one of the best: read to the end!

Lisa,

hi - i'm hoping your life has calmed down since the article came out. i first heard about it on the ultra listserv then went out and bought the magazine. i wanted to wait for the action to die down before emailing you. wow is all i can say after reading the article. i'm sure you've heard every platitude by now but i'm sorry to hear about what had been going on and i hope you're on the mend.

in the spirit of the olympics that just ended, the olympic creed would seem appropriate.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

here's to fighting well!!

THIS BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES! HOW AWESOME!

Lent

To all of you who celebrate

and a thought for Lent...

"We blindly love the bitter things brought on from our material desires, we pursue what is passing away, we cling to what is falling. And because we can't hold on to it, we too are falling along with the things we grasp as they collapse. ...Consider the emptiness of things which pass away with time. Fix your hearts on love of what is eternal, so that when you decline to strive for earthly heights you may attain the glory you grasp by faith.

St. Gregory the Great

New Book to put on your reading list!

Question: What do you get when you drop a 40-something soccer Mom into the Brazilian Amazon jungle?

Answer: An adventure of a lifetime.

The Jungle Marathon of 2003 was a foot race that tested the limits of Rebekah Trittipoe. Never before had she run so far for so long. This wife and mother of two went to the jungle to compete in the inaugural Jungle Marathon, a self-sufficient, seven day race covering 250 km of sweltering jungle. With a week?s worth of supplies strapped to her back, her journey began with a single step.

The race thrust Trittipoe head first into a novel experience: six stages over a period of seven days, oppressive heat and humidity, poisonous snakes and spiders, chest-deep swamp crossings, swinging from jungle hammocks, relentless terrain, shoe-sucking mud and stalking jaguars. Far from her Virginia home, Rebekah found herself running with?and against?competitors from around the world through the harsh equatorial jungle.

This book is about that race. It is a story of extreme sport. It is a story of highs and lows. It is a story of failure and success. It is a story of sustaining faith. It is a story meant to encourage, inspire and motivate. It is a story for the runner and non-runner, man and woman, adult and child. It is a story for you.

(The author, Rebekah Trittipoe, did not begin running ultramarathons until she was 37 years old. Far removed from her high school sprinting days, she has come to love running mountain trails over the last dozen years. Rebekah has run numerous ultramarathons and has had the privilege of running at least one ultra with each of her sons. This is her second book, the first one being Quest For Adventure, chronically the adventures of legendary runner David Horton.)

Bill Graney Grand Teton 100 mile

Hi gang!

Bill Graney one of my coaching clients won the Grand Teton 100 mile last Sept.

He told us if he won the race he was going to have the Dreamchaser logo tattooed on his leg. He did it!

Here it is:

Tat.pdf (10K

Great article

Hi everyone,

 

I hope you had a great weekend, I did. Pulled the tire for 3 hours today, feel like I get extra credit:)

 

Great article on a long time friend of ours Ben Jones M.D. in Men's Health Best for Life March issue. The article is on page 54-55 and is titled "A prescription for lifelong health".

 

Happy Feet

Lisa

This is what its all about!!!

Hi Lisa. 

I'm just overjoyed today.  Turning 35 isn't a sign of going down-hill
afterall !!!

In today's NYRR Snowflake 4-Mile race, I set a new PR (topping my time of
29:35 in last year's Snowflake 4-Mile) by nearly 25 seconds or so.
Unofficially, by the watch, my time was around 29:10, with nice even splits.
I'm awaiting the official results, but there is not doubt you have coached
me to a new 4-Mile PR.

Thanks for a great birthday present !!

Great Quote

" Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; the point is who you become as you get past the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals. That's what gives you a true and long-lasting sense of fulfillment."

-Anthony Robbins-

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

To all the men in my life:)

Keith you are one amazing guy and I hope you can and will meet the rest of the gang one of these days. I am so thankful for all of you, men and women, as your friend and coach:)

Keith ran his first 50 mile here in the Tetons last Sept!! Now he is training for a 100 mile and Ironman Idaho..

www.tetonraces.com

 

Keith sent me a photo of us at the finish line of his first 50, it is now hanging in my office and is a constant reminder of why I love being a coach.

 

Happy feet

Lisa

Texas Runner Run over by a deer!

I bet I have a story you have never heard before.  Last night on the news here in Dallas they ran a story about an individual that ran in the Freescale Marathon this past weekend.  The race started far North Austin in a very rural area of town.  This person was run over by two deer's that were crossing the street!  He finished the race and had is medal with him, however he had bruised elbows and knees!  I could not believe it when I heard the story.

 

 

Yukon race

So many of you have asked how Katherine did in her 320 mile race: Below is what happened to her.

Pray she heals fast!

 

 

Hi Lisa

 

It was darn hard but it was an accident which put an end to my race.  I fell through the ice after about 140 miles and (although I didn't realise it at the time) damaged my back.  The next 3 miles to the CP took my 9 and a half hours!  I have slipped a couple of discs and have a few cuts and so am on a lot of pain killers at the minute.  I'm hoping I heal quickly as I think I really need to get training again as its quite depressing just sitting around dwelling on the race.

 

For all the great Ladies!!!

One Flaw In Women



Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Training today

What can you do when the wind in blowing snow at 50 mph and you had a 2 hour run on your schedule?

 

This is the case for me today! Why we live in this snow packed place I will never know:)

I will spin on my bike for 45 min. good pace, rowing machine for 20 min. good pace and then do all kinds of jumps and running drills on the rebounder.

I am so thankful to have all my own equipment right here in my house.

Treadmill, versa climber, spin bike, rowing machine, cross country ski machine, rebounder and all the cross training supplies one could ever need!

 

Hope your day was great!

Lisa

Your all invited!!!

 

High Sierra Desert and Mountain Ultra Training Camp

 

Lisa Smith-Batchen and Marshall Ulrich are pleased to invite you to their training camp in beautiful Death Valley, CA May 3-7, 2006.

 

Sign up NOW! Space is limited!

 

During the five-day camp you will learn ? and experience ? more
than you ever thought you could
to improve your running for all types racing, including
road, desert, stage, mountain, and trail ultras!

 

Say yes NOW and save 10%!

 

If you respond BEFORE February 28, 2006 and commit to this camp,
you will save 10% on the camp fee!
E-mail us NOW and sign up!

lisa@lisasmithbatchen.com or marsh@marshallulrich.com

This is a LIMITED TIME offer!

Your Hosts and Trainers

Lisa Smith-Batchen and Marshall Ulrich are ultra running legends. At the High Sierra Camp you have the extraordinary opportunity to learn from their combined almost 40 years of experience! In addition to amazing individual accomplishments, Lisa and Marshall have raced together for more than 10 years, including runs across Death Valley and adventure races around the world?and are dear friends.

 

Through the years Lisa and Marshall have learned that the real successes in life come when you do for others. They find great joy in teaching others and sharing their life ? and training, running, and racing ? experiences with people like you!

 

Lisa and Marshall also share a passion for fundraising to support education for women and children around the world ? empowering them to improve their quality of life. Empowering others is what their camps, and their lives, are all about.

 

Come experience the empowerment for yourself!

 

Lisa, the force behind Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club www.lisasmithbatchen.com has 19 years of coaching experience and has completed more than 20 ultra marathons, 90 marathons, and 7 iron-man triathlons. She has completed the Marathon Des Sable twice, and is the only American women ever to win the women?s division. She has competed in the Badwater Ultramarathon 7 times, winning the women?s division 3 times. She is also the only women to have completed the grand slam of ultra running, and Badwater, in the same year.

 

Marshall, a founder of Team Stray Dogs www.teamstraydogs.com has more than 20 years of ultra running and extreme sport experience. He is the only person in world to complete the Triple Crown of Extreme Sports, having completed over 113 ultras averaging over 100 miles each; competed in 16 expedition-length adventure races, including all 9 Eco Challenges; and reached the summit of each of the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, all on first attempts. Marshall has completed a record 13 Badwater 146 races, and has won the Badwater Ultramarathon a record 4 times. He has crossed Death Valley a record 18 times, including a solo and 586-mile quad crossing.

 

What You Will Do, Experience, and Learn

Whatever your goals, this camp has something for you! And, you get to experience it all in one of the most beautiful places in the country: Death Valley!

 

Lisa and Marshall will teach you using:

* Training runs

* Cross training sessions

* Classroom sessions

* Formal Q & A

* Informal discussions

* Other camp participants (everyone has knowledge to share!)

 

Come learn! Come train!

 

You will learn how to:

* Train for the heat of desert racing

* Prepare for road, mountain, trail, or stage races

* Compete in desert races, whether on the road, like in Death Valley, or across the dunes of the Sahara

* Train and run on trails

* Train for mountain running, including handling altitude and cold

* Improve your running style through gait analysis

* Hydrate and fuel yourself for training, racing, and recovery

* Power walk effectively to improve your race results

* Use cross training techniques such as core strengthening and deep water running

* Face and overcome obstacles through effective troubleshooting

* Take care of your body and feet, including clothing and equipment selection

* Prepare and work with pacers and crew

* Maintain a balance a in your life. (No?it?s not all about the running.)

 

When, Where, and What?s Included

The camp is May 3-7, 2006 in beautiful Death Valley National Park.

 

Lodging at Stovepipe Wells, in Death Valley, is included. Breakfasts and dinners at Stovepipe are also included.

 

Join us in Death Valley May 3-7, 2006!

 

We will provide one pickup at the Las Vegas airport at 1:30 p.m. on May 3 for transportation to Stovepipe. We will also provide one return trip to the airport, departing Stovepipe at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, May 7. You are also welcome to drive. If you are unable to make the scheduled pickup for any reason, including a delayed flight, you will be responsible for your own transportation to Stovepipe. The drive time from the Las Vegas Airport to Stovepipe is approximately 2.5 hours.

 

Training runs will be held just outside of the park. Transportation from Stovepipe to each run location will be provided. You are also welcome to drive. A support vehicle, with ice and water, will be provided for all road training runs.

 

It?s all here for YOU!

 

Fees

We provide a high quality camp with two of the best, most qualified trainers in ultra running: Lisa Smith-Batchen and Marshall Ulrich. The camp, set in beautiful and awe inspiring Death Valley, includes instructional training runs, active cross training sessions, illustrated classroom presentations with take home materials, restful lodging, meals, and transportation while at camp.

 

Sign up NOW!

 

The registration fee is only $1,295 USD per person.
There are only 20 spaces available on a first come, first served basis.

 

Bring a friend and save 10%

 

If you bring a guest, and share a room
? with your spouse, pacer/crew member, or running friend ?
the double occupancy registration fee is only $1165 per person.

(Only ONE discount applies per participant.)

 

Please send a deposit of $650 (minimum) or full payment with your application (available soon on line). 

 

Please send completed application and payment in the form of check or money order to:

 

   Dreamchasers

   Attn: Lisa Smith-Batchen

   P.O. Box 912

   Victor, ID 83455

 

For more information (coming soon) about Lisa and Marshall, the camp, application form, schedule of events, location, lodging, meals, transportation, and policies see www.lisasmithbatchen.com or www.teamstraydogs.com.

 

Remember?space is limited!

Sign up NOW!!

 

Contact us with any questions.

 

Lisa:          lisa@lisasmithbatchen.com or 208-787-2077

Marshall:   marsh@marshallulrich.com or 303-567-0727

 

Save 10% if you say yes NOW!

 

If you respond BEFORE February 28, 2006 and commit to this camp,
you will save 10% on the camp fee!

(Only ONE discount applies per participant.)

 

Articles

Happy Presidents Day to all of you who have the day off from work!

 

March issue of Runner's World is out with a feature story on me and talks a great deal about the depression I have suffered over the past few year's. Many things touched on in the article were  very different than  what we expected but feel you should all read it and let us know your thoughts!

 

March issue of Men's Health is out with an article on a camp we had at Grand Targhee Ski Resort. Featured in this article are 3 coaching clients of mine: Jim Simone, Ray Zahab and Frank Mckinney.

 

Have a great day!

Lisa

Badwater 2006 here we come!!!

Good morning friends!

Read below!!!

 

I'm so very thankful to be going back to one of my most favorite races. Date is July 24-26th...better start training:)

 

 

Hello Lisa: 
 
Congratulations! You have been accepted to compete in the 2006 Kiehl?s Badwater Ultramarathon. You are part of a select group who will participate in what is recognized worldwide as the toughest footrace that Mother Nature has to offer. We will include your name and biographical information on the online roster in the near future. 

YUKON ARCTIC 320 MILE RACE!

Hi gang!! read the information below! Katherine Hay-Heddle is a client and a Dreamchaser!

She is trying for the 320 miles and is still in after 4days!!

Please send her an email to get her spirits up!!!!

 

 

 

Yukon Arctic Ultra to start Feb. 11th

62 athletes from 13 different nations have signed up for the 4th edition of
the Yukon Arctic Ultra. This is a record!

Once again runners, xc-skiers and mountain bikers will be part of the race.
And even the first skijorer will take up the challenge with his team of
dogs. With more than 90% the runners are by far the strongest contingent.


Updates on the website during the race

I have had a few enquiries if there will be updates on the race on the
website. Yes, there will be news on how the athletes are doing. YAU veteran
Martin Like will come along to volunteer. I have asked Martin to write
reports as often as possible. These reports should also be a bit more
entertaining than what I can write . We will try to have at least one report
per day. What limits the frequency of reports is the fact that we often are
in the middle of nowhere and internet connections are not present, slow or
not working. So, sometimes you will have to be patient with us.


Emails to competitors

It will be possible to send messages to athletes. Again, I can't promise
that all messages get through or get there within a day but we will do our
best to hand on print outs of any emails. Please send the emails to
info@thegreatoutdoors.de and don't forget to write who the message is for.

 

POST ON THE YUKON SITE FEB. 14TH!!!

 

Back to the 320 mile race which continues as I write. Last to cross the road at Braeburn, which in my eyes is a major psychological barrier, was Katherine Hay-Heddle. She left the warmth and comfort of the café at 8.00pm last night. Without a flippin doubt, Katherine is one tough cookie. However, she was in some discomfort with her feet on leaving, and I anticipate her progress will be slow and may be her undoing in completing this monster of an event. I would be incredibly chuffed if she can prove me wrong.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day a day late!

I feel very fortunate today, I'm going out do my first run since I broke my toe!

My husband Jay gave me a brand new Ipod for Valentine's Day loaded with all my favorite music!

We have 2 NYC clients here for 5 days training with us for the Marathon Des Sables.

Today is hill repeats in the snow pulling a tire, they have NO idea what they are in for!:)

 

Have a wonderful day!

Lisa

Let it snow!

Good morning!

 

I have been asked many times how we train in the winter.

It seems that all the NYC folks are over there heads with snow!

Snowshoe, cross country ski and running with Yak tracks is the way to go.

Running in the snow is also the best cross training for running in the sand for races such as the Marathon Des Sables which we go to every year in April.

 

Have a great day

Happy feet!

Lisa

ultra list

Hi gang!

 

This was posted to the Ultra List

 

I am writing this on behalf of my very good friend Lisa Smith-Batchen who  is
not a member of the ultra list at this time.

First of all she really wants to thank each and every one of you for  your
response and thoughts as expressed to her in personal emails and via  postings
on the list. She asked me to clarify an important point, that  the author and
Runners World did have her overall permission to write a  feature story about
Lisa. There are however fundemental disagreements  between Lisa and the author
as to which topics were off limits. Lisa  cannot get into the specific nature
of the disagreements as of this  writing.

Lisa wanted to say ...  "It is my most profound  hope that by exposing my
problems and putting my life out there, that I can  help others who are going
through the same sort of problems. I mean this  most sincerely, if I am able to
touch or help just one person than the  entire journey and subsequent article
was well worth it."
 

Let the sun shine!

Good morning to all of you!

The sun is just over the mountain tops and its going to be a beautiful day to go for a run.

But with a broken toe I think it might be a "slog" around the block:)

 

100's of email's each day are coming to me about the RW article and I feel blessed to have been able to touch even just one of you. The article for me personally was much more about my depression than I thought it was going to be about but again if it has touched one person than I am thankful. We all go though "Bumps in the road" and its how we find our way back to the sunshine that makes it all worth it. What we learn and how we grow from all of the pain. I do believe that behind every tragedy and every misfortune we all gone through that there is a gift and greater purpose waiting for us out there, we just have to be patient and trust.

When I was in College I did not like to run very much, it was only near the end of College that I started to run to stay in shape. My first race was a 5k Turkey Trot. I had no idea what I was doing but was so pleased to get a very cool T-shirt when I signed up and to feel the amazing energy that surrounded me. I did not even own a watch at the time or running shoes. I won the race and flew home for Thanksgiving with my family with a 20 pound turkey in my hand. This was pure joy for me and so it started the long journey of where I am today.

God Bless you all and Happy Feet!

Lisa

Texas RR 50/100 Success

What great success we had at the RR 50/100! It was nice to be out of the snow for a few days. The night was very bitter to the bone cold for many of us!

I was to pace and run with Kira doing her first 100! We were running so very well when at 30 miles my left foot got stuck under a tree root and I went flying through the air! Ouch!

I continued on for 10 more miles but my big toe was not going to allow me to take another step, the Doctor said looks like you broke your toe! Kira took off and continued on to an amazing 80 miles but ended up with the SAME toe issue! In all my years I have never seen a first timer be able to Power Walk 5.5 MPH and never get off pace. I am so impressed with this women's ability, we better all watch out next time:)

.Michelle Jensen 1st Women in the 50 and her first ULTRA!!! 8:10

.Katy Cotton: 5th women  in the 50

Jay Batchen: my sweetie: 5th over all in the 50

.Steve Oliveria: 9:19 in the 50 with a best time by 1 hour and 45 minutes!

.Dale Perry: 20:20 in the 100

.Will Abrams: first 100 miles, fell asleep on the road and woke up and was thankful he was not eaten by a raccoon! Just under 29 hours!

 

Other success stories this weekend!

>Nancy Warren: 50k 4:56  best time by 30 min.

Sandy Mcullan: Fat Ass 50k in Canada, won the race in a time of 4:47 and a best time by 23 min.!!!

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.tejastrails.com/Rocky.html

Today I am back at home in  0 degree temps and another 12 inches of new
snow. Hundreds of new email since Friday so back to
work!

Happy Feet Lisa"

Run, Run, Run!

Thanks to all of you for kind words, love and support as we work through the details of the Runners World article that hit the stands this week. The writer wrote a great story on depression and exposed my pain to the world without asking me if this was ok to do!

So many areas touched on in the article were personal and private. If sharing my pain with the world can help even one person than it will all be worth it.

I would love to know your thoughts about how you feel about the article.

12 of my coaching clients and myself are running the RR 50/100 mile in Texas this weekend, I will pace a client through her first 100 miler. I can't wait to stand at the starting line and feel the energy and the love!

 

Lisa

The Untold Story: What Runner's World Didn't Tell You

Well, the emails are coming in.

The 9 page feature on me in the March Issue 2006 of Runner's World tackles the subject of depression and running.

I am asking you to post you reactions to the article here and share your thoughts.

If you want to hear the whole story and unspoken truth - Join me on a special tele-seminar with a special mystery guest at a time to be determined for later this month.

Yes I know there is alot of unknown's but you will not want to miss this event.

Join the Dreamchaser mailing list on my website to get details - there is limited space so sign up to ensure you get the announcement. I will be sending out an announcement mid-feb.

Happy Feet

Lisa:)