There is something contagious about Heather Jackson’s energy. Her smile has lit up finish lines, post-race hugs, and podium photos for more than a decade – a smile that invites you in and makes you believe that whatever challenge lies ahead might be worth taking on. Whether camping in the desert with friends and family, grinding through a 360-mile gravel race, or laughing with her husband Sean “Wattie” Watkins and their two pups, Stevie and Frankie, Jackson’s joy has always felt inseparable from her success.
We caught up with Heather Jackson – an athlete who has never been afraid to push her limits or to turn the page on her own story – to find out which adventures her heart is calling her toward now.
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From Triathlon to Gravel Riding and Ultra Running
During her triathlon career, Heather Jackson compiled one of the most decorated resumes of her era, with six Ironman victories, 16 Ironman 70.3 titles, and multiple top-five finishes at both the Ironman and 70.3 World Championships. After more than a decade as one of the sport’s fiercest competitors, she stepped away from professional triathlon in 2022, closing one chapter and opening another.
That decision did not come without doubt. Reflecting on the transition, Jackson has said that while fear was very real, it was also clarifying – proof that something new was calling her forward. Facing the unknown, she believes, can generate the most intense feeling of being alive.
The next phase of her career has unfolded on gravel roads and mountain trails. Listening to Jackson speak about it, it becomes clear that this shift is less a departure from triathlon than a continuation of her lifelong curiosity and willingness to test her own limits.
“I’ve always been super curious about trying new things,” she said, now with 12-hour gravel races and mountain ultras on her resume. I see other people do something and I’m always like, can I do that? That looks crazy, or that looks so cool.”
The nudge to try something new also came from home. Her husband, Wattie, has long been her biggest supporter. “He’s always been the one who says, ‘Why don’t you just try it? What are you waiting for? What’s holding you back?’”
“That’s usually the hardest part,” she added. “Taking that first step.”
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Heather Jackson’s Favourite Challenge So Far
When asked about her biggest – and favourite – challenge to date, Jackson didn’t hesitate. The larger the challenge, she explained, the more compelling it becomes, particularly when it forces her to confront what she once believed were her limits.
Early in her career, that pinnacle was Ironman. At the time, simply finishing felt almost unimaginable. But as Ironman became familiar, Jackson found herself drawn instead to new adventures that reignited the question: Am I even going to get through this?
“That element of challenge is 100 percent what motivates me,” she said. And it’s this very spirit that led her to take on UTMB Mont-Blanc this year, a ~170km trail race with close to 10,000m of climbing across rugged alpine terrain with notoriously unpredictable mountain conditions. Widely regarded as one of the most demanding races in trail running, UTMB tests not only physical endurance, but patience, resilience, and decision-making under fatigue.
Reflecting on the experience, Jackson described it as unlike anything she had faced before. “It was the first time I was so challenged,” she said. “And yet it was the perfect experience.”
When asked what she took away from the race, Jackson paused. “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.”
What stayed with her, however, were the moments that doubt loosened its grip and belief returned – or perhaps better said, the realization that limits are often not endpoints, but thresholds: places you move through, rather than stop.
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Jackson’s Advice for Triathletes Looking to Try Gravel or Ultra
When asked what advice she would offer to triathletes curious about dabbling in gravel racing or ultra-distance events, Jackson’s response was practical, reflective, and unmistakably her own.
1. See gravel as complementary, not competing.
Jackson believes gravel racing can be powerful for triathlon, particularly for the bike leg. Many gravel events are longer than even an Ironman bike split, which can make traditional triathlon distances feel more manageable, both physically and psychologically.
She also points to the strength-oriented demands of gravel riding, where variable terrain and constant engagement often translate to greater efficiency and resilience once back on smoother triathlon roads. With that said, she’s quick to note that specificity still matters, especially when it comes to adapting to the unique demands of holding a TT position.
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2. Chase the challenges that scare you – on purpose.
In Jackson’s experience, the moments of uncertainty and doubt have been where the most meaningful growth happens – not just as an athlete, but as a person. 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.
3. Don’t forget why you started: have fun.
Above all, Jackson emphasizes joy and sharing the journey with those closest to you. She lights up describing how Wattie will ride with Frankie and Stevie, one perched on his back and the other on his bike, and how she recently added a basket to her own gravel bike so she can bring the dogs along. The four often meet up mid-ride or train together, blurring the line between training and time well spent.
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.
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To follow Heather Jackson’s journey or join her Dirt Brigade community, visit heatherjacksonracing.com. Jackson is also featured in Eric Lagerstrom’s film Look For Things Where You Can Find Them.
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The post Heather Jackson: Always Pursuing the Next Adventure appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.