing 15% grade hill repeats like she was running the Western States canyons in June.
Just months after setting the women’s record at UNBOUND XL (smashing the previous mark by over 90 minutes with a blistering 20:57:57), the 41-year-old multi-sport athlete credits her game-changing winter for the breakthrough performance. And at the center of that transformation? Her KICKR RUN.
“The biggest change in my training for 2025 has been the addition of my KICKR RUN,” Jackson explains. “It was game changing this winter with the ability to train like I was outside even though the ground was covered in snow.”
From Triathlon Titan to Multi-Sport Pioneer
For those who followed Jackson’s legendary triathlon career (six IRONMAN victories, the American record at IRONMAN Arizona, and 15 years of professional racing), her evolution into gravel and ultra-running represents one of the most successful sport transitions in endurance athletics.
The transition has led to remarkable results, culminating in her record-breaking UNBOUND XL victory that wasn’t just a win but was a statement.
Technology That Transforms Training
For an athlete juggling gravel racing and ultra-running, winter training presents unique challenges. How do you prepare for 100-mile mountain runs when trails are buried under snow? Jackson’s answer lies in embracing technology that doesn’t just replace outdoor training – it enhances it.
“My KICKR RUN and KICKR MOVE are literally my most used products regarding all of my training. I’m on at least one of them every day.”
The KICKR RUN Revolution
The KICKR RUN isn’t just a treadmill but is a precision training tool with grade ranges from -3% to +15% and RunFree Mode for hands-free pace control, allowing athletes to simulate real-world terrain with unprecedented accuracy.
For Jackson, this technology has been transformative: “I’ve always done a lot of hill reps in my run training but this season I’ve really been focusing on longer hill tempos along with the short fast hill strides, so my KICKR RUN has been instrumental in those long hilly grinds.”
KICKR MOVE: Gravel Training Perfected
The KICKR MOVE provides dual-axis movement with 8 inches of fore-aft travel plus lateral movement, simulating the dynamic challenges of gravel terrain that static trainers simply can’t replicate. Jackson’s daily routine alternates between both trainers, creating a comprehensive indoor training ecosystem that maintains fitness across both disciplines year-round.
2025: The Most Ambitious Calendar Yet
Jackson’s winter training has paid off spectacularly in some areas and taught valuable lessons in others. Her record-breaking UNBOUND XL victory proved the training approach works for ultra-endurance challenges, while the Western States setback highlighted the unpredictable nature of ultrarunning.
The Big Four:
- Traka 360 (May): 4th place at Europe’s premier gravel challenge through Catalonian countryside
- UNBOUND XL (May): WON in record-breaking time (20:57:57) at the 350-mile gravel epic
- Western States 100 (June): DNF due to calf injury at mile 55.7 (Michigan Bluff)
- UTMB (August): Upcoming debut at the world’s most prestigious trail race around Mont-Blanc
“My biggest race goals for 2025 are the Traka 360, UNBOUND XL, Western States and UTMB with some smaller events sprinkled in as well as more of a focus on some longer FKT type efforts and multi-day projects.”
Each race demands different preparations, but the common thread? Hill training. Lots of it.
The Art of Multi-Sport Balance
When asked about her preference between running and cycling, Jackson’s response reveals the secret to successful multi-sport training:
“Oh my gosh, such a tough one! It honestly depends on the day because I love them both. I think I enjoy the run racing more but I love to ride new gravel roads or explore and adventure on my bike to places I’ve never been.”
This isn’t just diplomatic athlete-speak but is strategic brilliance. By maintaining genuine passion for both disciplines, Jackson ensures that her “cross-training” never feels like work. The variety prevents overuse injuries while maintaining motivation across a long season.
Technology Meets Adventure
For Jackson, technology enables adventure rather than replacing it. “I love to ride new gravel roads or explore and adventure on my bike to places I’ve never been.”
This philosophy epitomizes the Wahooligan mindset. The KICKR trainers aren’t substitutes for outdoor training; they’re precision tools that make outdoor adventures more successful. When spring arrives, Jackson’s winter foundation translates directly to the trails and gravel roads.
The Wahooligan Way Forward
As Jackson completes the rest of her ambitious 2025 calendar, she embodies everything the Wahooligan community represents: using technology to push boundaries, embracing new challenges, and finding adventure in the journey itself.
Her record-breaking UNBOUND XL performance was the culmination of strategic winter training, technological precision, and unwavering commitment to the process.
For Wahooligans everywhere, Jackson’s journey from triathlon champion to multi-sport pioneer proves that the best adventures often begin with embracing the unknown, trusting the process, and letting technology amplify your passion.
The snow will melt. The trails will clear. But the fitness built in those dark winter months on the KICKR RUN and KICKR MOVE? That’s what separates good athletes from record-breakers.
Ready to transform your own winter training? Discover how the KICKR RUN and KICKR MOVE can revolutionize your preparation.
Follow Heather Jackson’s journey on Instagram @hjacksonracing and watch her original transition film here.
