Lindsay Phenix - Ultra Running, 100-Mile Races & The Power of Mental Strength
Lindsay Phenix is an ultra runner and run coach based in Los Angeles, California, who has completed more than 140 marathons and ultramarathons combined.
In this episode, Lindsay shares her journey from running with her family as a child to taking on some of the toughest endurance events in the world, including the legendary Badwater 135 in Death Valley. She explains how she progressed from running one marathon a year to discovering her love for 100-mile races, and why endurance, patience and mental strength are key to success.
We dive into the mental side of ultrarunning, exploring how to stay present over 100 miles, maintain focus, adapt when things go wrong and manage the physical and psychological challenges of running through the night. Lindsay also shares practical advice on pacing, nutrition, fuelling, sleep, strength training, recovery and running during your menstrual cycle.
We discuss some of her toughest racing experiences, including the Hurt 100 in Hawaii, breaking her tailbone, and her dreams of taking on iconic events such as Western States 100, Hardrock 100, UTMB and the Tor des Géants.
As a coach, Lindsay explains why the best training plan is the one you can consistently follow, why running needs to be a progression, and how she helps others work towards their own goals.
This episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration for runners of all abilities. Lindsay also shares her thoughts on making running more inclusive and offers encouragement for women and girls who are ready to take a leap of faith and discover what they're capable of.
Listen in to learn more about:
Building up to ultramarathons and 100-mile races
Developing the mental strength to keep going
Pacing, fuelling and managing the unknowns of endurance racing
Balancing training, strength work, sleep and recovery
Learning from tough races and setbacks
Finding the right training approach for you
Taking a leap of faith and believing in yourself
🎙️ New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
💪 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
🙏 Your support makes a difference. 💖 Thank you x
Listen to Lindsay Now!
Click here if you can't see the link below.
Show notes
Who is Lindsay
Being based in Los Angles, California
Originally from Texas
Being a runner her whole life
Running with her Dad, brother and cousins on a regular basis
Why running was a blessing
Running for her dad’s love?
Why running and sports was a joy
Never suffering from burnout from running
Being gracious with herself
Taking time of from running after races
Not seeing running as a full career
Being inspired at 14 by Dean Karnazes
Wanting to run DeathValley - Badwater 135
Deciding to run the Houston Marathon
Running a marathon each year
Moving to California and how her running starting to snowball
Why running has to be a progression
Needing to complete the minimal qualifications
Her path to running Badwater
Discovering her sweet spot of running 100 milers
Running her first 50 miler at the beginning of 2018
By the end of 2019 she’d run her first 100 miler
Not being scared of the distance
Never being the fastest, but knowing she had endurance
Delving into the mental side of running 100 miles
The mental focus to hold a race pace over the full distance
Running a PR 16hrs 23mins (100 miler) running a 9.52 pace and breaking a course record
Training for mental focus
Needing to be present in the exact mile you are running
4 min run, 1 min walk after 20 miles
Not wasting time at aid stations or stopping to eat food
The biggest challenge of doing a 100 miler
Dealing with the unknowns
Running the Angeles Crest 100
Needing to be adaptable in this sport
Running in the night
How your mind can start to play tricks on you
Nutrition and fuelling
Handling periods while running and racing
Prioritising sleep
Running and strength and conditioning
Ultra the documentary on Apple TV
Heading back to badwater 2 years later
The lessons and learning from running ultra marathons
The toughest race she’s run - Hurt 100 in Hawaii
Breaking her tail bone
Structuring her races each year
Why all her races are A races
The dream race
Her coaching philosophy - Coach Lindsay
Why it’s so personal
Why the best training is the training that you will do
How to connect with Lindsay
Final words of advice to motivate and inspire women and girls
Why running is inclusive
Take the leap of faith
Social Media
Instagram: @lindsayphenix
Substack: lindsayphenix.substack.com
Comments