HEF: How long have you been involved in fitness?
LAL: Since birth, my mother raised me on nutritious foods home grown from our garden-raised in the country-South Texas. Cokes, chips and things like that were not in our household, only home made (w/ honey and whole wheat flour) natural baked goods were allowed. I loved them and never complained. My Mom explained that she wanted the best for our health and we felt good about it and appreciated her energy put into our well being. It was just that way with us. As kids we understood. We also saw how other kids had to go to the doctor and "get shots." We have never been, did not get measles, mumps, chicken pox or any illness even after being around and exposed to other kids. Still being this way, I credit my mother for my super immune system. Even after my motorcycle accident last year breaking several bones including my fibula and tibia which were both compound fractures sticking out of my leg, I healed in months and was running the obstacle course in 4 months, full blast. My doctor said it was a "miraculous" healing. Dr. Cole is one of the best orthopedic trauma surgeons in the world and so skillfully planted a permanent titanium rod in my leg from the knee to the ankle. Good nutrition and positive mental work were the keys to recovery. I guess that I can say I've been "into fitness" all my life in that respect, however my first obstacle course race was Jan. 1995.
HEF: What is your greatest fitness accomplishment?
LAL: Two things: Winning the 1997 LifeQuest Triple Crown (by 3 seconds) running with a limp on a pulled hamstring. It pulled 6 weeks before the race doing 40 inch hurdles and I couldn't train at all. I took a big chance doing the race injured (because I was undefeated). When athletes run in those conditions, it's all heart! I know that now. It meant a lot to be blessed enough to win. The California ESPN ELIMINATOR! It was the hardest, most grueling race that ever was in the obstacle course course arena. It was sponsored by ESPN American Sports network and was a 2 minute long all out climb and sprint over 11 unusual obstacles including a bunch of flat mushroom pods you had to hop from one to the next without falling to the ground, a 20 foot cargo net that was not fastened at the bottom or halfway up the sides, a tight rope walk and a 25 foot rock wall where the finish line stop clock was located--at the top! No physique of course, this was an all out athletic event that drew talented athletes from all walks of life including college track and field and the airforce, etc. They were the best athletes I've competed against. I am not proud of this race because I won the women's open division by 5 seconds. I am proud of this race because in my mind, I was competing against the men. I'd won the last competitions against the elite obstacle athletes (male) in Charleston, SC in 1996. During my ELIMINATOR race, the lane judges did not reset the obstacle in my lane like they were supposed to. It was a human hamster wheel that you had to power across about 20 yards and very hard on your "tired" quads. When I sprinted up to my wheel and jumped in it, I realized that something was very wrong as it wouldn't move and meanwhile, my competitor passed me up. Realize that we are a minute into this race already and if you have ever run a 400 meter in under a minute, you can imagine how I felt by this time. While in the wheel, I got it straight and going. When I realized I was behind, I snapped. Something came out
of me that I'd never experienced before. Energy from somewhere came into me and I was told that I all of a sudden went into fast motion, passed my competitor and went on to win by 5 seconds! After my race, I was asked if I wanted a rerun. It was then that I'd realized what was going on. I'd said "no" and the race was over because we (my heat) were the top seated people. For the men, a navy seal from California won the race. It was not until later, that I realized that not taking the rerun, hindered me from my goal of racing the men. I came in 7th in the men's division after 4 seals. Since the winner beat me by 6 seconds, I can't help but wonder how long I was in that darn hamster wheel! The race was televised, but that particular part of the race was cut out due to the editing process for television. They took the top times and created two relay teams. I was the only female on the top two seated teams racing each other, so that was pretty neat! You know what was even better? My team won!!!
HEF: What is your ultimate fitness goal?
LAL: My ultimate fitness goal is to continue to build LALOCA (Lori Ann Lloyd's Obstacle Course Academy) and it's various divisions and subsidiaries into a fortune 500 company. I choose for the races that I've started to promote to grow to be the most popular obstacle course races in the World offering thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. The fitness camps and races are for all levels of people in which all will be rewarded or rather awarded. I am the first ever to have a "Mother's Division" recognizing mothers for their two fulltime jobs and to have TEAM RELAY RACES where each member runs 1/2 of the course before tagging their team mate to start. The first ever to start a TEAM CONCEPT in the fitness field, Chris Noss and I created the first team of fitness women which has since caught on. It is my goal to have TEAMS competing against each other in obstacle course races just like a track meet. Athletes can learn the importance of team work and everyone gets rewarded. I plan to hold a team only race at the end of this year. Please email me for details!
HEF: Who was/is your fitness inspiration?
LAL: Carl Lewis - He had the courage to enter his last Olympic meet at the age of 36. I started my racing career at age 34 and raced through age 37. (I'm 38 now and still run a satisfactory 40 yrd dash.) Toward the end of an obstacle course run, your lungs can't get enough air to support your load and every muscle in your body feels like it just can't go on like that any longer, not one more foot! I would get into a special trance like state to where I would totally overcome all of those things. I would act like I WAS CARL LEWIS. I would silently ask him for his energy and borrow it from him during my training to push myself harder. Sounds crazy huh? Well, it worked for me. I did the same with Emmitt Smith using his powerful legs and fast twitch muscle fibers as my own with my mind during my races. The last year of my racing, I just went trancelike into my own zone. I felt my energy was very powerful mentally and physically and I was no one else but, Lori Ann Lloyd racing. At the Eliminator when I snapped, I can't explain who I was then. It was like I was somehow a part of all things all at once. I was not in this world, but not in another either. I was relaxed, felt no pain and my run went nearly effortless. It was like I was flowing in a stream heading the direction of the finish line. Very Cool. Emmitt has always been another favorite of mine. I read that he writes down his goals and imagines and acts like he has already acheived them. That's what I do! I enjoyed the article on him and could tell that besides an "athletic great", he's also a great guy.)
HEF: What is your favorite binge-out treat?
LAL: Because my nutritional plan is so good and great tasting, I do not need to binge out. My Company, Nutrition for Life, makes many great things like Blueberry Protein Pancakes that have very low sugars but still taste good and Chocolate Buttermilk Pancakes that I put Nutrition for Life Chocolate Protein powder in, which makes them taste like I am eating chocolate cake for breakfast! The sweetness is coming from an all natural sweetener that I add called, "KI-SWEET" created by Dr. Ann Allen DeWees, a well respected chemist in our industry. She took sugar from the Ki-Wi plant and made a substance like sugar. It has no calories or chemicals and you can cook with it! It's on my web site. I order all of my foods from the NFL catalog and have been enjoying them for 3 years now. I am almost a full vegetarian and have easily maintained strong muscle on my diet with these products. Many of them are made from soy like the Mama's Chicken Salad and Taco Burrito "Heartful Gourmet" mixes. So, no more cravings for me! (If anyone wants a catalog, just contact me on my site and I'll mail you one or you can order through my site and get a discount. www.loriannlloyd.com)
HEF: Any final comments?
LAL: Thank you for the honor of being your Fitness Celebrity of the Month!
Vital Stats:
Height: 5'7" Weight: 135
To contact Lori, visit Lori Ann Lloyd.
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