Trail Running Women Podcast-Isabella: The Original Ultra Bud

Isabella Janovick was born in Oceanside, CA and grew up doing team sports (basketball and swimming) then later got into extreme sports, snowboarding, surfing and skateboarding. After breaking her back snowboarding at the age of 19 and almost being paralyzed, she switched to a “safer” sport - running. Isabella began to run local road races and in 2014 met Nickademus Hollon at an outdoor bootcamp. Nick had just launched his coaching business and Isabella was one of his first clients. They ran together often, he introduced her to the trails and the ultra world and in 2015 Isabella ran her first ultra, the Lake Hodges 50k. This same year Isabella was also diagnosed with Ménière’s Disease, which causes hearing loss, imbalance and vertigo.

Isabella aka “IzzyB” continued to grow with the sport, increasing her mileage and started her own running club Ultrabuds. In 2016 she raced her first Spartan, and usually participates in 1-2 races a year in between ultras.

Professionally Izzy owns her own marketing and communications company where she works with running brands and race directors such as Injinji, Spring Energy, Nathan Sports and the Endurance Race Series, to name a few. She is also a Professor of Marketing part-time at two universities and advises senior experience projects.

When Izzy isn’t running or posting on Instagram, she spends quality time with her family in both San Diego and Idaho, husband and two rescued pitbulls Dally and Romanoff.