"This joyful, committed and strong woman pushed me to run faster on the track, believe in my untapped ability and helped me find peace and control in my running."
Lisa Smith-Batchen is an inspiration in many ways!
Not only is this lovely individual an endless pool of knowledge, insight and encouragement when it comes to personal goals, fitness or otherwise, Lisa is a joy to be around. This joyful, committed and strong woman pushed me to run faster on the track, believe in my untapped ability and helped me find peace and control in my running. It has been a privilege to work with such a world-class athlete and human being. I am eternally grateful to Lisa for the life-long lessons of personal strength and achievement she helped me to realize; they resonate with me everyday.
Getting In Touch with Lisa
I originally contacted Lisa for two reasons: her reputation preceded her here in Jackson, WY (Jackson is full of "extreme" athletes, but Lisa is just on another plane) and I had read an article about her in Runner's World. In that article I learned what kind of person Lisa was...her inner strength, her drive, but especially her "humanness”. This person who had achieved almost incomprehensible athletic goals suffered from depression, and felt the self-doubt we all feel. I realized she wasn't one of those über athletes weighed down by her ego. Instead, Lisa seemed to be in touch with a more powerful force of goals, helping people push their personal limits. So I visited her website, which shattered any "I'm not good enough to contact her” doubts I harbored. Instead, I found that her message was, "whatever your goal is, I'm here to help...no goal is too small”.
Lisa Expects Commitment
I was at the point in my running where I needed someone to give me homework and check it. I needed someone who I connected with, that I would want to work with. I had no idea that I'd be able to have so much personal contact with Lisa. She expected results and commitment. Initially, I kind of thought, “Hmm…that would be nice, someone to tell me what to do each week”, but I got so much more from Lisa. I thought I was going to day camp and training with Lisa ended up feeling more like going to college.
Training with Lisa Crushed My Self-Imposed Limits
Training with Lisa really did open up a new world of running to me and crushed my self-imposed limits. If I said "I can't do it", she just didn't buy it! As a result, I am stronger, more committed, faster, more confident and more willing. And I was even able to take 5 minutes off my half marathon time and I ran my fastest 200 meters ever at Lisa’s track workouts! |