Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Belzberg.
Hi Jade, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started running shortly after meeting my then-boyfriend, Nick, who was a professional trail and ultra runner at the time. His first gift to me was a pair of running shoes and an entry to a local trail race in San Diego. The race required runners to climb up one of San Diego’s more technical, rocky trails to the top of Iron Mountain and back.
While I had run one season of track and field back in elementary school, I rarely ran, so this was a challenge. The difficulty of the race was part of the allure and by the time I had made my way back down the mountain and to the finish, I was hooked.
After starting to immerse me in the world of trail running, I applied for an internship at Trail Runner Magazine in Colorado as a writer. Once there, I interviewed professional trail and ultrarunners—people who ran more than 31-mile races—and wrote and edited articles about the sport. Once my internship ended, Nick suggested we road trip back through the Grand Canyon to run Rim to Rim to Rim, a 42-mile run down the south rim of the Grand Canyon, across, up the north rim, and back.
It was an enormous undertaking, and one I wasn’t sure I could accomplish. Despite my self-doubts, the magic of descending into the Grand Canyon on my first visit was captivating, and closet 13 hours later, we completed the full route.
From there, it was a slow but exciting process to complete my first 50K, then my first 50-mile, and finally my first 100-mile race. Since 2014, I’ve completed close to 40 ultramarathons with several first-place and podium finishes. I don’t consider myself naturally talented, but rather very determined to reach my potential. The daily opportunity to run new trails is what I love most, and the ability to do what feels most natural to me, as a human, is deeply satisfying. Races are the bonus!
A few years ago, I began sharing what I have learned and have poured that into a coaching business that I share with my now-husband, Nick. Lightfoot Coaching works with beginner and elite athletes alike to achieve their running-related goals.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life is rarely a smooth road since it tends to make the most sense in hindsight. I have experienced lows related to training and racing (including dropping out of races due to injury or illness of a loved one) and building a coaching business is no different.
We’ve been impressed with Lightfoot Coaching, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
While I am a writer by trade, my time is most often spent working with athletes through Lightfoot Coaching.
My husband, Nick, and I coach a range of athletes who are looking to improve their performances, attempt new race distances, and develop a stronger sense of self, separate from their running or athletic-related goals.
While we welcome an array of athletes, from those looking to run their first half-marathon to those pursuing a better relationship with running, we work best with athletes looking for a coach who understands them as a full person beyond their runs or results.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We live in Sedona, so beyond the occasional busy season during spring break, there is little to no love about this town.
The opportunity to run hundreds of miles of trails from our backdoor, the abundant wildlife and birding locations, the gorgeous red sandstone, and the proximity to fascinating archaeological sites all contribute to us feeling very, very lucky to call this place home.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: lightfootcoaching.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadebelzberg/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/lightfootcoaching/
