Jackie Helm: From broken spine to marathon starting line

After a near-fatal car accident left her with a fractured spine and a cervical fusion, Jackie Helm refused to let her story end in the wreckage.

In this powerful Route 66 Marathon Podcast episode, Jackie walks us through her remarkable comeback — from relearning how to move post-surgery, to training for her first Route 66 Half Marathon, to rebuilding her strength and identity after a devastating ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Now a nutrition coach, athlete and Route 66 Marathon ambassador, Jackie shares how proper fueling, intentional recovery and unwavering faith helped her regain control of her life.

If you’ve struggled, lost momentum or felt stuck this training cycle, Jackie’s story is exactly what you need:

a reminder that setbacks don’t define you — your response does.

Get ready for a raw, uplifting and deeply inspiring conversation that brings race-week energy back to the podcast.