Transcript
Rich: Welcome to episode 552 of the Grit to Greatness Endurance Podcast. We're your hosts, coaches Rich Soares and Kristen Overton, and we are on a mission to help endurance athletes train smarter, race stronger, and build the grit it takes to achieve greatness. today Today's episode is really a really heartfelt and inspiring conversation.
Rich: We have Lucy Zate, who faced a lot of adversity young in in her young life here, and you know, And we are really excited to have her tell us like how she has gone from being an elite athlete pursuing things like Ninja Warrior competitions like this is going to be amazing to, you know, some, you know, a bad shoulder injury and ultimately navigating unimaginable loss and then.
Rich: continuing courage over comfort and purpose over doubt. Most recently, she just completed her very first Ironman at Lake Placid, proving that resilience is not something that we're born with, but something that is forged through life's greatest challenges. We're really glad to have you here. And I'm going to pitch it to KO to to talk about you.
Kristin Overton: Yeah, this is awesome. This going be such a fun night. I've been coaching Lucy for, uh, almost a year now and it's, it's been, an extraordinary journey and she's just like one of my favorite people. so or wo we're going to go through with Lucy. She's going to share some of her, her journey with us. that journey through determination, adversity, personal growth, know, from competing,
Kristin Overton: in competitive hockey, Ninja Warrior events, you know overcoming bad shoulder injury and surgery, and also you know navigating the loss of her parents over time you know and and figuring that piece out and finding her community. So she's gonna show us how, you know becoming an Ironman and getting into endurance sports has become a new challenge, which ultimately, you know, became an avenue of of healing, renewed confidence, purpose, resilience, all those things.
Kristin Overton: So her first Ironman at Lake Placid is really more than a race result. It's a testament to the human spirit and the power of perseverance for sure. So my my favorite part after she finished her Ironman, Not only it was, yes, I'm gonna do it again, but not only that is I wanna do something else that scares me.
Kristin Overton: So like, it's just amazing.
Rich: Wow.
Kristin Overton: So we know that, you know, whoever's listening to this, you're going to walk away with a deeper appreciation for, you know, the transformative power of endurance sports, you know, the importance of community and having people around you and realizing that our greatest victories often happen, but far beyond the finish line. It's it's all about the journey.
Kristin Overton: So we're super excited to have Lucy here.
Rich: Lucy. Welcome, Lucy.
Kristin Overton: So much.
Lucy: I'm happy to be here.
Rich: Yeah, it's quite a setup, right? I mean, no pressure, huh?
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Rich: Well, listen, we're going a lot of fun.
Lucy: Yeah, just a little bit, just a little bit.
Rich: Before we get into all of that, let's just take a minute to give out some shout-outs to our Grit to Greatness endurance athletes who are racing this weekend. We've got Sandy Golfie racing Ironman Ottawa on the second.
Rich: We've got Ann Thompson racing Steelman steelman try the Olympic in New Jersey on the second. Best of luck to both of you. Take on these challenges and represent the G2G community well. We're sure you will. Also, we have some birthdays.
Rich: Jeff Wilbert. Happy birthday, August 3rd coming up. Amaya Adler also August 3rd. guys share a birthday. That's kind of cool, kind of cute. And then Greg Castro, August 5th. You got a birthday coming up, buddy.
Rich: Happy birthday to you from all of your friends here at Grit to Greatness and our family. We hope your year ahead is filled with PRs, adventure, health, and happiness. And if you are new to grit to greatness and you want a part of this, you don't have to be coached to be a part of our community. If you're looking for support, inspiration, and a group of athletes who truly understand what it takes to balance life, work, and endurance sport, and you are looking for some personal transformation, we'd love to meet you. Just come out and check us out.
Rich: The link to our website is here in the show notes. And just listen to some of the testimonials of some of the athletes and some of their journeys and transformations. So Coach Keo, back to you.
Kristin Overton: Awesome. Well, it's it's time to get started. i think lucy Lucy already got kind of this crazy big introduction.
Lucy: Thank you.
Kristin Overton: i won't I won't dwell on that. We'll kind of get into it. However, before we start riddling you with questions, we like to start, you know, any new guest off with a little warm-up a question or a game, so to speak.
Kristin Overton: So we like to play two truths and a lie. So basically, you have to come up with three things about yourself. Two of them are true, and one of them is a lie.
Kristin Overton: So a little bit challenging because I know you so well, but I have faith that you've come up with something to try to stump me.
Lucy: Yeah, I had to think a little bit about it, but I'm not going Rich. You might need to answer first because there is a chance Coach K.O. may know a couple of these over here.
Lucy: right.
Rich: I love that. Yeah, let's do that for sure.
Kristin Overton: yeah
Lucy: Yes.
Rich: named Eddie.
Lucy: Yes.
Rich: A fish named Eddie. Okay.
Kristin Overton: fish name any.
Rich: Okay. Yes.
Lucy: I am the designated plant sitter while people are on vacation. Or I cook more food for fruit flies than i cook dinner for myself.
Rich: Yep.
Rich: uh all right i'm i gonna
Lucy: Had a stump you over here. Yeah.
Kristin Overton: This is great.
Rich: fish named eddie second one again was plants litter yep and then the third was the uh
Lucy: I am the designated plant sitter while people are on vacation.
Lucy: Cooking food for fruit flies more often than I cook dinner.
Rich: fruit flies then you cook for yourself okay all right uh yeah and you're up there in vermont huh hmm so here's i'm gonna do i'm gonna go with uh the fish named eddie and the feeding the fruit flies are the truce and the designated plant sitter is the lie because you maybe don't have a green thumb at all
Lucy: Yes.
Lucy: hi Okay. Okay.
Rich: i even put in some rationale too i don't know some analysis
Kristin Overton: that's Yeah. i I like that rationale.
Lucy: Yeah, that was good. That was good.
Kristin Overton: Yeah. Yeah. so I know that number three in the feeding the fruit flies is true.
Lucy: know
Kristin Overton: Not only does she feed them, but she bonks them on the head.
Rich: This is getting more and more interesting.
Kristin Overton: It's a whole research thing.
Rich: it Wait every second.
Kristin Overton: It's gets, it's gets crazy.
Rich: Okay.
Kristin Overton: Yeah. Yeah. Uh, Oh, you know, I've never heard about Eddie. So I sort of feel like that might be the case, but you know, I don't know. i just can picture this fishbowl in the corner of your room.
Rich: Well, I'm looking for plants in the background. I see plants in the background either.
Kristin Overton: Right. you know, and you're, you bet, you know, you're, you're at school and you're there all the time.
Rich: i don't know.
Kristin Overton: And so people are away and i don't know.
Rich: Maybe.
Kristin Overton: I think, I think Eddie's a lie.
Lucy: Well, Eddie is true. He's actually sitting on my desk right here. I have Eddie. We named him in honor of the Edmund Fitzgerald. We have three snails as well.
Lucy: We have one named Cheeto because he's orange. We have one named Otto, short for Otto von Bismarck. And we have another one who we recently got who we have actually not named yet.
Kristin Overton: Thank you.
Lucy: So if you have any name suggestions, I'd be happy to take some. The fruit flies, I concuss fruit flies for research. on I look at traumatic brain injuries and how they affect the brain chemistry and biology.
Lucy: So I do that by concussing fruit flies and dissecting their brain, which as is as pretty much ridiculous as it sounds, but it's a super cool experience. And I am actually terrible with plants. None of the plants in my room are real. So even if you did see, I have Lego plants in my room, actually.
Lucy: i have managed to kill cactuses, trees, you name it. So i I don't do anything with plants. I would not touch them. I'm not, I lost my plant privileges a while ago.
Kristin Overton: Rich, you nailed it. You totally nailed it.
Lucy: that was it That was a phenomenal job.
Rich: I'm telling you.
Kristin Overton: I'm impressed.
Lucy: I'm impressed.
Kristin Overton: Yeah. Yeah. Very impressed.
Rich: telling you. that was a total guess. But thank you for the the great colorful background on all of that. That was fantastic.
Lucy: Of course.
Rich: I love the I'm going to save my maple syrup questions and Luna bar questions for later. But that was a lot of fun.
Lucy: Okay. Okay.
Rich: Good. It's great to get to know that.
Rich: Concussing fruit flies.
Kristin Overton: we We had a team call one night and and we had a 10 minute conversation on this and all of us were just like, like jaw down laughing. It was amazing.
Lucy: Well, if it makes you feel better, I put them under anesthesia before I concuss them.
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Lucy: And I have to concuss them individually by putting them in something called a fly collar, which holds them up just by the like base of their head so they can breathe and are still comfortable.
Lucy: And while they're under anesthesia, I boop them on the head with a little metal plate that delivers an electric bolt. And it we have figured out different head compressions that can allow us to mimic different stages and severities of TDIs.
Lucy: And we've actually been monitoring how their behavior changes. So I've done fruit i've done sleep studies on these fruit flies. I have even done gut microbiome studies on them.
Lucy: You name it, we've probably done it.
Kristin Overton: Mm-hmm.
Lucy: I'm currently looking a lot at behavioral stuff. So doing behavioral studies on their concussed little guys right now. And yeah, it's really cool. But we get to look at their brains under like basically a fancy microscope and see how they change once they have received a TDI.
Lucy: Yeah.
Rich: Okay. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking like, there's going to be like a whole nother like episode that we're going to invite Lucy back to that is going to be called like, you know, on the fly, you know, and we're just going to like, we're just going to just spit on and the fun segment is going to be a buzz.
Kristin Overton: huh
Kristin Overton: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Rich: So we're gonna have some fun.
Lucy: Yeah.
Rich: All right.
Kristin Overton: We are. We are. oh man.
Rich: That was great. Alright, so i guess, who asked the first first question?
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Rich: is this me? My first question today?
Kristin Overton: Yeah. Yeah. yeah
Rich: I am.
Kristin Overton: Go for it.
Rich: Okay. Alright, so let's, let's find out who this competitor i is behind the Ironman. Lucy, before we talk about Ironman Lake Placid, let's talk about you.
Rich: and And as an athlete growing up, what sports and activities first captured your attention?
Lucy: Well, I was, uh, for most of my life, i was a competitive hockey player. i started playing hockey when I was in about second grade, like first or second grade. I was fortunate enough to win a national championship. i have been able to play at all different levels at all different arenas across the country and even in other countries. And it had was such a massive part of my life from being a the only woman on men's teams to being the second girl to ever play for Team Michigan to playing with all girls and then helping coach future generations. But then
Lucy: I also, i i know you kind of hinted to this, I competed nationally and internationally on American Ninja Warrior. I was on the show at one point and I competed national and world championships, which was kind of a fun little side quest of mine and definitely always a fun adventure.
Rich: wow so we so like did you like do gymnastics or like you know won' we just just just hockey just
Lucy: No. So I, I actually got into Ninja at a friend's birthday party because he had a American Ninja Warrior themed birthday party at a Ninja gym in Michigan. and Well, I was there. I was kind of just monkeying around because I always loved climbing trees as a kid and doing just, I don't know, I was always the kind of kid to go do adventurous stuff. And i was kind of asked, hey, you should you should come try out for our competition team.
Lucy: And I was like, oh, okay. And I was more excited because they had monkey bars and cool things to climb on. So I thought that was pretty cool. And then I ended up... competing and not really knowing what I was doing. And then eventually, I kid you not, pretty much less than a year later than that, I was on the kid show.
Lucy: But it was always just a fun way to balance when before hockey got extremely serious. It was always just a very fun way to on challenge myself and add a little bit of balance.
Kristin Overton: how old How old were you when you started that?
Lucy: Yeah. I was in seventh grade when I started it. And kind of like, a you know, we're going to do this for fun. And then didn't really think anything of it. i actually, the first time I qualified for nationals, I said no, because i wanted to go on a vacation with my mom.
Lucy: And I was like, I'll try again later. so, then it became something that I really enjoyed and I really enjoyed the challenge of it because it was so much of doing things that I didn't think I could do and challenging myself in and new ways.
Kristin Overton: That's awesome. So, so let's take that, you know, what you learned from Ninja Warrior, like how did that show up later you're, you know, decide, okay, I'm going to do this big thing called Ironman and, and through your training, like what did you pull from your Ninja Warrior days?
Lucy: Okay.
Lucy: Well, I think a lot of it is kind of tackling, no pun intended, but tackling every obstacle that's thrown at you and kind of just taking it step by step. And really something with hockey that I've always, hockey is always a go, go, go sport. it And I'm sure you've watched it. It's not a very slow moving thing.
Lucy: But when it came to Ninja, it was about taking that extra beat and thinking through what you're going to do, how you're going to tackle this obstacle. And I know for me during the Ironman, even there was moments where I was like, crap, what do I do? And I stopped for a second. I took a beat, thought about what I was going to do, and then figured out that challenge along the way. And it helped me in the long run, but definitely kind of just taking every obstacle as they come.
Rich: It's kind of how life works too, right? you You know, I'd heard Kayo mentioned at the beginning, you know, you, you had a shoulder injury, which gave you kind of an unexpected turn.
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Rich: What did you like, tell us about that experience and how did that, you know, you know, re you start a reinvention into something into a new challenge?
Lucy: Well, I i got a shoulder injury during a competition and I completely tore my like I had a 360 tear of my labrum and I tore the part of my shoulder that goes to my bicep.
Lucy: So I actually had at one point some nerve damage where I couldn't like fully open and close my hands at some points. And I couldn't even like lift my arm up to like nose level.
Lucy: And it was kind of a scary moment of crap. Am i about to lose a bunch of mobility in my arm? But then after having shoulder surgery and kind of that whole process of rehab and figuring that out, it became a, I, hockey wasn't something because obviously I couldn't get hit to the same degree. And similarly, although in theory I could compete with Ninja more, it's not,
Lucy: It's kind of a bit of a gamble of if I were to try to do that, I could risk injuring it again, which of course is suboptimal and is not something that I would really want to do again.
Lucy: i don't recommend it, but no, no.
Kristin Overton: Never a fun thing to do something like that. That's for sure.
Rich: Don't recommend it.
Kristin Overton: So, you know, as you're kind of going through that, you're like, oh, you know, i have the shoulder injury now. I really can't play hockey. I really can't do ninja. Like, you know, what, what, how did this like kind of teach you to, to adapt and then decide, okay, what do i want to do now?
Kristin Overton: i want to do something.
Lucy: yeah It kind of...
Kristin Overton: What,
Lucy: There was a few moments where it was definitely frustrating because... Unlike, I'm sure you've probably seen some video on social media, someone with like a torn ACL with crutches where you can still do arm workouts and things like that.
Lucy: With a shoulder, you can't really because you can't do leg workouts because you can't brace the same way and allow yourself that same mobility because you basically have this giant pillow attached to you at all times.
Lucy: And you can't really, you're kind of just stuck. Imagine hugging like a body pillow with half your body and it's strapped to you. So it's not really the most convenient for, moving around always. But it kind of was a really, i was actually really uncertain in that moment of how am I going to do this? What are sports going to look like? Because sports have always been such a massive part of my life. and And I'll probably talk later about this, but it was always a massive connection point for my mom and i And it was a very scary thing of what do I do now? And
Lucy: I thought about it for a little bit and I kind of wanted to rewrite the way that I looked at myself as an athlete. I wanted to do something that scared me, as I had mentioned to coach. And I, the only logical thing was to go from being a sprint athlete to doing an Ironman, of course.
Lucy: And it to me, it was about picking something that I didn't think in a million years I could do.
Kristin Overton: course.
Lucy: And finding a way to not only do it, but to prove to myself that I could do it. And it was a really cool journey of if you had told me probably in August of last year that I was biking more than 20 miles, I would have not really believed you.
Lucy: i would have been like, oh, yeah, sure. Yeah, I would have done that. And then a little bit over 11 days ago today something like that, I can do math, I promise.
Lucy: I did 112 and then ran a marathon after. And that was actually my first marathon. And it was so much of so many things that scared me. And it was such a process of, I can't do this. And then telling myself, yes, you can.
Lucy: And then working through the challenges that were thrown my way and continuing forward and seeing the growth throughout it.
Kristin Overton: So great. you know the
Rich: You have been probably told you're mature beyond your years before.
Lucy: A little bit.
Rich: You know, i think what you're what you know what you're experiencing is, you know, boy, it's funny how.
Rich: you know, I think there's a lot of parallels between endurance sports and life. Andrew Smith, Durent sports challenges us that think just insurmountable. Andrew Smith, Durent sports challenges that think insurmountable. Smith, challenges obstacles we think are insurmountable. Smith, sports challenges us we Andrew sports experiences influenced the way you may approach your goals and the adversity that you're going through today.
Lucy: Well, I have kind of, it's a bit of a long story, but i when I was 10 years old, my dad unexpectedly passed away and I am an only child. So my mom and I kind of had to figure out life together. of She had to figure out how to raise me and be two parents in one and kind of figure out how we were going to live. But also i had to, I was navigating that loss with her and we kind of were overcoming those challenges together. And actually what my mom had told me, she had sat me down and said, this is not an excuse to be anything but your best self.
Lucy: This is not an excuse to part of my French be a fuck up be anything but the person you're capable of being. And you still have to take your math test tomorrow, which I proceeded to go, wait, really? have to take my math test. And then she was like, no, I'm just kidding.
Lucy: I'm just making sure you're listening. But that was something that I always really took with me of. I want to make sure that I'm being the best version of myself and continuing to grow, even when think life throws things my way. And that was something that I carried with me throughout hockey and throughout even Ninja, and then coming into college and being on the other side of the country, basically. And my mom obviously was always such a big influence in my life, and she still is my hero.
Lucy: My mom passed away my first semester of college, also unexpectedly, and that was kind of a, oh my God, I kind of have to be my own adult moment.
Lucy: But it has kind of taught, I have been able to use a lot of the lessons that my parents have taught me and a lot of the things that I have learned through them and then stories about them as ways that I tackle things and kind of think to myself, what would they want me to do in this situation?
Rich: Though that the the speech your mom gave you, the, this is not an excuse to fuck up speech.
Rich: How, closely, would you connect that to the outcome of you completing that Ironman? In other words, would you have completed that Ironman if you didn't get that speech so many years ago?
Lucy: I think on when i got that speech, a lot of me was kind of thinking, oh my God, what is my life going to look like with this? How is this, what is going to happen?
Lucy: And it was kind of a lot of fear of how is this going to change the person that I am? And how is this going to the way that I live?
Lucy: i on look at things, but I have really used it as instead of like an excuse of, oh, this happened because of this, or I acted this way because of this, it became a well, I achieved this because I know what it's like to lose. And I know what that hardship is like. And in my mind, that is fuel to the fire and that is motivation to be my best the best version of myself but it is also something that I always continuously live by is no matter what hardships come your way it is not an excuse to be anything but kind if anything and m it should be even more of a reason that you should be kind and understanding and it's because you have a that you have a different outlook and you have a different perspective on things that not everyone might have
Kristin Overton: That's so great. Yeah. And, you know, just having that experience and, and, and taking it in that positive way is so great. You know, so many people will, take will take their grief and, you know, make it so negative and, you know, and, and, you know, does a lot of bad things.
Kristin Overton: So, you know, kudos to your mom. It was bringing that into a positive way and say, you know, you are, you are the person that you are meant to be and you're going to be that way.
Lucy: i
Lucy: thank you i I, really, after my mom passed, I was, I actually, when I had to fly back to Michigan, i made those same promises. And ironically enough, I did have a math test the next day that i ended up missing, but I, i really look at it so much of,
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Lucy: this is a way that I have a better understanding of people and their experiences around me. But also, this has given me a different outlook on doing things because I know what it's like to lose things. But I also know how much we can persevere through and how much we can overcome and how we can use those experiences to shape us into the best version of ourselves, even though it's not always the most glamorous and it's never really as pretty as we'd hoped it would be
Lucy: It's so much a part of transforming us and helping us become and grow into the person that we are.
Kristin Overton: So, you know, obviously your mom was such a huge influence on your life. So, and and she still is you know, right. So, but who, who, who are those people now that are with you now that, that had become your community, have become your family, friends, mentors, et cetera. Like who are those people that, that are getting you through school and getting you through your Ironman and, and, and being your support system?
Lucy: how long do you have? I mean, I, i am
Kristin Overton: Well, listen, I know you have a posse because the amount of people that were at the Ironman race for you that were running around and was amazing.
Lucy: yeah i
Lucy: I am beyond fortunate. I have such, such, such amazing friends. And I know that they're inevitably going to be listening to this podcast as well. But they are truly one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me.
Lucy: i don't like I cannot imagine life without them in it. They are my people. They get it They've helped me through so much. And they've helped me in so many ways that they don't even realize that.
Lucy: And I've been so fortunate enough to have team KO and it's such an amazing group. And they were so welcoming to me when I joined, but it has been great to have people to kind of but look up to and who have been through this process before. And actually i know Sandy's going to be racing this weekend. I was thinking of her advice during the swim and I was thinking of Anna Marie's advice during the bike and I was thinking of Coach Law's advice during the swim as well with the 99 bottles of beer on the wall.
Lucy: And i it's such a community. And i think it is such an important thing to realize how these successes come from so many people
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Lucy: standing behind you to help you get to that point. It's not one person is just magically achieving things or magically reaching a goal. It's everyone who helped them get to that goal. It's the people who quite literally woke up at five zero in the morning to paddleboard next to me while I would go swimming because I was afraid of going open water swimming alone.
Lucy: It's the people who would, when you drive an hour in the wrong direction, it come wait an extra hour before doing their bike. so that you have someone to bike with. It's people who will bike next to you during your long runs. It's the people who show up, but it's also the people who are there through the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. And they're there to make you laugh every step of the way.
Rich: It's awesome. And you know what?
Kristin Overton: Such an important part.
Rich: Yes, exactly. Laughing every step of the way and, you know, this you know the joy that this can give you. Let's fast forward to Lake Placid. Let's fast forward to the race itself. And we were just talking about race morning.
Rich: How are you feeling standing there on the show? Sure. Knowing that, you know, you've done all that preparation what What were the thoughts going through your head?
Lucy: It was, there was a lot of mixed feelings. There was like, holy crap, I'm here. And like, oh my God, this is actually happening. It was something that I've been talking about for a year, based like over a year at that point about doing, and I was actually doing it. And it's kind of a really cool moment of if you told me a year ago I was biking 20 miles let alone running a marathon I wouldn't have believed you and I'm standing about to do Ironman and that's crazy but also i know for me it was kind of just like a really special moment of not that i had like a doubt about getting through i can do hard things but it was like a
Lucy: you can you can do whatever you set your mind to and you can do it scared and you can do it unsure and you can still you can still make it through and achieve things that you never thought were once possible. And it was a super cool moment. and And I even got to laugh during it because the team tent flew into the water and it was it was a fun way to laugh and kind of remind, it was really cool to be with Lindsay and Lauren and everybody at the starting line and kind of realize this is such a big community and there's so many people who are a part of this process. And it's so special to be able to get to share that moment with so many people who were all influential, whether it was just hearing updates over the phone or being there during training. and it was, it was super, super cool.
Kristin Overton: So as you're going through your Ironman, you're getting through your swim, you're getting through your bike, you're getting through the run, like, you know, you there's always highs and lows of the day, right?
Kristin Overton: So tell us kind of your your biggest high and your biggest low of the day and whether or not that included maple syrup.
Lucy: Oh, well, every, every high includes maple syrup, of course. Rich, just to fill you in, i cannot stomach, regular goose. Like I've tried, I've tried the gels. I've tried the Maritin gels. I've tried most things and I just, I can't do it.
Lucy: So the way that I get carbs is I use maple syrup as a, as a typical Vermonter does. So untapped maple syrup actually makes these little tubes. they' like gogurt tubes of maple syrup.
Lucy: And I keep them on me pretty much at all times. And I, use those to get through my bike and my run and my transitions.
Lucy: And when I needed to boost the morale, I had a little maple syrup, but, the, I think, Oh,
Rich: That sounds amazing. I'm like craving that in a Stroopwafel right now.
Kristin Overton: Right?
Lucy: Well, it it's great because it's light on your stomach and it's not something that you need water to wash down. But also, at least for me, I don't, I think it could also be the living in Vermont kind of thing, but you don't have as much flavor fatigue to it. And it is something that I can personally eat a lot of and not feel like I can never eat this and or touch it again with a 10 foot pole.
Lucy: So it was really my go-to strategy and my number one recommendation for quick carbs. But when it comes to, it's hard when it comes to, I guess we'll start with the low so we can end on a high with it. But i one of i guess the only low that I can really think of, because the second I got to that starting line, there's honestly never like, a I can't do this because in my mind,
Lucy: all that I can think, all that I could really think of was there are so many people here who believe in you. There, my mom and dad would believe in me. and i have so much, so many friends, so much family, so many people here who want me to do well.
Lucy: And if they can believe in me, why can't I believe in myself? And after that moment, I was like, there was never really like a, I can't do this. And it was like, you're doing this. I don't care if you have to crawl. i don't care what you got to do. You're getting, you're getting through this. And So I guess my biggest low would have been on the bike, actually.
Lucy: Right before the three bears, my chain jammed and fell off. And i am I am not a bike mechanic in any way, shape or form.
Lucy: I actually am probably the farthest thing from when I have i still have people to pump up my tires for me. Yeah. i kind of sat there for a second of oh crap what am I gonna do and it was kind of that same thing with ninja where you take a beat of okay there's an obstacle in my way how am I gonna overcome this and thinking about what I needed to to do to fix it and once I got the chain back on then it was okay let's get back on this bike we're almost to the end and then let's go let's go have some fun on the run and that was a
Lucy: That was a challenging but rewarding moment. Bike mechanics scare me, but I ended up doing it and it ended up being okay. And it was not the end of my race. but And when it comes to a high, i i think obviously the oval was absolutely magical.
Lucy: But really my biggest high was every time I would see my friends.
Rich: Mm-hmm.
Lucy: because they had held they had made signs they were oh they were cheering for me they were truly just like, Every time I saw them, I couldn't help but smile and they would make me laugh. on Actually, there's video of this. I'm happy to send it to you.
Lucy: I ended up dropping my goggles during T1 because I was so excited to see them.
Kristin Overton: great.
Lucy: And I ran and I dropped my goggles. But it just it was just a big reminder of between that and seeing Lindsay Lauren on the run and just seeing the community that surrounds you and seeing all the people that were a part of that journey and being able to celebrate the race with them was my favorite moment of the day without a doubt.
Rich: That's awesome. Sounds like the sounds like one of those moments you'll remember forever.
Kristin Overton: so great
Rich: And, you know, speaking of that.
Lucy: Yeah.
Rich: What you know, do you remember hearing Lucy's eight, you are an Iron Man? And what did that mean to you when you cross the finish line?
Lucy: Well, coming coming into the oval, it was kind of just like a realization of, oh my God, I actually did it. Not that there was like that doubt of I couldn't do it, but it was just like, oh my God, I actually did it.
Lucy: And i did I did the big scary thing. And I actually, when I went to hit the finish, the like first timer's bell, I missed the first time. And I had to stop for a second and try again because I'm not sure if you saw it.
Lucy: It was a little high up there. And I am, I was i' am rather vertically challenged.
Kristin Overton: It was.
Lucy: So I was not as, easily able to reach it but I kind of had a little laughing moment there because I missed and I know we so often talk about ringing that first timer's bell for the first time and like how special of a moment that is and I was like oh my god I can't believe I just missed but crossing the that finish line the only thing that like really just it was like oh my god this is amazing was I looked and my friends were on the other side of it and that was just such a special moment of
Lucy: all of these people were here and my family was here. My girlfriend was here and it was just, it was amazing. And it was, it was really cool to hear Lucy, you are an iron man.
Lucy: i I, feel like we so often like envision hearing those words for like the first time and actually hearing it was such a surreal thing. I, I honestly still can't believe it.
Kristin Overton: Well, every bit of you are an Ironman was well-deserved through your training and and you know getting through it and and keeping that smile on your face. but That smile was on her face, just like Lauren, the entire time. Every time I saw her, it was just like this this mega grin, just having a ball out there, which was was so awesome.
Lucy: I think so much of that was, oh, I think there's also like a lot of, you got to have fun.
Kristin Overton: So,
Kristin Overton: now go ahead.
Lucy: You got to have fun with it. And there's so much of it where it's like, you're so serious. It's a race. You got to lock in. And then it's like, wait, this is for fun. You're having fun. this is want This is an experience that so little people get to say that they've had and you're doing it. And it was kind of just like a oh my god, this is so cool, I'm actually doing it. And I felt like a little kid in a toy shop, like, oh my god, wow, look at everyone's bikes, this is awesome.
Lucy: And wow, look at everyone running, it's so pretty out. And it was it was awesome.
Kristin Overton: Definitely good advice. You guys got to soak all that in because you know, it's like, even though it's a long day, but it goes by like, you know, snap your finger.
Kristin Overton: And so you just got to take it all in and and and keep that in.
Lucy: Yeah.
Kristin Overton: it's So great.
Kristin Overton: So Iron Man's done, at least this one. So, you know, that's one chapter that that, you know, you sort of have semi closed. So you're like, you know, now, you know, Ironman is much bigger, you know, Lucy lucy is much bigger than Ironman.
Kristin Overton: What's, what is kind of your next chapter? One of the, you know, some of your goals and, and passions going on right now, you know, with college and everything else and, you know, your, your future endeavors.
Lucy: Well, when it comes to college, I guess, just continuing to finish up with school, continuing research, the plan is to go to med school, all of that fun stuff. When it comes to, i absolutely, without a doubt, I was thinking about it during the race.
Lucy: I want to do another one, without no question in my mind. I want to do another Ironman. But i know for me, late as of lately, the thing that I've been thinking about is i want to do I want to continue to follow the path of doing something that scares me, doing something that intimidates me. And I have been talking to keo about this, but I'm trying to qualify for the 70.3 World Champs because i think it'd be a good challenge of let me try to do something that I don't really think I can do.
Lucy: But then on top of that, I know I can do the distance. So now it's time to like really push myself to a different level with that. And that's really cool. I have been possibly looking into running the Boston Marathon for Team MassGen Eye and Ear. One of my mom's college best friends who has now become one of their, I've been I've become very close friends with their family. They're like my, they're like one of my second families.
Lucy: and, their son, Hugh has a degenerative eye disease and, pretty much their whole family has run the Boston marathon, him for mass gen nine year.
Lucy: And Hugh cannot, run the marathon himself because he has to change his running technique with his eye condition. And that's not really a feasible thing. So,
Lucy: I would, i am hoping to run for Q and so that they can have as many people as possible run for Mesh and Ioneer for him. And I'm really hoping to be able to do that.
Rich: Wow.
Rich: You know, you kind of hit all of our values. You know that the gratitude, the resilience, the impact, which you just touched on, and this just overall amazing transformation.
Rich: Lucy, thank you for sharing sharing this and and and allowing us to interview you on our podcast.
Lucy: Oh, course.
Lucy: Thank you for having me.
Rich: Don't go anywhere. sit sit tight. We've got a real fun, a little fun segment called Lucy's Grit Meter coming up here in a second. But, you know, just I want to wrap by just like what I got out of this, KO, you too, I'm sure.
Rich: Lucy's story tells me resilience is born is is not something that you're born with. It's something that you build. Community matters. And small steps is where you create extraordinary outcomes. These little tiny things all add up to big things. So thanks again.
Rich: Folks, if you if you want to learn more about Lucy's story or you want to you would to find this path for yourself, whether you're training for your first sprint triathlon or you want to train for Ironman Lake Placid or whatever Lucy's got in store next, it's going to scare her, it scares you.
Rich: Reach out to us. Our contact information is here in the show notes and we would love to talk to you. Okay, I'm going turn it over to you to talk about Lucy's grit meter.
Kristin Overton: Awesome. All right. So, so we've been doing this fun segment at the, at the end of the podcast, like, you know, there there there's, it's all about fun and, and, you know, creating some laughs and having a good time. So, uh, we have come up with, Lucy's grit meter.
Kristin Overton: So the official scientific measurement of how much life has tried to punch you in the face. All right.
Lucy: Oh, God.
Kristin Overton: So Lucy, before we continue, we've developed a highly sophisticated peer reviewed, completely unscientific tool known as the grit meter. All right.
Kristin Overton: It was, it was reviewed by exactly zero universities, three coaches, one golden retriever, and a guy who once completed a sprint using a flat pedal.
Lucy: Sounds like a win to me.
Kristin Overton: Sounds great. Right. All right. So here's the scale scale goes from one to 10. one being the grit equivalent of sending your spouse into Starbucks because the line looked too long.
Kristin Overton: And 10 being the level of where you wrestle a grizzly bear, finish an Ironman, and then wonder if you remember to start your garment. Got it?
Lucy: Okay. Okay. That sounds, it's a crazy scale, but it sounds very accurate.
Kristin Overton: all right.
Lucy: I'm here for it.
Kristin Overton: Right. so So Rich is going to kind of go through the grit scale with you.
Rich: let's just Let's just work off of that one to 10 range. You can be subjective. i mean, we had all sorts of you know extra crazy you know grit labels here. But in the interest of time, I want to get right into the fun stuff. So why don't we just get right into the very first one, KO, and I'll let's just let you take it.
Kristin Overton: Let's do it. Okay. All right. So first, Lucy, you know, just give a score one to 10 on your grit scale, learning to swim for long course triathlon.
Kristin Overton: How gritty was willingly getting into a body of water where fish have home field advantage?
Lucy: i would say I would say it's like closer to a six or a seven. I think... Don't don't make the joke. I know you're thinking it. Yeah. that I think, at least for me, I actually DNF'd my first long-distance triathlon because i was kicked in the stomach during the swim. And getting back in the water after that for me was really challenging. And it it's really intimidating being in the water, not even with the fish, but with all the people. And it's really scary to actually see the distance in front of you instead of like your watch buzzing after you've gone back and forth in the pool enough times.
Lucy: So i think I think it takes a lot more than people realize, and I think people don't give themselves enough credit for it.
Rich: That is it it is.
Kristin Overton: Definitely. I'd almost put that grit scale up a little bit after your experience at Patriot.
Lucy: Yeah.
Kristin Overton: So yeah.
Rich: Just overcoming something like that's hard.
Kristin Overton: Yeah.
Rich: All right early morning Ironman training how gritty was setting the alarm with something that started with a four.
Lucy: Well, i see my issue is I kind of love that. I love morning workouts. i I kind of shifted my perspective with it and something that helped me because there were definitely, especially in the winter, there are some there's some rough moments with that. And here in Vermont, when it's negative 13 out and you're like, the last thing I want to do is go walk to the athletic center when it's across campus.
Lucy: And i I kind of have looked at it and think about how many people are up at that hour But then think about how lucky you are that you get to experience things that people who aren't awake don't get to experience. Like you get to watch the sunrise. You get to maybe see people going. And like, I know i pass a bakery sometimes on my run. I see them making i'm seen them making the bread. And that's really cool. Like not everybody gets to see them doing that.
Lucy: And it's just like those little moments of gratitude, I think are really helpful. But i give it... kind of hard because I like it so I wouldn't say it's as gritty but I think probably in like that five to six range of it definitely is challenging but once you become make it a part of your life and once you make that first step to continue to implement it it just becomes second nature
Kristin Overton: Fair. All right. Next next one. Shoulder rehab. How gritty was spending months doing exercises that looked easy but hurt in places you didn't know existed?
Lucy: oh my god
Lucy: Oh my god. I'd give that, I'd give that like, I'd give that, see now I want to move my swimming up because I think swimming deserves a lot more credit. But I gotta say, I think an eight or a nine because it was less of the physical part of it and more just the mentality of my goal was to be able to bend my elbow.
Kristin Overton: Yeah. yeah
Lucy: My goal was to be able to, it took me over a month to be able to lift my arm above my head, let alone pick something up. And, I remember they had,
Lucy: I used to call it the protractor of doom. They have this little protractor and they're stretching out to see how far you can reach like extension inflection points. And every time I saw it, I would always want to be like, okay, just five more degrees, a little bit longer, a little bit longer. And it's so frustrating when you obviously just want it to get better and it is completely out of your control because there's only so much rehab you can do.
Lucy: So I got to say coming back from an injury is, beyond challenging, but I think it helps you become definitely a lot mentally stronger as an athlete.
Kristin Overton: I know what to get you for your birthday next year.
Lucy: Oh no.
Kristin Overton: a goniometer, which is that little protractor thing.
Lucy: Oh no, no, no.
Kristin Overton: Gotcha. Yeah.
Lucy: I'm okay never seeing one of those again. I'm okay with that. That scares me. That's what scares me now. I'll do an Ironman, but not the protractor.
Kristin Overton: gotcha
Rich: That's so funny. All right, so I got this is I'm so glad I get to ask you this. How gritty is it falling off obstacles repeatedly for a hobby?
Lucy: Oh my God, it's it's kind of fun awesome because every time you fall, you get to learn, which is, and don't get me wrong, i would be lying if I said there wasn't a time hypothetically, of course, on a certain show where we didn't all jump in the water after filming to cool off because it was hot outside. But it was, it's fun. And i feel like sometimes people forget that falling and failing is a part of that process and a part of that growth and it helps you get stronger.
Lucy: But i see I, gotta give it I gotta give it like, if you're willing to get back up and get back into it, I gotta give it like a six.
Lucy: If you're, if you fall and you're done, I don't think that's very gritty. I think that's asking someone to get your Starbucks for you But being able to get up and,
Rich: Oh, I love that. Awesome.
Kristin Overton: yeah
Lucy: dust yourself off and go, I'm going to keep trying this. I'm going to learn and I'm going to keep going, i think is a really, really awesome thing to do.
Kristin Overton: Love that. All right. This has happened several times in your training.
Lucy: Oh no.
Kristin Overton: How, how gritty was choosing not to become an indoor cyclist because riding outdoors in terrible weather seemed like a good idea.
Lucy: So the I did a bike packing trip on my tri bike.
Lucy: And I biked through a rainstorm that I ended up getting a flat in. And I would say I would much rather do that than sit on the indoor bike trainer all day, every day.
Lucy: i it, it is so hard. And I think for me being outside and being in nature is such a awesome thing. And yes, during the wintertime, being on the calls with the team is awesome. And I wouldn't have it any other way because i would rather train with them than by myself. And I'd rather have those awesome conversations, whether it's about TV shows or current life events or what Lindsay was getting for Mother's Day for her mom. it...
Lucy: i i think it
Kristin Overton: Thank
Lucy: I got to say being an outdoor cyclist without a doubt is the way to go. No question in my mind. I don't think I could ever, and don't think I could ever do it. Kudos to everyone who does like their six plus hour.
Lucy: But I did one, so I did one 120 kilometer bike ride indoors and I was okay. Never really doing that again.
Rich: I remember doing this.
Kristin Overton: so so the high the so that So it's towards the 10 to be on the trainer and less.
Lucy: Yeah, I would, See, i would rather i would rather maybe talk to a grizzly bear than do my race rehearsal just solely on a trainer. I don't know if I can do it, but...
Kristin Overton: Agreed.
Rich: It hurts, it hurts.
Kristin Overton: It hurts.
Rich: I've been six hours on a trainer, it hurts.
Kristin Overton: Yeah, it's terrible.
Lucy: Oh, my God.
Rich: All right, so speaking of the hurt locker, final 10 miles of an Ironman marathon, how gritty is it pretending that those legs actually still work?
Lucy: I think it's gritty for sure. on i think it's up there, but it also, it's hard because I look at it so much. Like I was having so much fun and I was enjoying every second of it that it didn't even, it was like I was tired and i and my legs hurt, my ankles hurt more than anything.
Lucy: But, and I like the thought of taking a shower and taking off my shoes truly felt like a spiritual experience. And I was looking forward to it like none other. But it was also just like, how fun is it that I get to be here doing this? And how fun is it that I get to do something that I love so much and How fun is it that I get to be a part of this community? And so it was less gritty as much as it was just like, this is so cool. And I'm so happy I'm here.
Lucy: But I'd say it was gritty on the moments where I wasn't at an aid station. so I'd give that like a seven or an eight because those those moments when you did not have snacks and you were feeling kind of crappy and there was you lost sight of the people around you and you weren't near a mile marker.
Lucy: Those are, it was a little rough, but it was also just such an amazing experience that I think it kind of gets overshadowed by all the highlights.
Rich: Yeah, it's awesome. awesome
Kristin Overton: Love that. All right, Lucy, the last ultimate question.
Lucy: Oh no.
Kristin Overton: This is, this is a multiple choice. What was harder?
Lucy: Okay.
Kristin Overton: Number one, becoming an Ironman. Number two, explaining Ironman training volume to non-athletes. Or number three, convincing people you actually enjoy this stuff.
Kristin Overton: Because really, honestly, number three might be a 12th.
Lucy: number Number three was probably the harder one of explaining. Well, yes, actually, after bike for a good chunk of the day, I plan on running a marathon.
Lucy: No, I've never run a marathon before. Yes, this is my first marathon. Yes, this is my first, technically speaking, yes, this is my first full distance triathlon and longer, did hell, even 70.3. This is my first like full distance related triathlon. And It was kind of a weird moment of like, there's people who get it. There's people who are kind of like, why would you do this? And then there's people who understand the why and support that why. And when you find those people who get it and are, you're kind of crazy, it's awesome. But trying to explain it, I think my worst was trying to explain it at a research conference to explain that that's why i got up so early. And no, I'm not just here doing science stuff. I'm doing this.
Lucy: and definitely got some luck through that one for sure.
Rich: That's awesome.
Lucy: The fruit flies less so than the Iron Man, but.
Rich: Lucy, this has been awesome. Thanks for sticking with us through the interview, sharing your story, going through this fun segment, this Lucy's grit, grit scale.
Lucy: of course.
Rich: Uh, this is going to live on an in infant infamy.
Kristin Overton: For sure. We're going to use this a lot.
Rich: And don't forget, we're coming back and we're having the on the fly podcast sometime in the future.
Kristin Overton: Yes.
Lucy: You got it. Anytime.
Rich: Far out. Real quick shout out to our show sponsor, Vespa Endurance Nutrition. Vespa helps endurance athletes improve fat metab metabolism, reducing the reliance on glycogen glycogen stores, easy for me to say tonight, and maintaining steady, clean energy so that they can have longer training sessions and races.
Rich: And it is an amazing product. Check it out. We've got the link here in the show notes and the you'll get 15% off of anything in your cart anytime with the code G2G Vespa 15. So check them out and the link.
Rich: And thank you for joining us for the Grit to Greatness Endurance podcast. If Lucy's story inspired you, please share this episode with a friend and leave a review and subscribe so you never miss another episode. Remember, greatness isn't reserved for the gifted. It's earned by those who are willing to continue to move forward when life gets hard. Until next time, keep showing up, doing all the work, and keep getting gritty.
