A Swiss-born ultrarunner, Luzia Buehler now lives in the mountains, trying to live a good life while protecting what is most important to her.
Luzia has always been an athletic person since she was a child because of her great love for the outdoors and the mountains. Luzia discovered her passion for trail running when she was about 20 years old, and she has since competed in all of the most important international races.
In 2016, Luzia competed in the Western States 100 race for the first time, finishing 27th (27hrs 03mins) and 11th (20hrs 23mins) in 2019.
Having run this race twice, which has greatly prepared her, Luzia, 40, has rocked the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race, the Western States Endurance Run, by becoming the 4th place women's finisher in a time of 18 hours, 08 minutes last year.
Luzia is also a social worker who enjoys skiing and snowboarding during the winter.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March.
Show Notes
- Who Luzia
- Living in East Switzerland by the mountains
- Working as a social worker
- Being the youngest child and growing up in a sport family
- Getting into skiing at a young age
- Always being a runner
- Working as a cook and fitting in running around her hours
- Doing her first Half Marathon on the road and why it wasn’t good!
- Working with running coach Ellie Greenwood
- Listen to Ellie Greenwood on the Tough Girl Podcast 2016
- Needing more flexibility in her training
- Western States 100 mile endurance race
- Running the WS100 in 2016 and why it was the hardest thing she has ever done
- Running for 27 hrs and needing to walk the majority of the race
- Wanting to come back and do the race again (this time training with Ellie)
- Winning a golden ticket to gain entry to Western States in 2018
- Going into the race with a lot of passion
- Why it’s so much more than a race
- Having stomach problems on Raceday - but completing it in 20hrs
- Wanting to race the Western States again in 2022
- Completing the WS100 in 18hrs 8 mins 27 secs
- Why it was such a good day and feeling proud of herself
- Race strategy and tactics for Western States
- Needing to run at her own pace
- Feeling the impact of jet lag and needing to go slower at the start
- Running really well when she runs alone
- Starting to overtake a few people and having fun while she raced.
- Just keep smiling and keep putting one foot in front of the other
- What’s going on in her head while racing
- Trying to stay in the current moment and be in the present
- Fuelling and nutrition while racing
- Wanting to eat more salty food and less fatty food
- Pizza and beer at the end of the race
- How she recovers after a 100 mile race
- Taking a week or 2 weeks off from running
- Supplements?
- “The future is unwritten” - what does that mean?
- Her dream race - Hardrock 100
- Being an inov-8 ambassador
- Advice for new runners who are just starting out
- Losing her running mojo and what she does when she doesn’t feel like running
- Remembering her why - why does she run?
- Wanting to create happy memories
- Her favourite paid of Inov-8 trainers
- Wearing PARKCLAW G 280 in the Western States 100
- Advice for more experienced runners
- Why time on feet really does count
- Doing strength training 2/3x a week
- Remaining injury free due to strength training
- Why cycling is good as well
- How you can connect with Luzia on IG
Social Media
Instagram @luz.s.y