Lisa Smith-Batchen
Lisa Smith-Batchen is an ultramarathon runner and ironman competitor. She is the only American to have won the Marathon des Sables.[1]
Smith-Batchen has been featured in cover stories in The NY Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post and Winning Magazine. She also appears in a film about the Badwater Ultramarathon, entitled Running Under the Sun.[2]
Smith-Batchen lives in Driggs, Idaho. She has two children with her husband Jay Batchen.[3] They run Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club together.
Early years
Born on September 16, 1960 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lisa began her sports career at an early age. She was introduced to all sports from hockey to ballet. In high school, Lisa tried out for the cross country team but was told by the coach she was not any good at running. At this point, Lisa began diving competitively.
Family life
Lisa married Jay Batchen in February 2001. Soon after Lisa and Jay moved from NJ to Idaho, where they began their own family. Annabella, 6, was adopted in 2003 and Gabriella, 3, was welcomed into the Batchen family in 2006.
Lisa's Career Highlights
• Competed in 9 Badwater Ultramarathons (Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA): Was the 1st woman twice - 1997 (3rd overall) & 1998 (4th overall). • 2 Marathon des Sables Ultramarathons (Moroccan Sahara): 1999 First and only American female to win the event in its 18-year history. • 2008 Rocky Racoon 50 Mile: 10:16 • 2008 Florida Keys 50 Mile: 9 hours • 2008 306 Miles: 1st person to ever run from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney. Raised $590,000 for AIDS Orphans Rising. • 2008 Badwater 135 Mile Ultramarathon for the 9th time. • 2008 Ironman AZ • 2007 Desert Springs 50 mile: 14th Female. 12:08:39 • 2007 Ironman AZ: 12:54:30. • 2006 Completing the Badwater double has been one of the greatest highlights of my athletic carrier but also as wife, mother, coach and mentor. The gifts that God shared and showed me along the way are the greatest for me to this day! • 2006 Grasslands 50 mile: 1st Female. 8:40:30. • 2005 Bishop 50k: 2nd Female. 6:04:25. • 2004 Squaw Peak 50: 12:46. • 2003 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Finisher: 1st Female; 7th Overall. • 2003 Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run: 4th Female. 30:39:43. • 2003 Western States 100: 19th Female; 133rd Overall. 26:30:54. • 2003 Vermont 100: 23rd Female; 144th Overall. 24:15:15. • 2003 Squaw Peak 50: Won the husband and wife award. 11:17. • 2002 Old Dominion Memorial (VA): 1st Female; 4th Overall. PR: 20:34:30. • 2002 Leadville Trail 100. 10th Female; 74th Overall. 26:56:58. • 2002 Umstead 50 (NC): 1st Female. • 2002 HURT 100k: 34:53:00. • 2001 JFK 50. 128th Overall, 10th Female; 128th Overall. 8:52:27 • 2000 GNC National Championship (Pittsburgh) 100k, 1st Team; 1st 30-39; 7th Female. PR: 9:50 • 1999 Team USA World 100K Championship (France). • 1998 Long Island 50 Mile Endurance Run: 1st Female; 2nd Overall. 6:42 • 1997 Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race (India): 2nd Female. 18:50:03 • 2 Vermont 100s: PR: 1997. 2nd Female; 12th Overall. 18:26 • 1997 Old Dominion Endurance Run (VA): 2nd Female; 8th Overall. 19:07:52 • 5 Hawaiian Ironman Championships: PR: 10:33:27 • World Duathlon Championship • 3 Eco-Challenge Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 2 Raid Galoises Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 2 ESPN X-Games Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 1 Four Winds Multi-Sport Adventure Race • 35 Ultramarathons (50 miles or more): Including: Western States 100, Leadville Trail 100, Wasatch 100, Vermont 100, HURT 100K, Rocky Raccoon 100, Squaw Peak 50. • 100 Mile PR: 18:26 / 50 Mile PR: 6:42 • Over 90 Marathons PR: 2:48:52. Half marathon PR: 1:23. 10k PR: 36:01.
References
- ↑ Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. Alfred A. Knopfe, New York, 2009
- ↑ Lisa Smith-Batchen Bio Retrieved November 26, 2009
- ↑ "The Long Road Back", by Christopher McDougall, Runner's World August 2004