“You’ll Never Run Again.” At 70, Loree Bolin Reversed Her Arthritis, Finished Her 11th Ironman, and Built Schools for Girls in Tanzania

Ageless Athlete - Loree Bolin
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Loree: [00:00:00] Where I am right now is Edmonds Washington in Pacific Northwest, and I'm seated at my desk. And for breakfast I had, a lactose free cappuccino and some, walnut sourdough toast with peanut butter.

Lots of peanut butter crunchy. 

Kush : Your breakfast sounds very gourmet. It is still early. In Seattle and sounds like you are a morning person. I am. and I can see that it's, uh, bright and sunny. Well, Seattle summers are great. 

Loree: Seattle summers are great. Today is a little bit overcast, a little bit rainy today.

Um, however, um, it's gonna perk up for my long rides and runs on the weekend. So that's, that's the point. 

Kush : Beautiful. Did you already get some dose of cloudy sunshine this morning? 

Loree: Um, I went out for a, for a short walk this morning. Okay. Just to kind of Okay. Set my [00:01:00] head and, get started for the day.

Kush : Beautiful. Well, Lori, you have got this fascinating blend of life. You are a high. Endurance athlete, you are doing humanitarian work. You are also a professional in the medical field. I wanna start off with the work you're doing. Mm-hmm. Because I'm just fascinated it's not something you see every day from a triathlete.

I guess you likely already had this busy life doing all the other things that you were doing, but you chose to take on this, this big challenge.

How did that happen? How did you started? 

Loree: Yeah. I, I'm a dentist and, I, uh, had private practice for [00:02:00] 25 years and, through that, um. I had always wanted to do humanitarian work and, provide healthcare abroad and got the opportunity to do that probably beginning, long time ago now, maybe 2007 and fell in love with it and, uh, working in the Philippines after hurricane, providing, dental care and um, working at some feeding stations.

And during that time, I just committed myself that what I really felt this huge passion to do was to. To jump that direction in my life, to go from private practice to be able to engage more fully in the humanitarian side of healthcare delivery because the, the needs you see are so basic. just, you know, just the need for, for water for example, is so basic.

And, while I'm trained as a, as a, a dental practitioner, um, I have a lot of interest in many areas of science and medicine. And [00:03:00] I could see ways that, um, my curiosity and interest could, um, help, uh, open some doors for many people. So I decided that when my son graduated from, um, high school, starting college, when I had more time that I didn't need to be at home, that I would go into the humanitarian world.

And so I sold my private practice and started leading, health delivery teams for another nonprofit, not mine. I hadn't started mine yet, but I had gone to Honduras, to an orphanage, to Haiti. I led a large team there after the earthquake, which was a, a kind of a really a life changing experience for me in terms of, the.

Multitude of things that you can provide, um, with volunteers that have and do not have, medical backgrounds. you know, kind of people go to the idea of, um, doctors Without Borders, which is, you know, physicians only. And there are many skills that [00:04:00] most of us have that can offer a helping hand and you can provide these skills and really engage with, with, um, other families, communities, you know, just building, helping build infrastructure.

So I did that for a number of years and then for my 60th birthday, I'm now 70 for my 60th birthday, I decided, um, birthday present self is an order. And so my birthday present self was to, initiate, an all volunteer nonprofit, that was based on. Healthcare perfectly blended with education because while I'd been in Haiti, Honduras, Uganda, Tanzania, those countries at that time providing healthcare, the basic problems that people had were about the same.

And if they would've had an ounce of prevention as we say here, these things would not be happening. And so to be able to blend, [00:05:00] um, education and prevention with the healthcare was the point of the whole, process for me, for my birthday. So I started Health and Hope Foundation. We're an, um, all volunteer nonprofit.

We're 10 years old and a bit now. and we provide hair, um, care, um, principally in Tanzania, through my. Previous work. I had been there maybe six or seven times, and I developed real strong in-country relationships with, um, local leaders that could be facilitators so that, you know, I didn't need to live in Tanzania, but I can, I work from here.

And, um, we have a large base of, very passionate volunteers from high school through, you know, their, eighties that are volunteering with us now. Um, we're not a large group. Um, we're not a big, big, huge, you know, nonprofit. We're 97% number 6% [00:06:00] of our, of our donations go to programs. And, so that's really what I do now that I balance with my athletic life.

Um, I probably work more now than I did when I was in private practice, to tell you the truth. but we have. Generally take a healthcare team, um, to a, a country or two annually. Um, so lately we've been to, uh, Tanzania. We always go there once a year and we, um, went once fascinating trip to, care for the nomads in, um, Western Mongolia.

So that was by camel and horseback. We travel, um, it's all out of a box for mobile. We can take our 31 gallon Rubbermaid containers anywhere and pop up a clinic and four hours. We can have medical, dental, vision, and then we do cervical cancer screening because in the areas we're going, they don't have, um, HPV vaccine or um, gynecological care.

So we provide those four [00:07:00] services and a lot of nutritionally based information and safe water treatment options. So that's what I do in my, in my. Career life now. 

Kush : But yeah, 

Loree: it's, it's a lovely work 

Kush : that is so badass, Laurie. It's super fun. And, uh, yeah, let's see. You started this maybe 10 years ago, so Yeah.

Well congratulations on your 10 year anniversary of Yeah, thank you. Running this beautiful mission. You know, the part that just immediately, uh, hits me is, uh, most people start new ventures when they are, let's say, um, peaking with their careers earlier in their lives, especially something that is different and difficult.

And you started [00:08:00] this at an age where most people are. Contemplating retirement. People are looking at their savings. People have, and maybe in your case, yes. you, uh, had sent your son off, I think, and I think most of us at that age are, I don't know, buying, vacation packages, taking on cruises.

And here you take on this huge challenge and like you indicated this was something that, uh, was building up over time. You had planned for this. Was there an early seed? Was there some point where you realized that you could do so much more with your knowledge and. Skills and [00:09:00] awareness and the world outside could really use your services.

So I'm curious, was there a point where you had this, if, if there was one, like an epiphany of sorts that this is what you wanted to, to devote your uh, 

Loree: yeah, I think, you know, my, my first. realization, um, that I was on the right track. I was, I was intrigued by this. I would, had been in a, a, a professional, uh, study club, and one of the dentists was a mentor of mine.

Um, I was younger than the rest of the guys, and they were all, all guys. And they kind of, you know, welcomed me into their community as a, as a newly practicing dentist. And this was in 1984. one of them was very, um, entrenched in, in work in Haiti. And, um, went through off and I just, I was hear, heard his stories, and I just thought, oh, that is so awesome.

I mean, I just, I love [00:10:00] technology, but I love doing things with my head and my heart and my hands more. And so that felt like, Not the people who are in the techno camp or the other camp, but I'm definitely in the head's, heart and hand camp. I could, I, I wanted to do that so badly because when I got my first chance to do it, I was coming back on the bus from, um, our workstation.

And, uh, we were, when there was a, there was a flooding and hurricane in Manila and the walking through to, from the, our clinic was set up in, um, like a rec center outside. And we were seeing all different kinds of things. People were coming for dental care, but we were doing a lot of other things as well.

I mean, they were coming for everything and they were living there. This is where they were just kind of had their family mats down and they were, you know, their shark goal and they're making their food and everything. And so you got to see, um, people and be with people. And I thought that's what I, I just to peel [00:11:00] it all back.

And, when I was going home the first day, I just, I just got teary eyed thinking, you know, this is, this is what I'm passionate about. This is how I can actually use the skills I have. And, you know, we didn't have, well, we didn't have electricity. You know, there's a lot of things that you don't have, but you can still do a lot of care without a lot of whistles and bells.

And in dentistry, there's lots of whistles and bells. You go into the dental office now, the chair reclines by remote, you've got, uh, overhead, you know, everything's laser oriented and, um, digital and, and just take it all away and then see what you can come up with, what you can, what can you MacGyver to make this happen and to provide health and wellness for this community.

And, um, that's when I knew that. I think that was my moment when I said, yeah, you nailed it, Laurie. This is, this is, this is where you're, this is what you can do. then it just kept rolling from that point. And, you know, as we, as we go [00:12:00] into it deeper, being with communities, you see doors open and you talk with people heart to heart, and you live with them.

Our teams now come in when we're, we have by the time, you know, I get a team bus together to take the team out to wherever we're going. 'cause we usually stay. well I used to back in the old days, um, you know, I, you know, my, my max for, for um, lodging was $12 a night that included breakfast. And I came to find out that not everybody can just keep going forever and ever and ever.

I mean, I think endurance sport has helped me go forever and ever and ever. When I think I'm blown, I find I've got another gear. Now we have comfortable sleeping places for, for the team. And um, they get rest because the people that do this work don't know how to stop basically. And they'll keep working till they, till they're tired, till they're exhausted.

And then they're the less fun. So we do have a team bus and we get in the [00:13:00] bus and we go however far less than, no more than an hour because it takes up too long in the day because where we, where we work, there isn't electricity, so you've gotta get back by nightfall. 'cause there aren't lights on the roads and so forth.

So just for safety for the team. but, it's, it's just grown to other dimensions that you're living and on the team bus. But there's more in-country people on the bus than. visitors on the bus. So you get to know people, you work with them side by side. We integrate. There's no, um, there's no hierarchy.

There's no, like, doctors are more important than anybody else. It's everybody's evil playing field and everybody brings it to the table. in that way it opens conversations. So like, I was just there, um, June I spent in Tanzania you know, new doors open. So in June we were starting a, um, in Tanzania we work with Ma Messai there.

And, uh, another group that's not Messai, um, we're starting a safe house for [00:14:00] girls that are fleeing, um, early arranged marriage and female genital elation and scholarship programs for the Maasai girls. so that's a whole other area that we've started. So it, the, the, um, programs as you get to.

Working communities just keep opening and opening and opening, listening to community needs and, and doing even minor things. I mean, for us to build a safe house is gonna end up being in US dollars about $7,000 to build a safe house that girls can go to when they're clean. early marriage and cutting.

and it's, you know, it's essential. The 10 girls we scholarshiped for this year, when I met with them, you know, a month and a half ago, 50% of them had already their seventh, they just finished seventh grade equivalent. And they already had, um, female gen mutilation, um, against their wishes. So, you know, you keep meeting people and it just keeps adding to the fuel of the fire of, you [00:15:00] know, you can change this, that people don't have to, girls don't have to accept that kind of thing.

And, and, um. Community members and families don't have to accept that there are no dentists. There might be, like in Tanzania, one dentist for every, you know, 150,000 people. It's not great odds for preventative care or anything else. So it just keeps moving the moving target. 

Kush : Sure. Amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing.

I mean, yeah, no, for sure. Um, I'm just, I'm still wrapping my head around like the scope of the work that has come your way and you have taken on trying to learn about you a little bit more. Many professionals in the West, or some of us will sometimes take these trips. You know, I, I, I guess it first starts with just being curious about the world outside.

Mm-hmm. Our own countries. Mm-hmm. And [00:16:00] learning about what are some of the challenges that people have that maybe we don't have. And some of us will donate some money to, you know, the UNICEFs and the Doctors Without Borders and mm-hmm. And similar. And then within those, within that growth, a, a, a smaller set, which might undertake a personal mission to one of these places.

I mean, I'll be honest, Americans in general are so scared of traveling overseas. Most of us don't even have passports. Those of us who travel usually stay within the bounds of the developed world. Right. And yes. And then a few will take on trips to other parts of the world. And yes, and, and, and some of us, uh, will go and take on.

Causes missions where they can use their professional skills [00:17:00] to help because Yes, absolutely. The, the impact is so much deeper. Like what you said, you know, one dentist for one 50,000 people. I mean, that just boggles the mind like sometimes. Mm-hmm. You know, we complain that we can't get to see our dentist soon enough or whatnot, and we have to wait a few weeks and people there may never see one, even if they have the most urgent needs.

But just coming back to you, you went on some trips while you were still a, a full-time dentist and you saw an opportunity, and my question is, you could still be making this big difference by continuing to assist other groups. Mm-hmm. What was. This about you that made you want to start something on your own.

What made you think that the scale and the impact [00:18:00] that, that you could make would be just more profound and knowing the, yeah, just knowing the, effort it likely takes in, like exponentially to start something on your own. 

Loree: when I started, um, branching out from, um, dentistry to go into other areas of humanitarian care, it, there was actually, a, a moment that came over probably about two days time.

I was in Tanzania and I was, um, providing care with, in a community, and what typically happens is, all of the young men rush to the front of the line. And the o the women and the children are behind. They the, I mean, there's big long lines of people that, that will come for care and that I had observed far earlier.

I [00:19:00] said to my, to the, our team, you know, who haven't we seen? And they said, we've seen everybody. I go, no. Have you seen any kids? I haven't seen any kids. Have you seen any older ladies? Have you seen any older people? I haven't. I haven't. And I said, we're, this is switching. This is switching now.

And so I went out with my, um, tongue depressors and I did a, um, triage with my tongue depressors. And, um, but look to see, and mostly what I was looking to see is the elderly, the people that look phy, that physically looked ill and children, and they all ended up with a lollipop stick. So they were, they, that's how I started the priority care and to getting 'em that way.

And in doing that, it was, it was actually looking back on it, so perfect. Because what I ended up finding was, even though people were prioritized, I had not seen the older ladies. I had not, and I knew they [00:20:00] were there. I, 'cause I walked by them all the time, you know, coming in and out, I would see them. my interpreter is a pastor. He's now, um, the head of the, we've got a, um, free tutor school for 200 kids and he is the principal leader of that school. that's his job now. But it came from this moment. I said, where are all the older ladies? I mean, where are the widows that you were telling me about?

And he said, they're waiting over there. They're waiting their turn. I said, they don't need to wait. Come on, bring them in. And so they came in and of course, all of them, it wasn't their teeth that were bothering them, they had, um, they had private, I mean, it was their body that was bothering them. So my son was with me on that trip and they set up a special room and put a chair in there.

And I just started doing, um, physical full body exams on the ladies. Typically all the complaints were, um, they're orthopedically related, but, and also [00:21:00] eyes that were sore and red and dusty, um, hands that were just could not grip anymore their aches and pains and everything. And I found out all these ladies were, making a living crashing rocks to make gravel.

They were crashing rocks by hand, and that's what they're doing for their livelihood. These are grandmothers, widowed grandmothers. uh, it is just like, oh my gosh, it was one after the other, after the other end. I'm going, you know, this is, does anything hurt in your mouth? Nothing in their mouth. They were fine.

It was everything else. it got to kind of the bottom of that because they all speak Swahili. I spoke not Swahili at that time. And, um, still very more Swahili. I'm a better listener than speaker. but.

I, you know, I thought there's gotta be a better way for them to make a, a living in this way. And I was, it was almost to the end of our trip. So I left them our safety goggles. I left them our, our, um, surgical masks. And [00:22:00] I went to the hardware store and I got a whole bunch of hammers and a couple big sledgehammers part of the group, I said, you know, it was two groups, actually, there were two groups of sort of friends.

'cause they, like, they get together and they crash. Like women would get together and knit or something like that as a social thing. So there was two groups. I said to one group, I suggest you, you know, cross cover each other. So malaria is very endemic in this area. Kids were sick a lot. and o other, you know, waterborne diseases as well.

but, you know, cross cover and, and work together as a group. And the other group didn't want to, they just wanted, um, some money. So I said, okay, I'll come back in a year and we'll see what happened. And what happened was, it was just like the perfect, financial seminar, the, the ones that worked together and provided cross coverage and learned to now they noted what a diversified portfolio is.

Um, meaning they have now they have, um, this group has farming, [00:23:00] um, vegetables, farming pigs, poultry, uh, fish sales, dried fish sales. We started Dr. Solar, fish drawing, all these different things. One of those ladies had built a house. She built a house because she was doing other things. The other ladies, they got the money.

They got like $20 a piece or something. 'cause I left them each with the equal amount of money. Nothing, nothing. And so that's how this was born. So that's how we got to the women's business program. Now we've probably got 80 women in that, 80 to 85 women in that area that are in business, and another 30 women that just Maasai women that just started businesses recently, um, that are sound.

And then in going to the ladies' houses to do, um, welfare checks at home, I went to visit them to see, you know, what's, what's up, where are they living, what's going on? how can they, how can we, you know, learn some pt, some yoga, [00:24:00] some dancing, some whatever to relieve some of their chief, um, physical complaints.

none of the kids were in school. The kids were of school age kids. No one is in school because they had to have a uniform to go to government school. Nobody could afford a uniform. So that was the inception of our two Mai, which means Hope and Swahili to Mai Tutor School. So that's open now six days a week, every week of the year.

And we have about 200 orphaned, impoverished kids that have been attending all the, this time in there go from, first grade through, um, equivalent to 10th grade. So that started with those women's grandchildren because they were guardians for these kids. so that's how the school started and it just keeps growing.

Kush : Wow. Got it. So what I can understand is that you took on this [00:25:00] assignment, you were in Tanzania and you were trying to fix maybe some, some basic. Dental issues that people had and maybe your innate curiosity and just awareness around you, uh, forced you to notice some, some imbalances in your, in your clientele.

Yes. Quite a few. And then, and then you kind of just had to go through that, that wormhole and you started discovering all these other things and it sounds like you just couldn't help yourself. Like once you meet these populations and you see some of their most, like dire challenges can often have difficult but, but maybe [00:26:00] even simple solutions like in this case.

Enabling these older grandmothers who were, uh, crushing rocks by just giving them just basic safety equipment would have such a huge Impact. Allowing them to not only do their, you know, their, uh, their, their, their, their current work a bit more safely, but then, but then slowly maybe rise up the ranks with some more assistance.

Like the amount of assistance can indeed just go such a long way in those places. One thing that strikes me, Lori, is that sometimes some of these issues, you know, in these countries, they can seem so complex. And like in your case, you know, you go from like just [00:27:00] helping people with dental hygiene to now starting something to help people build, help grandmas build like livelihoods and kids going to schools.

They just, these problems just seem so daunting in a sense that many, many of us don't even get started. Just because I, I remember reading Paul Krogman, like talking about Sudan. Like, it just seems like a, like this bottomless bit of despair. But you, you seem just such an, like, how, how do you get your optimism and how do you, how are you able to like, actually, find that mindset to go and, and come up with solutions and implement them?

instead of just, uh, feeling overwhelmed. 

Loree: I'd have to say running. I [00:28:00] take, I take my, um, I take my thoughts and my questions and my issues on the road with me. I think most of my, my planning or my, as my husband calls it, my, my devious terribly ridiculous, amazing planning.

you just kind of, I just kind of sort it out. And I, and sometimes when I'm running, well, most of the times when I'm running I, I, I, I think about that kind of thing. And, um, I come up with ideas that are usually, they sound always so brilliant when I'm running. Then when I bring 'em back home, sometimes I have to pair 'em down a little bit.

because I was, must have been some kind of brilliant mood at that moment. And then when I look at the logistics, I said, okay, this can work, but okay, to get buy-in, you're really gonna have to heal it back just a little bit, and start small and then you can get there. So I'd have to say, that's how sport is really integrated with, with the work is, [00:29:00] it's my thoughtful place.

Kush : I just love that answer. And, you know, sport can benefit. In so many ways. Like this has to be one of the, yeah, one of the most unusual, but also one of the, uh, deepest in and yes, allowing us to be able to maybe train our thoughts during intense physical exercise. I would love to learn a little bit more about some of your thought process, just so people listening, have an idea.

Can you talk a bit about what is the scope of work that Health and Hope taking on today? which places are you operational in? What kind of change are you making? 

Loree: Least that we're, well, the world is a big place, and like you pointed out, you can only do so much [00:30:00] because if you look at the whole, piece, it is overwhelming.

And so, because I've worked in, in many countries, um, across the planet, I settled on Tanzania and, and the reason that I settled on that one country is because I've got the in-country support there that I know and trust. and a big part of trust in being able to do these programs is you've gotta trust financially that you have a a hundred percent excellent stewardship of each donated nickel that it's going to programs.

because one of the things that you also see, not just abroad at all and abroad, but graft. And, um, it's, it's really easy in a, in a large organization to have filter down and lose, lose money, whether it's a government or whether it's, you know, oh my, sorry. large entity.

wanted to protect it against graft. And so I work with people that I know [00:31:00] really well, that I communicate with often, whose homes that I live with, who I've known for years. And so that makes that piece possible to do that. so that's how I've come to a country and to communities. So we're working in Waza, Tanzania, where we have, um, to Miami Tutor School.

We've got a women's visits empowerment program. Going on there. Um, those are the two, two big pieces. Um, and then we go there. Also take, um, healthcare teams to that area. The other place that we work is in, uh, with the Maasai population, um, that, um, live on the rim of the Ngorongoro crater. we've been working there since 2015.

We were the first group to bring dental care there. And you mentioned cleanings, but I guess I'd like to point out that probably 95% of what we do is extractions, because by the time they get there, the people that we're seeing are in, uh, serious situations. I mean, they're [00:32:00] non-restorable teeth you know, chronic infections that are, that can be life threatening, um, from dental disease.

So, They have never had their teeth cleaned. I mean, we, we, we, we do do that and we do it for the kids. We do cleanings and fluoride and all that. We instituting that program, but that's not something that they would normally have. So, in, in the Maasai population, what we're working on there is, um, healthcare delivery because they have, um, very, very poor access.

Um, the government's been trying to relocate that endemic, um, population out of the crater. So they've had, um, a lot of, governmental issues and, dispensaries that have absolutely nothing, nothing in them. And, and very limited number of healthcare providers there. So delivery of healthcare, but also education.

So we're doing when we're not there. we've got a team that goes out and provides community health education where they're teaching about HIV prevention. [00:33:00] the AIDS rate there is like 9% and growing. and they do informa, you know, information about family planning because they have none. So about female cutting and, any number of things that specific that the, the community asks for.

those are the two populations. So we've taken the world the big problems and we've narrowed it down to one area that's a little bit more county, if you wanna think of it that way. They don't live in a hut. They live in, um, you know, single room cement home. but they're going to school and they're getting business opportunity and we're trying to grow circles of changes.

Build a circle of prosperity from one of poverty, that's the goal. And then in the Maasai population, same country, but different part of the country, we're working on, um, basic health education needs and education and, and safety against, um, harmful traditional practices. So we've taken the world and we've paired it down to two spots.

And even that seems, um, big. I mean, it's, [00:34:00] it's, it's broad based, if that answers your question, I mean, you have to kind of, put your finger in the soup and, and, pick out the noodle that you want and, um, address that needle as best you can.

Kush : I can imagine once you are exposed to these places and the complexities and yeah, those complexities start unraveling you, you realize that there's so much that needs to be done. How do you manage scope creep? How do you decide, like, it sounds like you have a good handle on like the populations you work with and the type of issues that, uh, you are working on.

How do you decide what to say, what to say yes to and what to say no to? 

Loree: the, the basic, the basic bottom line on that is what can create a sustainable change. [00:35:00] If it's not gonna be a sustainable change, then, you know, we, we need to back away. We don't do, and have done and, and no longer do, but provide food.

Um, large quantities of food, but what we do switch to was providing goats and sheep because, that can be sustainable. It provides milk for the children, it provides opportunities for women's business, for them to exchange animals, for breeding purposes, to grow their herd. They can sell and then they can buy food.

So in that way, the, the feed, the, the part of the nutrition program becomes sustainable. Education is always sustainable. Even if, even if it, you think, you know, okay, you've only got one school, you've only got 200 children. but it's the, the ripple effect of that education. It's, it goes both up and it goes down because the, the parents aren't literate or the, or the guardian is not [00:36:00] literate.

but even if all kids in the family. Can't be it too many. 'cause we need to turn away a lot of kids every year. even if all kids can't go there, even if one or maybe two can't go there with their family, they're teaching their sibs and, and they're, they're teaching the, the people in their area because they kind of live where they're clustered.

So people are, are learning and seeing education, but scope creep is a real problem because I am personally, I'm attracted to, you know, almost any little butterfly. And I have to, I have a board and they kind of help me stay on track with my, schemes that come up running. Not all the schemes I've come up running are, are put into play.

I have a lot of schemes on the back burner, I think in keeping with two populations, that does 'cause we're making big impacts in those groups at least 

Kush : to help and That was very helpful. And I can see that you [00:37:00] are strategic about finding opportunities that can help scale the impact.

And education is of course a big one. You know, you educate one person and that can have such a lasting impact on them and other generations that follow them. And the other part, yes, sorry, but cliche, but yeah, I mean, teach a person to fish. Like if you, if you allow people access to create a livelihood instead of just giving out money, then that can allow people to, um, again, sustain that for a long, long time.

And I can see that it is difficult to say. No to things, but yeah, maybe, maybe having, uh, a board, having colleagues helps [00:38:00] provide that, that kind of, uh, focus. What is maybe the hardest thing about running, I guess, both creating and running these programs in a place that is so different and also so far away from your normal restaurants?

Loree: Well, it's, it, WhatsApp helps a great deal because I can communicate freely and often, even in, even though we're, you know, 11 hours off, you know, have, have easy communication that's been, you know, a real, helper and, and they have phones. If somebody doesn't have a phone, you know, we can get them a phone, but for the most part, they have phones.

And so we can communicate easily, uh, we can see each other to talk. that would be very difficult without that piece of technology. So, um, the other [00:39:00] thing that really helps, um, that we didn't have in the beginning is mobile money transfers. you know, we can get, like for the teachers at our school at the end of the month, um, we'll get the attendance for the teachers because we've got an incentive program for attendance.

they're very prompt to give, you know, giving their attendance and, by the next day they'll have money in their phones. So we don't have to deal with a big, The infrastructure of sending a wire to a bank, sending it to someone's account, having this, somebody get it. You know, maybe, maybe, you know, there could be fund funds lost along the way.

So I would have to say the technology of the WhatsApp and the mobile money is really, uh, is a huge benefit to be able to provide timely success and get feedback promptly, get pictures back immediately when they're, you know, when our in-country leads are out, um, doing, uh, education or delivering, you know, washable, [00:40:00] um, menstrual kits or teaching a class building a new pro, um, project.

you know, we see the pictures right away. so this is really huge. And I think without those pieces it would be quite difficult. It would be quite difficult to, but I feel like, you know, we're really pretty hands-on. I meet with my main leads, um, on a WhatsApp lead, a 90 minute call weekly, We're in good contact that way.

I talk with them more than I talk with our board, so, we have, we have good communication. 

Kush : Sure, yeah. Tech helps us stay hands on. And you, you have, yeah, you've, and sometimes I feel like those places and those countries that in some ways even more tech forward because they have to rely, maybe you're living in a war zone and you can't travel and the roads are crap, so mm-hmm.

You have to then be That much more, uh, connected, using, using [00:41:00] tech. But also the other problem with tech is like, it can also be a bit invasive. and sometimes we joke that, hey, uh, this can wait because, you know. It's not gonna save anybody's life. But in your case, you know, you are saving lives there.

Do you have any principles on how you are able to, continue being connected or, or do the work you're doing, but also not let it, like, just take over your, uh, your personal life? 

Loree: Well, it's you. I have to be, I have to really prioritize and, um, I think that's another way where, because I'm a, I'm a, I'm a wife, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother, and my family is, I'm, I'm a and I'm a sister.

So my family time is very, pri very important to me. And I guess I put, I put that number one. And then, I think my nonprofit world and my fitness life is probably split that's my second tier of [00:42:00] priority. but. You know, training for something, something big. Like, you know, we've got the Ironman World Championships coming up in not that many weeks from now.

And so, you know, my priorities are to stick to my training schedule. That's, that's number one I have to prioritize. Number two is fitting in the other, needs that I have on my to-do list for, um, the nonprofit part. so I have to, I, I do organize that way. I've got a priority basis. so family fitness, and then mix of, fitness, um, health and hope.

Kush : Sure. And you know, the time that you're in the pool or running or well on your bicycle, like you can't be looking at your, uh, Your phone. Uh, no. It kind of forces that, that type of, uh. Balance. One other question I feel I should ask is, [00:43:00] you know, many of us who are, in, in the US or in the, in the develop world have, have some yearnings to be able to help more than just make donations to, causes.

Any advice, Lori, on how the rest of us can, just make a, make a difference? 

Loree: one great opportunity that we has have is to travel. And, and I guess I'd say if you're, if you're just kind of branching out, if you're, you know, interested is, is just get local with people and, Let you cur.

Don't be shy about your curiosity. If you're talking with, with, in a local community, with someone, like if you're getting groceries or, even if you're, you've got a car and you're putting gas in your gas ca, gas tank, um, or you're with a driver, just to ask questions about their family.

Everybody's family is always first. that's a good way to get to know people. And through that you learn what challenges [00:44:00] they might be having. Are their kids going to school? What are they interested in? what, what did that person, you know, what do they like to eat? What are the favorite foods?

You know, what are the things that, you can't jump in saying, gosh, what are you worried about? You know? But I think just to peel back the layers of, of this being. One-on-one with people is a great way to, to start and maybe venture outside that the safety of the, the safety of the resort or the the tour that you're on is great.

I mean, I know I've seen a lot of, um, tourists and yeah, tourism is one of the main things. But you know, people that are there often they go, they climb Kilimanjaro, they go on safari. Um, they might on their trip, be taken through, um, an a school that the kids stand up and sing a song or something, but they don't really have the opportunity to deep dive.

But if you're someplace, you could take a day [00:45:00] before or a couple days after and wherever you're at, talk with the people that are cleaning your rooms. And, you know, just make, make friends go. ask them, you know, do you need these shoes? I, I wore 'em, I ran, I ran on 'em. They're dirty. But maybe you know, someone and that needs the shoes and, you know, and, and maybe I could deliver 'em, and I could see who gets to wear the shoes.

That's a great way to meet someone and to go into a home and, and kind of break the ice if there's, if the ice needs to be broken about, how do I get, how do I, you know, expand my comfort zone a little bit about this. and then there are, you know, a lot of, volunteer opportunities out there.

and I've been so busy with my own, I, I guess I don't really have a big calendar of, of, of places that, that are super, accessible, but. One place to start is if you've known a, if you know a foreign language, you know, if you're [00:46:00] already, you know, somewhat literate even for just, and, but you know what, if you're not, I, I've gone to many countries like Mongolia.

I did not know any, anything or, or Maasai, I cannot speak any messai. But you can, you can learn so much from facial expressions and you don't really have to have language you can get by quite easily with just, you know, a nice smile and a a, a kind gesture. So you don't, you don't have to feel like you need to know the language.

Kush : A hundred percent. Agreed. And, uh, just going back to tech for a second, most of us have have our phones with us, which works everywhere. And you can use any of these apps Yes. To get messages, uh, exchanged. Yes. No, no, no. No issues there. Yes, Lori. People listening, you know, they, you know, people will be more curious about health and hope.[00:47:00] 

Are there opportunities within your organization for listeners to, maybe volunteer, but, but at the minimum, maybe, maybe contribute to, like, how can listeners of the show be of, uh, help with the work you're doing? 

Loree: Well, we take a team to Tanzania, generally every year. This year I did not, it is a first year in forever that I haven't taken a team.

And the, and the purpose, the reason was the, I did an Ironman in, in, November, and I'm doing one in October. And if I'm going to, I can't be gone. I would, that's one, one thing, challenges of getting older. I can't be gone from training that long and ask my body to do certain things. it's just, it's just a reality.

So I, I went to Tanzania this year without a team, but typically we take a team, um, annually in the late spring, early summer. So that's an opportunity to go with us. You don't have to be a healthcare provider. [00:48:00] It does help. but we are not hospital based, so that's, you know, we, we work out of, a box basically.

So we find a place. So there aren't any, any, there's no big machines, put it that way. There's no, you know, x-ray machine or, you know, MRIs or any of that kind of thing. Um, I think through health and hope, financially, we have a website, health and Hope Foundation. That, um, is needed to find and the programs are there and there's a, a donate page.

So that's an option that people, people have to help us. but I, I just would encourage anyone, if you're on the edge of thinking about volunteering, gosh, just give it a go. It's, I mean, I know 'cause I've taken many volunteers and, and many people come back. Um, we repeat volunteers with Health and Help Foundation, but, you know, lots of times it's, it's a one time thing or, you know, it's, it's a big trip.

It's a big trip and it takes, two to three weeks to go there and see a little bit of something and it, but it [00:49:00] is total cultural immersion to be on, on these trips. So you do have to be able to square away that you can do like two weeks time. So time and curiosity is all, all that's really needed.

and nobody expects anybody to be perfect at anything, just to care about. other people and to want to be curious enough to make the world, you know, a better place. I don't think there's, I can't never, ever in all my trips anywhere have I ever been with a volunteer that was not, this wasn't a life changing experience for them at all.

I mean, it was, I remember, the earthquake in Haiti, all, everything was broken down. They'd taken me around to try to find a place to put up the clinic, and we finally ended up in this church that, that it had maybe one wall, the rest was just rubble. And the, we had our, we, we, our dental chairs are like, uh, lawn [00:50:00] chairs.

And I looked over at, at one of the chairs and I'm going, oh my gosh. You know, here's this guy dental assisting. He was a nuclear engineer. A nuclear engineer and he's, you know, dental assisting chairside with one of the community members, you know, with one of our dentists providing, and, and I'm just thinking, you know, that is one of my favorite pictures to this day of seeing this picture of rubble in the background, the dust of Haiti, you know, the people waiting and this lovely man who was also taking a break from chemo to come and do this.

Yeah. So that to me just was like outside the box, freaking amazing. you don't have to know what the deal is. you know, you learn to buy your shoes, you can learn to do a new thing. It's okay. Nobody expects, you know, just if, if you show up, you show up. 

Kush : that is [00:51:00] powerful.

No, that is powerful. And that is a vivid image that you've painted for us. And yeah, one does not need, uh, elaborate skills. I mean, like, one doesn't even need to go to school for, for dentistry to be able to just help because, uh, because the needs are vast and there's always space for somebody to help. just so people can find the website easily.

And we will put link on the show notes. What's the Health and Hopes website? One more time, 

Loree: sorry. And Hope Foundation. 

Kush : Perfect. Health and Hope foundation.org. Yes. And I think, I'm sure if you search for it, it'll bring up that. Oh, it'll come up. Yeah. It'll come right up.

Lori, obviously you have dedicated the last decade and also a lot of time before that in making, making this [00:52:00] difference. And I'm sure there's been a lot of sacrifice Yeah, just not just from you, but maybe, maybe from others around you, maybe from your family to allow you to do this. I'm curious, what has all this work brought back to you?

What difference has it made to your life and do you, as you continue to get older, post-retirement from being an active, uh, dentist? 

Loree: I believe I am living my best life. I have no question that I am not. I think that is, um, I'm proud of that. It makes me happy. I know that my life makes other people life's easier that is just oceans of, um, magnitude, flowing goodness back to me.

I just, I feel very [00:53:00] complete.

Kush : I can see that. And,

at a time when many of us, you reach that point in our middle life and at I, I think people start looking for purpose. I guess, you know, that term midlife crisis hits us. Uh, uh, here's one way to turn this. On its head, and it sounds like one, one finds this kind of work beyond us. It takes us away from like, let's say, trivial things we are dealing with in our own little lives.

Loree: It does that, it does that. Yeah. When you Yeah. I like, for example, the other day I was, I was doing something and I was having, I can't even remember now what it was, but I was having a challenge with it. I got, a call from, uh, what's that call? And they said, you know, the, the women that, the Messiah women that are doing the, the food business, they're just starting.

Their food business are doing [00:54:00] great, but they wish they could work more. and I said, well, you know, are they not? Because we've got free transportation for them to get to the marketplaces to provide their services. And I said, well, so what's the stopper? The stopper, they have to spend all day going out to collect firewood so that they can cook.

So, you know, it, it just makes me go, like, I got no prob, I have no problems. I mean, I don't, I might have think my day is squashed, but I don't have to go farther and farther each day to get my firewood. So, you know, to turn that around, we're gonna be getting these 30 ladies, um, uh, propane burners, and then with their income, with their, with their savings, they'll be able to get gas refills.

But I hadn't even, like, I hadn't thought of that. Now, yes, they've got a job. Yes, they've got a possibility to earn a little bit of money, but they can't go to work because they've gotta get fire with, you know, just these things keep coming up for in my life that keep me [00:55:00] grounded. 

Kush : Yeah. 

Loree: You know, so. 

Kush : Not only do you do they have to collect firewood or maybe collect water, but mm-hmm.

But sometimes they can't even do it safely because No, they can't because, because there is violence around them. Yeah. And, yeah. It certainly allows us to at least think back about the privileges we have. And

here, here's a fun question, Lori. You've been, you know this. Yeah. We haven't yet gone in to your journey as an athlete, but you obviously take your training seriously and you have to, , doing Ironman. Ironman's, yeah. It's just multi-discipline. You have to always have. Have your training be adhered to, and maybe earlier in your, in your work, you were likely traveling more.

[00:56:00] How were you able to continue training while you were in distant places that access to your regular facilities? 

Loree: Um, that's a really good question. And it's really hard, and that's a challenge. No place has a swimming pool that we travel to that's, that's out. And many places are not safe for open water swimming either because of, contamination in the water or just nobody's thinking.

Anybody's gonna be out there swimming. No one would know to look for a swimmer. Um, biking. You have to have a bike. typically on, on the trips that we take. I, I run in the morning and, and usually we've got other people that are either walkers or runners and that's kind of, the mode is somebody might get up and, you know, do some yoga.

and then I typically will go for a run. Others will come with me and we've had one, one trip. We had four Ironman [00:57:00] athletes on the trip, so that was awesome. You know. we had a built in running group. Um, that doesn't always happen, but, I've got a number of friends that are in, in athletics that, do come on our trip, so that makes it nice for me.

Otherwise, they just go out running and, you know, meet people along the way. And, you know, it's, it's really fun. You, I go out running and it would be with kids walking to school, and we get them, I get 'em in a line altogether, and even though I don't even know their language, they pick up really quick. And I, I, I, I run in front and I clap, clap.

And then I go to the back and they go in front. So we do, you know, we do running games on the way to school. So I get to see where they're going to school. Sometimes I go in and meet their teacher, try to take a break in my run. find out what the teacher needs. One time it was a first aid kit, so I ran back the next day with the first aid kit.

So the running is easy. Running is. Not, not a problem. Other events are a problem. Strength training. I [00:58:00] take a, like a little mini gym with stretch bands and stuff, and I do body weight exercises, so I keep my strength up. Um, but it's, it's a, it is really hard 'cause you're, you can't, so, that's kind of kinda a mess of messes you up on that score that, um 

Kush : Sure.

Yeah. And you're going, you're not even going to like the cities so much in a place like Tanzania, you know, you are in these backwater places where Yeah. Yeah. I guess, I guess you have to maybe periodize your training a little bit. 

Loree: Yeah. To be able 

Kush : to, 

Loree: well, the other thing is you're not, not in places where you can run, where, uh, it may be really warm, but I mean, it's not, um, culturally appropriate to wear running gear.

Right. So you gotta have. heights covering your knees and a top covering your shoulders at least, um, because like Zania is, half Muslim, half Christian, so I try always to be culturally [00:59:00] appropriate. so that, you know, that's another, Wow. Yeah. Because if you're meeting people along the way, you can't go with short shorts and, um, expect the community to welcome you with open arms, even though it's, you know, 90 degrees and humid.

Kush : Yes, yes. Tanzania in July, I, I can, I can only imagine. Uh, yeah. I guess, yeah. By the, once the sun is up on the, uh, on the horizon, it's on the equator. Yeah, you're 

Loree: right on the 

Kush : equator. Yeah. You have to shift. And this is one, yeah. One question I didn't wanna ask you about, some of these, uh, cultural

barriers and gender barriers that you likely. Have to continue to overcome, like you mm-hmm. Talked about earlier, how you go to those places and, you know, there is so much, uh, let's say systemic patriarchy. Mm-hmm. You know, you just have the men come forward to mm-hmm. Come and try to get medical care [01:00:00] mm-hmm.

Because maybe they feel more entitled. Mm-hmm. And, you know, the women have a much harder time being mm-hmm. you know, coming forward. So how did you maybe overcome some of these things? And to be honest, I feel it's not just in Tanzania. Like even in the US No. 

Loree: Oh yeah, yeah. No, no. It's, it's, it's, I can, I can attest that it's worldwide.

so I guess in some part that's where I can throw out the doctor card. they know me as Dr. Lori, so that's. Like, that's my name that does open doors and with, with, with men. and, um, I'm not shy. one of the hardest things in my, in my role is getting things through customs in various countries because, that can just be very challenging on, on a number of levels. So I've developed a, a, a mindset when I go into places that are super [01:01:00] patriarchal, where it is totally, there is a legal right that a customs official has in any country to borrow you from bringing any of your stuff in.

And in the clinic situation, we'll have tubs and we have, I, I bring our whole pharmacy because we can never be sure we can get. Medications that we need there, um, in the time that we need them. So I bring our whole pharmacy that's to treat everything from, STD to worms, to, you know, bacterial infections and viral infect.

Everything I have, we have everything. So to bring the pharmacies in and to bring in our equipment that looks weird to them. Like we, because we've got remote, uh, battery operated dental equipment to be able to do a surgery. our things look weird and, and I get that. And so the customs officials, I always, the, the head to hon show always comes when I'm bringing in all the stuff.

and so what I've done for me is I'm first name basis in Tanzania with the head of their, they have an F we have a [01:02:00] FDA, they have A-T-F-D-A. So I'm friends with the head of that. Then I know I've cell phone contact with the head of the, customs and the, the FDA at Kilimanjaro airport and the other airports that we go into.

So they expect me to be kind of hardcore. I'm not a hardcore person, but I can put on the hardcore hat when I need to. And we just, we just jockey it back and forth. We negotiate and, um, in the end we both feel like we won. That's the goal. That's my goal. I won. And they feel like they won. but so that's the doctor part helps in a, a bit consistency helps because you see the same people coming in.

If you're going into the same country, you see some of the same people. So you relationships help. And then the other part that's huge is I work with our in-country leaders, our strong leaders in [01:03:00] their community. They happen to be male. It wouldn't mind me, it wouldn't bother me if they were female, but they happen to be male and they've risen to the cream of the, of my crop.

because they stand up for people. they don't try to negotiate anything that isn't for the better of the community. So they have in-country, in society credibility. And I'm their friend. So I get a pass through them.

Kush : I would think that the years of consistency that you have had in helping, I would've thought that it would've. Open doors for you? Like, like, you know, they would be welcoming you with like open arms. 

Loree: No, you know, it's because, it's because policies change and I can, I can address, I, I'll only address Tanzania because I really to that I can speak to you with, uh, with a great deal of doubt.

and I would assume some other countries, maybe similar, maybe not, but, for the last 10 years, our volunteers here have been making [01:04:00] washable, menstrual kits that we've been delivering to the girls so that they, 'cause they don't have money to afford disposable supplies and that keeps them from going to school.

So we've been doing this for 10 years. This June when I came to Tanzania with my kids, which I bring every year, I was going, oh my gosh, this is gonna be so easy. No, equipment, no pharmacy. I'm gonna fly through customs. I'm gonna tell my driver, you know, I'll be out in 30 minutes. No, I was out three and a half hours later because.

A sudden washable feminine hygiene kits, men kits, are considered a medical device. All of a sudden, I'm supposed to have a PA permit for each and every one of the 680 medical devices I was now bringing in. Or I had to pay duty, pay a fee to bring them in. There was a fee. So there's always something and I, and I, you know, [01:05:00] I bring this back to my, maybe it doesn't seem related, but it is totally related to sport.

You have to be in this line of work, of humanitarian delivery. Something's gonna come up just like in a race, something comes up that you didn't expect. You just know it's gonna come up and you just negotiate around it and make the best of it. And scoot on through. You'll get through it. It's always something.

But the medical devices this year was, that was kind of a topper in my career. Of all the surprises I was expecting that one, that was the one I thought was gonna be my easy one. my, you know. No problem. No problem with a problem. You know, there's always something. Yeah. 

Kush : Yeah. It's interesting, you know?

Absolutely. No, that's crazy that, like, the challenge begins for these trips, mean, you think you've arrived safely at your destination with like all your, all your supplies and just to kind of, yeah. To count them and they're 

Loree: there. That's, [01:06:00] yeah. You haven't made it yet.

Kush : Laurie. Shifting gears a little bit, uh, love to. Talk a little bit about your life as an athlete. Yeah. And from what I can gather, you, you have focused on triathlons for a long time and you've excelled at them. Can you speak a little bit more about what your, uh, calling has been and how did you end up, uh, focusing on these types of events which combine running, swimming, and cycling and Yeah.

That's become your focus. 

Loree: Yeah. Uh, well, I started out basically, I was a runner for a long time. I, I started, um, you know, more than 50 years ago doing marathons. And I've done a lot of marathons. I don't, I don't need to know how many. 35 or 40 probably. [01:07:00] and I love adventure travel, so, I kind of, I've kind of grown in tri to triathlon.

I, I was a runner first, and did a marathon in every continent, which was, um, one of my lovely ways to see the world by foot. Um, so I went, you know, Antarctica, Kenya, Myanmar, Athens, Greece. I did, I did every single se, seven of them. and the one in the US I, I'm counting, I did a lot, but I'm just counting Bostons for those.

that was a great way to see the world and, and do running. when I got to be about. I don't know, 45 to 50. My, I developed osteoarthritis in my knees, not necessarily from running. I wanna point that out. That's just kind of, um, is a, a familial trait. but I've negotiated around that. I've found, um, great ways to negotiate around that.

[01:08:00] through strength training and PT and, um, watching my weight and, and PRP injections and, um, a lot of different modalities in that realm. but I was very intrigued about triathlon because I, I was a swimmer as a kid. I loved to ride my bike, but had never really competed in biking or, or swimming. But I started out and did a half iron for my first one and just loved it.

I just had a blast looked at these people that were doing Iron Man and thought, oh, that's like, I can't even get my head wrapped around it. I can't even imagine that. And. Went to watch one. and I was just intrigued by the challenge. And so I started doing, um, triathlon. I was profit. I was, uh, 50 when I did my first triathlon.

So I kind of, I started late. I'm a late bloomer. but I did that, I guess I'm oriented on birthdays because I did that for my fir [01:09:00] 50th birthday party. That was my, my first Ironman was that. and then I, I've done, I think I've done 11 now. but gotten to see the world again, by swimming, biking, and running.

But I like all the sports I've, I've gone on, um, open water swim trips to the Galapagos. that was beautiful at a, you know, an island in, uh, the Philippines. Also in, well, Hawaii a lot. I just really like open water for swimming. I like that. I, I didn't learning to love the pool, but I really like open water swimming.

and I'd been on bike trips with friends to Croatia and France and different places, seeing the world by bike. So I thought, you know, this, this kind of puts it all together and it, it gave me structure to the, to my other things I was doing. so that's how I got into Ironman. and this one, I, I thought I was done when I was about, about five years ago.

I thought I was probably done because my knees [01:10:00] were not very happy. But, then I thought, I really have fun doing them. I'm not doing them. I have fun doing them, but it's like peel the layers of an onion off to, to go through every stage. 'cause you start at sunrise and you end, for me it's sunset.

I'm like a, my very best time is like 1320 or something. And my normal time these days is more like 15, 20. So, you know, I'm not fast. I'm out there all day, all day if it takes an all day thing. so, but I thought, you know, I think I'll, for my 70th birthday, I wanna just get one more in. So I did one my birthday this year and I won so back to Hawaii.

So this would be my third time to Hawaii. but I'm really excited. It's gonna be the last all women's field. I like, I love racing in Kona. Just the, just the, the feeling of the islands. I love, Uh, the course is really challenging I've been focused on [01:11:00] that, for the last few months, but I love, I love all kinds of sports.

Kush : yeah. but I think there is some mystique about the Ironman. Uh, there's some allure about it, which I think draws people. I mean, it, it seems so daunting. It's as an event. Could you, yeah, maybe for those of us who don't understand the, the Ironman completely, what is an Ironman? 

Loree: So Ironman is a, 2.4 mile swim.

it could be wetsuit or non wetsuit, depends on the water temperature. if it's, I'm not, I think it's 72 degrees, you can't wear it. Or higher. You can't wear a wetsuit. I might be wrong about that one audience. so 2.4 miles of swimming, and then 112 mile bike and then a 26.2 mile run. So, and it's all done in one go.

[01:12:00] Um, your timing between events is, counts. And to, finish you have to complete in 17 hours or under. If you come in in 17 hours in one second, you didn't finish well, you finish, but you didn't, you don't get the medal. so it, it, it is daunting and um, nutrition is a huge part of that event. And endurance training leading up to it and staying, keeping your body in good working order through all the training is a real challenge.

And, you know, I have to say, It's challenging as an older woman because you've got the aging thing, plus you've got the menopause thing and physiological changes that happen around your fifties. And that period of life is just when I began this, trek. so you really have to pay attention.

and I guess I could just can't overemphasize strength training to, for women especially to keep, um, their bodies [01:13:00] in, our physiology doesn't, doesn't want us to get stronger, so you have to really keep reminding it to, continue to maintain and build muscle mass.

Kush : The idea of doing all of those events back to back. Yeah. And, and doing that, you know, to be honest, at a time when most people at the age of 70 are, I guess satisfied with being able to go for a long walk and being able to just, just, just complete their daily activities

without hindrance, without pain.

Do you have a group of people, Laurie, your age? Like is there like a, a just this super superhuman group of, uh, athletes that you, uh, you trained with or, uh, yeah. How, how are you? 

Loree: No, there isn't. Um, I think I, you know, I did have a super group, They, They've con a lot of people have gotten [01:14:00] injuries through the years. So my, my peer group, I don't have any peers. I do most of my training is by myself for this goal. I, I ride my bike with my husband. I have a running friend, who by the way is 80, so she's not running at the moment, but we've been, we've run lots of miles together.

And, uh, a gentleman that I ran with for years and years and years is gonna be having his 75th or 76th birthday coming up. And he is back to just golfing now. But I've spent many, many, many, many hours running with him. but I don't have a group. And so that's, you know, I have my friends in the pool lanes that I chit chat with.

but in a way it's almost, I'm. I might be misleading myself. 'cause I love, I love training with people. It just, with my schedule, it doesn't work out that well to connect with others for the same thing, for the same race. you know, to get your training times lined up. But in one way, the solo time is great [01:15:00] because the event itself is on your own.

So it's not like I've spent all these hours, um, distracted by other conversation or other issues or drafting behind someone or doing any of those kinds of things. It's all been individual effort with my training. And so what I'm saying to myself for this one, that's okay. You're training your brain and you're getting a lot of good thinking in Lori.

So just, suck it up. enjoy the moment. 

Kush : Absolutely. And I mean, working out with people makes things usually more enjoyable. If nothing else, there's that peer pressure that you have to, you get your ass outta bed and be at the pool or, on the trail at 5:00 AM because somebody out there is waiting for you.

But on the flip side, you know, when you're doing a triathlon, uh, I think ultimately you are kind of competing with yourself, maybe trying to be the best version of yourself. So maybe [01:16:00] working out, uh, by yourself does have that advantage because you have to be competing with yourself when you are at the actual event.

Just to get an idea of, you know, just how one prepares for these kinds of, like, herculean like distances in one for an element, can you. Paint us a picture of, let's say one training week Yeah. That you had leading up to the Ironman this year that you completed. 

Loree: Oh, yeah. so I, I, I'm coached, I, I did a, uh, uh, USAE triathlon Level one coaching certification, which taught me enough that I want, I can't coach myself.

I have a really good coach. I curse, I coach with Endure iq. And I guess if I have a training partner, it's that, I've got a coach that gives me workouts, I get 'em on training [01:17:00] peaks, and I know what my workout's gonna be for at least a week in advance. And my, like you said, showing up for somebody at the Trailhead.

I, I have to make my training box go green. You know, when I, when when I download my work workout, it changes color. And if I look at my, at my back on my day, if it's like Wednesday and I look back and there's like something that's still yellow, you know, it's like, oops, you know, let's go for the greens. You know, I don't, I don't like to see yellow.

That means you didn't do it, or, or you did, did less of it or something. Minor greens. I'm not sure if they yellow or red, but, so that's the, that's the, it's not the power of two, like meeting a friend at the trailhead. But I do have some, some daily feedback of how to meet to ma to measure myself.

And I do three swims a week. [01:18:00] I do, depending four to five bikes, say four, and then I do for sure three runs a week, three or four. And they're different distances. So I'll usually have one longer swim. Um, like now it's about 4,000 yards for the longer swim and two shorter ones that are about 2,700 or something like that.

And my bike, my long bike is right now a hilly four hour bike, with a runoff for about half an hour. So runoff means you run off the bike, you practice that because it's very, I don't know what that feeling is, but it feels like your legs are stuck in mud to start running right after you get off the bike.

It's the weirdest sensation, so it's good to practice that piece. After about 20 minutes, your, your legs kind of warm up and you can get back at it. As much as it's possible in that moment in time. .

And my [01:19:00] coach has been very cognizant of my knees in all my trainees because, it's, the osteoarthritis is really kind of the pits. You can't do much about it. It's not like you can get, you know, other than knee replacements. And I don't wanna do that because I don't, I wanna keep running and I'm really, actually, knock on wood, I'm not having any knee pain right now.

I'm well into my training for this event. So I'm hopeful that, that's happening. The other thing that I do is I do strength coach train with a coach twice a week, and I've been doing that for 20 years. So, um, that's my, that keeps me ready to go for most things, whether it's, you know, river rafting or kayaking or triathlons.

for example, this week, yeah. Last week it was 17 hours. This week it's 20, but I'm in my build up to an event. It's not always that many hours. About 11 to 12 is kind of the sweet spot to maintain. 

Kush : that is kind of like a full-time job, [01:20:00] so Yeah. Yeah, 

Loree: it is. 

Kush : Retirement is, uh, I, I don't know.

It's, I feel it's, it's an outdated term. One just moves from like one vocation to the other. And you, you have like these, yeah, you have like multiple things that you're, you, you're doing, you know, here's something funny that I was thinking like, I'm 47 now and I think I'm, I think that the point where I think soon I will probably start needing like more physical exams and whatnot.

And you are 70, and I'm guessing, you know, you are visiting like your, your physician maybe for your annual or biannual or whatnot, checkup. I mean, you're a doctor yourself yeah. I'm just wondering like how, maybe there's a, there's a, there's a moment of like, uh, levity when, you know, they talk about like, are you doing your minimum amount of physical [01:21:00] activity or, I mean, they're looking at your blood mark as like, I'm just.

Loree: I know, I know. So, so now that I have social security, you have, you have to go in for your annual exam and there's a intake on there and it has all these questions like, have you fallen? And I'm thinking, well, I just fell on my bike. What they mean? Have you fallen in your house? The question is, have you fallen?

Have you fallen? Can you do stairs? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I always fall, but I mean, it's, you know, it's 'cause I trip trail running or something. but, you know, can you do stairs? It is basic questions that they, sure they're asking and it's just like, it, it makes you, it keeps you cognizant that, you know, you're really fortunate, to have your body, uh, take the ride with you because other people, my peers, don't, you know, answer differently to some of these very basic questions.

Um, they have to be on there, it [01:22:00] happens. And that's how you kept keep track. I'm, you know, also the age where you, where you do the, the mental, test to, to screen for Alzheimer's. You have to. 

Kush : Yep. 

Loree: You haven't probably had that yet. It's, it's just, it's funny when, when, when you turn that page and it's just like, oh my goodness.

Let's see. it, it's surprise. It's a surprise. 'cause I still feel like I'm 16, so. 

Kush : No, that's, that's incredible. I, I do feel like maybe, maybe they set the bar kind of low as well, like in general in this country. Well, they have to capture 

Loree: everybody. Yeah, yeah, 

Kush : yeah.

You know, you are doing, I'm, I'm guessing that people. Not just your age, but my age as well. Like they can't even comprehend the, the work that it takes and the, the effort that it takes. But then even for you, like you've, how many have you done so far? Of Ironman? Yeah, I've done, I've finished 11. You've [01:23:00] finished 11.

Iron Man, iron Man events. Just finishing one is a lifetime achievement. And I'd love for you to take us maybe to this event for a second mm-hmm. This year that you completed after your 70th and, you train hard, you are, planned, you have all the experience, but I'm, I'm guessing it still is, a difficult event.

Was there a moment, uh, point during the event where. You felt like you would give up just because it became that difficult, but you found the strength somewhere to persevere.

Loree: it doesn't matter. I've, if I've done one or if I've done 10, Ironman is terrifying to, to think of.

Even though you know you've done it and you've done it multiple times, it, it doesn't [01:24:00] change the, the angst that you feel because no one ever knows how they're gonna feel on that day. Um, you never know what will come up because something always comes up that you need to deal with. It, it just, you just don't, it's always a surprise.

how I get get around it is it, visualization of a, of a race helps me just to walk through things. that helps a great deal. But even with, with all the things you can do to prepare and train, and people say, you can do this, you can do this. And you say to yourself, I can do this. I can do this. still race morning.

I just wanna either, I'd rather go in front of a firing squad. Seriously, I, I get that. And I just really have to breathe and be by myself and, maybe encourage somebody else if, but I'm not, I'm not a chatter talker. I'm more of a keep to myself quiet type person. So I don't go out of my way to talk to people.

I [01:25:00] try to find a quiet place and just get myself ready for the morning and plan everything out. And, my nutrition and just my mindset. once the gun goes off, all that goes away, then you're just in the moment and, and you're totally immersed in the activity. I, I do have that peace of mind of knowing that even though I would like to be in front of a firing squad now in three minutes, I'll be fine.

I won't want the firing squad. 

Kush : So the anticipation is almost worse than the Oh, 

Loree: it is, it is totally. Once that's over, it's just like, hallelujah. You know, look, get the party started, you know, coming, uh, Corona. It's, it's a very challenging course for the heat, the humidity, those things are challenging.

The, the bike ride is really tough 'cause you've got headwinds and crosswinds, so bike handling is challenging. there's a hill called going up to the town of [01:26:00] Javi that's, uh, it's like 15 miles of riding and it's, it's a hill. It's, it's serious. It's, it's a little bit rolly. There's, I think I've counted them.

I count four to five hills, depending on what you count. but so you get a little bit of a breather. It's not one long it incline, it's, it's some rollers, but they're significant. and then coming down, although you think, oh, 15 miles down, that's great. There's crosswinds. So, um, bike handling is a challenge.

just being in the saddle that long is my, is my challenge. You know, 12, 112 miles. for me as I'm not, I wasn't a biker first. I was a biker last, that's something. And I, and I'm always very cognizant about my knees. the last Ironman I did, I thought I was just doing awesome. And then the first part of the run was on reinforced concrete, and I took about 20 steps and my knees were just, I, I was done.

And [01:27:00] I ended up race walking. The entire marathon. I tried to run when I could and to give it a go, and I couldn't. So I allowed myself that I could not walk slower than 14 and a half minute miles, which is a pretty good clip for a walk. Very slow for a run. but I was able to maintain it and, and that, that was a moment where I was just going, why am I, why am I doing this?

but, there were only two other women in my aid group at that race, and I was ahead of them. I, I wasn't, I didn't know anywhere. They were, they were, but I knew they weren't in front of me. it turns out they didn't finish, but I didn't know that. that gave me the, that competitive spirit just, you know, keep on motoring.

If they, if they come up behind you, then just don't let 'em go. You won't let 'em go. that was kind of a, I wasn't expecting my knees to hurt that bad, so that was, you know, that's not something you can fix [01:28:00] like a flat tire, So, um, that was a challenge. So I guess I always had that kind of noodling in the back of my mind.

I don't know what my knees will do, but I'm just, I just, I'm, I compete against myself do my best job. Sure. Just be out there, do my best job.

Kush : Lori, you obviously have some gifts, you know, but you also, you've also honed them over the years, you've put in like these decades of, uh, hard work on the pool and the track and the trail and like, looks like you've had your share of injuries. Mm-hmm. And, What some people might say, just career ending events, like talked about your knees.

So Yeah, like I think many of us get injured, right? And we are like, okay, this is the, uh, end of our running or our climbing careers. But you've kind of found ways around it. maybe about your knees, like, yeah, I guess osteoarthritis is real and as we get older, yeah, we get [01:29:00] affected by these things and people tell us to like shift our activities, you know, go cycling instead.

But I can't tell you how many Yeah. Continue on. Yeah. 

Loree: I can't tell you how many times I've, um, been told by physicians that, you know, you won't run again. I mean, way too many to count. I, my goodness, I was climbing. Um, it goes back to the injuries. They add up over a, a life of adventure sport. So I've had two serious bike crashes where I totally separated my shoulder.

So I don't, yeah, I don't have ligaments in my shoulder. So I that, I mean that the whole thing of swimming and, and powering through, I had to really work on my, on my muscular strength to regain that. I crashed my face, broke my orbit of my eye. I was, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. And, the day before summit, I just stepped down this little step, rolled my [01:30:00] ankle and broke all three bones in my, in my ankle compound fracture.

Yeah. So, and I was by myself in Tanzania. well, not by myself. I was, I was, I was with, um, guides. so I did have to rehab for, from that, which was very significant 'cause I've got a big plate in my ankle, like nine inches and all these screws and stuff. But great story though, because when I was coming down, you have to keep things in perspective.

The guys took me down piggyback. So I was doing a plank, you know, with my elbows on their shoulders and my hips runned around the hips. I taped my foot up with a table knife and put my hiking boot back on because I was really trying to fake them that I could still summit 'cause I didn't wanna get that far and knot, but there was no way around it.

So they carried me down piggyback. And they weren't on the trail. They bush [01:31:00] whacked down so they were sliding. And so I was on their, on their hips taking them and then they'd say, I'd say, you know, you guys rest. 'cause they were kind of, you know, like four of 'em were cycling through, carrying me. I said, you rest, rest.

And they'd go, looked like endurance. They go rest easy mama, rest easy. you are good. And they, they, they had testosterone going, so each one wanted to carry me farther than the next. So they trailed me, they carried me down to a trail stretcher, and then I still had my flashlights. So one of them ran like 10 miles longer with a flashlight in his mouth through the trees to get me a va, you know, to a ambulance.

But, you know, it, I think back on things like that. I may be running now and it may be long in my day, but I am not carrying a woman on my back. Bushwhacking, sliding through, rubble down Kilimanjaro with this tourist, [01:32:00] clinging, telling me to stop. they didn't stop. Why would I stop? So it's just these, these things just kind of come into your mind, these events that occur, that make you go, wow, if I, if I can do this, if they could do that, I got this.

You just have to roll back to those memories. And we all have 'em, you, they just, it's funny whether you, you hide 'em sometimes from yourself and then they, they just pop up when you're like least expecting it and most need it. But it's, it's a daunting event, but it's, it's a good one. 

Kush : that made me think back, that made me smile and that made me think back to, you know, some of my early years doing, um, some monitoring in the Himalayas.

Mm-hmm. And even, even while just hiking, maybe after a day of, after a long day, like you're struggling with like your backpack trying to go up this trail and you get passed by a couple of. Honestly, grandmas. Yeah. Carrying like, [01:33:00] I don't know, carrying what looks like a hundred pounds and these baskets strapped around their neck.

Yeah. And wearing these ratty flip flops. 

Loree: Yeah. 

Kush : And that, that really does put things in perspective. Yeah. We we're doing these things for fun 

Loree: and you, and they're, they're, they're carrying stuff for, for the family. 

Kush : Yeah. Amazing. Lori, you have been, yeah. You've been competing and traveling for a long time. any general words on how you keep yourself just strong and healthy and, and excited to keep doing hard things.

Loree: Hmm. I always have like a, a, a, a a thing ahead that I want to do. I have, lots of things on my to-do list that I want to do. I kind of ponder about, where, what I wanna do and where I want to do them. So I always kind of [01:34:00] have some things on my calendar that, I'm kind of nibbling around that are, are interesting to me.

And I, and I am very open to letting, people know that I do something different. Like, like I love whitewater rafting, so I was invited to be on a private trip and we had a two woman raft boat for three weeks down the Colorado. love to do more things like that, that still require a lot of endurance because you're rowing.

well the last time I did it, I stronger. With my back so I could row backwards, but you should row forward to, to row into a rapid. I would like, that's, that's one of my things. I would like to do that again and, and be able to have more confidence to, and strength to be able to row forward rather than have to spin and, and take a rapid backwards.

I just kind of, things like that, that, and that means I have to keep strength training and I have to keep, you know, keep poor [01:35:00] fitness and it doesn't always have to be swim, bike, run. I'm, I'm open to do, you know, other, other activities that are, great scenes, so, and I love the Himalaya.

I did the, the Himalaya 100, which is a five day stage race. Yeah, and amazing opportunity to see, to see the, you know, four of the five major peaks, and I'd like to do some trekking up that direction as well. there's just so many things to, to see that, that don't involve racing per se. but just, or, or intriguing, um, physical things that I am thinking of doing.

Kush : Goals and trips are so important, right? Like, yeah, yeah, that's, yeah, sometimes because yeah, if you just vaguely try to, nobody would put in like 20 hours of training a week. Like you can't get people do that. No, 

Loree: no. 

Kush : But the moment you attach like some adventure in front of that, like, it just seems to simplify things and it [01:36:00] makes sense.

Loree: Exactly. 

Kush : Lori? in, in some way that is also a hack, I think, to staying fit is to find a goal, you know, and that allows us to stay focused. Any other maybe, just things you've learned over time, any, any tactics with, let's say again, with either with, your mindset or, or exercise or maybe even even nutrition on things that have helped you and maybe stopped doing things that were not helping you?

Loree: Right. my nutrition has has, I've been pretty much vegetarian since I've been 17. I, I was a really ahead of the curve. It's been over 50 years since I've had red meat, and that was by forest, by my parents. We children in China hungry. So I have a plant, basically plant-based, but what I have changed is I'm doing less carbohydrates now and more healthy fats.

So I [01:37:00] am shifting that. I was having very challenging issues with, uh, GI distress in my runs. And, I have not now I've stopped taking, much glucose fructose at all. I mean, I at all, and I, my GI distress is gone. So that's one major thing in my, my training fields. I've changed my training fields around, my diet.

I, I struggle to get protein in, so I do protein powder, um, mixed in with things. and I look to try to get a protein on each, like whether it's peanut butter or yogurt or tofu or I eat fish, I do eat fish and I eat eggs. so I'm not complete vegetarian. but it is protein is, is a challenge for me.

And I, I, I forget to eat. I totally can get going on something, get involved to a project, and I, my husband will say, have you eaten? I forgot again. so that's not good. but, so that's about my [01:38:00] diet and nutrition. I'm, something always happens where, you know, nutrition falls apart during a raise at some point, and I know that, but I, but I feel like I've had enough go wrong that I can deal with it.

I'm, I don't worry about it. it's just one of those facts of life in racing, and training sometimes too, I don't know, see my life. No, I just kind of stay on course and, take one step in front of the other. I'm big on mantras. my favorite mantra to myself is continually repeat strength, power focus, go.

And then sometimes I vary it up. Strength, power, focus, go strength, power focus, go. You know, I, I keep doing that. I have another one that is, smooth is because it goes really good with bike cycling. Smooth is silk, puff as nails, smooth is silk puff as nails. So that reminds me of my form and to me, maintain strong [01:39:00] stay arrow.

and then, you know, different things that come up sometimes that you just wanna continually say to yourself. so mantras, I'm a, I'm a fan of mantras.

Kush : Laurie, I love everything you said. in particular, the part about your diet, my diet is similar to yours. I'm mostly vegan with eggs and some seafood. Mm-hmm. And, uh, yes, it's sometimes feels like one is fighting an apple battle, you know? Yeah. 'cause most people around us are, consuming, meat products.

So It is absolutely. Yeah. Just, great to hear that you are able to do all the amazing things you do. Yeah. And, and maybe even thrive. Maybe even thrive because of, uh, maybe just the type of diet that you have fun for yourself. I know we are almost at time just to. Couple of final questions. If [01:40:00] you can stay on, 

Loree: I can.

Kush : I like to call it the, the ageless, ageless section of the podcast. Yeah. Yeah. So, do you think your best years are, I had a few Or behind you? 

Loree: I've always thought my best year was where I'm at. I would've, no, I mean, I, like for now, I love being a grandmother.

it's just amazing. Last year, this time I was not a grandmother this year. Wow. I'm a grandmother. Yeah. And so things just kind of keep getting better. we never know the future.

I, I think because, because I don't imagine doing what I'm doing in a decade's time, what I did a decade ago. But I imagine doing something really incredible. Some, you know, really long, interesting walks, different across the planet to see other places I haven't seen that I haven't had time to, to do before because I was [01:41:00] training.

It opens the opportunity for all kinds of places to go swimming, all kinds of places to go, trekking that, um, haven't fit in with the swim bike run rigor because there is a rigor to that. You know, it's, it's, uh, and, and, you know, really seriously, you lose two weeks, you've really lost a lot. and that'll be kind of a relief not to have that angst about losing fitness.

so that, that's my future. So I think that's a good thing. And the history was a good thing. I love today. 

Kush : Beautiful. What might be one habit, even if it seems mundane, that you practice every day that gives you disproportionate joy? Disproportionate. 

Loree: Let's see. Things I practice every day. I think it's small things to know that, like I make my bed [01:42:00] every day.

I get up, I make my bed, I don't leave my clothes on the floor in my closet. I read somewhere that if, if you can, if you can get something done in a minute, just do it. So I, I put my clothes away right away. Same with laundry. but disproportionate joy. I think seeing. Seeing my family grow up, seeing my granddaughter grow up, gives me disproportionate joy. I look forward to being able to enrich those lives in, in a special way. As a grandmother, you know, I have a different relationship with my son now that he's a father. I love watching him, father.

Um, it's just, uh, that's my joy when I look at my little picture of my granddaughter, that is disproportionate joy to me right now. and you know, this thing about fitness, I, there's no way I'm not gonna go, you know, downhill skiing with her or, go out water skiing or, you know, hang out with her on the water.

I wanna be fit to be able to do all those things, [01:43:00] so that when she's 10 I'll be 80 and I still wanna do all that stuff. you know, I'm prepping. I'm prepping for my next gig. 

Kush : Love it. Love it. Yes. And, and then finally, if there was a billboard on the side of a highway, a major highway in Seattle, and you could write anything you wanted for the world to, to see, what do you think it would say?

Loree: Be here now. 

Kush : Be here now. Perfect. Perfect.