How Lila Miller Won the Viper 300 at 22 and Became the First Woman to Ever Finish It

Welcome to the Everyday Ultra Podcast, a show designed to help you level up your training,

crush your races, and ultimately become a veteran endurance athlete every single day.

Whether you're an endurance athlete as a hobby or someone who wants to be the best in

the sport, this is the show for you.

I'm your host, Joe Corseon, and thank you so much for listening.

Now, let's get into it.

What's up, everybody?

Welcome to another episode of the Everyday Ultra Podcast.

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What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of the EverydayUltra podcast.

I'm your host, Joel Corcione, and I'm super stoked for this episode for many, many different

reasons.

First of all, we have one of our very own EverydayUltra athletes on this podcast today.

She works on our team with one of our coaches.

And yeah, super, super cool.

I'm so awesome is recently our guest today.

She became the first woman ever to finish the 300 mile race, the Viper 300, and she set

the new female course record out there, too.

But what's super, super awesome is not just she went out there and got this win.

She is 22 years old, which is absolutely incredible.

And she's ran across Japan, she's ran across Iceland, she's completed 100 mile races,

and has done all these things at such a young age, and which is so cool is when you chat

with her.

This is the first time we've chatted with each other on here, and I can just feel the

passion and feel just the excitement for all this stuff is, I think, you know, today's

episode is not just going to be about, you know, the training and everything, too.

But I think our guests and bodies, like what you can do when you're passionate about something.

And when you hear about her big goal that she has eventually, too, I think it'll help

us all inspire us to, you know, go for big goals and ultra running and to pave our path

to.

So none other, I'd like to announce the guests in this podcast, the amazing female course record

holder and champion of the Viper 300 mileer, Lila Miller.

Lila, thank you so much for being here.

Congrats on your race and excited to dive into your journey on this podcast.

Thank you so much for having me, Joe.

I'm so honored and excited and stoked to be here.

I just, it's great to meet you and hear your voice and have a conversation.

So awesome.

It's so great to meet you, too.

And I know you've worked with Lizzy.

And so obviously I saw your name come in when you joined the team and you guys have been

working together.

I remember, you know, she told me that you were going for Viper and that you were 22

years old. So I always knew like the story and even though, you know, Lizzy was the one

kind of looking through your training, you know, she would always give me updates, being

like, wow, it's crushing it.

And then, you know, lo and behold, the race happens.

And I see like the news come across the, the, my Instagram feed and I was like, oh my gosh.

Like this is amazing.

And so just to see you grow and, and accomplish the things that you did is absolutely amazing.

And of course, you know, we'll talk about Viper.

We'll talk about the training.

We'll talk about your long-term role, which is absolutely awesome.

But how did you, how did you get into this sport at such a young age?

Because we were talking beforehand, like a lot of people get in this sport in their 30s

or like later on in life.

But I mean, to, to still be in college doing this, I mean, it is impressive.

Like I didn't even know what a marathon was in college, but like let alone a 300-mile

race. So how did you get into this whole world of all-training at such a young age?

Yeah, that's a great question.

Um, so I have a track and field background.

So from a young age, I've always just loved running, loved going for it, um,

just exploring what's physically possible.

Um, yeah, but I was always shorter distances.

Um, I did the heptathlon.

So that's seven different events.

That's the hurdles, 200-meter, the 800-meter,

shot-put, javelin, high jump, and long jump.

Um, so I was just spending track meets just like zip it around the track,

doing everything, and I loved it.

Um, it was a huge part of my identity.

Um, I poured my entire soul into the sport.

Um, but then I discovered the idea of long distance, I guess.

Um, I spent my, the summer after my freshman year of college.

I was really an 18-year-old who was like, I need to like find the meaning of life.

If I need to like go out in the world and like stay grounded, man.

Walked 1,200 miles across America that summer.

And, oh my, you worked with America too, holy crap.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, when I was about 19, um, I did that.

And that was the most liberating experience I've had in my entire life.

It was my first time really camping.

Like, I had no idea what I was doing.

I had a 50-pound bag, and I like packed like my cutest jeans and like a hair straightener for like walking across America.

I had no idea what I was doing.

Like, pick off into the forest, and it was so thick to just learn how to survive out there.

Um, yeah.

So I, I did that big journey, came back to school after spending like two and a half months of the summer,

like in the woods, like at the craziest whiplash of my life, um, returning to college.

And I was like, I need to go back out there.

Like, I need to just keep pursuing this and like at the word, at the time I couldn't put words to it.

But I really was just that feeling of just like freedom and going for it.

And like doing something that like everyone around me was like, that's impossible, bro.

What are you talking about?

I was like, I need, I need to explore this more.

Um, so yeah, go back to college.

All my friends are like, you're insane.

What the hell did you just say?

Oh my god, Lila lost her mind.

I'm like, no, guys, I was crazy.

I was so fun.

I was so fun.

So that winter break, um, I start researching trails and I find out about the Florida trail.

And are you familiar with the Florida trail?

It just goes like, yeah, tip to top of, yeah, with like the big swamp and the alligators.

Oh, yeah, it is, it is a crazy trail.

Yeah, so I, I was like infatuated with this idea of distance, um, and this time I was like,

okay, how much can I really do in this like short little period of winter break?

So I packed my bag this time much lighter, only brought the necessities.

And I took off and started down in the Everglades, um, spent a couple days trudging through

the swamp.

I had to punch an alligator, um, wait, whoa, whoa, you got to tell the alligator story.

Now you had to punch an alligator.

Wait, I feel, I feel like we need to hear the story here.

Sorry, I just got to throw that in there.

Feel the Everglades like it's just at points.

It's like kind of knee high swamp.

You're just trudging through it.

Um, but at other points, there's like little banks of land.

So I was killing out for a second after swamping it up.

And I'm sitting on this little chunk of dirt.

I put my bag down and then I like, I'm kind of walking around.

I'm like stretching out like on the land, um, because the water was really, it was kicking my ass.

And I go back, I look at my bag and there's like, I think it was a teenager,

but this like teenage alligator was just kind of like nipping at my bag, um, and then yeah,

and I would have been like totally, totally screwed if he like, you know, ate my like survival supplies.

And then he kind of does a little step forward at me, um, and like the only way you can really

rattle an alligator is you either stab him in the eye or punch them in the nose.

And I feel so mean to stab him in the eye like I didn't want to actually hurt the guy.

So I just gave him a little bump on the nose.

Um, and it was, he got disoriented for a second.

I grabbed my bag and bucked it.

Oh my god.

Yeah, the swamp was cray, swamp was cray, cray, um, but long story short, I

got out of the water and get running on land for a bit and did about

350 miles of the Florida trail.

Um, this time kind of focusing on speed a lot more than I was during my journey beforehand.

And then yeah, I get back to school.

Everyone's like, you know, you don't meet many people who have punched an alligator,

let alone who have walked across America and also ripped the Florida trail.

Like that is, uh, that is a very unique persona.

You like, appreciate that.

Yeah, so then I'm back at school and I'm like,

I, I just need to keep exploring this trail thing.

So that spring break, I go out to the Arizona trail.

And I did about 575 miles of the AZT.

And that, that time I was like, I really want to try the speed thing.

So I think I was doing about 40 miles a day.

Um, and I came back from that and I'm like,

I need to pursue this.

Like I feel like this is something I'm now officially obsessed with.

And then I found out about Ultramarathons

that you can actually compete doing this type of thing.

Um, so I sign up for my first 100 mileer.

And I have no idea what I'm getting.

I thought it was.

Because right now I, all I know is like just kind of

trudging along with my backpack.

But um, yeah, the longest competitive race I'd done up to that point was the 800 meter

in track and field.

Oh my gosh.

So wow, 800 meters or two.

That is, I mean, granted you also did a thousand plus miles across like America.

So it's like, it's like the first competing.

But like also the distance is like shorter.

So it's like an interesting kind of like mix with that.

Yeah, yeah, I had no idea how to pace it.

How to run.

I didn't have a watch.

Um, I show up to my first 100 mileer.

No crew, um, like one energy drink,

a packet of skittles and like a ham sandwich.

So much glitter.

Long, long story short, I DNF hard.

I made it about like, I think it was 70 miles before my feet were just bleeding.

And I just like collapsed at an aid station.

And at that point, I didn't know like how to come back from that or like what to eat to like,

you know,

you know,

trudged through those low moments.

Um,

but I was,

yeah, I was like annihilated by that race,

but it was really exciting though at the same time,

because I was like,

damn, I didn't say anything else.

He helps.

So I got obsessed with the idea of completing 100 miles.

And then I sign up for another one.

Um, I spend that summer running across Japan.

Um, kind of like training for the 100 mile race.

Um, yeah, Japan was really cool.

I was on, it was a self navigated journey.

So okay, I was just making up my route every day,

but that totaled to be about 1,200 miles again.

Oh my god, it's so long.

That is crazy.

Yeah, it was a big commitment.

The time on feet, it's, I think it is so impressive that you have like all this time on feet,

like at such like early on, like, I mean,

just to have all that experience, it is just impressive.

So I don't mean to interrupt,

but like, oh, it is just so, like, I had no,

because I knew you mentioned before that you did across Japan.

And then Iceland too, but like to have all this experience is so cool.

So anyways, I just want to pause to say that,

but yeah, definitely keep going.

It is so kind.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Yeah, I was just, I think I've gotten a little obsessed.

I think that,

like once you start, you can't really stop.

I know you know all about that, but,

we're sure.

Yeah, yeah.

But yeah, Japan was great.

I, that was, I think,

similar intention behind the Japan journey as

my walk across America.

Again, I was like, oh, I feel like I just need to learn so much about myself.

And like the only way to really do that is just like,

be in the world and like, see what's there and meet people.

So yeah, I'm so grateful.

I met such incredible and wonderful folks in Japan,

even though I don't speak a word of Japanese.

It was just really like fun and kind of intense and beautiful to like

connect with just like people you meet on the road through

a deeper connection than just talking.

Like people saw me like some kooky girl and like a pink cowboy hat,

like running down the highway.

People would just like see me and like pull over and like give me a water out of their car

or like, I got really sick at one point and I had to like use a translating app,

but like this woman like let me like sleep in her backyard and like.

Oh, wow.

Yeah, people just went above and beyond to like,

help this like kooky stranger and it was the kindest thing ever.

It was so wonderful.

Um, I think that was really fundamental and like,

really just took this whole passion for just

go in as far as I can to a whole new level.

Just like discovering the human element of it all, you know.

Mm-hmm 100 percent.

Yeah, yeah.

So to pan, I was, I was

running around doing about 40 miles a day.

Um, so really just trying to like,

sustain a consistent pace because I wanted to see so much,

but I only had one little summer break, you know.

Um, and then get back to school.

Again, my darling wonderful friends are like,

you have lost your mind.

Um, um, give the 100 mile a try and I barely finished it,

but like we got it done.

Yeah, that is amazing.

Thank you, thank you.

Yeah, that one was brutal.

I like during my second crack at the 100 mile race.

I dislocated my shoulder and yeah, like,

I think it was at mile 29.

The course was technically a hundred and four miles,

but um, yeah, I, my shoulder, I ate it going on a downhill.

Um, and so it popped out and like,

I had to kind of like run to the,

it's just in a little bit of a goofy way.

I get it repopped in.

Um, oh gosh.

Yeah, but we got it done.

It was, it was painful, but we got it done.

What, what it going into the 100 though, I'm so curious, like,

did you, was there anything that you learned, like,

you know, from the first 100 mile to the second, right?

They helped you to get that one done because I think,

like a lot of times, you know, you know,

we can go through our first experience and we learn things and we improve

and obviously went to Japan to practice these things.

Was there something that, like, helped you to, like,

get that finish line cross through that time period in between,

where you kind of learned and changed things or, you know,

implemented new lessons or strategies?

Yeah, that's an incredible question.

Um, definitely, definitely.

I was way more prepared, I think, for this one.

Um, also just like talking to people and reaching out,

like, I, I started um,

DMing ultra runners on Instagram.

And um, actually, Ben Light, he's this incredible.

Yeah, yeah, you know him.

Yeah, Ben's awesome.

Yeah, he's a good friend of mine.

He's amazing.

Oh my god, he's so great.

Yeah, he like, I DMed him and I'm like,

hello, my name is Lionel Miller.

I'm running across Japan and I have a 100 mile race in four weeks.

What do you recommend?

And he like really didn't have to respond to like,

that insane DM, but he did.

And he like,

took the time to like,

take phone calls with me and like,

gave me all of this wisdom and all of these tips.

And yeah, and like, I also picked up stuff from like,

what went horribly wrong the first time.

And we, yeah, I was able to build a better nutrition plan.

And just have more of an understanding of what a race actually looks like.

And I got to watch and I got trekking poles and just drinking electrolytes.

That's something I wasn't doing the first time.

And I think I felt much more like,

okay, this is, this is a race instead of like,

this is a who knows what like fucking we ball, you know,

but now I was like, ready the second time around, I think.

And that made a world of difference.

So yeah, that is awesome that like you kind of took like the preparation and and,

and you know, got help and got the expertise from someone.

It was able to, to make sure you have like all the boxes,

take going into the next one because it's like these,

these races are so long and when you can go in and prepare and to get things like all

courted beforehand, I mean, they can lead to a beautiful result.

Like, you know, you had in that first 100 or the second 100 that you did out there.

So that is, that is awesome in here.

Thank you. Yeah, I mean, I, I really,

I think the preparation is what made it possible that time around for sure.

100%.

Yeah, then after, after the 100, um, I found out about 200s.

I was like, no, I signed up for, um, a 200.

And oh, I'm actually skipping a, I'm skipping a chapter.

I'm sorry.

No, you're just circling, circling back.

Yeah, we'll rewind rewind rewind rewind rewind.

So yeah, I do the 100.

And I really, that was really, I think, motivating that I finally like,

accomplished that goal.

And then I started to like think about how running can kind of be this beautiful like,

vehicle to like mobilize like causes and like, kind of bring people together.

Cause I was just so inspired by the folks I met at this 100 mile race.

Like, the eight station people who like stayed there for days and days.

And like, so we could like, accomplish this goal.

And like, the people who helped me pop my shoulder back in.

Like, I was just some random girl, but they like, again, it's this like,

beautiful human element of the sport that I think is just so inspiring.

And it makes, it makes the heart go boom, boom.

You know, yes.

Yes, so, um, I was doing research on, uh, in indigenous American women.

And there's a lot of horrifying statistics about their oppression and how there's kind of

systems that don't really protect them in a way that's equitable to, I think, the rest of the

nation. So, um, I found this horrifying statistic that, um, 84% of indigenous American women

experience like targeted violence against them in their lifetime.

So, um, yeah, 84 isn't that crazy?

And it's like, yeah.

Yeah. So, um, I started a fundraiser and I ran, um, 84 miles around my school.

Just like, loopy, loopy, loopy, loopy, loopy.

Oh, just like all around the perimeter.

Yeah, yeah, um, and raised money for a non-profit called Not Our Native Daughters.

Um, and yeah, and it was like a really cool thing to like, my friends were so supportive and like,

I don't go to a huge school.

There's only like 2,600 kids and like, doing this and like seeing people actually like donating.

And like, saying like, you know what?

Like, this is a cause that I also find important and like supporting it.

So, that was like, that really, I think, made something click in my brain.

And I'm like, this sport is so human.

It's so widespread and I think it can do so much.

I think it could just be so much more than just running, you know?

Yeah, so yeah, that was great.

And then, um, I went abroad.

I studied abroad because I was a junior in college at that point.

Um, and I went to Tanzania and East Africa.

Um, you've been to so many places which is so cool.

Like, that is incredible.

I think, I'm very grateful.

I'm very grateful for the opportunity that my school gave us to be able to just do that.

Yeah, um, and I did some conservation research about wildlife there.

And, um, I was training like a maniac when I was in Tanzania because I'd signed up for this 200

mile race and that again, I mean, I keep talking about the human elements of this all.

But I think that really running around Tanzania just like through these remote parts of East Africa,

like up in the mountains, like running through villages, I think I never would have seen in my life.

Unless my feet took me there.

Um, that it became like training every day became like my adventure of the day.

Um, and it just like filled me with so much excitement to wake up each day.

I was like, oh my gosh, I get to go and I get to meet all these people.

And I get to just run for a ridiculous amount of time.

And that's like what I'm going to do today.

That is amazing.

Thank you.

So yeah, love that, love Tanzania.

Um, I get back home and I'm okay.

So my dream one day is to circumnavigate the earth by running and that's so cool.

Thank you, thank you.

What was your inspiration like like behind that goal?

I mean, hearing more your story, it makes a lot of sense.

Like even like just hearing how, you know, your first foray into the super long distance was

doing a trans continental run on the US, which is awesome.

And like since then you've done all this stuff.

But like what made you go like, I want to go like all around the world.

Because you are the first person to have that like at least that I've spoken to that have that goal.

And I think that's just so freaking cool.

And what what is the inspiration behind that?

Wait, thank you for being so supportive.

I really appreciate it.

Um, yeah, I think I've always kind of had that dream ever since I was like a little kid.

And it's like, I'd say, I mean, every little kid is like, I want to be an astronaut.

I want to be like a fairy princess.

Like I've always just had this one specific dream.

And my mom is a very, very, very supportive and like imaginative and whimsical person.

So like, I could tell her anything.

It should be like, yes, girl, yes, you are so capable.

Yes, you can.

That is an amazing sports sister.

Yeah, no, she is, she is a girl's girl through and through.

She like, she any insane dream I could potentially have.

She'd be like, yes, just make it happen.

You got it.

So I think that really stuck with me.

And I'm, and like, I'm so grateful to her.

And just like the way she kind of taught me to see the world and like, see and how do

it kind of like approach having a dream, you know?

Because like, why the hell not?

Why not just do everything in your power to make it happen?

So yeah, I think I always had this like in the back of my head.

And as I've gotten older and like, as I've gotten more mature and like tried these different

things and like failed in a million times, but then like figured it out and like,

been able to like crack away at these different milestones.

I'm like,

progressively more and more.

I'm like, yes, like I think this really can happen.

I just need to figure out how to make it possible.

So that's why I went across Japan.

And then that's why I spent this last summer running along the Arctic coast of Iceland.

It's so cool.

It's just thank you, man.

They're very low-budget operations.

It's just me with the backpacks.

Hey, those are the best adventures.

Those are the best adventures with me.

For sure, for sure.

No, yeah, I've kind of treated those

who as like practice runs.

Like, what is it like to run in a place that's cold and way up yonder?

And like, what is it like to run in a place where I don't know the language?

And like, I'll be going through cities instead of just like beautiful vistas, you know?

So it's

I'm just at this point just trying to crack away at like, okay,

what do I really need to do to prepare?

And like, both Japan and Iceland have taught me so many things like

on what I could do differently next time.

Yeah, for sure.

And I can just imagine just even just being in different cultures,

different experiences, different climates.

Like, all these things.

Because like, you know, when you're going around the world,

you're going to be in those and you're learning different things.

And, you know, I kind of always like to say with athletes,

it's like the more miles you go, like the more lessons you're going to learn.

And like, you're racking up all these miles like to help with that,

which is amazing.

And it's so cool to see you like accumulating these lessons,

like all along the way too, which is, which is so freaking cool.

I'm curious like with like, like,

because I love that you're doing like a combination of like,

the self-supported kind of traverses across countries or big trails.

But you're also like pairing it with the ultras as well,

like doing the 200 and 300.

So like, how do you kind of see like both of those,

maybe teaching different lessons?

Because they are like, they're the same in the sense of like,

you're going along distances.

But like, you know, 300 mile rates,

like it's a whole kind of different experience.

Just aid stations, just lay out to like,

how do those two things like teach you different things

about this whole big goal you're going to,

you know, run across, run around the world.

I shouldn't say across or run around the world.

You know, how do those two things play differently into it?

Yeah, no, that is a great question.

I think they're completely different animals.

Like, when I'm just going on my like, little,

little adventures, just me, it's like,

there's so much more mental energy on like,

how am I going to, okay, the sounds dramatic,

the sounds dramatic bear with me.

But like, how am I going to survive tonight?

Like, how am I going to camp in a place that's like safe

for a girl on her own?

Like, how am I going to get food?

Where am I going to filter water?

It's just so much mental energy is just like,

I need to do this, this, this, this, this, this, this.

So, and then there's also this whole mental element,

like, I'm out here alone.

I need to like, take note of my surroundings.

I need to like, try and figure out,

like, is it going to rain tonight?

Like, all this stuff.

But yeah, when I'm doing an ultra,

I think my mindset is just go.

Like, just go as fast as you can.

Squad at the aid station got my back.

Like, I'll get water, I'll get food.

My only job is just one foot in front of the other.

So, I think that mindset,

but, and I also, it's less like,

okay, if I, oh, thumbs up.

My mindset is less like, how am I going to treat my body today

where like, I can do this tomorrow

and I can do this the next day in a way that's sustainable

and aligns with like the whole like survival mindset.

Um, but yeah, in ultra's, the race is,

my mind is like, literally just go as fast as you can

until you drop.

Um, yeah.

It's just a much more like,

protected environment, I guess.

Before we dive in the episode, I have to address one thing.

And that thing is most running nutrition products

absolutely suck.

And they suck for a few reasons.

First and foremost, I can tell you most running nutrition products,

they give you pala fatigue.

And it is so hard to continue to eat sports nutrition

when your mouth is just super sticky and sugar coated

and that sweet taste just rings in your mouth.

It just becomes a problem.

And when you don't eat, it just spirals out of control.

Secondly, in the world of high-carb fueling,

it looks like you can either choose between a high-carb

low sodium option or a high sodium low-carb option.

And you need both sodium and high carbs out there too.

So, why not have both?

And thirdly, a lot of options have a ton of ingredients

that can potentially mess up your stomach.

So, in looking for a product that had all these three things,

I tried out tons of nutrition products.

And the one that I landed on that has been really, really helpful

at Kodiak 100 Myler earlier this year.

And one that I've been using in all my long runs

for Western states is hyperlite liquid performance.

Hyperlite has minimal ingredients.

It has a neutral taste and an actually a neutral taste as well too.

It doesn't give you pala fatigue and it has 100 grams of carbs

and 1,000 milligrams of sodium per serving.

And even if you aren't using that high of an amount,

it's easy to break it up because it has round numbers

that makes nutrition planning super, super easy.

And I'm not the only one using this as well.

Everyday Ultra Coach Alyssa uses this as well too.

And she just plays fourth at Ultra Trail Cape Town.

And it is also used by Hans Troyer,

who just won JFK50 and ran the second fastest time ever there.

And placed top 10 at Western states earlier this year

using hyperlite as his main nutrition.

So, not only is it one of my favorites,

it is also the favorites of many great endurance athletes in the sport.

And the best part, it's created by ultra runners just like us.

In fact, the founders ran a hundred miles each

earlier this year too to put their product to the test

and live out the ethos and they succeeded.

So, because they are an ultra runners dream,

we asked them to give you a discount code and they did.

They gave us a 15% discount code that you can use

off your next order of hyperlite.

So, if you go to hyperliteliquidperformance.com

and hyperlite is spelled H-Y-P-E-R-L-Y-T-E

and then liquidperformance.com or go to the link of the show notes.

You can use code everyday ultra to get 15% off your order.

That's 15% off your order when you go to hyperlite

liquidperformance.com or go to the link in the show notes

and get 15% off your order.

Give them a try, ramble on, and use running nutrition

that is actually designed for ultra runners and good for ultra runners.

Also, real quick, if you are looking for a peril that is going to help to keep you

cool in the summer months and one that is going to last a long time,

I would suggest using John G. Apparel.

Not only does their stuff keep me nice and cool in the hot months,

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My favorite items are the Run All Day T

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you can go to johng.com slash everyday ultra.

Give them a try.

They are amazing and you won't go wrong with John G.

All right, everyone, let's get back in the episode

and no more ads for the rest of this episode.

For sure.

So, do you feel like doing a lot of this longer stuff

where you have so many variables in play?

Like, it sounds like it makes the ultra's a little bit more simple

and a little bit more easier to digest

because you don't have to be thinking about

like a billion different things

and a lot of the stuff supportive.

Like, would you say that's like correct

of like they kind of like make the ultra seem a lot simpler?

Yeah, I think

simpler but also just like so much more like intense

because instead of having like split brain

million places, million places,

it's just like this one mindset of just go.

And like, as you know, like during ultra's

you have so many hours just alone

in the dark with yourself, with your thoughts

and like I think

having or I forcing myself to have that mindset of just go, you know, um

it's oh it's more than a mental experience.

It's like it kind of takes over your whole body

and so in those moments where I'm like

exhausted, like for example at a viper,

I was unbelievably sick the first two days

and like every time I tried to eat and every time I tried to drink

I just vomit.

So yeah, I was just so sick the first two days.

Um, and I think there was something going around my school

before I left for Tennessee so I think I caught like the bug or whatever

but um yeah, having that like just like constant like no fuel in my stomach

like I'd try to fuel and just like, um, but then like no.

It was rough dude, but then having that like mindset like just go

like even though my body was being like, girl what are you doing?

Um, it was it was a whole bodily experience.

I think that mindset is the only thing that can't

me going one foot in front of the other.

It's like an embodied thought if that makes sense.

Yeah, for sure.

And and I put those to you for doing that.

I mean, you still like you got the win which is like

incredible, especially for two days of feeling super sick.

That's like one I would consider like one of the toughest things to deal

with in a race is like when your stomach is just, you know,

and even statistically it's a number one cause for DNFs and an ultra marathon and like to get

through that is huge and you know, you mentioned like keeping that that that keep going mindset.

Uh, I'm curious like for you like what help to give you like that that whether it's faith, hope

or just maybe optimism that it's it's going to turn around because I think it's very common

in ultra marathons like especially early on where you had this this thing that happened you

out of your control right catch a bug and you end up being sick and I can be I know I've seen

people like it becomes really easy to kind of make that the narrative and almost it holds people

back right but but for you you kept going forward. So what was that thing that helped to give you

that faith that hope that forward looking you know positivity that that you were going to get this

thing done like through there because I think that's such a huge use testament to you and your strength

and I love to hear like how you approach that because I think they can help a lot of people who

maybe do it the early on in a race of things that aren't going their way.

Oh, that that's a great question. Thank you so much. Um, I think I think there's multiple answers

here if that's okay. Yeah, for sure. Go for it. Yeah, I think first and foremost, I just have

dedicated so much mental and physical energy in the preparation like um I uh I've been training

every moment I can and like as someone's still in college like that means like just running

in the night um because I'm going going to school all day and like trying to get my work in and like

I have a big senior thesis and like um so yeah it's just like I've worked so so so so hard and like

I it was winter it was negative temps there's been snowstorms it's just like I showed up for myself

I think day after day after day for months and so I just felt like it wouldn't be fair to myself

if I gave up you know and I yeah I just worked way too hard to quit I think um so yeah

that's the answer one it's me too um I just had the mindset like 300 miles is far dude like

yeah more away more away for sure I do hundreds and I'm like this is long yeah

like it's long and I was um I was in dead last I was like 20 miles behind people I was 30 miles

behind people I was like really really back in the pack at that point because I was just like

wait I did not I did not know you were like all the way back there it started holy crap

no no that's okay I was I was way back there um yeah oh sorry you cut out

you're no I'm here now I'm here now yeah I think it just froze a little bit but we're good I think

we're back okay yeah yeah yeah I can hear you again but yeah I was I was like

DFL dead freaking last yeah um but yeah I this was I had such wonderful people crewing me like

some of my like closest lifelong friends were out there and they saw how hard I've been working

and they like they know how like intensely my heart is in this um and they were like you just

need to keep going and I was like you're right I just need to keep going yeah I was so weak from

not being able to keep food down that first night that I couldn't walk for a minute so I was at

the aid station like collapsing and like my friend had to like walk me to the port of potty and like

they were just like force feeding me and I'd barf it back up and they'd keep force feeding me um

and we finally got to a point where like I got something down and put some chicken nuggets in my pocket

and just slowly regained strength while I was running and luckily was able to come back from that so

yeah wow so what was that comeback like right like how how did you make that cut like that

that's incredible like how did like we talked about the comeback story out there because like

that's I mean you you you know you got that you started to feel better you got the chicken nuggets

in the pocket you're now rolling like once you started to get the momentum I mean like was it just

like like like what was that kind of moment when you started like moving up the ranks and then

started to you know kind of come back from from behind yeah um so great question so I've um during

my 200 the hardest part for me was running in the night I would just get so tired I would like take so

many dirt naps I just my body was like just exhausted when the sunset and obviously in these things

like you have to run in the night um so because I kind of have classes in the day um and like

stuff to do homework blah blah blah blah blah blah normal college student um I've been training

at night but also because of that element like I knew I knew in the 200 that was my weak point

the nighttime um so I've been training like late into the night to kind of trying like get used to

that you know like I I'm again I'm still such a newbie in this sport and like I want to do so

many things and I want to try so many different types of races and like I just really wanted to hone

in on that skill so yeah all of my or the majority of my training has been in these like late hours

of the night so that's when I kind of lit up during the race because I had that like night after night

after night after night so I just booked it when the sunset um ran as fast as I could and made up

time progressively progressively progressively progressively um until about mile 160 where

I pulled my groin and then I had to spend about yeah no that was a bummer I had to spend about

seven hours off course like getting that like taped up and like trying to bounce back from it um

so that put me again I made up I think I'd made up about 20 miles but then after

I get this injury that sets me back again the same distance that I just made up

yeah that is crazy dude I was like oh my god are you kidding me yes it's like one thing out there

another saga again though I had a fabulous wonderful crew and they were like no yeah you're

gonna keep going we're not seeing us we're not TNFing and I was we are not TNFing so we did everything

we did it still and just tortoise on the haired you know I just kept sneaking up sneaking up

sneaking up um and then after a day of running night fell again and I just ran as fast as I could

I don't know something about it being dark out just fired me up um and yeah I think the night

is what really got me to catch up yeah that's awesome that's so cool how you mentioned that

you know it was one of those things that you uh struggle with in the first 200 but then you

turn it into something that was your strength like that is so cool and through the practice like

I always like to say that the way that confidence is built in life is by doing doing the thing right

the more you do the thing the more confident you can get in it and I love that you took that

principle and stride to be like hey like you know that was something that really was uh you

know weakness in the 200 and then made it the thing that helped you on that comeback in the 300

through that training which is awesome so like that is so so cool is there anything else

from the training that you feel like really helped you because you know I think it's super

interesting because you know you have all this experience doing like these super long races

and everything and then um you came on with everyday ultra to work with us to help you prep for

Viper and stuff so like I'm super curious like what were some other things in training that kind of

like fuck you to do it and was also curious of like what what made you want to go with the coach

even with all the experience that you have like so like talk to me a little bit about like the training

and a little bit more about the training and prep that went into it yeah totally yeah no

everyday ultra has been amazing you guys are great

I think you are amazing thank you I think um another big part of training that's been

really helpful is just um experimenting with like the back to back to back long runs so

so like doing shorter stuff shorter stuff throughout the weekdays but then on the weekends

just doing like long run long run long run um that has been I think a really good like mental

exercise to like get me in the mindset of like doing competitive days of running one after the

other yeah for sure I can only imagine just like on I mean even just doing it in my training too

like that third days is tough right and it almost stimulates yeah it stimulates that multi-day

experience of you know literally you know for 300 miles you're there like day one and then

run through the night and then you got to run the next day and I think like having that simulation

and training I feel like is it is a really really good aspect to nail down which you know the back

to back to back long runs for sure for 300 miles is a good tool out there yeah no definitely it

was so helpful I think again that like mental element of like okay I've done this before this is

just another repetition of something that's now a pattern um 100 percent a completely new feeling

you know yeah for sure like practicing like what it feels like out there and simulating it too

like you you mentioned too that you were you know doing this on like a so talk this about like what

what you're training like looked like in terms of like time on feet throughout the week is

and also like how you were able it sounds like you know the way you were able to fit it in is like

you do classes during the day at night but like you know busy schedule right like you have you know

your classes you have your homework and then you got to get the running in so like week to week like

on like what give us through like a week of training of what it looked like just super curious

yeah um great question I think most of my running was done in the long like back to back to back

but then it was just like that consistency of having like shorter days but like that's still time

on your feet you know um and like nutrition I think was really really um a big focus during this

training block in preparation for the 300 um so luckily I have my school cafeteria

which was great I'd like run in with like because it was I was training in like freezing freezing

New York winter so I'd come into my cafeteria with like a ski mask and a headlamp and like

five pairs of pants and everyone's like ah and I'd like take a burger and run away

I didn't think you're doing an option to have oh yeah no it was I was so blessed it was a great

fueling option um yeah and I think navigating the the school schedule and and the training um

kind of became possible with just like the mindset like I'm just gonna

wake up and do everything I need to do

and that is my job for today like instead of having like the multiple jobs like

I'm a student I'm an athlete um I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do that and have it be this whole

overwhelming thing I just kind of forced myself to have like the mentality like

everything I need to do that's my job today does that make sense I don't know

100 percent no I do like that because I almost even just I've never thought of it that way

in terms of but I can see about how powerful it is with the it's not necessarily like a

compartmentalization of like this is you know the student as lila or this is the runner as lila

this is you know like this it's it's all one person and it's like I can see it's actually

pretty cool concept I can see you're like just looking at it like oh no these are just the things

that I have to do today as opposed to thinking of as different kind of hats that you're wearing

throughout the day because in a sense that almost like makes it seem more complex and kind of

going back to you know we 300 experience like versus you know doing a new

kind of trail efforts and stuff um you can be in a position where you know you can just kind of

make it as simple as you possibly can which is super cool yeah wait I love the way you just said that

I think the way that these things I guess have been approachable or like have felt more approachable

is just trying to simplify it as much as I mentally can like I don't know what I was like

dying at mile 60 um I still had like 240 to go um I just like had to keep telling myself like

my only job right now is to run and that's just what I have to do

mm-hmm I love that because because it's it's like life can be so complex right like you're writing

a senior thesis and you're going to class and you have to do like all these like complex problems but

if you really boil down a lot of these ultras it is just that one foot in front of the other which

that's like it's such a simple beautiful thing that you can look at as opposed to you know

the millions complexities of life which is which is so awesome yeah yeah I love how you said that yeah

yeah so cool so cool so in in the 300 right like you end up coming back you're rallying like

what did it feel like it's across that finish line as the first woman to do so and then like

what were the biggest lessons or takeaways you had from that race because you know I always say like

in a hundred miles like you experienced lifetime in one day and you know for 300

miles we experienced 10 lifetimes in one day so uh multiple days that is definitely more than

more one day but 300 miles you probably experienced multiple lifetimes so what do you like to

to cross the finish line winning the race and also like what were the the biggest lessons you

learned from it yeah if it really just felt so um raw you know like I was weeping I like

I didn't think I was gonna like break down in the way I did but I just like my entire last two

miles I was just like sobbing like thinking back on like the entire race um because I think it was

so emotionally intense for me because I like knew that I gave the I gave it a hundred percent

of my heart like there were so many times where like it felt impossible um like the weakness from

puking like pulling my grind halfway through and like running all these miles off course by accident

um I took so many wrong turns that like I think I racked up like an after 15 miles uh oh yeah

yeah I'm top 300 that's a lot yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I was pouring rain the first couple

days so like I would be like trying to like get through the rain and like not make a wrong turn um

but yeah right that's like what do you do

no but yeah I was just I was weeping and like

such a big way because I was like the holy moly like I

I just gave all of myself to this and that was kind of like wow I'm capable of giving all of

myself to something um so yeah it was way bigger than just like winning the race it just felt like

I tapped into something that I don't know if I've ever been able to access before but it was like

holy moly that's there that's in me um and it was really emotionally intense um so yeah I crossed

the finished there's also the whole element of like oh yeah I wasn't able to process it for days

like maybe that's because I was sleepy but yeah for a couple days afterwards I was like

what just happened and like now that I've rested and I've had coffee and I'm like

kind of back into like my old swing of things back at school um it's like slowly sinking in like

wow that was a journey man those quite the journeys

do you feel like you like unlocked like this new level of drive or like capability through it or

like where like is that like where the tears came from from like learning like a deeper side of

yourself or like I'm just super curious from that aspect yeah I think um I don't know I think that

that thing that I can't even put words to but just that like sense like I channeled something

that I've never channeled before um I think that is in everybody and I think it's so much bigger

than running like I think people can find that through art and I think people can find that

just like giving a thousand percent of yourself to like something just it does I don't even

it could be cooking I don't know ping pong but like it's just like

yeah I think I've I've always had a lot of heart in the sport um

and I think that's what has kept me training like I'm like there's so

much that is possible I just need to make it possible um but I think this was

kind of an intense like bodily flash like oh my god I I made it possible

and I think that's what I was too tired to even fathom what I was feeling but I think that's what

was making me weep and weep and weep yeah and that is that is amazing right because

it's like this is something that you like a goal that you set out a goal that you thought of

and you turned it into reality right like even in the beginning like where you mentioned that

you know you're having the the you know the the vomiting problem and you know all this stuff

and then the growing thing came up but you still you know did the actions to make that goal

the reality at the end of the day and I can see how that's just such a you know a visceral experience

because like when you realize you can create these things like through effort and hard work

and learning and you know all the things that you do like you realize that anything is possible

which is just such a beautiful thing about experience which is awesome yeah yeah and I think um

yeah no I love how you put that um I don't know I think I kind of had this like split

thing where it's like yes in my training and preparation like I am one person like I am the girl

who's gonna go run 30 whatever miles and I'm the girl who's gonna do this and like chat with her

friends and like I it's all one being but then I think in like my my 200 mile race back in

September I like I did it and I was like okay yeah that was like a different version of myself

out there like that was some beast mode monster that wasn't me that isn't like the person I am

walking around day to day um but I think finishing this 300 I think it hit I mean obviously I

knew the entire time like yeah they're both me but like it just really sunk in I was like

what I'm doing right now is so from my heart it's so

human it's so imperfect it's so real it's like that is me I'm not

I'm not just like this girl and then like the person who goes and runs 300 miles like it's all

just like one thing so I don't know that like mental click was like kind of intense

yeah for sure and I I can see that's so powerful because it just shows like the essence of you

like not the runner not the the girl runs 300 miles like not the girl it is it's like that that

is lila like that is you and like that like translates into all other areas of your life and not

just like this one specific style which kind of even just goes back to what you're saying before

like where you know you look at your schedule of all the things you have to do it's not all these

like different types and identities it's like that's the thing that you are doing today as a person

and you crossing that finish line is again just you and not this one part of you which I think is

is one of those things that can you know it's interesting right because I'm sure you probably

experiences I would guess I don't know but I would I would say being in college and just knowing

for me how like foreign ultra running was from like a college student point like I think more like

in like I didn't even know an ultra marathon was right and and you know you go to the this what

is that like to be in I guess an environment where like not a lot of people know about this stuff

but like you you know to be in this area where it's like you are I would guess like you're probably

the only one out of like you're at least the people that you know who do this like in your school

where it can feel like it's very different and separated but to to integrate that all into one

I can see via powerful concept I don't know if I just talked in circles there but like I I guess

where I'm trying to get at is I can imagine it might be just more like it seems like a whole

different other world for you being in an area where you know for most people ultra running isn't

even like a thought does that make sense I don't know if that no I absolutely follow yeah I think

yeah I think there's that element of like this is such a thing that takes up so much of my

daily life and like mental energy because like again like I think mind and heart are really

working together um I think this sport is entirely mental and like entirely heart at the same time

they're it's both 100% mine and 100% heart which I know doesn't make sense but it feels real

yeah yeah so it's like I don't know are you I my friends are so supportive I they are above and beyond like

so kind and like I uh for example like I'll be out running and then I'll text them and I'm like

hey do you guys mind like getting me dinner at the cafeteria before it closes um and it's just

like little stuff like that they like will bring home like a bunch of hot dogs because I'll be out

running into the night so and they and they can see I think how much of my heart is in this um and

because they're just wonderful loving people they're like yeah yeah where's it to and like

just like I was looking for crew for this race and I like posted something on Instagram but I'm like

it's who wants to come to Tennessee for a week and watch me vomit for 300 miles um and like the fact

that people said yes like yeah I think being it is a weird and foreign thing in the community that I'm

in but I'm just so grateful for how my friends have like embraced it and been like we support you

doing what you love yeah that is so awesome and it's so good to have that support system around

you with all the friends who understand and even though they might not be you know in that same

ultra running universe of like running at themselves they're still supporting you and

it's so awesome from your mother like you mentioned before which is so cool and uh I love to see

that you know you're able to surround yourself with just a great community around uh around your

life like that you know translates in ultra running just so so cool so that is amazing that is

awesome um I got a couple questions before our last question that we always ask every guest and

the couple questions have to do around the running across or running around the world right yeah

you have I'm curious do you have a time frame on like when you think you'll go ahead and do it

and two do you have a route picked out because I'm sure there's like I'm like I'm super curious to

how you're like like plotting this whole thing out yeah um timeline honestly as soon as I can

make it happen um I think I'm about to graduate um this spring so thank you so much I mean knock on

what all goes well yeah so I'm about to graduate and then I'm I'm gonna give myself I think a year

to just dive into ultra marathoning get a job um and just really nail down how to make this possible

um because I know it's possible and I know it can happen I'm just I also I'm completely unsponsored um

and I think I need to figure out how to like get the necessary support I would need to do this

yeah so yeah um and the route I want to start in Australia and finish in my childhood bedroom

back in America in Connecticut wow yeah so cool is what state is like are you from originally

I grew up in Connecticut yeah given Connecticut wow so yeah that is an awesome and it's like

right on the the shoreline the east coast shoreline in the United States which is cool yeah

and so in order for it to be um an official circumnavigation I just need to do all travel on land

by foot by running um and I'm allowed to obviously take a little boat to cross the water

but yeah I just need to slow and steady make my way there toward us in the air just like the

viper 300 no and that is so cool because you know it's it's one of those things where

you know I was talking with a friend this morning about this like we can have these big goals and

want to be doing everything but you know it sometimes takes the the I want to say patience but

you know the time to you know learn and gather things and make sure like all the things in order

and I love how you're like hey like as soon as possible but you're also balancing it with

think hey like I want to make sure to make this you know the the the best thing that I can possibly

have in terms of you know getting into it and everything is such too and yeah and what's super

cool I mean you're so young that like you have so much time which is like so so rad to see um and

so like I love that you're balancing those two approaches out there and I have no doubts you'll

be running from Australia to your childhood bedroom uh definitely definitely sooner than we know

and um so so stoked to see the journey oh thank you so much Joe I really appreciate that

this is of course of course and I appreciate you for coming on this podcast like your energy

enthusiasm and just so many great just tips around mindset and running and how you built you know

this incredible incredible life doing all that you've done is just super super incredible and I

know you're just getting started which is just absolutely amazing and uh we're all just uh stoked

to continue to follow your journey as you uh as you build your way through circumnavigating the

whole globe which is awesome but uh before we let you go here we always have to ask our guests one

question that we ask every single guest in the podcast including yourself and this question

as do the ethos to show everyday ultra we uh help our listeners be better endurance athletes

every day so my question you Lila is what can our listeners do every single day to be better

endurance athletes oh that's a great question um hmm I think

know that every little step you're taking in training is meaningful because sometimes it can kind

of feel like I don't know at least in my personal journey it's like I trained so hard I did these like

running through the desert I did these adventures and like I still DNF'd in my first hundred um

but if I didn't DNF then I wouldn't have known what to work what to do to be better so every

tiny little step you're taking is meaningful and progress is slow like if you asked me two

years ago yep a do you think you're able to win a 300 mile race I would have been like dude what are

you talking about but you just have to keep taking those tiny tiny tiny little steps and like

forward motion is the only way to make these big ideas that seem kooky and impossible real so

even though it can feel like you're training and there's no progress like yes it is actually

building your foundation so you just gotta keep going I love that so much because you know even

you know even I can relate the times like where you know you do a recovery run and it's like you

know just seems like this like you know really short recovery run and it's like no there's a

meaning behind that or you know even even the runs that maybe don't go as well right like it might

seem like no there's meaning behind this there's a lesson and I think when we see our training

every step is intentional like that can allow us to appreciate the journey more and like you said

if you just keep going then you will get to where you need to be which I know you will get to

where you need to be my friend and I'm so stoked to continue to follow your journey and your growth

and it's been such an honor to work with you on the everyday ultra team and we are we are so so

stoked for your win at Viper and even more stoked for the adventures that lie ahead for you my friend

so you are amazing congratulations again thank you so much for being on the podcast

you get your time oh I appreciate you dude thank you so much this is like

amazing I'm so honored to be here oh we're so honored to have you on thank you so much again my friend