Category Archives: Ultras

Race Report

Race Report: Black Canyon 100K

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Last ultra in my 40s
3 years older than my last 100K
24 minutes and 33 seconds faster  

But this race was so much more than this!  I can’t believe that I finished 63 miles in 19:22:34 this year and felt amazing the whole way.  I honestly still feel a little guilty about saying this but it’s true!

As a quick reminder:

  • I always like to do races that challenge me out of my comfort zone in February because it’s my birthday month. Turning 50 this year made it even more epic (I was supposed to do my first 100 miler in January of 2021 but it got canceled due to COVID)
  • I have tried this 100K three times and finished it successfully twice.  The first time I chose to drop to the 60K due to serious weather conditions, the second time was my first finish and this year.

Grab a cup of coffee or a beer…….

I’ll share my post race reflections on why this race was so amazing for me in hopes that I can inspire you to have some of these amazing experiences too…..then a quick recap of how my day went.

6 feet apart at the start line with a wave start

Jubilee! One of my favorite Race Directors 💜

This race was close to being canceled due to the escalated COVID cases in AZ, more specifically Yavapai County which is where most of the race is located. I kept my fingers crossed until we received the email that IT WAS HAPPENING!  On 2/2 (11 days before the race) we found out that there would be wave starts (standard with COVID now) AND that I would only be able to have one pacer (instead of 2) and no crew. This threw a wrench into my excitement about the race.

  • Since I am a back of the packer, they try to avoid having people pass you on the trail (COVID) which meant my wave start was 10am rather than 7am.  This news hit me because it meant I would be spending more time at night. Don’t get me wrong, I love night trail running but I’ve been lost on this course before. It’s also pretty remote so this just added some anxiety now.
  • For most ultras, you can have a crew and pacers. They are there to help keep you focused, moving forward and taking care of the details when your sole focus as the runner is to get to the finish line. In the original race, you can have a pacer for the last 25 miles (two different segments). With the new rules, I would only get one for the last 12 miles.  This added stress because it meant more running in the dark alone.

At this point I had the option to not accept these changes and post pone it until next year.  My first reaction was to do that.  I was really bummed about these changes (although I absolutely understood them to be necessary for the race to happen safely).
Not gonna lie, I was freaking out about them!  But thanks to my meditation practice which helped me go from REACTING to RESPONDING and a few texts from friends, I made the decision to go for it. If I tell my athletes that the magic happens when you get out of your comfort zone, I had to practice what I preach!

Key Lessons 

One of the reasons I love running is because it provides an avenue to learn more about myself.

  • Things that went well:
    • I canceled track the Thursday before. I didn’t want to have an alarm clock wake me up during that whole week. Thankfully I can do this since I’m self employed. I used to underestimate resting and learned how important it is.  I allowed my body to wake up whenever it wanted to the week before knowing I’d be on my feet and awake for 18-20 hours on race day.
    • I was prepared!  Speed is not a way I measure my running success but this time around I wanted to be faster so I knew I had to do some different things. I followed a training plan from McMillan Running to try something new and then added my ChiRunning/ChiWalking form focuses. Due to COVID, I was able to do more running alone which allows me to train at my pace.  My training plan had various types of runs that I had never really focused on before because I run so much with my TRU TRIBE.  I found these challenging and fun.  I also happened to do more road running due to my Every Damn Street Virtual race and I feel that helped me build my stamina in a different way. There is no doubt that being prepared had a huge impact on how I felt on race morning: prepared and ready to go!
    • I followed my nutrition plan from Sparks Systems. I am fat adapted and my body felt like a well oiled machine.  I’ve never had any gut issues when running long distances so I keep doing what’s worked for me.
    • What surprised me the most was how good I felt the entire time!  We always say that there are many highs and lows during an ultra race and you learn to “ride the wave”.  The wind, the rain, the dark….none of it brought me down. I brought my Noxgear 39g and was prepared with music, podcasts, audiobooks to keep me company.(Use code RUNNINGU1 for 35% off the Noxgear 39g. I love mine!) I may have listened to these for maybe 3-4 hours during the entire race. My goal was to be alone as much as possible. I run with people all the time (and I love it!) but this was my race, my pilgrimage, if you will, into my 50th birthday year. I was really looking forward to just being alone, out in nature for a “few” hours by myself…and that’s exactly what I did.
    • The week before I started working on visualizations of the course and seeing myself out there having a great time. I meditate daily with the Insight Timer app. That week I found meditations about grounding, receiving and gathering energy. My plan was to take in as much as I could and conserve it until race day. Sounds almost cheesy but I believe this really worked for me. In addition, the week before, I was getting so many texts, emails, social media comments from people wishing me well and I took all of those in. I kept mentally conserving all that positive energy I was receiving.  I felt it really propelled me on race day and was literally drawing me towards the finish line…like I almost had no control over it. We call this YChi in ChiRunning and I don’t ever think I felt it as strong as I did on this day. I could definitely feel the energy of my TRU TRIBE with me too. Here is just one of the positive messages I received that week:

    • I’m glad I decided to have a pacer for that last 12 miles! I had left it to my friend and colleague Henry Walker to decide between him and his girlfriend.  I trained Henry last year to become a ChiRunning/ChiWalking instructor (the only other one in AZ!). He pulled his calf muscle lightly the week of the race so they decided it would make most sense for Laura to pace me. As much as I know I could’ve done it by myself, she helped me stay focused on moving forward. I would’ve slowed down for sure if I was alone.
    • I always have to mention ChiRunning/ChiWalking because I would never consider doing these distances without it. I was lucky enough to get to zoom with my mentor and founder, Danny Dreyer, the week of the race.  He gave me some last minute tips. I focused on my technique quite a bit during the race. While I was pretty sore the first few days after the race, I felt great after that!  I swear by ChiWalking especially during my ultras. There is a big difference in regular walking and I believe this also had a huge impact on my energy levels all day.  The goal is always conserving energy and one can waste a lot of energy when running and walking. In addition to technique, several time during my race I visualized gathering energy from the earth every time my foot hit the ground.
    • I PRd by 24 minutes and 33 seconds! That’s about 24 seconds per mile faster for 62 miles!  My technique, training and mindset all came together that day and I rocked it!
  • Things that didn’t go so well (yes there were a few things)
    • I always say never try new things on race day. This is common knowledge. While I was trying not to freak out about being in the dark longer by myself, this was one thing that was giving me anxiety. Most of my TRU TRIBE uses the Kogalla light for night running. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been crazy about these because they can be pretty bright and if someone is coming towards you, it can be annoying. (come to find out there are actually 20 brightness settings!)  A few of them suggested I should try one out.  I bought one the weekend before the race hoping it would get to me on time. I borrowed Jan’s the Tuesday of race week so I could try it out. It really did light the trail up quite a bit and she let me borrow it in case I didn’t get mine in the mail.   I happened to get mine before the race but only tried it that one time.  I have an entire different view on these now. The light was awesome and really increased my confidence of being out there alone. Since I only tried it that one time, I didn’t know how it would effect me on the switchbacks going uphill in the canyon.  I am afraid of heights and used to having a headlamp. When you have a headlamp, it points wherever your point your head so although you have more limited lighting, it’s focused in the direction your heading which is in front of you. Well, the Kogalla, was on my waist (race belt) and lit up the entire trail in front of me (that’s the point!).  What this meant that when I was going up a single track uphill, I could see the periphery which meant the slope down into the abyss and bottom of the canyon. It didn’t dawn on me to move my race belt towards the mountain side more (which I would’ve figured it out had I practiced with it more) so this slowed me down. I was more tired, it was dark so I really had to focus on looking ahead and not letting the ledge of canyon effect me. Aside from that, I am new fan of the Kogalla!

Kogalla lighting up the water crossing

    • Not having crew there until the last aid station effected me.  Your crew will normally be able to meet you at various aid stations. They are there to help you make whatever changes and help you get in and out of the aid stations as quickly and efficiently as possible. I tell my runners all the time: DFA (Don’t F*#k Around) at the aid stations.  You can waste a lot of time if you are not focused and the clock is ticking (only important if you care about your time and I was trying to PR).  I really could’ve used a crew at Black Canyon City. This was mile 39 of 62 and I had been in the dark already for several hours. I was getting tired (I was about a little over half way) and I had ultra brain. I fumbled around with my drop bags, trying to figure out what I needed and what I could get rid of. I had to change my shoes and get into some warmer clothes, refill my pack, eat some food…it was a lot to handle on my own and if I had someone there with me, I probably would’ve saved at least 10 minutes. I stayed here longer than I anticipated.  I didn’t have a choice as crew was not allowed there but I felt the loss of not having one.
    • I second guessed myself at one spot that ate up about another 15 minutes. I’ve gotten lost on this trail several times although only during training runs. The course was well marked!  There is a point as you head in and out of Black Canyon City that you have to take a different way so you don’t go back the way you came. The course was well marked but I was paranoid about going back the wrong way.  At one point I was feeling like maybe I missed it so I turned back around to that spot.   Then I stopped, pulled out my All Trails app (where I had downloaded the course map in case something like this would happen) and realized I was going the right way. Better be safe than sorry but this “cost” me another 10-15 minutes.

Race Day

The silver lining about starting at 10am, meant that Greg (my boyfriend) could actually drive me to Mayer High School to drop me off at the start (this is a point to point race which means you start at one location and finish at another.) This adds some additional logistics to the day. The race offered a shuttle for the runners. I have a thing about shuttles and buses before a race. It depends on the race but I really like to be in my own space and energy before a race, especially a big one like this one.  The erratic energy of a bunch of people in a shuttle tends to mess with me so I was grateful that I could be in the car with my honey for about 90 minutes getting myself psyched up.

I am rarely nervous before a race.  Excited, yes!  But not really nervous.  I had done this course before, I was trained and so ready for it!  If you saw the Instagram Live I did the week before, you could feel my excitement and energy coming through!

I had created a spreadsheet like last time with my tentative pace from each aid station, taking into consideration the course profile, my strengths, time of day, etc.  The first time I did this race, I finished in 19:46:01.  The cutoff was 20 hours.  For any first time experience, I never focus on speed. I know it’s my first time doing that distance, it’s all about enjoying it as much as possible. I was messing around at the aid stations, drinking some beer here and there, and just having a good ole time. This time would be a bit different. I wanted to have a PR (personal record) so I needed to be more focused. I felt stronger going into this race (I had just PRd the Coldwater 52K race the month before by 52 minutes!) so I had two different goals. First goal was to beat my time by an hour and the stretch goal was to finish in 18 hours (1hr 45min PR). I knew this was aggressive but I wasn’t attached to it…just hoping I could do it.

Fifteen minutes before my start, I got this text message from my buddy Archie (one of our TRU TRIBE mascots)

As usual, I started faster than my predicted time. I knew this would happen but I was still holding back knowing I had a lot of miles ahead of me. The course has a negative profile (more downhill than uphill) which is deceiving.  Downhills are my jam but this time we had some serious head and cross wind. While I love downhills, I am afraid of heights too.  These downhills are single track and so much fun but the wind added an element of uneasiness as I was cruising down. Probably a good thing that it slowed me a down. Click here for the live video where you can hear the wind.

One of my favorite spots: the iconic windmill

downhill!

In addition to the wind, there were some pretty big clouds looming around. On the drive up, I had noticed that now the weather app was showing possibility of rain.  Ugh! Not the biggest fan but this race has been unpredictable (I dropped to the 60K at my first 100K attempt due to some serious bad weather) so I was prepared.  I already had packed an extra pair of socks in each drop bag (in ultras you get to have drop bags at specific aid stations where you can have extra stuff you need so you don’t have to carry it all while you are running) and had a poncho in my hydration pack and thankfully brought my purple wind breaker. I lucked out and got sprinkled on a few times during the day.  I stayed ahead of my predicted time until about mile 35.  Night had already started to fall so I slowed down as I expected I would.  I approached my first water crossing which was a few miles before the Black Canyon Aid station which is where I planned to change as much of my apparel as possible as it was getting colder. One of the hardest parts of an ultra in my opinion is dealing with the major temperature change between night and day. Especially here in AZ. I attempted not to get my feet wet in the water crossing but then remembered I was going to change my shoes and socks anyways so I just walked right through it…it was barely covering my ankles so it was uneventful.  Oddly the cold water felt good on my feet and climbed out of the canyon. I was looking forward to this aid station. I have to give a shout out to Altra Running shoes! I’ve been a sponsored athlete for 3 years now and I can never say enough about them. It’s all I wear!  I chose my Superior 4.5 for the first part because they are more minimal and flexible and my Lone Peaks 4.5 for the second part as they have a bit more cushion.

One major thing I love about our trail/ultra community is the most amazing people you meet. Even if you only see people at races a few times a year, they are your friends.  As much as I was bummed that I was losing time at this aid station, it was great to see some familiar races.  Huge thanks to Dawn.  She works with Medstar Solutions and was at the medical tent. She popped over to say hi and I was venting about having to go change my wet bra in a porta potty. She was so sweet and let me go into the medical trailer to take care of that!  It was also great to see Crystal volunteering who I know from Girls On The Run.  So I changed everything except my pants, refilled my pack and got some hot potato soup which was exactly what I needed.  I headed back out and now I was 40 minutes behind my predicted time.  Changing into warmer clothes, socks and shoes and that potato soup totally reenergized me and I felt great.

The rest of the race was a meditative trance. I can’t even explain it. It was dark and I was just following my light and moving forward. I was alone pretty much most of this time in the dark. I remember thinking this was going to be the hardest part but I was actually enjoying the peacefulness of the night. I could see this huge big black cloud that I was running towards and I was hoping that I wouldn’t get rained on.  I got lucky again and only a few drops.

I got to the last aid station before I would get my pacer. There were a few guys there that didn’t look good or happy. I felt bad coming into that aid station feeling so good.  I felt so good that I even refused alcohol!  If you know me, this is my MO at ultras. I’m notorious for having a shot or drinking a beer during a race. It helps me relax more and why not?  I’m out there to have fun.  But I was feeling so good that I didn’t want to mess with it. I wanted to have one but my intuition told me not to so I listened. I even took this Instagram Live at that aid station because I hadn’t checked in for awhile….here is that video…no one got to see it because IG lives are supposed to be at least a minute and apparently it wasn’t.

I approached Table Mesa Aid Station where I would either pick up Henry or Laura to pace me the rest of the 11ish miles.  I could see them both as I approached and Henry had jeans on so I knew right away who was pacing me.  He also had a thermos and filled my cup up with one of the best things I had tasted:  Hot Apple Cider Skratch.(electrolytes) OMG, I couldn’t get enough! Not only was it nice and warm but it tasted so good!  Between that and having Laura for company, those last miles flew by. We chatted and of course I bitched about the rocks. This is my least favorite part of this course.  There are several parts that are pretty rocky so it’s hard to get any momentum forward while running. We passed an awesome Saguaro forest that I didn’t remember from the year before, hit the last aid station and were almost there!  I had been in great spirits all day but the only time I would get slightly irritated is when I knew I should be approaching an aid station and I couldn’t see it.  We starting seeing lights but couldn’t tell if that was the finish.  Finally, there it was! Due to COVID restrictions, no one could be at the finish line. I was so happy to know that I had 3 of my TRU TRIBE members who had volunteered that night so they could be at my finish! (Alina had to leave because she drove from Tucson to volunteer and I didn’t get back in as early as I was hoping) I could see Jubilee, the race director, and I jumped up as I crossed the finish line. Even though I knew I hadn’t met my original goal to PR by an hour, I still had a PR and felt amazing!

Small section of the saguaro forest at night lit by my Kogalla

I walked to the aid station to see Mindy and Catherine. They had a birthday goodie bag for me and I got to hang out with them for a few minutes. They offered me alcohol to celebrate (because this is what I would normally do) but I just wasn’t feeling it. I never had a beer until later that evening!

As I reflect on my journey to that finish line, I am 100% sure that my attitude and mental state going into this day were THE biggest key to my success.  Being trained and using good technique of course go without saying. I was so excited about this race and this day, I couldn’t wait to get out there and have that experience all to myself. I am so thankful that everything flowed for me that day.  As I was finishing, 19 hours plus into the race, I knew that if I had to, I could keep going……..and you know what that means?!  Hmmmm ?! 😁

My buckle!!

With Jubs!

With my pacer Laura!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

 

TRU TRIBE: Member Spotlight Sonia Glover

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni
Every Saturday we highlight one of our members from the TRU Tribe Running Club . Meet Sonia!  If we can do it, so can you!

Sonia’s 1st 100K!

Why did you start running?
My grandma was into fitness and healthy eating. I was a chubby kid so my grandma would take me to the elementary track and make me run to lose weight. She thought I hated it, but I loved it.  Because of her I love to run.
What age did you start running?
I started when I was seven years old.
How old are you now? (to inspire the others! but you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to)
41 years old
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?How fast I run does NOT define me as a great runner.  It’s not all about speed.  It’s about doing your best and achieving your running goals.
What advice would you give a beginner runner?
Find a coach to help you with your running journey.  Learn the correct running form to prevent injuries along your way.  Strength training is such important element to help you get stronger, prevent injuries, and improves your performance as an athlete.
What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
I would have definitely done the following before I started to race: find a coach, taken a chi running workshop, and strength training to prevent all of the running injuries
What is your longest race distance and why?
My longest race was the Javalina Jundred 100k.  I like to challenge myself. Whenever I cross a finish line I know I CAN do more.
Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
I want to do a 100 miler at the Copper Canyons Endurance Run in Mexico.  I want to run with the Tarahumara my people.
What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
My favorite race has been the Javalina Jundred 100k and the New York City Marathon.
What is your favorite color?
I don’t have a favorite color.  🤓
What is your favorite post race food and drink?
I love coconut water and a good old bison burger.
Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE 😀
I am so grateful for having you all in my running journey.  Thank you so much for all of your support.

TRU Tribe: Member Spotlight Mellie Frei

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Every Saturday we highlight one of our members in TRU Tribe Running Club .  Meet Mellie!  If we can do it, so can you!

Mellie’s 1st 50K!

Why did you start running?
I started running for health reasons. I was diagnosed with COPD and Chronic Pancreatitis in the same year and wanted to do something to be able to keep breathing!
What age did you start running?
50
How old are you now? (to inspire the others! but you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to)
52
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?
You can’t finish if you don’t start, and it is ok to be DFL! (Dead F*&n Last)
What advice would you give a beginner runner?
You have to start somewhere, set realistic goals, don’t be hard on yourself, surround yourself with positive, supportive people!
What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
Learn how to run the right way, so you don’t get injured!
What is your longest race distance and why?
Recently completed Javalina Jangover 50k with Cindy Richardson!  I wanted to try a 50k, as my goal is to challenge myself continually, and defy the odds.
Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
The National Pancreas Foundation is currently a charity partner with the Marine Corps Marathon. The cutoff is 7 hours for the full, which will require some speed work for me to maintain that pace for 26 miles.
What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
I have many favorite races!! I love the challenge of the half marathon distance and my goal is to complete all the Vacation Races! My favorite was the Grand Teton Half, simply beautiful!
What is your favorite color?
I don’t have just one!
What is your favorite post race food and drink?
I love a juicy IPA after a run!! Love going out for breakfast after weekend runs
Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE 😀
When you are surrounded with the right people, anything is possible. TRU TRIBE ladies are so inspiring!

Click here for more Member Spotlight Inspiration!

 

TRU Tribe: Member Spotlight Kisha Ferullo

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Every Saturday we highlight one of our members in TRU Tribe Running Club .  Meet Kisha!  If we can do it, so can you!

Why did you start running? 
A friend was doing a race and asked me if I wanted to do it too.

What age did you start running?
35

How old are you now?
46

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?
To enjoy the ups and persevere through the downs.

What advice would you give a beginner runner?
Find a supportive group to run with.

What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
Stretch more, rest more, cut myself some slack for hard runs

What is your longest race distance and why?
100k at Javelina Jundred….I volunteered at this event about 6 months after I started trail running and I saw “real” people with “real” bodies and thought if they could do it so could I.  Made a 3 year goal to do it for my 45 birthday..

Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
I would like to get 100 miles at a timed event..

What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
I really enjoyed Punisher 30k….it’s a nice course at night.  I also thought the Black Canyon Trail was beautiful (at least the 20 miles I saw 😜)

What is your favorite color?
Purple

What is your favorite post race food and drink?
Beer and pizza.

Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE Online 🥰
Thanks for being part of my journey!

Click here for more Member Spotlight Inspiration!

 

TRU Tribe: Member Spotlight Cindy Richardson

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

Every Saturday we highlight one of our members in TRU Tribe Running Club .  Cindy Richardson was our first one!  Since she’s been a member, she’s crossed finish lines she never thought possible including her first 50K on 9/27/19!

Cindy and Mellie completing their first 50K..at night! They are still smiling at the finish even if the sunrise beat them to the finish 💜

Why did you start running?
I needed a new challenge in my life and running had always been something I was scared of.

What age did you start running? 
58

How old are you now? 
59

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far from your running journey?
Just start and quit thinking about it. Even if I have a setback, I need to work within my own limits but keep moving forward towards my goals.

What advice would you give a beginner runner? 
Just start and quit thinking about it. Find a coach and stick to a workout schedule. Having an event as a goal will help keep you focused.

What would you do differently knowing what you know now?
I would try to be more consistent with my workouts.

What is your longest race distance and why?
50K – recently completed. It was a tough event but I finished within the cutoff time.

Do you have a bucket list race or distance?
Not any more. I am happy with the 50K, but may decide to do other 50K races. 

What has been your favorite race and/or distance so far?
I really enjoyed my first night race, it was a 9K at San Tan and beautiful weather with full moon, and I ran with a companion Melinda the entire race.

What is your favorite color?
None really but wear lots of purple now.

What is your favorite post race food and drink?
Beer garden is always fun to sit and visit with group, beer and something salty for post race snack. 

Anything else you want to share with the TRU TRIBE Online 🥰
Having the TRU Tribe group as inspiration and companions is a great way to keep focused and have fun. Lisa is a great coach — working on technique, running workouts and auxilliary excercises plus cheering us on the entire time.

Click here for more Member Spotlight Inspiration!

Race Report

Canyon De Chelly Ultra 55K Race Report 2019

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

This race is one of the main reasons I love running!  This was my most favorite race experience that I’ve had to date! (so hard to say this as I’ve had so many but overall, this one takes it!)

First I have to thank Maria Walton.   Continue Reading →


Behind The Scenes: TransRockies Run Volunteer Gig

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

“I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell”……

This AC/DC song will never be the same for me after the last 9 days of my life! I’ll tell you why in a minute….

I remember hearing about the TransRockies Run several years back.  I remember talking to my friend Diane about it and I put it loosely on my bucket list.  With all the new adventures in my life, I kind of just forgot about it…..until my friend Joan heard about some volunteering opportunities with the race this summer. August is my slowest time of the year and I figured it would be nice to get out of the Arizona heat and go to CO.  (I always tell my peeps that they should volunteer for races. It’s just good karma and so much fun.) I usually volunteer locally but this seemed like a fun summer adventure….and now that I was going to see what it was about, maybe I’d consider putting it back on the bucket list.

In the interest of time, I will try to summarize my experience with some quick comments and photos 😉

Race Summary
A 6 day stage race in the Rocky Mountains of CO totaling 120 miles (13-24 miles daily) with 20,000 feet of elevation gain.  Runners have the option to camp or stay in hotels as the start and finish line move just about every single day for these point to point runs.

Map of TRR 2019

120 miles!

My Volunteer Gig
I went up with some friends and we were assigned to Start and Finish Line Catering & Timing (aid station for the runners before they left that stage and at the end of it).  This might seem pretty easy but consider that the start line and finish line were usually in two different locations (and sometimes so was camp!). We have all been trained and volunteered with Pati Coury from Aravaipa Running and were very confident in our aid station skills. As said by Justin, a fellow volunteer: “ It was the easiest week of working hard that I can ever remember.”  I am not kidding when I say I don’t think I have worked that hard for that many days in a row EVER!  We started at 6am getting the Start Line Aid Station ready, then normally drove to the finish line, helped the Start/Finish line crew put the finish line up and then set up our aid station.  We were there all day until the last runner came in. Then we cleaned everything all up, loaded it back in the cargo van, maybe had time to get some dinner, attend the mandatory end-of-day staff meeting, then go refill our van with supplies for the next day. We normally ended our day at 8:30pmish.

Day 1 we went to “HQ” to fill up our cargo van

We emptied and reloaded this van twice a day and it always full (not like this picture!)

GU was a sponsor and we had plenty of products!

This is the start/finish line that goes up and down every day! (those are metal panels on the side that come apart!)

We were nicknamed the AZ Girls. We strategically brought our AZ Sole Sports shirts to represent! We had our Run Steep Get High shirts for one day too but forgot to take a picture!

Behind The Scenes
I titled this blog Behind the Scenes for a reason.  Never ever have I seen this big of a group of volunteers work so hard and so well together. It’s hard to describe in writing. Just about every day, the camp crew took tents down and put them back up at another location, the luggage crew moved all the runner’s luggage, and the shuttle drivers shuttled runners to and from start/finish lines and camp. And when you were done with your “job”, you just moved around and asked others if they needed help.  I don’t know what the return rate of volunteers is but I will guess it’s about 80%.  We walked right into a big TransRockies family.  The first evening was a bit weird because it was a reunion for most of them. By the next day, we were welcomed and brought in like we belonged.  I met so many wonderful people.  There is no doubt that there is a very strong sense of community with this race and it felt so good to be part of it!

Back to AC/DC..and Right Said Fred
The count down song at every start line (6 days in a row!) was Highway to Hell. I can play the song now and close my eyes and feel the energy of the runners.  There is nothing like the energy of a start line!  The other great thing you could see and feel throughout the week was the camaraderie.  Not only of the volunteers but the runners too.  Many of them knew each other as repeat runners as well but if they didn’t, they had 6 days on the course and in camp to become friends.  The closest thing I can compare it to is my Breast Cancer 3-Day experience only this was more days and more moving around.
The other song that I will never forget now is Stand Up (for the champions) by Right Said Fred.They played this every night after dinner with all the winners for the various categories in the front of the audience. They all stood up and jumped to this song. Again, lots of good energy.

The Runners
We were there for them!  Our goal was to make sure they all had a great experience.  If you are a runner, I highly recommend taking time to volunteer at races.  Such a rewarding experience! Since we were at the finish line, we got to see every single runner!  We got to watch the elites come in with some super strong finish times and then…..my favorites, the back of the packers.  I got to meet some of the coolest people! From Mirna Valerio, The Mirnavator  to Gordy Ainsleigh, the “father of ultramarathoning”, to Gina Lucrezi, the founder of Trail Sisters.
As much as it was great to meet the famous runners, I also got to meet so many other runners from all walks of life.  There were many international runners, elite runners and back of the packers.  I really think I met every single runner but didn’t really get to know many of them as they came through tired from their run and ready to go sit down with some GU Protein Recovery Drink (which by the way was all the rage!).  I watched so many people do some epic shit and that is what inspired me every morning to get up and take care of them.
Some TransRockies runners  were also supporting charities: First Descents (they provide life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults (ages 18 – 39) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions) and Mito Canada (Canada’s only not-for-profit organization focused on mitochondrial disease).

The first time I hugged him I had no idea who he was…then I found he was Gordy Ainsleigh 😉

Best photo bomb ever with #themirnavator Mirna Valerio trying to drink my beer 😉

First Descent charity guys! Love what people do to raise money for charity!

On Day 3 they added an early start for the back of the packers, led by the awesome Mirna Valerio!

Love that these 2 were a team and were giving these cards away to people coming in after them 😉 It’s never too late and you are never too old!

The Man!
HOU-DA! HOU-DA! HOU-DA!


We all shouted his name when all the volunteers were called on the “stage” at the awards ceremony: Kevin Houda McDonald, race director.
What can I say about this guy?  My first impressions were his email responses when I was inquiring about the volunteer gig: short and sweet….then I had a chance to talk to him on the phone before we left to get more details and he was like a ping pong ball all over the place. I was writing as fast as I could trying to keep up as he changed his stream of thought what seemed like a million times. Even when I finally met him, he was doing 5 things at one time….but….:

  • he was always present when engaged in a conversation
  • he had no problem diving in any areas where help was needed at any time
  • he thanked his volunteers daily and acknowledged everyone’s hard efforts in our nightly staff meetings from the porta-potty people to the sweepers
  • he backed up his staff when needed
  • he gets a high return rate of volunteers (and it’s a long tough week of volunteering)
  • he keeps this huge team of volunteers motivated while there are so many moving parts to this race

I swear I am not kissing ass but as someone who has quite a bit of leadership experience from the corporate to the non profit world, this guy knows how to make it happen. This was one of the most well run events I’ve ever been part of it. There are many people who make this all happen but it requires a good leader too.

As much as I worked my ass off in those 10 days, I wouldn’t change a thing!  It was an awesome experience and I have a whole new running family too! There were so many more memories and pictures and beautiful views….but the next blog I write about this race will be as a runner when I do it next year! 

Special thanks to the Start/Finish Line crew who took us under their wing and the team we worked the closest with….seriously too many people to thank for this amazing experience!

Last day with our team: Big G, Rachel and Doug (missing Keon and Bruce)

Last day with our team: Big G, Rachel (missing Keon, Bruce and Doug). Joan and I manned the aid station and Elaine and Lori were timers and backed us up too.

If you want to find out more about running or volunteering, here is the website where you can find all their social media handles (go check out some of the pictures from the race!)

If you were a runner or volunteer and made it this far in reading my blog, you can find me, The Running University on Facebook and Instagram.  Stay in touch and see you next year!

THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS AND RUNNERS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE!

Edited on 8/22/19 with this video from We Run 4 Fun

I am recapping my TransRockies Run Experience (titles are clickable links):
Behind the Scenes: TransRockies Run Volunteer Gig (2019)
TransRockies Run: View from the Back of the Pack (Recap)
TransRockies 2021: Stage 0 & 1 Shenanigans 
TransRockies Run Stage 2: Iconic Hope Pass!
TransRockies Run Stage 3: My favorite? 🤷🏽‍♀️
TransRockies Run Stage 4: Just Keep Swimming….
TransRockies Run Stage 5: One More Day 😥😁
TransRockies Run Stage 6: I did it! 🎉🍾

What is Lisa up to?

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

This could be dangerous because I’m about to loosely lay out some goals for the next two years.  Between people asking me what my next big race is and the fact that I turn 50 on February 19th 2021, I figured I’d share some of my upcoming adventures (and this will help keep me accountable as I am putting it in writing now.)  LOL

Personal Shenanigans

  • August 11th-18th I am excited to be volunteering for the TransRockies Race!  This is a 125 mile stage race over 6 days in the Rockies.  I’ll be volunteering at the Finish Line with a few good friends.  It will be great to break out of this heat and give back to the running community.  Selfishly checking this out as it’s been on my mind for many years and I am considering doing this race next summer.
  • August 24th I am doing a timed event at Jackrabbit Jubilee. This is a 12 hour event going around a 500m track. I will admit these are not my favorite as they can be vary monotonous but they serve a different purpose (read more here).  The fun thing about this one is that my #trutribe is having an informal running party at this race. I did not do a program for this event but many of them are trying this out for their first time.  We will all be going around in circles (there is a 6 hour and 12 hour option).
  • September 6-8th 2019 I am participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Boston.  Many of you know the history of my Las Bombas team but I haven’t walked in several years and MA is my home state.  I am grateful to have been able to raise the $2300 with some help from you!
  • October 12th 2019  my BUCKET LIST race!  I just started training for the Canyon De Chelly 55K.  I was on the waiting list last year and got in on the lottery this year.  I was #149 of #150 to be picked!  I’ll get to be one of the few people to get in to this canyon that is protected Navajo land.  I am beyond excited!
  • Summer 2020 is still a bit up in the air but planning on that TransRockies race in August and considering some of the Aravaipa races in July in the Silverton area as well.
  • I am saying it out loud and in writing finally but I am ready to tackle my next biggest distance which will be 100 miles.  Yikes, just writing it is scary but I have been mulling this around for quite some time.  I am debating in between 2 races.  I want it to be local race with Aravaipa Running since I “grew up” as a trail runner, ultra runner  and coach thanks to them. The options are the Javelina Jundred or Coldwater Rumble.  At this point it’s possible that I could do the 100K at Javelina in November 2020 and then Coldwater 100 miler in 2021 which would be a month before I turn 50.
  • I’ve always said that I will never qualify for the Boston Marathon because I am not a fast runner nor do I want to work that hard to qualify.  It would be amazing to experience this race though since it’s in my home state. I am considering doing it in 2021 and I would opt to raise money for it while I’m training for my 100 miler.

Professional Shenanigans

My life motto is: do the things I love to do with the people I love to do them with, whenever I want.  I am pretty much living this right now. I can’t do things whenever I want but if I plan in advance enough, I can certainly try….thus this blog post 😉  I am blessed that I love what I do and get to combine my passion with my career.

  • August 2019 Roll out Ladies Training Programs for Fall/Winter 
  • September 2019 stay tuned for TRU TRIBE Online. That’s all I am saying right now 😉 (TRU 2.0)
  • September 25th-30th 2019 I’ll be in Asheville NC assisting Danny Dreyer (founder of ChiRunning) with a ChiRunning Instructor Training class.  I can train individuals privately to become instructors but I couldn’t pass up the chance to assist Danny.  I am constantly stalking him and try to work with him at least once a year.  Not only to get time with him but he’s continuously working on his running practice and who better to follow than the guru himself?
  • May 17th-22 2020 I’ll be assisting Danny and Katherine at Kripalu for a 5 Day ChiRunning/ChiWalking Retreat!  Mark your calendars!
  • Continue to expand on the ladies training programs.  Work on TRU 3.0 which will include more traveling:  running retreats and more racecations (races out of town or out of the country)

What are your goals for the next year or two?

 

 

 

From My Running Story to Yours….
(if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)

Tattoo #3: My 1st 100K

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

Tattoo #3 just happened last week!  It’s been almost a year since I’ve written a blog post so I figured I’d share the meaning behind this tattoo with you.
Quick history on my two other tattoos: 
My first one I did maybe in 2004?.  It’s on my tail bone (when the “tramp stamp” was all the rage).  I was heavy into scuba diving at the time and have always loved the ocean and dolphins. So it’s a yin yang with 2 dolphins around it.

First Tattoo

My second one was to commemorate my first 50 mile race and I blogged about that one here.

For my first 50 miler tattoo

The idea for this one has been brewing since 2/17/18, when I crossed my first 100K finish line. This was a big one for me. I had attempted this race and distance the year before but the weather was really bad so I had to drop to the 60K and retrain the following year.
When I started thinking about how I felt before, during and after this race, the best word to describe it was JOY.  I know it sounds crazy, right?!  I was on my feet for 19 hours and 45 minutes!  How could that be joyful? If you talk to most runners doing these distances, not sure that’s the most popular word to describe these experiences……..but I am not like most runners…so….
Let’s start with a basic definition:
  • Google: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
  • Merriam-Webster: a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires 
    • 2. a state of happiness or felicity 
    • 3: a source or cause of delight
Honestly, just the word makes the corners of my mouth start going up into a smile!  But how could this word really describe 62 miles of trail on foot all in one day?
Let me try to explain:
1.  I wanted to complete this race so bad I could taste it. Having to drop down the previous year after all that training was a big let down for me.  I was super jazzed up to finally do this!  I had trained and I was ready! (A good way to feel good about a race, is to train for it. As a running coach I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they barely trained and they show up at the start line all nervous and freaked out.  When you actually take the time to train for a race, it takes a lot of this negative energy out.  You build confidence during your training cycle because you get mentally and physically prepared. Some nervous energy is not a bad thing but to feel confident and prepared really helps)  So I was ready as can be!

How you feel before, during and after a race is directly related to the amount of training you put in!

2.  I set the intention before I started the race that I was going to have an amazing race.  (amazing to me does not have anything to do with speed or placement. I know I’m never going to win the race .  I knew I was going to be out ALL DAY doing one of the things I love doing most in the world:  hanging out in nature on the trails.) I literally say to myself “I’m just going to hang out on the trail for a “few” hours.” Your mind believes what you tell it. Part of my pre race prep was to do a lot of visualizing about how I would feel during the race.  I visualized myself happy and joyful, just having fun in nature….and as I put that intention out there, it’s exactly what happened.  I created the environment for that positive energy and it was one of the most amazing days of my life!

Affirm it!

3.  My goal for the race was to have fun and finish before the cutoff. I prepared to have fun that day!  I had some of my favorite music, audio books, podcasts.  I also knew I would have two of my best friends pacing me from the 60K-100K point.  Again, I set this intention ahead of time to have fun and that was part of my plan….and it’s exactly what I did. 

Yes I am!

If you want to read more about my race experience, my race report is here….now back to my tattoo.
JOY was the word that came to mind when I described this day.  
Then I was thinking how could I make this into a tattoo….and where would I put it.  Sometimes this process takes longer than it needs to (it took me a year and half to finally get the tattoo done!)  I may have pondered a bit about it…LOL  But then ideas started coming in..
What else brings me joy?  The sun!  This is one of the reasons I still live in AZ!  I love the sun because:
  • I get cold quickly so I love how the sun can warm me up right away.  I’d rather be hot than cold any day.
  • The sun just lights me up!  I wouldn’t be surprised if I were to be diagnosed as having SAD (ironic acronym that stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder). It is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons.  Although I’ve gotten better at enjoying rainy, cloudy days, I love to see the sun. My boyfriend has found me, on my apartment floor, right by the sliding patio door, like a cat, gazing up at the sun, with my eyes closed and just soaking it all in.  Literally one of my happy places. Sometimes I feel like it’s literally charging me up!
  • I picked the colors yellow/orange because the sun is these colors but they also make me feel warm and fuzzy.  If you look up the meaning of these colors:
    • Yellow: “Studies show that the meaning of the color yellow can be warmth, cheerfulness, increased mental activity, increased muscle energy. The color yellow helps activate the memory, encourage communication, enhance vision, build confidence, and stimulate the nervous system.” 
    • Orange: “the orange color can create physical effects such as increased hunger, heightened sense of activity, increased socialization, boost in aspiration, stimulated mental activity, increased oxygen supply to the brain, increased contentment, and enhanced assurance. Orange also helps aid decision making, and enhances happiness, confidence, and understanding.”
I am not sure how I came up with the idea but at some point I thought: why not write the word JOY and use the O as the sun.  
As I was googling sun tattoos to get ideas, I saw several that had a spiral in the middle which reminded of another symbol I plan on using for another tattoo.  I love the spiral and what it stands for:
  • Spiral significance: “They symbolize the slow reveal of things that are hidden. It can mean growth and evolution. They could represent people coming back to the same point in their life, but with new and better kinds of understanding. The symbol of the spiral can push the viewer to be flexible and have trust when things change. (https://www.sunsigns.org/spiral-meaning/)”.  Ultra running has definitely been a huge source of growth for me, personally and professionally.
 I put it in that specific location on my arm so I could see it.  If you know me, you know that I am a joyful person.  I am typically always happy, smiling and laughing.  This is part of my nature so generally my normal state of being…..but I am also human and have my moments.  I always say “self awareness is a bitch”!  So the reason I chose that location on my arm is because I could see it. This will also serve as a reminder for me that I always have a choice…..
I can always choose joy!
You too can choose whatever emotion you want for your day or your next race, so make it a good one!

Today I choose JOY!

(Huge thanks to my tattooer, Jayare (check out his Instagram page) from Idle Hands Tattoo.  I told him what I wanted, showed him a few pictures and this is his creation.  He also did my 2nd one.  I enjoyed telling him the story about how his comments about my last one are a big part of the meaning of that tattoo now.   Then we got into a deep conversation about whether tattoos have to have meaning and how it can change.)
3rd Tattoo

Here it is 😉 Notice my Black Canyon shirt I wore 😉

3rd Tattoo

Better view

From My Running Story to Yours….
(if you feel inspired to share your comments, do so below…I want to hear your story too!)

Race Report

Race Report: Crown King 50K Scramble 2018

Posted on by by Lisa Pozzoni

….and My Story Runs On….

I have a love/hate relationship with this race!  It’s my 3rd year in a row and for some reason, that evil hills keeps calling me back.  Last year,  Aravaipa Running had a Women’s Ultra Training Program for the race and I was lucky enough to be the coach…unfortunately I never wrote a blog for last year but I did write one for my first time in 2016. Continue Reading →