By Joe Simon, Great2Greatest Coach

A day in the life of Lisa Smith-Batchen seems some how to have more hours than the 24 hours you and I get.  Mom to two energetic little girls, wife, business owner, coach and ultra athlete.  She drives a mini van, loves sipping a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee, and conducts core fitness classes two or three times a week at 6 AM, rain or shine, snow or blow.  Then back home to get the girls going and ready for school.  Who is this person?

You should get to know Lisa Smith-Batchen  www.runhope.com and the fire she has brewing in her belly.  The nation might see her running down one of the streets, roads or passes this Spring as she sets out to conquer 2500 miles over a 62 day period.  50 miles a day in all 50 states.  Why?  For the kids of the world, the ones that are unkown or forgotten, the ones born into poverty.  That's been Lisa's track record.  Running her heart out for the unfortunate ones.  But again you might ask, 'Who is this ultra person'?  Many stories have been written by leading publications about Lisa overe the years and they should have been, she is in fact news worthy.  But this time it’s really different, this time it’s coast-to-coast, world record serious.  We caught up with her recently, between training sessions and asked her some interesting questions about her life and the 2500 mile ‘race’ called Running Hope Through America:

Q: Favorite song to run to?
A: Mellissa Etherridge.  I Run for You and Me My Friend, I Run For Life

Q: Favorite movie, why?
A: Tuesday With Morie.  What you learn form this movie will carry you in many ways through life.  forgive everyone, everything, move with love.

Q: All time favorite food?
A: Avacadoes and Watermelo

Q: You have some unorthodox training techniques used please talk about one or two of them and the benefits of using these techniques (i.e., dragging a tire behind you up the mountain. Pushing & pulling your girls up the mountain road) please expound?
A: Ha...I have been pulling a tire for 20 years and now I see so many doing it.  This helps thrain the core and the legs like a race horse!  You have to have the tire and belt set up really well for your body so you dont hurt your back.  Start with 5 minutes...My longest tire pull is 4 hours.  My kids are the loves of my life and I lover to be with them.  I found a way we could all be together to sing, talk, laugh...they can take naps, eat snacks, read books, listen to music.  I push one in the front of me and pull the other.  The Chariot Company gave me my life back with there amazing carreirs for kids...

Q: Talk about your beginnings, how did you start running, was it a natural fit for you right away or did it take time to find your comfort zone?
A: As a kid I ran or road my bike everywhere, but I am not a natural runner at all.  I work very hard at it.  I rund with a very natural, easy form and this is why I am injury free at close to 50 years old.  In high School I was turned down for the cross country team because I was too slow!  My first race was a 5k Turkey Trot.  I won the Race!  I won a 20 pound turkey and this is where it all started.  I now am the race direcctor of a 5k and 10k Turkey Trot Race and we give away Turkeys.

Q: What one person inspires you the most and why?
A: Sister MaryBeth Lloyd.  My wonderful friend, mentor, and God Mother.  She has helped me find the absolute meaning behind a great purpose in my own life.  Her passion and love for people is inspiring.  If I can accomplish 1/4 of what she has done in her life then I will feel like I have done something.  Seek greatness, turst in God, and follow what you hear in your heart. 

Q: What is your most valuable ultra / athletic event you ever participated in? Why (Life lessons? Friendships made?) How did you place?
A: It has nothing to do with the place I cam in.  In 2008 I ran from Law Vegas to the top of Mt. Whitney.  306 miles!  Part of the badwater 135 mile ultra marathon.  My crew and I were able to raise $600,000 for aids orphans rising.  Sister Marybeth was able to be on the crew for me and some wonderful friends.  It was not about the money raised, it was about the kids we were helping with the money.  At the start of this run Sister MaryBeth took my and and told me this, "You are going to have the most extraordinary finish".  Wel, 13 miles to go it was strait up hill and I was soo tired from the heat.  Sister and I walked towards the direction of the last 13 miles and I thought it was going to be hours before I was the finish.  Sister squeezed my hand and said to me, "Do you remember what I told you at the start?"  WEll, i took off like a race horse and I want you to know that I had the 2nd fastest time running up that hill.  The others had gone 127 miles, I had gone close to 300 miles.  I was running faster then ever.  This is hands down one of the most amazing moment of my life.  Some of my crew were not at the finish because they thought it would be another 3 hours!!!  It is one of those "you had to see it to believe it" situations.

Q: Could you share how you and Jay decided to move out West, away from the successful lives you both had on the East Coast?A: We lived in New Jersey where I was a personal trainer, massage therapist, and coach.  September 11th happened and this was a very big wake up call for us, as it was for many.  Jay worked at ground zero.  We decided that life was about about living out your dreams, not about waiting until you can afford to do so, or until you are retired to do so.  Do it now, dont wait!  Otherwise, you may never get the chance.  It was the best move we ever made; our life is so blessed.  We miss the people in New Jersey, but now the mountains are our home.

Q: Your upcoming world record 2500 mile run called Running Hope Through America, requires many different people to help you. Do you have a team of trainers, dieticians or physicians that work with you when you approach ultra-ultra events like the Running Hope to America 2500?
A: I have a team of amazing volunteers helping me.  They are not paid, they are a gift from God who all believe in this project.  We are out to raise 1 million dollars!  I train myself.  I know how and what to eat and will have a full physical very soon.  I have some great doctor friends that I will call on during the run if needed.  But to be honest, I know what I am doing and how to take care of my needs.

Q: There may be a day when you can not physically compete, how do you phase out of one part of your life into the next?
A:  The day is coming this July.  i will run m y last race.  I will run my 10th and last Badwater 135 mile race.  I will be 50 years old and I am ready.  i am not saying I will never run again or be at a race.  Rather, I will never train exclusively for one race again.  I will coach, mentor, guest speak, and finish the book I am writting tyring to bring others to run for a purpuse.  I will spend much more time with my family.  it is not easy to move to the next chapter, but I am ready and feel really good about this choice.

Q: What do you see yourself doing to keep your competitive juices flowing once you retire as a professional ultra athlete?
A:Ha...I Mentioned this earlier.  But I also plan to try some new sports just for fun!  

Q: Can you tell us about your relationship with Sister Mary Beth Lloyd (aka: The Running Nun), the journeys you been on, AIDS ORPHANS RISING, etc.?
A: WE have been in each others life for 28 years!  She has been the mission director for many years and she is the back bone in starting all the missions that we have going.  I have run and used the gift of my running God gave me to raise money to help her feed the women and chidren.  We have also helped build schools, teach, and soo much more.  Sister and I are vessels in each others life.  it is this year on April 19th that we will come together, standing side by side, to cover all of America!  Team Work = Dream Work

By: Joe Simon, Great2Greatest Coach

So actions always speak louder than words?  Not a l w a y s, and  great2greatest is hear to show that working smarter is better than working ‘busy’.  G2G is a coaching program for high achieving type-A leaders.  This program is not necessarily a business improvement program, rather it’s a person improvement lifestyle change (that’s a mouth full).  From this, wonderful things sprout for the individual.  Allow me to talk about or remind you (if you are a graduate of this program) of the four cornerstones to G2G.  Think of a pyramid shaped graphic, the bottom being four strong blocks labeled, Spiritually, Physically, Mentally, Professionally. Once you realize these blocks must be in place, and remain strong and vital, we can build from their.

Scripture is clear on this too, building your house on a firm foundation not sand.  The first thing I think of is the recent rise and stumble of the country Dubai. This is a country solely built on a man made sand island.  High dollar high-rises, golf courses, and other luxurious amenities shower this ‘island’.  It’s been marketing itself as the worlds’ playground for billionaires.  When viewed from 20,000 feet the island is shaped like a palm tree.  Interesting fact here is each day the maintenance officials sample the edges of the island and refill the decaying beach with an industrial sized vacuum-like machine that sucks sand from the floor of the adjacent ocean!  Think about this, what happens when you build a sand castle at the beach, it eventually washes away.  Hmmm, the Dubai project sounds a lot like that doesn’t it?

Many G2G students find that their four core blocks are weak or not even in place.  How can you build off of this?  There are some very good reasons why these blocks aren’t in place.  Here are some extreme examples:  Perhaps there was a bad experience with a church or religious person that dampened your view of the spiritual part of your life.  Physically, perhaps you struggle with a mental image of how you see yourself (I’m fat and uncoordinated, I tried to get in shape, it doesn’t feel good to me). Mentally, you might have fear of failure (I’m slow and dumb and have to work harder than anyone else to get ahead, that’s why I work so much, I don’t have time to study and learn).  Professionally, we often see how work is closely related to the other three areas.  Worship and idolization of people, business, recreation, etc. rather than God.  No time invested in keeping yourself healthy and thriving.  Lack of family relations, let alone other social relationships. No time given to mental exercise.

This year the challenge for you is to stay on track.  If you are a G2G graduate this means reviewing your Compelling Vision Plan, possibly revising it.  If you are a guest-reader here, this means understanding and coming to a point of reconecting with your life, finding a coach and or mentor, drilling down and standing on the four blocks we are talking about here.  Simply put, being coachable. When you stand before the mirror and look yourself in the eyes can you truly say that you are flourishing in life and the four blocks to being your greatest are what you are standing on?  Let me be encouraging to you, as your efforts in searching out what you can do to hit your stride is why you are at this site and reading this.  Fine tuning is best when you have someone watching your form, like a coach.

Summary: G2G is not a business improvement program; rather, it’s a person improvement lifestyle change.  From this exceptional things sprout!  There are four ‘Have To’s’ to getting to your greatest:  1. Spiritual.  2. Physical.  3.  Mental.  4.  Professional.    We find a G2G student is outstanding in one or two of these areas but ignore the others due to past experiences and influences. What’s influencing your life?   Lastly, you do a lot of leading in your life, but, are you coachable?

Share this Page on Facebook