Patsy Ramirez-Arroyo Is Taking The Ultra World By Storm

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My guest today is an ultra runner that has been on the podium more than once.

Even more impressive is her ability to press on, no matter what obstacle stands in her way.

I am looking forward to going a few easy miles with Patsy Ramirez-Arroyo.

39 Year Taper

For someone that has completed four 100 mile races in the past year, it may come as a shock to most that Patsy wasn’t always an athlete.

Growing up Patsy wasn’t involved in any sports.

At the age of 39 while watching television with her kids she saw a celebrity that was training to run a marathon.

Patsy committed to running a marathon by the time she was 40, which didn’t leave her much time.

Within the span of a year, she went from no running to completing the Chicago Marathon.

Her journey with running has only continued to pick up speed from there.

Patsy tried various sports which led her to complete an Iron Man Triathlon.

Trail running and ultras were the one sport that captured her heart and kept her coming back for more.

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Ultra Community

Though Patsy chose to go without a crew helping her for the majority of her races, she certainly was not alone.

The trail community has embraced her and she considers them her second family.

Her decision to go without a crew was her way to prepare for bigger goals.

Successfully completing 5 ultras without dedicated help gave her the confidence that she could finish Badwater 135.

Patsy’s experience running Badwater was her first time using a crew and she couldn’t have been more grateful to have them there.

Badwater is a race that requires a crew due to the limited resources along the course and the unrelenting heat.

Patsy was committed to the race from the moment she began training to the finish.

Her preparation to mimic the race as closely as possible included various modes of heat training along with running while deprived of sleep.

Hurricane Maria

Puerto Rico is the only place Patsy has ever called home.

In September of 2017, Hurricane Maria, a devastating category 5 hurricane struck the island.

The hurricane made driving around the island challenging due to the damage done to all the roads.

Patsy was training for a 100 miler at the time and used running as a way to get to places she otherwise couldn’t by car.

A natural disaster could easily derail a person’s training, but Patsy was not that person.

She never struggled with motivation to run after the storm.

Running helped her to focus amid all the chaos surrounding her.

An Unexpected Diagnosis

Patsy experienced one of her proudest moments in life within days of her lowest moment.

She crossed the finish line of Badwater 135 on Wednesday, July 23, 2018, and she found a lump in her breast 2 days later.

The early diagnosis of cancer was lifesaving, but the road to recovery would be long.

In September she had a bilateral mastectomy with a second reconstructive surgery in December.

January 2019 has been a fresh start for her running.

Cancer has both humbled Patsy as well as showing her how strong and resilient she could be.

Her body is not the same as it was previously which makes running more challenging.

Regardless of the obstacles Patsy faces, she refuses to surrender and continues to move forward.

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Mentioned In This Episode:

• Badwater 135
• The Hennepin Hundred
• Javelina Jundred

Stay connected with Patsy by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Patsy Ramirez-Arroyo is an ultra runner that isn't deterred by challenges that life has thrown her way. #runchat #ultrachat Click To Tweet

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As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!

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