Location: Orford, Quebec
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.isabellebernierconnexion.wordpress.com
Occupation: subteacher,writer, blogger, athlete and artist
Height: 5’71/2’’
Weight: 140pd
Birthplace: Hauterive, Quebec

Date of Birth: April 4^th, 1978
Year started running: 1990, highschool years
Year started running ultras: 2016
Shoes I run in: Salomon, Asics and willing to try new ones too!
Favorite running surface: trails
Pb’s: 20 min. 5km, 44min. 10km, 6h 50km trail, 13h 100km

Some ultras I have completed: Maxi Race 100, Jiangshan Station, China; Tour du Lac Memphremagog, solo, 123km, Quebec Mega trail,50km; Chute du Diable, 50km; Five Peaks Orford, 50km; Trans Vallée, 70km.

Best Performances: China, first Female overall; Tour du Lac Memphremagog, first Female to realize it; Quebec Mega trail, 4^th overall; Chute du Diable, 4^th overall, Five Peaks, 3^rd overall; Transvallée, First female overall. 

                                                                                                
Ultra achievement I am most proud of: Maxi Race China and Tour du Lac Memphrémagog

Ultras I haven't done but really want to: Hardrock 100, Western States, Transrockies, UTMB, races from UTWorld Tour

Typical training week: Not so typical, because I need to adjust with the kids and work, but my weeks involve waking up very early to run before the day starts for everyone and sometimes going to run as people are relaxing at night. Weekends are filled with outdoor trainings and coaching.

Injury history:  Not much...it’s more about dealing with everyday life stress.

Favourite ultra foods: Mr Freezes! Seriously, I still try a lot. Potatoes, honey, rice, nuts...

Favourite ultra beverages:  Red Vega electrolytes or Blueberry Gu one

Things I like most about ultras: The feeling of being part of a wild nature, to get to discover areas we wouldn’t necessarily get to and into otherwise, to meet limitations, to get over them. I enjoy the moments we encounter people who seem as crazy as we are, who share the same passion for running, nature, wildlife. It is a journey to become a better version of ourselves, to get to know the whole me-us-them.

Things I hate most about ultras: starting lines; the moment right before we leave, and then, the first thirty minutes, when I work to calm myself down.

What got me started doing ultras: Need and pleasure to be outside, to run for a long time (I’d do that ALL the time, really), time to learn, to listen and to be myself, on the spot, in the now. Desire to gain confidence and act on it.

Ultrarunning heroes: Every trail runner putting a foot on the trails, the pro as the one doing it for leisure, passion, love of it all.

Favourite ultra quote:"Running has taken me on adventures great and small, at home and around the world.  It has provided me with hope and perseverance on days when I had none - and even, once every great while, warmed me with that fleeting ray of sunshine known as glory.  Running has taught me that I can do anything, just so long as I keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Sometimes that notion is metaphorical and sometimes not.  In this way, I have been inspired to attempt things I would have never dreamed possible.  And it all started with a single step".

Martin Dugard