Lisa Smith-Batchen
Lisa Smith-Batchen is an ultramarathon runner and ironman competitor. She is the only American to have won the Marathon des Sables.
Smith-Batchen has been featured in cover stories in The NY Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post and Winning Magazine. She also appears in a film AbOUT the Badwater Ultramarathon, entitled Running Under the Sun.
Smith-Batchen lives in Driggs, Idaho. She has two children with her husband Jay Batchen. They run Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club together.
Early Years
Born on September 16, 1960 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lisa began her sports career at an early age. She was introduced to all sports from hockey to ballet. In high school, Lisa tried out for the cross country team but was told by the coach she was not any good at running. At this point, Lisa began diving competitively. Lisa did not try running again until her senior year of college. A friend suggested Lisa try running a Turkey Trot. Her first race was also her first win. Lisa says running suddenly became The Greatest Thing ever. In those early years, Lisa admits to running away from things: childhood hurts, high school rejection, an eating disorder. The exhilaration of winning motivated Lisa to keep training. As she grew stronger and faster, Lisa moved from running away from the pain to running to be the best. The approval and recognition felt good and right. But the façade of fame and glory wore off, and Lisa finally found her true reason to run- running for something. Running for a purpose now defines Lisa’s athletic career. She trains for reasons other than self gratification. “There is no greater feeling than giving,” Lisa explains. “It’s what life is all about.”
Lisa's 810 Project
In 2006, Lisa Smith Batchen raised $294,000 by completing the hardest footrace on earth, the Badwater Ultramarathon. She then proceeded to turn around and run it back to the start. The 310 mile, through the unforgiving desert and stormy mountain weather, was for a cause she had long been supporting: Aids Orphans Rising. AIDS Orphans Rising provides skills training and support to Child Headed Households (CHH). A Child Headed Household (CHH) is a small nuclear family unit consisting of siblings who have been orphaned by AIDS. These orphans, often not even teenagers yet, work tenaciously to keep the remaining siblings together and maintain a semblance of “traditional” family life. Despite the odds, these CHH’s are surviving, and with the support and tools of AIDS Orphans Rising, they are thriving. AIDS Orphans Rising is run by the Religious Sisters Filippini. This Catholic order of nuns provide food, housing and education to as many of these children as possible. The inspiration and spearheader of the non profit is Sister Mary Beth Lloyd. Lisa became aware of the organization when she met Sister Mary Beth at a running track; both women were cross-country running coaches in New Jersey at the time. Ever since, she has been fundraising with her feet and supported and spread the idea of running for a purpose. The inspiration for Lisa’s 810 Project began with Sister Mary Beth Lloyd , who has been working for 13 years with AIDS Orphans Rising. Her incredible work inspired Lisa to make helping the charity a major force in her life. In turn, Lisa inspired Sr. Mary Beth to run her first marathon ever.
When Sister Marybeth offered to crew for Lisa at Badwater, Lisa decided that she wanted to do something different, to raise as much money as possible to help the kids. That day she spoke to her good friend Ray Zahab and told him what she was thinking. He suggested a true "point-to-point" - Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney along with the Badwater race. To top it off, they added on the Furnace Creek 508 mile cycling race, which Lisa attempted last year but pulled out after 400 miles due to back trouble. Lisa has said "I am one of the very blessed ones that wake up each day and know what I am to do with my life. I wake up and ask God what he has in store for me each day and move forward... Being a great runner or athlete is not important to me any longer it is what I can do as an athlete, what I can do on this earth to leave my mark, my legacy for my children and those to come.
Running Hope to America
Lisa’s next run for a purpose begins on April 17, 2010. Named Running Hope for America, Lisa’s goal is to raise one million dollars for AIDS Orphans Rising. Lisa will run 50 miles in 50 states over the course of 62 days. The run will conclude on June 17 at the Idaho state sign. The itinerary is not yet set for each state. Lisa remains flexible in her running route as she searches for sponsors to donate the $50,000 in operating costs. This is the first time Lisa has asked for sponsorships. Having already secured $10,000, Lisa wants to honor additional sponsors by running in their region and supporting their sponsorship. Outside of the $50,000 in sponsorships, 100% of all donations go directly to the cause and the programs. “I see the success of the program. I know where all my money is going. This is about giving these children a life.”
Dreamchasers Foundation
The Dreamchaser Foundation seeks to improve the lives of women and children from around the world. Dreamchaser Foundation raises public awareness of the hunger,exploitation, illness and suffering of children around the world. The Dreamchaser Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to help women and children in need survive and succeed, to improve the quality of their lives and dramatically change their future and the future of the next generation. By empowering people to achieve their goals and dreams in athletics, athletes in all sports are encouraged to fundraise while fulfilling their own dreams.
Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club
Lisa started her career as a personal trainer in 1982. Dreamchasers began with a group of women in NJ. Since that time, Dreamchasers has grown to offering races, running camps, and coaching around the world. At the Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club facility in Driggs, Idaho, fitness classes, massage, and personal training are offered for ages 2 to 100. Lisa prides herself on opening a fitness facility, not a gym. Her focus is to teach fitness to be fun, challenging, and motivating. Classes focus on stretching, flexibility, strength and conditioning with "very little" equipment needed besides one’s own body. Lisa believes in coaching that works on muscle confusion and stability core work. From 1982 to today, Dreamchasers motto has always remained the same, "Find a dream and chase it down."
Running Camps
Dreamchasers offers running camps for all levels and people of all athletic abilities. Camps are coached by world champion racers and elite endurance runners from around the country. Activities range from gait analysis and running to yoga and self defense. Going far beyond the physical aspects of running, these camps are a great deal about self discovery.
Coaching Career
Lisa’s list of athletes she has coached over the last 28 years is long. People from all over the world seek out Lisa for her expertise and experience. Lisa does not discriminate on athletic experience or ability; clients range from new mothers looking to run their first 5k to seasoned runners winning races around the world. A few of the familiar names Lisa has coached include: Mike Wardian, Ray Zahab, Marshall Ulrich, Michele Jensen, Jenny Vogel.
Family Life
Lisa married Jay Batchen in February 2001. Soon after Lisa and Jay moved from NJ to Idaho, where they began their own family. Annabella, 6, was adopted in 2003 and Gabriella, 3, was welcomed into the Batchen family in 2006.
Lisa's Career Highlights
• Competed in 9 Badwater Ultramarathons (Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA): Two 1st Place Finishes - 1997 & 1998. • 2 Marathon des Sables Ultramarathons (Moroccan Sahara): 1999 First and only American female to win the event in its 18 year history. • 2008 Rocky Racoon 50 Mile: 10:16 • 2008 Florida Keys 50 Mile: 9 hours • 2008 306 Miles: 1st person to ever run from Las Vegas to Mt. Whitney. Raised $590,000 for AIDS Orphans Rising. • 2008 Badwater 135 Mile Ultramarathon for the 9th time. • 2008 Ironman AZ • 2007 Desert Springs 50 mile: 14th Female. 12:08:39 • 2007 Ironman AZ: 12:54:30. • 2006 Completing the Badwater double has been one of the greatest highlights of my athletic carrier but also as wife, mother, coach and mentor. The gifts that God shared and showed me along the way are the greatest for me to this day! • 2006 Grasslands 50 mile: 1st Female. 8:40:30. • 2005 Bishop 50k: 2nd Female. 6:04:25. • 2004 Squaw Peak 50: 12:46. • 2003 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Finisher: 1st Female; 7th Overall. • 2003 Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run: 4th Female. 30:39:43. • 2003 Western States 100: 19th Female; 133rd Overall. 26:30:54. • 2003 Vermont 100: 23rd Female; 144th Overall. 24:15:15. • 2003 Squaw Peak 50: Won the husband and wife award. 11:17. • 2002 Old Dominion Memorial (VA): 1st Female; 4th Overall. PR: 20:34:30. • 2002 Leadville Trail 100. 10th Female; 74th Overall. 26:56:58. • 2002 Umstead 50 (NC): 1st Female. • 2002 HURT 100k: 34:53:00. • 2001 JFK 50. 128th Overall, 10th Female; 128th Overall. 8:52:27 • 2000 GNC National Championship (Pittsburgh) 100k, 1st Team; 1st 30-39; 7th Female. PR: 9:50 • 1999 Team USA World 100K Championship (France). • 1998 Long Island 50 Mile Endurance Run: 1st Female; 2nd Overall. 6:42 • 1997 Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race (India): 2nd Female. 18:50:03 • 2 Vermont 100s: PR: 1997. 2nd Female; 12th Overall. 18:26 • 1997 Old Dominion Endurance Run (VA): 2nd Female; 8th Overall. 19:07:52 • 5 Hawaiian Ironman Championships: PR: 10:33:27 • World Duathlon Championship • 3 Eco-Challenge Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 2 Raid Galoises Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 2 ESPN X-Games Multi-Sport Adventure Races • 1 Four Winds Multi-Sport Adventure Race • 35 Ultramarathons (50 miles or more): Including: Western States 100, Leadville Trail 100, Wasatch 100, Vermont 100, HURT 100K, Rocky Raccoon 100, Squaw Peak 50. • 100 Mile PR: 18:26 / 50 Mile PR: 6:42 • Over 90 Marathons PR: 2:48:52. Half marathon PR: 1:23. 10k PR: 36:01.