Amie “Livewire” Booth is definitely an athlete that leaves an impression on you once you meet her. Her spirit for life and sport bursts out of her. This 35-year old mother is a school administrator and teacher by day and continues to work within the OCR industry on various projects. She can be found running on the trails in an obstacle race, ultra marathon or other extreme endurance events on most weekends. Learn more about Booth.

Sponsors: Prosok, Athletics8, Honey Badger, Core Power, Osprey, inov-8, Youngstown Gloves, Epic Bars, RockTape, Backpacker Quality Gear, Wreck Bag, The Ginger People, Fleet Feet Columbia, Velocity Distance Project, Roots Hummus

How did you get involved in your sport?

In 2011, a group of friends from Army BCT asked me to come out and do a Tough Mudder at Wintergreen with them. This was our 14 year reunion, and the first time I had done any obstacles since basic. After that (and a solid week of excruciating pain in my muscles), I decided I wanted to do more!

Were you always an athlete?

Yes, I ran track and cross country, played volleyball and soccer, and always had my hand in some athletic arena. I even competed in Japanese martial arts in my later teen years.

What are some of your athletic achievements?

My athletic achievements this year include completion of Winter DR, Mexico DR, and Summer DR with top 3 female placements, and becoming the Female winner for the 2014 Death Race Challenge. In addition, I have finished podium and top 10 finishes in various OCR. In the ultra-marathon world, I finished the Georgia Death Race with a nasty case of food poisoning – to me that was almost harder than anything else I had done all year.

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

My goals include attempting Fuego y Agua Nicaragua, competing in The Toughest (extreme event with amazing women from the SISU Pro-Team), Strong Viking (hills), and of course focusing on becoming more competitive in OCR. Above all though, my goal is to run some adventure races, ultras, and OCR in the name of FUN!

Who is/are your inspiration?

This year, I have to say two people (besides my kids who constantly inspire me) have served as inspiration to me all year. The first, Jane Boudreaux Coffey, who never gives up, and constantly has a smile and positive attitude. Though she may not know it, she picked up my spirits and encouraged me when I needed it most, and least expected it. The second would be my husband, Oliver. He has the most amazing outlook on life, and the ability to see things completely differently than anyone I have ever known. Each day he teaches me to see things from a different perspective, and to take approaches I have never considered when it comes to athletics and life.

What is your most proud moment in sport?

During Summer Death Race, when I was at the breaking point over an 80lb cement bag, and a fellow death racer who was no longer in the game decided to help me. I was beyond frustration and negative, and he (David Kim) challenged me to remember why I was even doing the race. What mattered most, really, how I perform, or if I finish? He told me why he came out there to do these events, and I just stopped and listened. I didn’t push to move, I didn’t rush to get back and worry about cut off times…I just stopped to learn about the athletic and life goals of a fellow racer. Though that does not seem like much, to a person with a competitive drive, who is out there to push themselves to the limit of their being, this is a HUGE moment, in which you really focus on why you do these events to begin with – the experience with others.

What is your most proud moment in life?

I would say my most proud moment in life, was the day I mustered up the courage to leave an abusive first marriage. It was the day I stood up and decided to never be weak again. I would never let anyone rule me through fear or take away my self-worth. It gave me the courage to lose 88 pounds that were gained during a high risk pregnancy, and to do things that I may never have considered if I had not found just how strong I could be.

How do you overcome a bad race or training day?

I struggle with bad days, as my own worst enemy, and have to really push myself to motivate and think positively. Thankfully, this community of athletes is really strong and close knit, so we tend to pick each other up on these days. Depending on where I failed or what went wrong, there are people I go to for advice or pep talks that can help me overcome the issue or just laugh it off. It is still a process I work on perfecting, and one that I can admit I will never fully have down pat.

What is your training routine like?

My training consists of HIIT, Indoor climbing/bouldering, weight/strength training, running, track specific speed work, target core exercises, splitting wood, rucking, hill/mountain work, and a lot of functional fitness. Once a week, I do a trail run with intervals and obstacles or obstacle based exercises.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your sport?

Tackle it one mile or one obstacle at a time. Literally. If you fail, brush of the dirt, and do it again, and again, and again. Try different techniques until you figure out what works for you. Run your own race, just remember there is not a difference between the course for elites and open division athletes, the only difference is start times. Run for you, and do what gives you the best challenge and drive. At the end of the day, remember to laugh off the mistakes, and that fun is the focus. I have yet to do a race, even in the heat of competition, that I did not laugh along the way.

What is your favorite pre-race and post-race food?

My favorite pre-race food before endurance events is thick cut French toast made from sweet potato bread!!! Pre OCR, oatmeal with peaches, raspberries, and maple syrup with Honey Badger Performance energy. Post-race food would definitely be sushi and mocha coconut water!

When not training and competing what do you do with your down time?

Paint or sketch! Otherwise you will find me with my hubby Oliver, my kiddos, and my dog (Molly) doing just about anything, or maybe nothing at all (though it is rare any of us stay still for too long).

What is your favorite quote to motivate you?

It always seems impossible, until it’s done. – Nelson Mandela

What is the best advice a coach ever gave you?

Run your own race. Be your own competition, because the truth is, you are the only one that can control your performance. If you were like the competition, you would never be able to achieve or push yourself, because you would already have accomplished everything. What would be the point?

If you could share some advice to the next generation of athletes, what would it be?

1. Don’t listen to negativity. You can still achieve your goals if you do, but it will take so much longer.

2. Surround yourself with people who laugh at themselves. These are the people who do it for the right reasons, and the ones that will always be your partner in fun, and your encouragement as well.
3. Don’t complain. TRAIN.

Any additional information you would like to share:

When people tell you that you are crazy, smile at them. It is the best compliment you can receive. Fears are meant to be conquered, and no gear list is complete without an axe or a log.