Ultra Bound Coaching

The 2027 Cocodona 250 lottery is this afternoon!

​Earlier this month, I had the absolute honor of wearing three hats for my husband, Dave, as he tackled Cocodona: Coach, Crew, and Pacer. Crossing that finish line was unforgettable. But when the dust settled, I asked him what actually got him through 250 brutal miles of Arizona heat, freezing nights, and sleep deprivation. He didn't say magic gear or complex spreadsheets (though we had them). He said these three things that were included in his training and race plan made the difference and they can help you for your next race:

​1. Train heavy. Dave did his weekend long runs with his pack completely full, exactly as it would weigh on race day. Don’t let race day be the first time your shoulders and core feel that extra weight, especially when you're managing extra summer fluids.

​2. Sleep when needed. No arbitrary timelines. When the wall hit, he listened to his body and shut it down for a quick reset. In any ultra, self-awareness is your superpower. When you hit a low, don't fight it, manage it.

​3. Block out the big picture. Dave never allowed himself to think about the 250-mile total. The only thing that existed was the single stretch of trail between him and the very next aid station. Break your race into bite-sized pieces. Let the finish line take care of itself.

​Whether your "impossible" goal is a 6-hour timed event, your first 50K, or a multi-day mountain monster, the formula is the same: Dial in your strategy, master your mindset, and break it down.

Is your name in the lottery ?

👇 Let me know what big goal you're chasing this year in the comments!

​

Been running for awhile and you're tired of pounding pavement for the same distance over and over? Curious about ultras but not sure where to start?

Hi, I'm Lisa and I'm an ultra running coach that wants to see more women running ultras. Follow along to learn more about building a body that can handle unreasonable distances.

When I am talking to women about running their first ultra I often hear, "I'm too old to run that distance now."

And every time I hear that I have to say I completely disagree. The average age of an ultramarathon runner is 44. Dozens of women run their first 100 miler in their 50s. Women's endurance performance relative to men actually improves with distance and with age.

Ultra running is not a sport that rewards youth. It rewards experience, patience, mental toughness, and the ability to manage hard things without falling apart.

You have been building those characteristics for decades.

I started running at 29. I ran my first ultra in my 30s. I'm still going. I'm better at this than I was 10 years ago and it's not despite me getting older, but because of it.

In the past two years I've coached 2 women in their 50s for their first 50 mile race and I coached another who ran her fastest 50K.

So no, you're not too old. You're exactly old enough.

Follow along and I'll show you how.

Hi, I'm some people!

I don't want to just cheer for your goals, I want to make them possible. If you are the one who has been quietly googling training plans and then closing the tab, the one who watched someone cross a finish line and felt something light up in her chest or the one who has been telling herself "maybe someday" for longer than she'd like to admit...I'm Lisa and I coach women who are chasing their first ultra.

I build running and strength plans along with race planning nutrition support for my runners. I'll remind you you're stronger than you think when your confidence gets shaky. Before you realize it, you'll be doing things a past version of yourself never thought you could.

If you're ultra curious follow along.

When talking with women runners many of them tell me that they've thought about or are even interested in running an ultra marathon, but they just have a lot of doubts about taking the next steps.

What I often hear is:

1. I'm too old. The truth is the average ultra runner is 44 years old. Dozens of women have run their first 100 miler in their 50s and 60s. I believe there really is no age limit for running an ultra.

2. I'm not fast enough. Outside of elite runners ultra running is not primarily a speed sport. It's a time on your feet, managing your effort, and executing your nutrition sport. Sprinkle in some determination and stubbornness. Most first-time and experienced ultra runners walk significant portions of the course. Especially the hills! Finishing is the goal and finishing is available to a much wider range of athletes than people assume. Most people are blown away to hear someone ran 50 miles. They don't ask how fast you went.

3. I don't have time to train. Peak ultra training for a first-time 50k runner is approximately 8 to 10 hours per week. That's less time than most people spend scrolling their phone. It requires planning and commitment just like a marathon training plan, but it doesn't take up your whole life for long periods of time.

4. That's for serious runners. Ultra running was built by people who wanted to do something extraordinary that the mainstream Running World said wasn't possible. It has always been a sport for people who are willing to try something that scares them a little. If you're looking for an adventure or wanting to push your limits and an ultra marathon would be perfect for you.

5. What if I fail. DNF is not a failure. Some of the most experienced runners have a DNF on their records. A DNF is still experience and a learning opportunity to make the next training cycle and race better.

I believe more women belong in ultras and I want to help women crush the doubts they have about setting big running goals.

If you're a woman curious about ultras please follow along