Meet the Athlete: Liz Woodruff
Name: Liz Woodruff
Age: 33
Hometown: Chamberlain, SD
Current residence: Omaha, NE
Occupation: Physical Therapist
High School: Chamberlain
College: Black Hills State University – Wellness Management Major, Math and Coaching Minors; University of South Dakota – Doctorate of Physical Therapy
What is your running background? I started running in 7th grade competing long distance (as my mom wanted me to) and the 100m hurdles. 8th grade I switched to sprint distance to be with my friends. High school was 100-400m and hurdles until my senior year I added cross country and the 800m for the first time. I ran middle distance and cross country at Black Hills State University. Since college I have ran 5k-marathon distances.
Favorite distance to run? Marathon and half marathon
What are your future running goals? OTQ in the marathon
I can’t run without…? My watch
Do you do anything to stay injury free? Try to strength train 2-3 times/week and get in good recovery nutrition after workouts. I also foam roll, stretch, and use instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization.
Do you have a favorite running
Book: Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor and Michelle Hamilton
Podcast: I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, Rambling Runner by Matt Chittim
Movie: Race and Unbroken are good, but really love to watch the marathon races on TV ☺
Athlete: Too many but Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Linden, and Jordan Hasay to name a few
What is your favorite race you have competed in the past? CIM 2017
What is your number one bucket list race you would like to do in the future? Olympic Trials Marathon if able to qualify
Do you have any advice to other runners? Run easy runs easy and don’t compare yourself
What are your PRs?
Marathon 2:53:31
Half Marathon 1:20:52
Olympic Triathlon 2:27:17
How long have you been an LRC-Nebraska member? Less than 2 years
What excites you the most about being an LRC-Nebraska athlete? To be able to meet and train with other runners
What does a typical training week look like for you? Walk us through your daily routine (training related and otherwise): Right now I am cross training (30-90 mins) and running 2-3 days per week (30-60 mins) coming back from an injury. Strengthen training 3 days per week. I get up super early to do morning workouts and then train after work if I am splitting up the time during the day.
We all approach training and racing differently, so tell us what your short-term and long-term goals are with running: Short-term is to be able to recover from my injury and be able to run every day without issues. Long term is to OTQ in the marathon and just enjoy running life long!
Where are your 3 favorite places to do long runs at the moment? Zorinsky, Wabash, and Chalco
After a solid race or long run, what is your favorite meal to demolish and replenish those calories? Probably Oscar’s Pizza and you can’t go wrong with some chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream
Share a crazy training or racing story, or simply an interesting moment in time: When I was racing the 4x800m in college at Drake Relays our coach was talking with our team before the race and we missed the announcement to go to the starting line. It was kind of like one of those bad dreams haha. I was the first to go so I sprinted down 100m to the start tearing off my warm ups. I got set and immediately the gun went off. Then when I handed off there was a collision of about 4 runners and I fell. Luckily I handed off before falling. I ended up running a PR split and have blue permanently on my spikes from the Drake track.
