A note from Freetrail: You know Ellie Pell from the Freetrail Fam Pod, but did you know she has an insatiable need to get to know you, and I mean REALLY get to know you? Like, what’s your favorite kind of cheese? “You Made it Weird” is Ellie’s brainchild because while she loves that these athletes are mega-talented she also wants to know what ELSE IS THERE?! Look for You Made it Weird every Friday.
You Made it Weird With Jennifer Lichter
Jennifer Lichter is someone I do not know, but know that we would never tire of things to discuss. As a fellow lover of the Sarah J Maas book series Throne of Glass, and also a Fourth Wing follower, there is an endless array of rabbit holes we could go down. Jennifer crushes every type of race, from the technical climbs of the RUT in Montana to the flat canal paths at JFK 50-mile in Maryland, there hasn’t been a terrain that slows her down. Jen somehow straddles the silly and the serious and makes us all wish she was our best running friend. Having recently tested her meddle at a road 10km, (PB of 33:13 – so fast!) we will watch her back on the trails this fall defending her dominance at the RUT.
Find Jennifer on Instagram, Strava, and Ultrasignup.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Jennifer Lichter, and I run professionally on trails with the North Face!
How many hours of sleep do you get per night? What are your nightly habits around your sleep (or lack of sleep…what things keep you up at night?)?
I would say on average I sleep between 7.5-8 hours each night…I try for more but that’s a real hit or miss.
Nightly habits…hmm…. well, I hate bright lights past like 8pm so I tend to go around the house and dim the entire area to a candle-light sort of vibe. I have this weird thinking that it’ll somehow disturb my circadian rhythm if lights are too bright 2hrs before I’m in bed. Like my partner will turn on a room light to full setting and I’ll like dramatically freak out on him. I’ll usually then read whatever book I’m into at the moment and fall asleep around 10pm!
What keeps me up at night? Sometimes HAVING TO PEE AT LIKE 3AM because hydration is important and I like to shoot myself in the leg by drinking a whole pint of water right before bed. I usually try to hold off as much as possible (keeping me up) until I can’t stand it any longer, and finally get up and head to the bathroom.
Do any of your group chats have names? If so, what are you willing to share? How did they get that name? What is a major topic of discussion in them?
I honestly barely have group chats now a days….in college I had one with my best friends and it was called #bros since you know, my bros. But yeah, don’t have many chat names!
If you could change one thing about your favorite social media platform, what would it be?
On Instagram it would be cool to have like “folders” of the years. So like all your 2023 pics are in one folder and your 2024 in another…mainly because the way it is now, it gets overwhelming and if you want to go back to a memory you have to scroll for dayyyyzzz. Just more organized I guess.
What is a book of fiction that you really enjoyed, for no other reason than you liked it?
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass. It literally consumed by life for a solid month (it’s an 8 book series). I mean seriously, swoon.
What is one song you’ve been listening to on repeat recently?
“Fire” by Waxahtchee…that song is, indeed, fire
What is one trend that started in 2020 that you love?
Remote jobs! Or at least more of them. They took off and I think makes people happier.
What is one trend that started in 2020 that you hate?
Tik Tok getting out of hand.
What are the last three emojis you used?
🥰☀️🍃
What is the last thing you bought online?
A one-hour deep tissue massage appointment
What is your most controversial food opinion?
High Fructose Corn Syrup should be banned. I think it’s incredibly bad for our health.
What three videos are at the top of your YouTube recommended homepage?
Author Rebecca Yarros on ‘Iron Flame,’ ‘Fourth Wing’ and The Empyrean Series | Book Club
I’m Not a Professional Athlete Anymore (Phily Bowden)
The Books that Inspired Sarah J Mass (interview)
Which Allie is your favorite?
I like all Allies that I’ve met
What argument in mass media do you not understand or think is a worthless issue?
I don’t know…honestly, I don’t pay attention to that stuff.
When you go home for the holidays, what is the food or tradition that it wouldn’t be the holidays without?
My mom always makes these spiced baked almonds and I don’t know how she does it, but they’re the best darn thing to snack on around on Christmas.
When I say in-seam you say…?
Oh yeah I’m all about that haha
When has your ego caused you to do something you sort of regret but also would describe as wild and worth it?
When I began trail running, I was living and working as a hiking guide in Glacier NP so I would spend most of my time running through those trails. Having come from the Midwest where Grizzly Bears were of no concern of mine, it was something I had to get use to in Montana. So I would run so confident through the park like there was no care in the world (even though my partner would warn me to not only slow down but be aware at all times) until I had my first ever bear encounter. It was terrifying. I had this “OHHhhhh yeah I should slow down this thing will maul me and I’m not in Wisconsin anymore” moment.
What was your worst running fuel decision? What was the surprising best?
When I ran the Rut 50k for the first time ever in 2021 (also my first ultra), I ate Bobos Bars as my nutrition and it got really hard to breathe and chew. Especially on the climbs and with how fast I was running. I was open mouth, heavy breathing with Bobo contents in my mouth…not a pretty sight.
The surprising best? Coca Cola. It’s a game changer.
What is your death row meal?
Thai Fried Rice! Literally my favorite meal.
Out and back or looped course? Why?
Loops for sure. Makes it more interesting and scenic AND the time and miles fly by faster.
Barkley or 24H track race? Why?
Barkley foooor sure. Like are you kidding me, I’d go absolutely nuts running around in circles for that long. At least with Barkley there’s a sense of adventure to it!
When I say PTRA you say?
HELL YEAH
What is one thing that absolutely scares you? Why?
Snakes….I saw Anaconda the movie growing up, and ever since it’s just a no for me.
What is a time you felt you didn’t measure up? How did you get through that?
At OCC by UTMB last year in Chamonix ….It was my first “bad race” of my career and also my first DNF. I just felt so gawd-awful.
I got through that by watching a lot of Gossip Girl afterwards (like immediately afterwards) for some good long hours, and then I went and spent a week in Paris with my family afterwards drinking Spritz, eating good food, and touring fancy art museums. Basically, I distracted myself until the race felt not life and ego shattering. Then when I got home I went back to work (raced The Rut) and got ready for my first 50miler which was JFK. So focused on other goals.
Who is another runner that flies under the radar that we should all get to know?
Brittany Charboneau!