Lisa Tamati is an extreme ultra runner who has been running ultramarathon events for the past 20 years. Running over 2000km through different parts of the Sahara, from Morocco to the Libyan Desert, from Niger to Jordan, as well as countless other races in Europe, NZ and America. She has run the equivalent of over two and half times around the entire earth in training and races, despite having broken her back aged 21 and fighting with asthma all her life. She was the first kiwi woman to complete the Badwater ultramarathon through Death Valley – 217km in 38 hrs 24 mins the first time and her second attempt was 37 hrs 15 mins.
Here the Sport Speaker shares what running over 70,000kms has taught her about resilience.
My lowest point
It was 43 degrees in the middle of the day in the inhospitable Libyan Desert sun with no shade in sight. A young woman lies in the sand, desperately dehydrated, physically and emotionally exhausted beyond measure. Broken and in tears, tears she can’t afford to lose. She is illegally here in this military barred zone on a 250km expedition to cross this incredibly beautiful but brutal desert, an unsupported expedition where each person only has enough for 2 litres of water per day (that’s all they can carry on their backs).
The man in her life has just deserted her after yelling at her because she wouldn’t, and couldn’t, help him with the photography for the book they were hoping to publish. Leaving her after a 5 year long relationship. He just disappeared over the dunes leaving her frightened, with a broken heart and wondering if either of them would make it out alive.
The turning point
That was the turning point in my life, my most desperate and lowest moment. A moment where I knew I would have to pull myself together or die. I had up until this moment, spent 5 years travelling the globe by bicycle, on foot and by canoe with this man, having incredible and often extremely arduous and dangerous adventures. From the moment he disappeared over the dunes, something broke inside and I knew I would have to make some drastic changes, but first I had to get through.
I did. I conquered myself, my broken heart and mind, and then set about rebuilding myself from the ground up, my broken spirit and body. I went on alone, to run 70,000km, running in races and expeditions from the Sahara to the Himalayas and beyond. There were many obstacles, setbacks, failures and injuries but even more confidence building, enlightening, horizon expanding adventures, in incredible locations and with amazing people.
Twenty years have passed and each of these journeys I undertook represents a lesson learned, a new insight, a new experience, the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Through my speaking I love to share these stories and empower people to achieve what they never thought possible.
What I have learnt while running 70,000km
Resilience
The ability to get back up when you are knocked down, to overcome failures and to see them as just steps on the long road to success and achievement. Obstacles will come in every shape imaginable as you stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone it’s how you deal with these obstacles, your attitude to them and how you can find a way around them, that counts. From broken backs, to severe asthma, to financial obstacles, the road has been a bumpy one. It’s the ability to just keep going, trying and searching constantly for a way around it, which has helped me achieve my goals.
Relentless forward motion
Ultra marathon running isn’t about speed it’s about stubbornly putting one foot in front of the other. “Just one more step” has become my mantra. Being able to break seemingly impossible goals, distances or projects into achievable bite size pieces and never ever giving in or giving up.
The key to success lies within your own mind
Your mind is the most powerful tool you will ever possess. Within it lies the ability to achieve the extraordinary, even if you think you are just a very ordinary person who lacks talent. Determination is more important than talent. You may have to work harder, longer or fight and struggle more, but a person with determination can overcome so many perceived limitations.
The mind is also your worst enemy, it can sabotage you when you least expect it. Learning to develop strategies and mental skills to harness your potential and to achieve your goals, to achieve great things is vital.
Strength comes from struggle
The more you have to fight for something, the more the achievement will teach you and the more it will mean to you. It’s a physical law that operates also in the world of business, in your personal and sporting lives. When you lift weights, for example, you are straining against a weight with your strength, this causes your muscles to damage, but that damage is then repaired by your body and more than that, it’s made stronger so that you can lift even more in time and that principle is the same in life.
Leadership, project management and team building
Leading expeditions and projects often under extreme conditions, time constraints and budget constraints has helped me to understand what it takes to succeed. These management principles can be applied across all areas to help businesses or teams succeed in their goals.
Women can do anything
The old adage that women can do anything needs to be reiterated in our society. Having worked in male dominated industries and sports my entire life, I am passionate about empowering women to step outside the constraints, imposed or perceived, to achieve whatever it is they want to. In ultramarathon running, despite the obvious disparities in muscle strength or speed, we often win the long races, or are at least equal to our male counterparts, because it’s about hanging in there. Pain management, stubbornness, resilience, persistence and endurance are something we have in spades.
Risk management vs risk aversion
Being risk aware but not risk averse is the way to success. Risk management is essential. Planning, training, preparing, mitigating potential problems etc are necessary, but avoiding risk means you will never fulfil your potential or achieve great things.
And yes it’s ok to cry
It’s alright to cry, to breakdown, to doubt yourself, to feel fear when you are pushing your limits. When you step outside your comfort zone and go for it you will be stripped bear, your true self, your true nature and character will be exposed and you will learn just who you are. You will never know how strong you are, until strong is your only option. There is hardly a project I do where I don’t doubt myself, feel fear or even terror, where I don’t cry. The essential thing to understand is that you just carrying on through it, will make it pass.
I never know when I sign up for a big scary race or expedition just what it will entail and just how I will prepare. I just pull myself up by my own boot strings and keep learning, keep training, keep planning until I know what to do or until I fail trying. Failure is not a crime, lack of effort is. Metaphorically speaking if you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but never give in.
Inspired by Lisa – discover more about here her.
