Meet Lindsay!

Every once in a while, there are those people who you meet who feel like you’ve known forever. Paths usually diverge, but if you’re lucky, they come back into your life. Such is the case with Ms. Linsday Tucker. Last summer a friend mentioned that I might know a friend of hers she was going on an adventure with? Then later, another friend mentioned she had a roommate that she thought I knew from Seattle running days. Then more recently, after realizing I do indeed know said mutual friend, I heard she was back running ultras (after having kiddos and going down the cycling road) and wanted to use her vast experience to help people achieve their goals by coaching. I instantly had to get in touch with her and convince her to work with me. Luckily she said yes, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to my friend and funmaker Lindsay. She’s the life of any long run, and makes any kind of training fun. Be on the lookout for some new group training offerings with Lindsay, but in the meantime, hit her up for individual coaching. You can learn more about her here.

I don’t know exactly when we met, but when I think back to when I really got into running ultras, back when there were only a handful of races each year that everyone ran, you were one of the familiar faces I had the privilege of knowing. How did you get into the ultrarunning and endurance world? 

That was back in the 00s; what have you been up to since? 

I don’t know when exactly we first met, but I definitely remember you at registration/check-in at the Orcas Fat Ass and chatting with you as I picked out my race shirt from the (James) Varner vintage pile. I’ve been running ultras since the early days and have always had a relationship with the mountains in some form (mostly climbing and skiing). I got pretty distracted with bikes for a bit (track sprinting, cyclocross, road, and triathlon) before coming back to my true love-- trail running. I have two little girls: Olive (5) and Etta (2.5), we live close to the trails on Lookout Mountain in Bellingham with our dog named Goose. Trail time has been a real savior for me in motherhood.  I remember running The Sunflower Marathon in Mazama on Olive’s first birthday and falling in love again with the flow-state achieved on a long trail effort. One of my favorite types of adventure is a big, self-supported effort in the North Cascades with a pal; bonus if there’s a glacier crossing or a dicey river ford.

In addition to coaching, I’m in grad school for clinical mental health counseling and offer group and private trauma-sensitive yoga, movement, and breath work. 

Tell us more about that. How does movement play into your work?

My academic focus is in trauma and giving people tools to reinhabit their bodies. There is a ton of great research pointing to the effectiveness of somatic-based interventions for addressing trauma and stress. There are a variety of modalities to this end, including but not limited to breathwork and embodied movement practices, like yoga, dance, running, cycling, and weightlifting. 

Although you haven’t “officially” been coaching, I know you’ve helped a lot of friends over the years with their endeavors. What do you think is your speciality with working with people? 

I am an expert at incorporating fun into training and racing and enjoy sharing this with others. I strive to understand people’s perceived limitations and my superpower is motivating and talking people into pushing their limits. I love watching people surprise themselves. 

Me too! Speaking of incorporating fun into training, what are your favorite adventure snacks?

Garbage. No really, check out the latest episode of the Miss Adventures Podcast (Spotify) where Ashley and I talk about racooning in the backcountry. 

What’s your favorite way to get sweaty?

Nothing beats the simplicity of lacing up my sneaks and heading out the door to the local trail. However, I’ve been digging my porch TRX setup. I love being outside and if I can get my strength training done outside, I’m way more motivated. Leaving some kettlebells around in the yard often inspires me to do some impromptu swings or deadlift high pulls. 

I’m so psyched you’re joining Cascade Endurance. If you want to reach Lindsay directly, email her at lindsay@cascadeendurance.com.