Member Spotlight: Lise Plantier

Lise Plantier joined Trail Roots in 2021 looking for a change in her routine. Originally hailing from France, she has lived in Austin since 2007 and is no stranger to running extreme mountain trail races and ultra-long distances. While she is totally cool with running on her own, she has found community and a few training buds who can keep up with her intense training schedule within Trail Roots. Lise has finished some huge races including Western States, Hard Rock 100, Orcas Island 100, Fat Dog 120 and many more. She got into the lottery for the Hard Rock 100 this year and has already started putting in the miles to prepare. Lise loves to travel and see the world through running. We wanted to ask her a few questions about her journey with running and Trail Roots.

What inspired you to start running?

Honestly, I don’t really know, I arrived in Austin and it was already such an active city that I just started embracing it and tried a little bit of everything the city had to offer. That was until I got to trail running (with Erik, well before Trail Roots) and felt like I found ‘my’ thing. I grew up trying every sport that came my way, and would do it for a few years, then move on (tennis, rock climbing, wrestling, volleyball, triathlons) until I discovered trail running and experienced my first run in the mountains, and found my happy place.

Why did you join Trail Roots?

Many reasons! But the main 2 are (1) the head space I got from not having to overthink it every time I had to go run alone, in the early morning, or in the dark (because now I have a group to meet) and (2) having company on my long trail runs (at least partially), makes time go by much faster, and even pushes my pace a little sometimes. 

How has training with a group helped you? How did your running change after beginning to train with Trail Roots?

I think regaining that headspace I mentioned above allowed me to find new excitement for my training, it’s taking the hard parts out and enhancing the good ones. It’s been fun to make new friends and hear their stories and listen to their goals.

You’ve done some big ultras, including the Fat Dog 120 miler, what draws you to those distances?

How much time do we have? Seriously, it’s been 10 years since my first ultra and my reasons have changed and evolved. I think early on I was more drawn to the physical challenge, and maybe the need to prove something or differentiate myself, or try to get some self-worth.

Now it’s different. I’m older and have done it for so long, it’s about how it makes me feel. Last year was my first 100 miler in 3 years (ya know covid and stuff) and at the race start I was questioning if I wanted to keep doing these daunting races. Did I really enjoy it anymore? I got through the race (the first half was rough). My climbing training wasn’t the best, but a little later in the race on the second morning the sun came up. I got that feeling that I only feel when I race long distance. It’s like a visceral fight or flight, it says “F – this, you’re okay & you’re gonna be so mad if you don’t finish this, so start pushing”.  The realization that you have more in you than you thought you had, that even if you gave it your all, there is still more. Even if things don’t work out, you went all in. It’s something that feels good. I love being reminded of it, there is something about experiencing those moments, being taught about it is just not the same.

And then, of course, there are those human connections, with your crew, your pacers, the other runners, the emotions are multiplied after you have been moving for over 24 hours. None of my races would have felt the same without them, because once it’s all done, the memories I keep are those I shared.

 How do you train for mountain races in Austin?

I focus on specificity. Most of those mountain races usually have significant gain, so my weekly goals are just as much focused on overall mileage then on gain, and my peak weeks will be adjusted based on the race.

I am fortunate enough that I can afford to schedule some training weekends away in the mountains so I can easily cover some of those weeks with >15,000ft target… if not I just ‘suck it up’ in the Austin summer. Last year I spent a weekend doing 22mi of up & down at River Place followed by 4 miles at 15% grade on the treadmill back-to-back on a Saturday and Sunday. That was over 15,000ft in 2 days and it sucked, but the feeling I got after that weekend was something I was able to take up with me on my race.

As much as I dislike it, I need the treadmill, my standard workout (that I’ll repeat several times a week when needed) is 4 mi at 15% grade at 15 min/mi with a 20 lbs weighted vest on my back. But I also need to balance this with outside hill repeats, to prepare for the downhill pounding. I also start incorporating single legs exercises (step-ups/lunges..)

Do you have a race mantra or any mental tricks for when things get hard during a race?

I don’t really use those in the races, but I might go through a few as I’m preparing. I have one displayed at home “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” (Anais Nin) and I have one at work “Boats don’t sink because of the water around them, they sink because of the water that gets in them.” (Unknown). Both speak to me a lot.

How crucial are pacers and crew when you’re attempting 100 milers? What makes a good crew/pacer?

“And then, of course, there are those human connections, with your crew, your pacers, the other runners, the emotions are multiplied after you have been moving for over 24 hours. None of my races would have felt the same without them, because once it’s all done, the memories I keep are those I shared.”

I think it depends on who you are and how much experience you have. To me crews are essential. I have a very active imagination at night, so having a pacer literally makes the world of difference (so I don’t stop every 5 minutes to see if that noise I heard was a mountain lion, and actually keep moving). When I prepare for a race, I ask friends that are experienced ultra runners as they know what it takes. I also look for those people that make me happy, the ones that want me to succeed at any cost, the friends who know me well, what to say, and how to say it. But honestly most of the time all I need is to see their faces at the aid station, having someone to share this experience with is pretty special. The ultra world is like a family, we keep showing up to support each other’s races (when we are racing or not racing together) it’s like a pay-it-forward concept.

I love being a crew or a pacer, that feeling you get of helping someone accomplish their goal is pretty cool, it’s also amazing to see it from the other side, I get so pumped up, it’s an awesome experience (nobody gets to give up under my watch. I can be quite bossy).

This will be your second time at Hard Rock, what are you doing differently to train? Do you have a specific goal you are trying to reach?

My first Hardrock was honestly the best race I ever had, everything went perfectly, so I know this will probably not happen again. Which means I need to prepare physically but also mentally. Both aspects are going to be critical.

Hardrock is a hard race to have a goal for, anyone can lose 2 hours because you are stuck waiting for thunder to pass, it’s unpredictable. I will put as much dedication as possible into my training, try to stay smart as the race approaches, and give it my all.

There is really nothing like this race, which makes it hard to describe to anyone. But if you are interested to hear what I think is a great perspective on it, I recommend you listen to Dylan Bowman’s “the pyllars podcast” about his ‘21 race recap.

What other races or big goals are you going after this year?

I don’t have many goals, mostly I want to keep exploring, but mostly I want to share those adventures with friends. I usually just browse races that I have not done yet in places that looks amazing to visit and pick something, then try to talk my friends into joining me!

At some point I would like to do Hardrock in both directions (“some people” say you are not a true “Hardrocker “ until you have run it both ways), and I also want to go finish Teanaway 100mi. The race was cancelled mid-point in 2019 due to dangerous weather and this is the only race I have ever not finished. So, I have some unfinished business.

What advice would you give someone who is interested in training for ultra marathons or 100 milers?

I don’t think I should give advice to anyone, everyone is different, but I’m always happy to share my experience and stories. The most important thing I would share, is that I always want to make sure I sign up for a race for the right reasons. A 100 miler is going to have dark and difficult times and being in a place that makes you happy with people that make you happy will make the world of difference.