This week we’re talking to Lizzy Rountree, a member of the Impalas, 2020 Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier, winner of the 2021 Arches 50K, and product designer. Lizzy says that her high school self would be shocked by her current identity as a runner (she impressively scored on her own team twice in school). She shares her journey from a non-athlete who smoked to the Olympic trials, and how running fuels her creativity as a product designer. We talk about the mental aspects of training and racing and how the sisterhood of the Impalas inspired her identity as a runner and fueled her progress as a runner by helping to block out doubts.
Some highlights from our conversation:
🎽 What it was like to race at the Texas Qualifier track meet
👤 Dealing with imposter syndrome at big races
🇨🇷 How a classmate helped her get started running while they were studying abroad in Costa Rica
🌄 How the pandemic and post-trials training drove her to trail running
🏆 Training for her first 50K and WINNING IT
💀 The “stomach grim reaper”
💡Translating her creativity into a career in product design
⚡️ Finding creative energy while running
🔗 How bonds with runner friends are different than bonds with other friends
🔂 How seeing the impalas doing their track workouts inspired her to join the team
👯♀️ The power of a tight knit community of women
🛑 Using teammates to help block out the doubts
You can find Lizzy on Instagram @lizzy.rountree and follow her training on Strava
You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay
Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at runnersofthebay@gmail.com.
This week’s episode with Lizzy Rountree is brought to you by:
EverAthlete, the online strength and mobility training community for outdoor enthusiasts! Visit www.everathlete.fit/ and use code ROTB50 to get 50% off your first month!
Beam. Check out their hydration and CBD productions beamtlc.com use code ROTB for 15% off your order!
Amazing photography by Ian Tuttle: https://www.ituttle.com/ @iantuttle
Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.
Mixing and editing by John (JB) Barley.
