Story of Resilience: Izzy’s Journey from Adversity to Ultra Success

Isabella “IzzyB” Janovick’s journey into ultra running didn’t begin on the trails. It started with a snowboarding accident that nearly ended her ability to walk, let alone run. At 19, Izzy broke her back in a severe snowboarding incident that left her in a body brace for six months and almost paralyzed. From this moment on, Izzy’s story would become a story of resilience that would set an example for others.

“I was in a really hard place,” Izzy recalls. “College was put on hold because I couldn’t attend class or drive. I got kind of depressed. I remember I didn’t want to eat.”

Dark Moments

But Izzy’s resilience, a trait that would define her future in ultra running, began to shine through even in those dark moments. Unable to take pain medication due to stomach issues, she faced the grueling recovery process head-on. As she slowly regained her strength, Izzy found solace in running with her dad and her dog.

“We started with just one mile,” she says. “That led up to five miles. Then we had a daily route, and I thought, ‘This is kind of cool. Maybe I should start running more.'”

This newfound love for running led Izzy to sign up for local road races. However, her first full marathon was far from a smooth experience. “It was absolutely horrible,” Izzy admits with a laugh. “I didn’t like it. I thought maybe I wasn’t cut out for this. It was very painful, even though I trained for it. I did everything wrong in that first marathon, as a lot of people do.”

Izzy’s Persistence

Despite the challenging start, Izzy’s persistence pushed her forward. She joined an outdoor boot camp that introduced her to trail running, a discovery that would change the trajectory of her athletic career. It was during this time that Izzy met Nickademus de la Rosa, an elite ultrarunner who would become her coach and introduce her to the world of ultra running. “Nick taught us everything there was to trail running, and I fell in love with the sport,” Izzy reminisces. “He took us to so many cool places.”

With Nick’s guidance, Izzy signed up for her first ultra race, the Lake Hodges 50K. The experience was both challenging and exhilarating. “I knew four people at the start line,” Izzy remembers. “It was very intimidating. There were not that many females.”

Izzy went on to finish the Lake Hodges 50K, an accomplishment that left her in awe of her own capabilities. “It was just an incredible feeling,” she says. “I thought, ‘Wow, I just ran 32 miles. That’s insane.’ I could barely run a road marathon, but I think trail running and road running are so different. Road marathons are boring and painful with constant pounding on concrete. Trail running is always changing. It’s a good excuse to travel and see new things. Every course is different.”

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A Lasting Impact

The run left a lasting impact on Izzy. As a female runner, she was left impacted by the 2010 murder of Chelsea King right on the very trails she ran on. This ignited a spark. She founded the first chapter of Ultrabuds, with the goal of bringing runners of all levels together. As a female runner, Izzy wanted to create a safe environment for females and others.

Ménière’s disease 

As Izzy delved deeper into the world of ultra running, she faced a new challenge: Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness, vertigo, and other debilitating symptoms. The condition threatened to derail her newfound passion for long-distance trail running. The disease would start a new chapter in Izzy’s story of resilience and her passion for ultra running.

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