Transcript
WILD ONEZ: Hello and welcome to episode 10, 10 of the
ld: Thank you.
Viv: Double digits, baby!
WILD ONEZ: of the Wild Ones podcast. I'm your host, Sarah.
Viv: And I'm your host, Viv. Welcome, welcome.
WILD ONEZ: And we are very excited to be with you guys today.
Viv: Sarah, did you think we would make it 10 episodes? Yeah.
Viv: but
WILD ONEZ: it is kind of crazy to think about how fast these 10 episodes have gone by though, honestly. It seems like just yesterday, this idea like came up at that swim run and now we are, we're living it.
WILD ONEZ: So, and we're on episode 10.
Viv: We are.
WILD ONEZ: Crazy stuff.
Viv: i know. I think we're we're we're having fun. We're enjoying the ride and I hope everybody listening enjoys the ride with us because we are We're definitely having fun.
WILD ONEZ: Amazing.
Viv: We're vibing.
WILD ONEZ: Wow.
Viv: I hope you guys are vibing with us.
WILD ONEZ: my.
Viv: It's been fun.
WILD ONEZ: well
Viv: Sarah, how was your week?
WILD ONEZ: well
Viv: How was your post-wedding week? Let's talk about that.
WILD ONEZ: oh my
Viv: You got married since we last dropped the last podcast episode. Her dress, everybody, was gorgeous. sure Like, Think of the most, like the mountain princess, flowers, white, a vision.
Viv: This girl, we will have to post a photo or something and drop something because my jaw was on the floor.
ld: you
WILD ONEZ: it was so fun yeah honestly i don't think I like it couldn't have been more perfect like the weather that we had we got married in the morning and like the whole weather like leading up to it it had like snowed like five days before which ended up being perfect because we had snow on the mountains behind us which made the photos just like even more uh-huh And so, yeah, that was awesome.
Viv: Gorgeous. Like tier. Amazing.
WILD ONEZ: we had a morning ceremony, took our family out to brunch. And then we went for a six mile hike up to a waterfall and got met.
Viv: You would.
ld: all right
Viv: You would do a six mile hike.
WILD ONEZ: We stood under the waterfall and took photos with our friends.
Viv: That is okay. That's the picture we need to drop. Like that's, that's, good that's coming on the Instagram guys. Patience, but it's coming.
WILD ONEZ: And then then partied at our house afterwards with our friends and family here in the Valley.
Viv: That's awesome.
WILD ONEZ: And yeah, it was like the most incredible day after, And this week and this week i I have been recovering. I did not know.
WILD ONEZ: and Like everything was perfect. Like we had the best weekend ever, but I just like was not prepared for how busy that was and how many days I would need of recovery afterwards.
Viv: Like tired.
WILD ONEZ: We hosted... Like people didn't stay at our house, but like we hosted almost all of the meals with both of our families and siblings.
Viv: Oh yeah. That's lot of people, yeah.
ld: so
WILD ONEZ: and So, yeah, it was a lot and it was amazing. And I'm finally getting my energy back from it. So, yeah, I can't wait to see more of the photos, you guys.
Viv: That's good.
WILD ONEZ: There's some really hilarious photos.
Viv: Me too. I can't wait either.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: Like, I know you're excited, but I'm excited too, man. I'm i'm waiting i'm like,
WILD ONEZ: So a little sneak peek, picture this, just visualize it. Okay. So we're hiking up this trail. There's like 15 of us and we're starting to cross this bridge and I'm like, guys, hold back.
WILD ONEZ: I want to get some photos of Matt and I on this bridge. We like started taking some like cute, just like over a little stream, not very big.
Viv: What kind of bridge?
Viv: Okay.
WILD ONEZ: So just like, it was just like a log laying over basically.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Oh, okay.
Viv: Super safe.
WILD ONEZ: and Yeah, it was great. This is its story even gets better. And so we start walking across it, take some cute photos. And then like we walk back across, get a couple more. And then somebody, one of our friends is like wheelbarrow, wheelbarrow.
WILD ONEZ: And so I'm on my hands and Matt grabs my legs and I'm like wheelbarrowing across this log.
ld: you
Viv: Shut the front door.
WILD ONEZ: I cannot wait to see this photo, you guys.
Viv: i can't.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: Oh, my God. Maybe that's the one that drops. Like, once you get that picture, it's just going to go on the Instagram. It's on the permanent feed on Wild Ones. Like, that's just what's going to happen.
WILD ONEZ: a Oh my god, so good. Yeah, I'm excited.
Viv: That's amazing.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, yeah, it was a dream, so.
Viv: You've been getting some good workouts in, too, this week. you're You're carrying us this week.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, the body definitely needed a little bit more of a rest week this week, but I got a good swim in today, and I'll call that a win, so yeah, how about you?
ld: Thank you.
Viv: Yeah, that's awesome. Hey, it's it's it's been more – that's more than what I've been doing. i if I think we talked about it on the last podcast episode. I gave myself a concussion. I'm concussion-prone. knocked my head underneath my desk while I was trying to fix some wires and monitors computers. I shouldn't be IT t for a reason. And it just proved why.
Viv: so I hit my head perfectly, like literally the perfect storm and thought I came back. I think I just got back into working out too fast. Got super nauseous after my workout on Tuesday and have not been doing anything since.
Viv: I've still been walking the dog. So I'm getting my mindful movement in.
ld: you.
Viv: I'm staying hydrated, caffeinated, fueling, taking care of myself the best I can.
WILD ONEZ: Close it.
Viv: However, i did go and surprise my sister. i did get lack of sleep. So lack of sleep the last couple of days has not been so good on the concussion protocol. But I did surprise my sister and was worth the sleep deprivation.
Viv: She dove at World Aquatics, world high diving like worlds against some talented, talented divers. And she ended up 11th out of, I want to say like 15 or 16 divers.
Viv: And like what they're doing –
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Viv: absolutely and insane we'll have to repost some of her stuff as well on instagram so if you're listening to this check then so we' we'll be posting not only our podcast drop but also like some some highlights as well but like what she has been doing what she's been working hard on like it was so cool to see her and her element and her craft and like also surprised like most my family my dad was the only one who knew i also booked my ticket so she dove friday and saturday i booked my ticket thursday night to fly out friday morning
ld: Thank you.
Viv: It was a wild thing, but I did it, and I'm so glad I did. I got to see my family. was the first time we'd been, like, all four of us together in one spot in like, two and a half years, which is wild to even think about because we're, like, all over the place.
Viv: So if anybody doesn't know, my sister is cliff diving but also, like, a yachtie. So she's been working, like, in the Mediterranean and jumping off of cliffs in Greece and, like, insane stuff.
Viv: So she's been doing that. My parents are in Colorado. Like, we are all over the place. So to finally get together in one spot was, like, I mean, kind of like your family, you guys are all over. So like to get to one spot is so special.
Viv: So we've had some good quality family time between the wild ones.
ld: Thank you.
Viv: So it's been good. but yeah, so hopefully, fingers crossed, we're going to get back into actual good workouts this week. And the brain is going to cooperate. Fingers crossed.
WILD ONEZ: Oh, and we are officially like two weeks away from two weeks to the day.
Viv: We are. Two weeks to the day. Well, we're recording. Sorry, guys. We're recording on Sunday. But yeah, two weeks to the day when we're recording this for Orcas. How are you feeling about Orcas?
WILD ONEZ: I'm excited.
Viv: Are you excited?
WILD ONEZ: yeah especially after talking to Michelle yesterday on the Wild Ascent meetup that we had and just like her knowledge of the area and the way she was explaining how things may be even more lush and green compared, like it's already really lush and green even in September.
Viv: Yes.
ld: Thank you.
WILD ONEZ: But because we're earlier in the season, it hasn't had a chance to dry out yet. So she's like thinking everything's going
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
Viv: So if you haven't done swim run, you should sign up for swim run.
ld: Thank you.
Viv: And how can you not go to Orca Islands? i it it Like it's beautiful up there. Like I always want to move up there. And my dad's like, do you have to remember what it looks like the rest of the year?
Viv: And I was like, I would be sad if I didn't see the sun more than two days.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: So, but it's gorgeous.
WILD ONEZ: then That's fair.
Viv: It's, oh, I love it. It's a happy place. One of my happy places. But it's, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Trees.
Viv: so
WILD ONEZ: Cannot wait to see those trees.
ld: Mm-hmm.
Viv: So excited. I'm ask Sarah how many trees she can climb. We're going to take a tally. We're not only have a dog tally, but going to have the tree count. So.
WILD ONEZ: You're going to really be getting up in the triple digits.
Viv: Oh, we were going to, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Maybe more triple digits.
Viv: Uh-huh. huh I'm going to ask her what kind of tree it is and if she would climb it.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
Viv: So be be prepared to be educated on our race recap. We will let you know.
WILD ONEZ: Amazing. Well, yes, we're very excited for Orcus Highland.
ld: Thank you.
WILD ONEZ: It's coming up so soon.
Viv: I know. think her And I think our guest for today is actually going to be at Orca's Island as well. So we're so excited to see her there. i Sarah, long have we known this next guest?
WILD ONEZ: Okay, so we have known Liza since Orca's Island, the first year we did it, I think.
Viv: Like,
WILD ONEZ: Because remember, Liza, yeah, and Shipkey, we were going back and forth.
Viv: 2021, right?
WILD ONEZ: Do you remember on the second part of the race?
ld: Thank you.
Viv: Because
WILD ONEZ: Was it the first?
Viv: that's when he said he looked like my dad.
WILD ONEZ: I think.
Viv: We'll also have to post one of those pictures too.
WILD ONEZ: Oh, shoot. That's funny. I don't know.
Viv: I think at least since 2021 because she was NC. Uh,
WILD ONEZ: Okay. Were you at Orgas in 2021?
Viv: She was. No, because she did Orca's the next year that we did it, 2023. We went back-to-back worlds, I think.
WILD ONEZ: Man, timelines.
Viv: I don't know.
WILD ONEZ: owner Not our strong suit.
Viv: Either way, we have known Liza since 2021. I will say, I'll put it out there. We've known her since then. And... that This woman right here, she has done so many trips, so many trails.
Viv: Like, she is backpacker. Like, she will run very far. She'll swim run very far. She is, like, anybody's biggest cheerleader. And, like, I want to be Liza when I grow up because she is a badass, literally.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, a a
Viv: So we are so excited to welcome to the podcast, Liza. We're so excited that you're here.
ld: Hi guys! Hi! It's a mini reunion!
Viv: welcome.
ld: Woo! Two weeks! Can't wait!
Viv: I know, I'm so excited. very I'm so pumped. Like, I mean, again, we're both so excited just to like shake off the cobwebs, have fun, but also just like be reunited with everybody.
WILD ONEZ: yeah Swimmer and Family is the best.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: We can't wait to see you.
ld: Yeah. Same, same. Yeah. yeah
Viv: think we're staying house too, so it's going to be a party.
ld: Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be a little crazy. We keep adding people too, it seems.
Viv: I know.
ld: yeah
Viv: We're to be building bunk beds. Our Airbnb guests or our Airbnb hosts will be like, what?
ld: Yeah. yeah Yeah. If only they had inflatable bunk beds that you could travel with. Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: it's all air matches.
Viv: That might be the next million dollar idea, i'm not gonna lie.
ld: young
Viv: Oh my gosh. Well, Eliza, you've been doing swim run for a while, right? How long have you been doing it, like, officially?
ld: Yeah. Yeah. It's funny. The first one I did was i think 2017 in the spring in California, in San diego when Hewitt had California swim run.
Viv: Okay.
Viv: Oh, yeah.
ld: Yeah. He had put together this sort of mini intro course in mission Bay. So it was swim friendly run around parks, nothing super technical.
Viv: Cool.
ld: And the best part was I remember in doing registration, they have this huge big bucket of beer on ice at registration.
ld: And so i was like, oh, like this is not like a triathlon.
Viv: That's fantastic.
ld: And so I was like, oh, this is going to be great. And I mean, granted, the race did start at like two o'clock.
Viv: Amazing.
ld: But And Shefke had gotten a bunch of us to go down there to do it because he was like, this sport's really fun. You guys should all come try it. So a bunch of us went down there to do it.
ld: But i knew that I was doing a total hip replacement a few months later. So it was going to be, this was my my last fun outdoor adventure race.
Viv: Oh my gosh, wow.
ld: And I was like, what a great way to go out. This is because I honestly never thought I would be able to run again, the way I had been running. So yeah, so I was just like, oh, this is just checking a box of doing something completely crazy or whatever.
Viv: That's wild.
WILD ONEZ: Whoa.
ld: Never in a million years did I ever think like it would circle it back a couple of years later. And i think it was, again, Mikey had booked Casco with one of his original swimrun partners And for some reason, at the last minute, that person couldn't go.
ld: And he was looking for people. you know This is a couple years later.
Viv: yeah
ld: He's like, well, are you running yet? I'm like, running? No. I have a hip replacement. You don't run on his hip replacement, but I had been walking a lot. And so he's like, well, how fast can you walk? And I'm like, I can put down like a 15-minute mile, maybe, 20-minute mile. And so we kind of did the math. He's like, well, if you walk fast enough, we can actually make the cutoffs at Casco.
ld: in about
Viv: That's amazing.
ld: is not swinging and so we were like, okay, let's try to do it. So never did we think that we would continue that over and over and over.
ld: And now we've done Worlds and Rockman and, you know, Lake James and North Carolina, and then, you know, seeing the adventures from Odyssey to now Attila and all that stuff.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: That's incredible.
ld: So that's sort of how it went. And here we are.
WILD ONEZ: That's wild.
ld: Getting ready to do cast i mean orcas for maybe the third time.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: yeah Yeah.
Viv: Oh my gosh.
ld: It's crazy. it's It's hard to even think back.
WILD ONEZ: That's amazing.
ld: like you know You just never know what what you're getting yourself into, basically.
WILD ONEZ: I had no idea that you had a hip replacement and you were basically like, I don't know if I'm going to run.
Viv: Have you, yeah, you had just one, right? One of your hips replaced or, yeah.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: yeah
ld: Yeah. When is enough? I'll just say that.
Viv: You're good. i don't need I don't need to do. We're good.
ld: I don't need to. And I guess like, had I been into like, I don't know, social media or something at the time i could have documented, you know, like, and then like hip replacements, swim, run brand or something.
ld: Like I could done something with like, I don't know.
Viv: A full, yeah.
ld: I think there are like, you can hashtag total hip replacement and whatever. We could have brought more hip replacement people to swim, run, you know, because i don't know, as long as you can hike fast.
Viv: like, it's possible. As long as you can walk fast enough, you're good.
ld: Yeah. As long as you can, well, Marcus always says, you know, hike with purpose. As long as you can hike with purpose, you'll get through the course very well.
Viv: There you go. Yeah.
ld: So, yeah.
Viv: That's awesome. Did you grow up doing sports?
ld: I did, i grew up, I started playing soccer when I was eight and played a ton of it.
Viv: Okay. Okay.
ld: It was the thing that everybody did. It kept us out of trouble. You know, that way we, you know, we were latchkey kids. We had a place to go every day. We had tournaments and we then also did travel soccer.
ld: So then that's sort of like we would go, you know, to different states.
Viv: Okay.
ld: We went to Canada, we went to England and Scotland.
Viv: That's cool.
ld: weren't very good, but we were also on the East Coast. So it's a little bit easier to travel, but it was just such a fun, i would say team oriented, sport and outside of the game, we were always doing things together as well.
ld: So going from that, like, and I played way up until I think it was like 45 maybe. Yeah, I played a lot. And then, and then I went into triathlon for a short bit of time.
Viv: Okay.
ld: And I would say that I, there it was fine, but we always talk about swim run and the team element. So when I went back to swim around, I was like, oh, like I'm back home. Like it's a team thing and everyone's working together and people all have their different skill sets. But when you put them together, then they're better. You know, the sum is better than the individual pieces. But I didn't know that that was missing.
ld: So I know we all talk about that so much. The team aspect is just so important. And now I feel like I i don't know that I could do a course by myself. Like would I want to? I don't know. I've never done it. But yeah, here we are.
Viv: That's wild. I didn't know.
ld: and
Viv: I think I knew i you did triathlon, but like, I think it was just kind of like, I did triathlon and then like, just kept going.
ld: yeah I mean, it was worth a try. And it was it was fun at the time, and especially it is a social it's also very social well.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: And also it was one of those things where like kind of like some run, like you think it's impossible. you hear Iron Man, and it was only for the most fittest people in the men of the world that did Ironmans. And then once you start breaking it down, you're like, could I actually do something like this? Like with no swim background, i had some running, of course, not a ton of cycling. and you know, now it's just a huge brand and a huge, you know, huge sport.
ld: And I'm not sorry that I'm not doing it it anymore. But I moved on to something else. But I'm still actually a member of the Los Angeles Tri Club.
Viv: You're like, darn it. oh next time. Hey.
ld: on the do so many great beginner and entry-level get-togethers. They have an Ocean 101. They go the ocean a couple days a week.
WILD ONEZ: Thank
Viv: Nice.
ld: They help get people comfortable with the surf. They are always doing you know foundational skill stuff, so I still support it. and It's a a great crowd.
Viv: Awesome.
ld: So I'm just being cheeky.
Viv: There you go. And you're like, hey, I know you're doing triathlon right now, but have you ever heard a swim run?
ld: You have no idea. People see Mike and I and they walk the other direction at half the hour. They're like, oh no, here they come. Yeah.
Viv: That's incredible. They're like, oh, not these two again. They're not going to talk about triathlon.
ld: We're always recruiting.
Viv: They're going to talk about swim run.
ld: Always recruiting.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
ld: Especially if like we know someone's bike is in the shop or you know, they like,
Viv: Target.
ld: You know, yeah they don't want to travel with their helmet, bike and shoes. We're like, well, you can still travel and see the world, but here's how you do it.
WILD ONEZ: whom
ld: So.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, I think everybody in the Valley, everybody in my run club here knows about swimrun because I think everybody knows about swimrun.
Viv: Yes. Yeah.
ld: I know. They don't have a choice.
Viv: No, they hear it all the time. They're like, oh, I actually got somebody who was like, what swim run? I go, oh, well, while we're having our morning coffee, let's talk about it.
WILD ONEZ: Let me tell you.
ld: Well. Let's talk about it.
Viv: I'll show you this, all these videos.
ld: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Viv: Have I mentioned i have a podcast on it? Or have you listened to the Low Tie Boys?
ld: yeah.
Viv: Have you listened to this one or this one?
ld: Yeah.
Viv: like ol on all nine yards. Full download. Yeah.
ld: Yeah. Yeah. We were successful in recruiting people.
WILD ONEZ: yeah I usually...
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Like, it lookca I guess it was two years ago.
Viv: You always had a pretty good crew there.
ld: then Yeah, we had a really great crowd from Los Angeles. the that That band has disbanded, but there's a couple people that still want to do it.
ld: it It just takes a ringleader from one gym.
Viv: Yeah. Yeah.
ld: Like you guys have the Traverse crowd.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Yeah, like it just takes a ringleader to get a bunch of people together and a bunch of people to to train. So, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: I think Amanda and Fiona, their mamas, are doing something similar in their hometown right now. So I'm really excited to see how they get together.
ld: Yes, they have so many people coming to Casco.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: I love it
Viv: Yes, there's going to be a lot of Vermonters there.
ld: i love it
Viv: I'm very, very excited. a few other fell over mamas.
ld: But you need that.
Viv: Yes.
ld: Yeah, you need that ringleader to like, yeah, and and to help organize like it it's out they're they're gonna like, I love all of that that's happening with them. It's so fun.
ld: So fun.
Viv: They're crushing it. I, yeah, I think it's, it's also just cool to see. I mean, like, just the start of it, because like, again, you did in 2017 before it was like, it was it was a thing, but it was kind of like just one of those like swim run. But now it's like picking up traction. Like we're getting recognized a little bit more globally. Like, obviously it's a, it started off as a global sport, but like,
Viv: I feel like more people are are are noticing it now.
WILD ONEZ: More people are starting to know. was
Viv: And I think it it also helps with the sale as well. It's like, no, like there's not just one person that knows about it anymore. It's like actually like a big thing.
ld: no Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Viv: And you've been able to travel the world with it. Like, I mean, you travel, we'll get we'll get into your backpacking as well because that's insane and impressive. But like you've done, obviously you've done Worlds and Rockman, but like do you have a favorite race, swim run race that you've done so far?
ld: I don't think any of us can answer that. You know, they're all so different.
Viv: I know they're all really good.
WILD ONEZ: All right.
Viv: Yeah. Yeah.
ld: i mean, you know, we already said orcas is like this magical forest with elves and, you know, tree people coming out of, you know, all out of the place.
Viv: yeah
ld: And then, and the water is also beautiful. It's cold. That's the hardest part. But just traveling there alone is part of the journey. I've done, you know, Austin is great just because it's a different terrain and it's the end of the year.
ld: It's like the season, you know, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: party race.
Viv: Bounce party.
ld: But like, I really loved North Carolina that with having the last swim down river to end at a brewery. I mean, peter right.
Viv: So nice.
ld: That was awesome. I mean, we even did the one in Michigan, got to do that.
Viv: you guys did Mackinac, right?
ld: last year Yeah, Mackinac, that was great. The water was so clear. Of course, Catalina is in our backyard, so that holds a special place in our heart.
ld: The water is just like we try to explain what it's like to swim in the kelp beds with white sand, you know, on the bottom of the ocean with the kelp and the or orange Garibaldi fish.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: And it's just unlike anything you ever done.
WILD ONEZ: It's hard.
ld: It is very Casco Bay like the water, but just on a different. level And the views, once you get to the top of the the big climbs in Catalina are so like, I don't know. I mean, there's a different smell, you know, who knows? They're all they're all fabulous.
ld: I mean, do you guys have a favorite race? Yeah,
Viv: Oh, I mean, Orcas has a special place in my our hearts, too. It's their first one. it's it's Again, it's magical.
WILD ONEZ: yeah
ld: yeah. yeah
Viv: So that was last year. it was their first year. And now that course was good, except the swims felt longer than they actually were.
ld: They were hard.
Viv: so those are a little tough but i don't know i love i mean i feel like now world is nostalgic for us like i know we're talking about it like this will be sarah and i's third time at worlds and like the first time we went together then then we went separately the our second time and then we're reuniting for our third for the 20th running of it this year and it's just it kind of feels like we kind of know it a little bit more like don't get me wrong I will probably make a wrong turn I will see if I can still go around it but like it's it's still yeah right I know it says this way but I think I need to go around this tree first like I probably don't but it's it's just I feel like nostalgic and like some of these races that like we've done more than once like we go back and I'm like oh this is so nice don't know Sarah how do you feel about and a favorite race
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: I think I would agree with everything you just said. Orcas will always have a special place in my heart because it was our very first swim run and there's so many memories that come with that. And then Worlds, I think the first time you do it, you're just so like kind of terrified and scared shitless about everything and you have no idea what's going on and you have no idea how you're going to get places and be there on time.
Viv: Mm-hmm.
WILD ONEZ: and like Then you worry about the cutoffs and the second cutoff, especially. and you're like, it's just so overwhelming. There's so many things you can't actually take it all in. The second time we went there, it was a little bit more relaxed as far as like logistics goes.
WILD ONEZ: But like that summer leading up to when Anna and I raced it together, like I don't think I had the best training for it. So the race itself was a little bit harder. and so I'm really stoked to come back to it for a third time this year.
WILD ONEZ: like Just knowing how like traveling abroad goes and for this race, like all the logistical pieces that go into it. and knowing that I want to be really well trained now so I can party really hard afterwards because it's the 20th anniversary.
WILD ONEZ: so
Viv: Exactly. Liza, are you guys, are you and Mike going to be there this year?
ld: He is doing it with Mari. Yeah. So I wasn't, yeah.
Viv: Really?
ld: So they've been racing together a couple of times.
Viv: Yeah, i have seen that.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Yeah. So I wasn't sure what I was going commit to this year. So whatever, at the end of the year, last year, the beginning of the year, you know, we had, you know, kind of sat down and looked at our goals and what we wanted to do and the timelines.
Viv: Fair.
ld: And I was like, I don't know. And I didn't want to put him in a pickle.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: And I wanted to have him have enough time to find the right partner. So he had raced, I think with Mari in Austin and and they had a great, fantastic race.
Viv: Yes.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
Viv: Yeah, they did Austin together.
ld: So they're going to do orcas together, i think, and in worlds.
Viv: Nice.
ld: And they, so now both of them have done it, you know, several times.
Viv: Oh, yeah, definitely.
ld: So it's going to be, cannot wait to hear their experience. This is going to be so awesome.
Viv: Yeah, that'll be very cool. Yeah, I know.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: they I remember them racing together last year.
ld: love Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Viv: And, like, that's what I love about swimrun, too, is, like, sometimes, like, it's most random pairings. And it's just like, oh I raced with this person. And you're like, how did you even get – and it's just like, oh, we just texted. Or I just Instagram DM'd them.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: And it just – like, I just needed somebody.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: You said the day before.
ld: Those are the best stories. Like, oh, we met like five minutes before the race or, I mean, whatever. I mean, you ended up racing with the the low tide boys at the last minute, right?
Viv: Oh, yeah.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: 2024.
Viv: That was, I ended up racing with Chris because Chipper was out, with injury or I think that year. he ended up like being a commentator and doing like live stuff and hopping on the media team.
Viv: But Sarah last minute had to pull out too. And so was like, I don't know if I'm going race. Like, is it going solos? I'm like, I'm just going pair up with somebody or like triple up. And Chris is like, yeah, that's a, do you want to race together? We're like, sure. And ironically, like I always thought for whatever reason, Chris led the swims.
Viv: And so I was not trained at all that year. Like talk about zero training. I just, I maintained. And so I was like, yeah, I know you can lead the swims. Like, and he'd never allowed to swim before.
Viv: And he tells me that halfway through the race, he goes, yeah, it's my first time leading swims. And I go, I couldn't tell you're doing amazing.
ld: wow i a Good answer.
WILD ONEZ: Thank you.
ld: good answer. Yeah. any answer yeah
Viv: But yeah, they happen like that. how did How did you and Mike, like, I mean, you guys, he like, randomly, like, how did you continue the partnership after you guys, like, did that one Casco Bay, like, super last minute?
ld: yeah, I think just like the next one came up and it's I always, we always try to like sit down, you know, kind of in the beginning of the year and figure out, you know, family obligations and other travel obligations or school or work or whatever it is.
ld: And if we can make it work, we try to commit, you know, as early in the year as possible.
Viv: Nice.
ld: So there's no surprises and we can plan travel and all that kind of stuff. So it just, you know, did as you guys know, it takes communication.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: but i mean, we all have this and i we have also, i think, not an advantage, but we can train together.
ld: Like we're part of the same swim club. We have the same ultra running friends. Like we swam, we didn't train together like this morning, but we were at the pool at the same time.
Viv: Mm-hmm.
ld: And really, it's all about FICA. So when it comes down to it, we have a lot of time on the books.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Viv: All about Fika. Our favorite part swim run.
ld: And so even today, my mom is actually visiting. And so it was me and Mike and my mom at FICA.
WILD ONEZ: Aw. I love that.
ld: no Yeah, I don't know if we have anything scheduled together the rest of the year. So I'm going to do Austin... with Diane.
ld: on
WILD ONEZ: Oh, fun.
Viv: That's so, oh, that's gonna be so fun.
ld: be a i know it'll be so fun. At least that's our current plan. Hopefully we both stay great and moving forward.
Viv: I love that.
ld: But yeah, and then Orca's with Kate.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: So I, for this year, i just was like, hey, I'm available for last, you know, again, if people have partners, have to drop out at the last minute, I'm adventure ready.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: You know, like that's my sort of training mantra is that I'm adventure ready.
WILD ONEZ: Yay! I love that.
ld: So someone's you know at the last minute needs you know a pacer for something or a teammate for a run i'm like i'm ready i'm good to go let's go let's go do it whatever it is
WILD ONEZ: Okay, that is gold.
Viv: That is why I want to be you when I grow up.
WILD ONEZ: That is gold.
Viv: Like that's like I – but I see that though.
WILD ONEZ: Yes.
Viv: Like you you you train to maintain but like you're like, oh, no, I'm ready for anything. Like what do you need kind of thing. And like I love that mindset because that literally is like you in real life.
Viv: Like just how did you get into – I have to bring it up because how did you get into all these backpacking trips as well? Because I feel like that that has also given you a pretty good base for swim run and all the endurance things that you've done too.
ld: Yeah, that was, yeah, it's just been more, I think it's just an offshoot of ultra running, doing, i haven't done a hundred miler, but several 50 Ks and whatever stuff.
Viv: How did that happen? Because you've done a ton of trails too. Like, not just the regular ones, like tons.
ld: And also i happen to live five minutes from the Santa Monica mountains and the San Gabriel's and we have huge mountains just right outside our back door.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: But it's a relatively new thing. i had friends that were into ultralight backpacking and it just sounded awful. Like all of it.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
Viv: You're like, no, thank you.
ld: like I don't want to. I mean, I slept in many, many tents, but they were always more like glamping tents or car camping.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: And so... And the couple of times that like I slept in a tent like at Wildflower, which is is this old school famous triathlon here in California, you know, the night before I didn't have like the right mattress pad. It was awful. it was like, how can people get into this backpacking thing and actually like sleep? So a few years ago, friends of mine took me out on the Arizona trail for like a week.
ld: Like I think it was the area around Tucson. I can't remember. And really let me, I had another friend that was super, super into ultra light through hiking.
ld: She had already done the PCT, the C parts of the CDT. She had already done the AZT, the AT. She'd done stuff in the Himalayas and won like, you name it.
WILD ONEZ: Thank you.
Viv: Like she's done it.
ld: And I swam with her and I was like, you know, and her stories were amazing. I was like, well, she's out there by herself doing all of this, sleeping at night by herself.
ld: And, and she's smaller than I am. And if she can carry all that stuff, I'm like, certainly i can do it. So she lent me some gear because that's part of the, you know, hard, you know, entry entry point of entry is you don't want to buy all stuff that you may never use.
ld: And then I went with this, my other friends and we you just started chip away at it.
WILD ONEZ: And it's expensive.
ld: And I don't know if part of it's also like the places that you go on those trails are not, all accessible by mountain bike. Cause a lot of people were like, why don't you just my mountain bike? Like you can mountain bike.
ld: There is a mountain bike course for the a Arizona trail, but a lot of places don't allow bikes. You like, you're not going to go through the Sierras, the California Sierras, you know, or the Colorado trail, for example, you're not, some of it is accessible by mountain bike shore, but a lot of it you can't do.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Like you're never going to hike, you're never going to mountain bike the New Hampshire, you know, white mountains on a mountain bike, you can't do that.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: You just be carrying the bike.
ld: So that's, yeah, I mean, it's just too technical.
Viv: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Good old headache.
ld: So yeah, so it's just a different, you know, and you, it, we, there's this whole thing about hike your own hike. And it's a whole, it's, what is so amazing is that every sport or hobby, whether it's stamp collecting, knitting, swim, run, track on whatever, has its own culture, its own language, its own little costumes and all of its you know own equipment. And once you get into it, it's like the culture is so strong.
ld: you know I mean, and and we you know Swim and definitely has its costumes and its language, and not everything like that. So with the through hiking, yeah, it's it's it's fun.
ld: It's just, it's so it's the freedom also of like, You wear the same clothes every day. Like one outfit, you get one costume and that's it.
ld: And then you have a rain jacket, rain pants, a costume to sleep in maybe one other pair of socks. And that's all you need for like weeks.
ld: And eventually a washing machine. But it's just, it's really nice.
Viv: but That does help. Yeah.
ld: It's just fun. is a part of and like all day long, you're problem solving, logistics, route finding, worrying about water, where you can sleep. It's like there wasn't time to be scared.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, it's so raw.
ld: Yeah. So it's fun.
WILD ONEZ: It's just like you and nature and the outdoors.
ld: But yeah, it's just something different. I mean, you know, it's a good way to see the world.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: That's really cool.
WILD ONEZ: So you have some big backpacking plans coming up this summer?
ld: Yeah. Yeah.
ld: I have some, not super, super big, but, I'll be doing part of the Appalachian trail, just Shenandoah national park, which is in Virginia.
Viv: Nice.
ld: And it's only a few, it's like within an hour of my mom where my mom lives. So she's been my trail angel the past few years.
Viv: Nice.
ld: Uh, so when I go to visit, I always plan like two or three days and sometimes I'm just fast packing like a 20 mile section. So I'm not gone the whole day or whatever. but that's like 110 mile section.
ld: and Shenandoah national park, it's, you know, easy access. It's not, uh, the trail crosses skyline drive, like, don't know, a hundred times in a hundred miles.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Like it's pretty, it's not super urban, but you're never far from like a snack bar basically.
WILD ONEZ: Because
ld: So, that's good.
WILD ONEZ: be begun
Viv: Nice. There you go.
ld: Yeah. And then in July, i'm actually doing the Ultra Swim 33 again. yeah.
Viv: Can you, yeah, can you explain what that is to anybody who doesn't know what that is? Because I i learned about it last year when you, Shipki, and Katie went too, right?
ld: Yes.
ld: Yeah. Katie and Mikey went to Montenegro and I did the one in Greece. So it's a four day sort of stage event. that it's not necessarily a race. But there was, I went with a lot of the Anval people from Sweden.
ld: So Tom Jenkinson and my whole crew, yeah, it was really fun.
Viv: Yes, yeah.
ld: You swim, it's 33.3, which is the length of the English Channel. So that's sort of the theme. And they weave a lot of cultural and thematic sort of things into the four days.
Viv: okay.
ld: It's extremely well run. It's a first class organization. It's, uh, and the swimming is just beautiful. I'm not, I'm not a swimmer. So like I've been learning, learning to swim.
ld: Like in fact, three days before worlds, when I was in Sweden or in Stockholm, I actually took a lesson from Tom, uh, which was helpful during, during, yes.
Viv: Nice. Yeah.
Viv: You're like, best time to do it now.
ld: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Before we start the race. but So because I'm going to be in the area, I'm going to do the Tour de Mont Blanc or the Trail de Mont Blanc, the TMB.
WILD ONEZ: Oh,
ld: I've done part of it already as part of a trail marathon there, but it was 10 years ago, I think. So the TMB, and then hopefully I'll hike the Sierra section of the PCT, the Pacific Crest Trail, which is, it'll be, it's basically,
ld: the same route as the John Muir Trail, the JMT, which is a very popular route to do. It's a few hundred miles, I think 250 or 300 or something like that.
Viv: Yeah. Nice.
Viv: nice
ld: So yeah, I'll chip away.
WILD ONEZ: So how many days and nights
ld: Eventually I'll get to Canada. It'll be a while though.
WILD ONEZ: will that be for that section?
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm. like days and nights will that be for that section
ld: but For the Sierra section, it can it can totally vary. It depends on, I haven't planned out specifically where I'm going to resupply that you, the trade-off is you either carry a shit ton of food, like seven days worth of food is so heavy.
ld: i mean, it is so, so heavy.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: But that means you don't have to get off trail as much to resupply. Cause when you when you're in the Sierras, getting off trail means like, get like exiting the mountain and then maybe hitching a ride for 45 minutes or an hour to the next town during your resupply and then backtracking all the way back to the trail.
ld: And then like the connector trail alone might be nine miles.
Viv: oh. Mm.
ld: So that's an extra 18 miles just to get three or four days worth of food. So, and some people it's a lot at elevation. and so some people usually by the time the real through hikers that do it, by the time they get to that section,
ld: they've already hiked like 700 miles. So they're really in shape and they're ready for the Sierras and they can do 20, 25 mile days.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: But if you're just popping out of a swim run, you might, you know, be doing 15 miles at, you know, 10 to 15 miles a day at elevation.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: just depends. Like, so don't know.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: Yeah. It'll be an adventure though, hopefully. And it's a low snow year. so
ld: not that there would be snow in August or September, but we've been hiking the PCT for the past couple years, this section from Mexico up to like, we call it the end of the desert section because from Los Angeles, you can enter the trail within like a two hour drive.
ld: So
Viv: Oh, wow.
WILD ONEZ: That's
Viv: That's really close, actually.
ld: yeah So we've been taking actually one of my friends and I, we've been we often take uh, other women that want to try it, you know? And so we'll do like, just like we do with swim run, you do a gear review, you go through their pack to see what they want to keep, what they want leave behind. We kind of show them, you know, show them the ropes, how to filter water, how to figure out how much food to take, how to read the maps or the apps. It's actually really easy, but,
ld: Yeah, so we can go out for just two or three days. You don't commit to like a week long. You're not buying a plane ticket to go somewhere or whatever. So that's also been super cool. And you did you also just meet a ton of people on trail.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
ld: Everyone's really friendly. So yeah, it's cool.
Viv: That's really cool.
ld: It's a different, same, same, but different.
Viv: Yeah. Okay, so do do you have a trail name?
ld: Yeah.
Viv: Did you get one?
ld: I do have a trail name, actually.
Viv: but What is your trail name?
ld: couple days. because i I went and met, so this is after Casco Bay one year, i had been this girl that I told you about, her trail name is Sunkist, that had done a billion trails. I had hiked with her early in the year on the Appalachian trail when I was visiting my mom for like four or five days in Pennsylvania, which they call Rocksylvania.
ld: You're hiking AT, that's the,
Viv: Okay.
ld: They call it Roxovania. Anyway, i was like, hey, I'll keep tracking you to see where you are throughout the year. going to be in Maine in August. And, you know, if you are up, have if you've made that much progress by August, I'll pop out on the trail for a few more days with you. And it just happened to be that after Casco, I went to Logan Airport, stored my swim run stuff.
ld: I had brought my backpack with me. I stored it in like an Italian deli, like, you know, those storage places.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: yeah And then I took a bus to Dartmouth to Hanover where she was just crossing into New Hampshire. And I hiked with her for two weeks back to the North on the Appleton trail.
ld: So but by then she's already on mile, like miles.
Viv: Oh my gosh.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: she's already done one thousand five hundred miles and so Every time people would come up to her and be like, oh, Sunkist, how are you? Everyone knew her. and And then I would introduce myself and i would say, hey, I'm Liza. I'm just out here for a couple days.
ld: And I said it like 50 times a day, day after day after day.
WILD ONEZ: Oh.
ld: hey I'm Liza. I'm just out here for a couple of days. Because I was with Patty, Sunkist, that was out there for the whole six months. Finally, she's like, Liza, I have your trail name. It's couple days.
ld: So that's, here we are.
Viv: That's incredible.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: I love that.
ld: So I spell it like D-A-Z-E as opposed to like D-A-Y. So in the apps, you just, you, is the apps are all like crowdsource for like the water.
Viv: There you go.
ld: if If you pass a water source and it's dry, you then update that waypoint and say, Hey, the water source is dry.
Viv: Okay.
ld: There's a better water source 0.3 miles northbound. And it'll, tag the time and the date and then your, your name couple days. So, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: So are you using like an app for these trips? What is it called?
ld: Yeah. It's called far out. It used to be, called gut hook, but outside magazine bought that as well as whatever all trails and everything else I think.
WILD ONEZ: Cool.
Viv: Okay. Yeah.
ld: And you can go in there.
WILD ONEZ: Oh.
ld: There's hundreds of trails in there.
Viv: awesome.
ld: Yeah, it's it's really super helpful. I mean, it's almost like you barely really have to think about stuff. you just There's a couple different ways to use it, but for we mainly use it for water sources.
Viv: Mm-hmm.
ld: So you know how far you have to go, how much water do you have to carry entirely this water source?
WILD ONEZ: That's important.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Because water is the the hardest thing to carry, but also the most important thing to carry. So that's really, you know, so if you're doing
WILD ONEZ: So heavy.
ld: and And it's really good for like point to point. I try to use it for, I also just did the O circuit last January in Patagonia.
Viv: Okay.
ld: And like, that was awesome.
Viv: Yeah, that was beautiful.
ld: I mean, honestly, like there's certain places where they have, there's so much hype and I'm like, there's no way this is cool. And I i went with Sunkist. And we're like, I don't know this is like, cause You go, you look online for like the guided packages and they're like $9,000.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: We're like, it's only a seven day hike. Like, why are you paying that much money? We were able to book everything on our own through and another website.
Viv: Nice.
ld: And then we can self guide because it's a loop. Like it's a little hard to get lost.
Viv: Mm-hmm.
ld: And so we didn't necessarily use that for that, but we did look at the comments that were in there and whatnot. What's crazy is that this year, all those people died on the O circuit.
WILD ONEZ: I'm taking notes. This sounds amazing.
ld: They got caught five or six people died going up.
WILD ONEZ: Wait.
Viv: Oh, I didn't hear about that.
ld: There's a major pass that you, when you're doing the full O, they have it. you're going to come up the pass and then climb over it. And that's when you hit went the major glacier, great glacier.
Viv: Oh, yeah, okay.
ld: And it you know the weather was crazy when we were up there, but it wasn't really snowing, was just raining and it gets too windy.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: The whole, all of Patagon is known for noon for the wind. But yeah, five people died, they got caught in this total crazy snow storm and events were culminated to give them the worst conditions possible.
Viv: Okay.
Viv: Oh, wow. and
ld: But yeah, so you still have to be careful. i mean,
Viv: Yeah.
ld: and they'll, I, at my age, I don't, I'm pretty conservative. Like in, and at this point in my life too, everything's icing on the cake. Like I've done all the swim runs. If I don't do Casco this year, yes, I will have fun low, but I've done it so many times that if I get to do it again, it's just all that much better. It's like, it's icing on the cake. So, if I feel like something's dangerous or a little bit,
ld: If I have my, what is it? here if you're over the tips of your skis too much, like there's a couple of trips I've done that I don't go back.
Viv: Yeah. like oh
ld: Like the backcountry skiing, I don't really do that much anymore because of all the avalanches. like Like it's been a bad couple of years.
Viv: Yeah. It's been, it's been tough.
ld: And so I haven't done any of the big backcountry ski trips in a couple of years.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Yeah, sort of sticking to those.
Viv: i I want to go back to the icing on the cake because that just like jogged in memory. It was like we were at Rockman. It was just like this is just icing on the cake. Like that was like the saying. And like Kate and I started saying it too because we're like how amazing. Like the day ended up being way longer. We didn't get to do like the the last swim. Like there were so many things that just like we just had to roll with the punches kind of thing. And, like, we went back and forth with you and Mike a lot during the course of the day. i mean, I think we, like, drafted off you guys. You guys drafted us. We're all, like, pulling each other up, like, trying not to die on the mountain. And it was just, like, no. Like, how lucky are we to do this? And it's, like, Liza's just, like, it's just icing on the cake. And I was, like, I never fully got it until, like,
Viv: I think at the end where i was like, no, this legitimately is just icing on the cake. Like how amazing, how grateful to move our bodies to do this, to travel to this beautiful country.
ld: It
Viv: Like even though it was rainy miserable all day, it was still gorgeous. Like I loved it.
ld: it was an insane experience. And for the record, you were never drafting off of us. We were completely 100% drafting off of you. And we're like,
Viv: Sorry, we were drafting. We're all drafting off of Kate because Kate was leading all the swims.
ld: off of faith or whoever.
WILD ONEZ: Okay.
ld: yeah i mean, you guys totally, if it wasn't for the two of you there is no way we would have made it through. i don't know if it was just the spirit of being in the woods together and on the rocks and you, your voice was the beacon. we could might not be able to see you but we could definitely hear you.
Viv: I don't know. So don't know if that's good or not.
ld: So we knew were going the right way.
Viv: I think we talked about it in, I don't know if we talked about in Kate's episode or we caught up with her afterwards, but like there's this one couple in North Carolina, like James, and like they're so sweet.
ld: yeah was so...
Viv: Like Kate and Mary like met them and they're so, they're so, so kind.
ld: Oh, wait, wait.
Viv: And they go, okay, everybody can stay over except for the loud one, meaning me. it was like, i promise me.
ld: I know.
Viv: I'll whisper, everybody.
ld: wow But I mean, how awesome is that, that Lake James is coming back?
Viv: so excited.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: i know We will definitely be signing up for that one.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Will it be the same course?
Viv: I think it's going to be as close to the same as possible, like depending on what that storm damage looks like like. I know that they've been doing a lot of like recovery and and recouping efforts in that area of the state.
WILD ONEZ: yeah
WILD ONEZ: yeah it'll be really exciting get back there
ld: yeah Yeah, that's that's a good one also for beginners because not super technical. The course is straightforward.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: We did bring a house full of people from L.A. one year, so that was all their first one runs. So that's a good one for that. You know, just pack up the minivan and you didn't get to get them out there.
WILD ONEZ: Love that.
Viv: Get all the kids out there.
ld: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's all good stuff. But yeah, I would also say like, yeah, like, the i i besides the camaraderie of all of us, the feeling of luckiness and just how, like the opportunities we have through swim run to go to these places.
ld: Like I always tell people, never would I have ever swam across a fjord with orange jellyfish coming into my face by myself, like with waterfalls, you know, coming down.
Viv: Yeah.
Viv: Literally.
ld: Like I wouldn't have been able to do that by myself. I can only do that through this sport. Like, and to know that I am so fortunate to like get to see that or get to swim in the kelp beds.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. Yes.
ld: Like people don't get that. They don't they don't get those opportunities and we do. I don't know how we, you know, got here, but we are just, it is icing on the cake, like lots of frosting.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: yes
Viv: It's stacked.
ld: it not
Viv: what Do you have any advice for people who, like, I know we talk about, like, accessibility a lot. Like, sometimes, like, our sport isn't as accessible because, like, you might be in a landlocked state or whatnot. But, like, do you have advice for people wanting to get into something that is kind of looks intimidating?
ld: Yeah. I mean, i think through obviously everything that you guys are doing, everything that load ties, I mean, there's just so much more information.
ld: And everyone is so helpful reaching out to people, you know, watching the videos. And then i think it's great that now the U.S.
ld: run runs have a shorter entry version. you don't have to do the big world distance.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
ld: And yeah, just here's what I say, because I'm, I'm at my age starting it, or, you know, i started a few years ago and I have a hip replacement. I'm like, if I can do it, like you guys should be able to do it.
ld: It's kind of like how I can it.
Viv: You guys have your original hips. You're so good.
ld: Yeah, you're still good and you're whatever, so whatever. You've got this big runway to go experience new things. So just start it. And then, and then we'll be here, you know, when you cross the finish line or we'll be here to support everyone. And, and I do love that people just lend off their gear and there's,
ld: pull buoys being shipped back and forth across the U S and paddles being, you know, North and South.
WILD ONEZ: Amen.
ld: And like, it's just, Oh my God.
Viv: We have a whole trade system going on
ld: I just love it. It's just incredible. So crazy. Yeah.
Viv: I truly love how like this sport and like I think just endurance in general. Like if somebody has done literally anything more than a marathon, like they're just like, oh my gosh, like you did that.
Viv: And they're like, oh yeah, like it was just like no, i'm like, you did that. Like that's something to be, so like any run, any activity should be celebrated in general.
ld: Yeah. Yeah.
Viv: But like pushing your body past what you think you can is incredible.
WILD ONEZ: In any capacity. Yeah, agree.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: That's a huge feat. Like people are like, oh, I just did a 5K.
WILD ONEZ: Hmm.
Viv: I'm like, yeah, you did a 5K. Or I just did 100 miles, but I normally do 250.
ld: getting to this yeah yeah I sometimes when I'm out of start line, I get overwhelmed.
Viv: Like, okay, cool, but you did that. Like that that's amazing. You're moving your body. It's it's truly icing on the cake.
ld: with like just the capacity to get to a start line, like all the thinking and the logistics and the whatever the brain, and and then it takes guts to get there. If I can get myself there, I know I'll be fine during whatever.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: it's just a privilege. It's just a huge privilege. Yeah.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: I don't know. It A question we ask, like, every female that we i think we every female that we've had on podcast is because you've done you've done sports for for such a long time.
Viv: And like kind of how you pushed past those, if any, that's
ld: Yeah, I don't think i have felt any that, but I'm not trying to get deals and and brands and all that stuff.
Viv: good.
ld: So I think when you're at the pro level, obviously there's this this long history of women getting paid less in sports and all of that. I grew up when I was playing soccer, it was Mia Hamm and all of those girls like really pushing for equal pay.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: and so had I been at their elite level, definitely I think we would have been hitting those barriers, but either I'm too naive or dumb to notice the barriers.
ld: And I also like, you know, most of my adventure friends are women. I don't really see, not a ton, like, I mean, mainly because like the guys, either they don't want to do it or they're not doing it or,
Viv: That's awesome.
ld: I don't know. Like I just find women are like, yeah, sure. I'll do that. Yeah. Okay. Let's go. So then I'm like, then it's just easier to plan with them They're, they're more flexible.
WILD ONEZ: I love
WILD ONEZ: it. it
ld: happy for the guys to come, but like, up, do some planning, make a suggestion. don't know.
Viv: You're like, guys, it's not that so they hard.
ld: let go
Viv: Come on.
ld: Right. Exactly. So, I mean, and I think like, I haven't had a negative experience, either. Like I haven't had anyone tell me, Oh, that's not possible for you to do or anything like that.
ld: So I see I've been lucky for sure.
Viv: That's awesome.
ld: Yeah. Have you guys had that? Like,
Viv: I feel a little bit. Like, I mean, growing up, like, i I was a tomboy, so I always played with the guys anyway. yeah
ld: yeah.
Viv: Kickball and all that stuff. was always doing that. And I think, like, I work in a male-dominated field, too. So, like, I i'm constantly being like, oh, well, the guys are doing it. I can do that, too. And we have a very – it's growing. We have a small endurance running field here women. And, like, I've always just been the girl who's, like,
Viv: well, if the boys can do it, how hard can that really be kind of thing?
ld: Yeah, yeah.
Viv: And so not i faced a lot of criticism. i I think we've talked about it too here on the podcast, but more so from the female side of like, oh, wait, you you you're doing that?
Viv: Oh, like you have muscles. You can't have muscles. you have to have a toned arm, whatever. Like, and I think it's it's definitely gotten better throughout the years. But like, I think when like we were younger it was like oh like you can't be muscular like I was a gymnast I was I was jacked like it was just it was just who like how what what I look like but like I saw that as like because like I was made fun of for that like oh like you look strong like no yeah now it's it's cool to look strong it's impressive to look strong you should look strong but I know Sarah had a different experience too
ld: yes yeah am
ld: yes Yeah, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah, so I think growing up, I was also, yeah, such a tomboy. And I would just constantly compare myself to the boys, I guess. And if the boys were, like, doing something really fun and badass, I was, like, always trying to, like – compare myself and be better to them, I guess. But I don't know if that like was necessarily like a bad thing or if it was a thing that like motivated me more to push harder, to be stronger, like that sort of thing. I also work in a very male dominated field or did as an arborist. And I think in the context of work life, it was the same. Like,
WILD ONEZ: I'm like, these boys are doing this, climbing this way, cutting something this big in this particular way. And like, yeah, doing all like doing crane work and like stuff like that. And I was like, okay, well, if they're doing it, I can do that too. And I was really lucky for most of my climbing career. I had really good mentors that were males as well. And they were really encouraging to me. There was only like one person that I worked with really in the arboricultural field and he was a dick but in like really degrading but he was also dumbass so anything that he said to like I took with a grain of salt anyways and so it was like god whatever you're saying like I really don't care it doesn't even make sense so like
Viv: Double whammy.
ld: Thank you.
Viv: and There you go.
WILD ONEZ: And then, like, growing up, the only thing that, like, I guess that, like, I can remember, i really wanted to dirt bike and, like, race as a kid. And my dad was always, like, no, maybe next year.
WILD ONEZ: Well, like, next year never came. And it was, like, totally because I was a girl, not a boy. And I was, like, oh, that was so dumb. Like, it would have been so fun to do race motocross. Right.
ld: Right, plus that's like a sport where you can really make some money. yeah,
Viv: Hey, yeah. I mean, Sarah, we might as well just – we'll stick you on a bike and get you a helmet.
ld: yeah.
Viv: We get to go.
WILD ONEZ: I mean, I have a mountain bike now and it's like my motocross experience definitely helps with that.
ld: Yeah, yeah
Viv: Yeah, yeah it's
WILD ONEZ: So, yeah.
ld: for sure. love it that's awesome.
Viv: it's been fun kind of pushing, like, the envelope too and I think just seeing how much growth there is in in women in sport and seeing how much more supported it is now too from, like,
WILD ONEZ: Thank you.
Viv: When we were younger as well. Like, I mean, I think it's it's been it's been cool to see that and kind of like the next generation of like like women coming up.
WILD ONEZ: Okay, but Rachel Enderkin just absolutely demolishing the entire field out there.
Viv: Yes.
WILD ONEZ: And then Addie Bracey this weekend also completely demolished her 55-mile race, I think, in Colorado Springs.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
WILD ONEZ: like Won it outright, also broke course records. like Women in sports, like we're on fucking fire, and I am here for it.
Viv: It's been so cool. And like I think – I'm sorry.
WILD ONEZ: It's so inspiring.
Viv: I'm not going to – I'm not trying to hurt any male feelings here. But if you are listening, you are male. But like I think endurance sports were made for female. I think we register pain differently. i think we just think about it differently, our bodies process.
Viv: and And there is – a difference between like the male and female bodies and the way that like we process things and we train. And I think it's just being shown like, no, you can't really keep females in a box like you, like society has as a whole. And it's just, it's been so fun to watch and see just like,
Viv: course records being broken and like what's possible for the next generation like there's little girls watching like there's one of the guys who put on the move rx ultra i don't know if i've told the story yet on the podcast it made me cry a little bit too chug reached out to me and he was like my daughter asked me how you were doing because i was i was wearing glitter i was the only female wearing glitter
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm.
Viv: actually not the only female, but like the only one who was like towards towards the end. And like – she was like asking her dad. She was like, how did the girl with the glitter do? How did she do?
ld: Wow.
Viv: Because like I want to be the girl with the glitter one day. And I i i started crying. Like I was emotional after that race, but I started crying after he had like sent me that message.
WILD ONEZ: Thank you.
Viv: And like you never know who's watching you and who you're inspiring no matter what age you are. And like it is – and it's like I'm like I watched – like I volunteered with girls on the run like 5K and it's been so – like it was so cool to see.
ld: yeah
Viv: I was like I'm inspired by these these girls who are who are out here either walking or running a 5K. Like I'm like you guys are doing amazing things. Like I feel motivated to go for run because of you guys right now.
ld: Yeah, that's a great organization. How many miles did you end up doing in the backyard ultra?
Viv: I made it – think it was like around 55 miles.
ld: Wow, is that the furthest you've ever run at one time?
Viv: That was the furthest that I've ever ran at one time.
ld: Oh my god, that's awesome!
WILD ONEZ: Hey.
Viv: It's so cool. And i just I just want more. And, like, I i i know Sarah and I both have – completing an ultra on our bucket list like 100 miles like completing 100 miles we've she went out for high low last year and like I know I even when she was tired I could see how hungry she was for it too and I think like once you make it past a certain mileage you're just like I know I can do that it's gonna be miserable like full type 2 fun but like
ld: Yeah.
ld: yeah
Viv: You know that you can push your body towards that when you're prepared and you have the right support too. And I think finding the right support is hard. But once you find it and you find your people, like I think you truly are unstoppable.
Viv: And like that's what – like we we have this podcast for too is like hopefully we can connect like our guests or even us or we know somebody who – Through the grapevine of endurance sports, like if you want to try something like you with your backpacking crew, like the fact that you guys have been able to take females out there and like be like, all right, this is how we're doing it.
ld: Yeah.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: Is that so cool?
WILD ONEZ: I love that. That's really impactful too.
ld: Yeah. I mean, and I only got out there because two other females were like, yeah, I'll help you out. Here's a pack that you can try. it Like it was only because they, you know, so it's like paying it forward really. Yeah.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: That's what I love. I'm like, we just need more of that of like, hey, this is something like it's not intimidating. We're all in it together. Like I want to see like I'm competitive.
Viv: Don't get me wrong. Sarah knows as well. Like racing the other. I'm like, it's going to chill race. And she goes, that is the biggest lie you've ever said to me.
ld: no
WILD ONEZ: We always tell ourselves that every time it's just going be a chill race and it's a chill race.
ld: Your form of self-expression.
WILD ONEZ: We start.
ld: And you want you want to express yourself.
Viv: Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
ld: Yeah. It's okay.
Viv: But like, no matter how competitive I get, i still want everybody to finish the race.
ld: Good.
Viv: I still want, I like, I, I want everybody to do their best.
ld: Yes. Okay.
ld: yes
Viv: And whether that put like puts us in last place, I know that somebody else had like had a fantastic day and we had a fantastic day. Like, again, we're out there, we're doing amazing things, moving our body. Like I, I,
Viv: it just, it's so cool to see. Like, i I don't think you can then, like, fully put into words how inspirational going to an erase, like, a race is. Like, even a 5K, like, there's people who hop out there and, like, you just see all walks of life getting into sport these days, which is really cool. And I'm like, you're out here. Again, somebody somebody else said you couldn't do this. And whether whatever whatever your why is in showing up, like,
Viv: That's just – that's all I want to see is, like, the good and and people finishing something that they, like – we all sign up and we pay for this stuff.
ld: Yeah.
Viv: But, like, when you finish it, you're like, that was so fun. I can't believe I did that. Like, can't believe I survived that.
ld: Yeah. yeah
WILD ONEZ: yeah it's kind of addicting if you're ever so if you're listening to the podcast and you're like thinking about signing up for 5k 10k whatever it is just sign up for it and you can figure out the logistics and everything else along the way and once you're there once you do the race or the event or whatever it is when you at the when you get to the end of it
Viv: Just sign up.
WILD ONEZ: you've accomplished something so big, no matter what your time is. And like that feeling of getting to that finish line and knowing that you pushed your body in a way that you haven't before, like that feeling is rewarding and also very addicting.
WILD ONEZ: And I think that's why when folks run their first marathon, they're like, I'm never going to do this again. And then like three minutes later, they're like, okay, going sign up for the next marathon.
ld: Yeah. Yeah. and What's wrong with us?
WILD ONEZ: And it's like the best thing though. Like it is, it's changed my life. Like endurance sports has changed my life so much. Swim run, like the Orcas Island race that we did and joining Traverse Fitness and stuff.
ld: Mm-hmm.
WILD ONEZ: Like there's a few choices that I made along the way when I moved out to Colorado here, That have completely changed my life. And was just one or two simple decisions that I made to do something. And the people that I met along the way, and then the feeling that I had at the finish line. And just like everything that comes with that, it's, yeah, completely life-changing. And I think that could be the same for anybody who decides to put themselves out there and do something hard and do something that might feel a little bit scary at the beginning. But also know that like there's a lot of support out there for people. There's lots of support in social media and like just, yeah, it's endless.
WILD ONEZ: Like i think like we're in a culture like the culture around fitness and running today, i think is so much like celebration of every single body type.
WILD ONEZ: I think we've like transitioned from only like certain people should be running or like the mindset of like only certain people are like running and racing and doing these races.
Viv: Oh, yeah.
WILD ONEZ: And because of social media and other like just forms of communication that we've had, like people are seeing other people that look like them do really cool things.
WILD ONEZ: And that inspires people to sign up and also get after it. Like think about how many people are being inspired right now to sign up for something really hard because Rachel just freaking crushed Coca-Dona.
WILD ONEZ: Like the amount of the the the amount of race entries that have probably come from that race alone, probably insane.
Viv: Oh my gosh, insane.
WILD ONEZ: wish there was a way to track that.
Viv: There has to be. like I can't wait i like to see because Cocodona changed to lottery.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: So like I'm curious to see like how many entries there are now.
WILD ONEZ: How much will explode? Mm-hmm.
Viv: I mean, it's wild.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
Viv: It's so cool to see. i don't know if we asked you this, but do you have any advice for anybody who's like scared to jump into something new?
ld: just know that, I mean, it's like, you, like, you never know. Like you, the, the risk of not doing it is, uh, like to me higher than if I try something and I fail, like not doing it is a, it's much worse than trying it and failing.
ld: So,
Viv: Yeah.
ld: It's just, and then I always have these pros and cons list in my brain going constantly of like, you know, what, you know, or what are the risks of actually doing it?
ld: And usually the risks are pretty low if I try it and I hate it. Like you hate it and you just don't, then you know, like that's really life.
WILD ONEZ: Mm-hmm. Thank you.
Viv: yeah
ld: life Half the time, I still don't know what I want to do for my career. I'm 57, but I know what I don't want to do because I've had so many jobs that I don't like. oh So that for me, life is not, if you don't know what you want to do, it doesn't matter.
ld: You have to keep trying things to figure out what you don't want to do. So it's like, so it's hard to say, don't be scared.
Viv: Yeah.
ld: It'll be okay. Cause like going in the Pacific ocean with high surf, it's scary. But if you learn the tools and the skills and some breathing techniques, like you can do it know you'll be okay.
Viv: yeah
ld: So yeah, just, Gotta get out there. i mean, that's what, yeah, take take the risks for sure. i don't know if that's good advice, but
WILD ONEZ: think that's great.
Viv: i I think that's really good advice.
ld: yeah, join a club so you're not alone. Join a club, join a meetup, get some friends, make sure that there's coffee and donuts at the end, you'll be fine. you
Viv: There has to be fika.
WILD ONEZ: you
Viv: If there's no fika, then don't go.
ld: yeah It solves so many problems, right? Right. I think so. So awesome ladies. So fun.
Viv: No, that's that's some really good advice. No, I thought that was icing on the cake.
ld: the heaven
Viv: No, I i love this conversation with you.
ld: Yes.
Viv: And i hope everybody else has too, because like, you you've done so much and experienced so much and started things different stages of your life and learn so much. And I know Sarah and I are constantly grateful for your advice, in general during life stuff, as well as conversations.
Viv: So we appreciate you so much.
ld: I love being in your orbit. So I feel very lucky to know you guys and to be able to, yeah, be a part of this. It's super, super special.
WILD ONEZ: Oh, ditto.
ld: Yes.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: I've always, I've always looked up to Liza.
ld: Can't wait to see you guys.
WILD ONEZ: I'm like, when I grew up, I want to be like Liza. Like you are so adventurous and you just, your, your outlook on life and like the whole icing on the cake thing.
ld: that
WILD ONEZ: Like, I love that. and when my brain is in that state, I'm so much more grateful for everything that I get to experience.
WILD ONEZ: And I think that is the icing on the cake of life and it's really special. So yeah. i think
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Yeah. Thanks.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Thanks for being you and for joining us on this podcast episode today.
ld: Yeah.
WILD ONEZ: Awesome.
ld: And even better, two weeks, two weeks in counseling.
Viv: Two weeks! Two weeks to get see you in person.
ld: Awesome.
Viv: So if you guys have not signed up for Orcas, there's still time to sign up for Orcas.
ld: bless
WILD ONEZ: There is.
Viv: And if you have not booked your ferry tickets, book your ferry tickets as well. They will be dropping, I think, two days before as well. So book those. But yeah, thank you so much, Liza, for coming on We're so excited to see you in two weeks.
ld: See you, girls.
WILD ONEZ: Awesome. See you next time.
ld: Thank you. Okay.
WILD ONEZ: Bye.
ld: Bye.
