Lizi Bolanos-Nauth of Boulder won the masters race for the USATF half marathon trail national championship at Lake Padden in Bellingham, WA on Saturday, October 17. Her time of 1:49:03 was good for 13th among females and the national masters title. The race was a milestone victory for the runner who has struggled to return to fitness after a bicycle accident in 2008 left her unable to walk. We talked to Lizi about the race and about her return to running.
CR: Congratulations on your win! Tell us about the race.
Lizi: The race was held in Bellingham, WA, north of Seattle. This race was chosen as the USATF Trail Half Marathon Championships this year, and will be also for 2016. It held the deepest elite field in history for these trail championships. Elite runners included Patrick Smith, Andy Wacker, Max King, and Jared Basset among the men. In the women’s field, Kimber Mattox, Allison Morgan, Caitlin Smith, Maria Dalzot, Michele Yates, Amanda Lee, among others.
I chose to participate in this race for several reasons. First, I wanted a longer race to finish my race season, and I had heard how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is, so what a better excuse than to do this race!
This was a beautiful course, although most people were surprised about how challenging it was. It consisted of two loops around Lake Padden, and although there were some “flat” sections, it was mostly up and down with very steep, technical ascents and descents. In the end there were 2,340 feet of climbing and about the same of descent. It was beautiful, as we ran in a dense forest with very high trees. The dirt was wet and sometimes muddy which added a lot more fun.
During the first lap I was careful of my pace, especially for the first couple of miles. The second lap was hard but I just kept focused on my goal and getting to the finish line. I raced with a time of 1:49:03 to finish 13th female overall, and first place masters, earning the National Masters title in the distance.
CR: Tell us about the accident that changed everything for you. What happened?
Lizi: The accident happened road racing my bicycle at the Mad River Road Race in Vermont in 2008 as a participant in the Green Mountain Stage Race. At mile 62 of the 73 mile course, on a section of dirt and gravel, a rider came behind me screaming “on your left!” and I went into an area of deep gravel, hit the breaks and lost control of my bike. I crashed landing on my left side. Aside from breaking my helmet (thank goodness for that helmet), I broke my scapula, two ribs, and my hip in three different places all on the left side, and two fingers on my right hand. After a week at a rehab hospital in Boston, MA, the general opinion of the orthopedist was that it was best to have surgery. So, instead of going home, I went to a different hospital where I had the surgery.
My daughter was nine months at that time so it was devastating for everyone, especially for me and for her.
The surgery itself was successful. However, the problem was that, during it, my sciatic nerve was bruised. I woke up with no movement or sensation in my left foot. I had what is known as foot drop.
CR: What was your recovery like?
Lizi: Recovery was slow, and the nerve recovery was very painful. I had to be in a wheelchair for three months before I progressed to use a walker, and then a cane. It took me a year to start walking independently. Even then, you could hear my foot flapping. I was told I could never run again, and that if I wanted to cycle I would have to use an AFO orthotic to hold my foot in place.
Two years after the accident I made a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I had a consult with a neurosurgeon who told me the test they performed showed that there were still signs of nerve recovery. They said I should be happy the way I was, even if I couldn’t run ever again, which was the likely scenario.
My heart was broken in a way. I was happy to hear that I was still recovering but sad about running. But there, at that very moment, I decided I was not going to let someone or something decide how far I could go. I was convinced that my brain could somehow rewire to my foot again. Around 2011, I started cycling again as a way to gain fitness, running was difficult as I could hear my foot flapping and it was mentally discouraging.
On April 2012, we moved out to Boulder. A friend of mine took me with her friends on a trail run, and this is where I found home. I started running then. In 2013, I participated in the La Sportiva Trail Running Series where I won the series. Last year, although I had good races, I had constant set-backs with injuries.
CR: What is your current training?
Lizi: This year, I started training with Adam St.Pierre (ASTP coaching), who has been incredible at working with me on my strength and weaknesses. I don’t run a lot compared to other runners, about 30 miles a week. But I do a lot of cross training, elliptical, aqua running, and the stair machine, which I call “the dreaded stair machine.” But Adam has me do a lot of the little things that go a long way. I have a pre-run routine to activate running specific muscles, a post run “reset” that includes mobility and strength, as well as barefoot strength. I believe this has made a huge difference and I believe every runner, especially masters runners, should incorporate these into their training.
I have been doing a lot of uphill running (which is my absolute favorite!) but lately I have been working on descending.
Given the little experience and background I have as a runner, I really credit Adam. He has made some magic!
I had a very good season working with Adam and I had the support of Pearl Izumi as part of their Pearl Izumi Champion Team. I was second at La Sportiva Vail Hill Climb, I won La Sportiva Berry Picker and La Sportiva 10k at 10,000 feet – all races part of the La Sportiva Vail Trail Running Series.
CR: Do you have a favorite local trail?
Lizi: My favorite running trails in Boulder are The Sunshine Trail and the Swoop, The Switzerland Trail, Dowdy Draw and Green Mountain. I love Boulder!
CR: Do you have any favorite races?
Lizi: I love the trail races in Vail, but in a way I think it is time for me to find other challenges and new trails. I love running uphill, so I am thinking of racing Mount Washington, The Pikes Peak Ascent, and may be the Masters World Championships 2016 in Susa, Italy.
After racing in the Pacific Northwest, I would love to come back to Lake Padden, WA next year. I would also love to race the Dipsea Trail Race in Mill Valley CA.
I would only add that my best supporters and cheerleaders are my husband Roger, my daughter Clara (8) and my son Alex (4). I wouldn’t be able to do this without them!