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UjENA FIT Club Running Interviews and articles with 100 Interesting People

Best Road Races and the UjENA FIT Club is speaking with 100 people who we feel have a lot to say about running, racing and fitness  We will give you background information as will as their insights into the future.  Be sure to post your feedback and comments.

Read All UjENA FIT Club Running Interviews

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The sport of Double Racing is about ready to Take Off!
Posted Thursday, February 19th, 2015
by Bob Anderson, publisher of Double Runner magazine (Photo Bob Anderson with world record holder Julius Koskei wearing the yellow... Read Interview
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2013 Ujena Fit Club Male Runner of the Year
Posted Monday, March 17th, 2014
The Chris Jones story is a running saga of epic proportions.  Don't try this at home! (Photo - Leadville 100... Read Interview
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Sharon Vos: Three in a Row
Posted Sunday, March 23rd, 2014
Aging ever so gracefully at age 59 and forging a career record that becomes ever more impressive, Sharon Vos is... Read Interview
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Julius Koskei: All In the Family
Posted Tuesday, November 5th, 2013
 By David Prokop Editor Best Road RacesJulius Koskei (pronounced Kos-kay), who set the current world record in the Double Road... Read Interview

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Jodi LaBossiere - Interview No. 6
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
My Friends call me an Ageless Freak
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Jodi at age 42 is the fastest Ujena model currently.  She is originally from Winnipeg, Canada, but migrated to California in 2004 to continue her modeling career. In 2005 Jodi was signed on with a Skin Care company as a spokes model, but upon finding out about her education they offered her a sales position. 

Eight years later Jodi is not only the TV Shopping Channel personality for the company, she is also VP of Sales. It isn’t uncommon for Jodi to be in the office at 4:30 am and then catch a 7:00 am flight to do live shows for 24 hours in a row on the shopping channel, and head right back to the office to take care of business.

Although she is busy, Jodi finds time to do what she loves! In 2011 she reconnected with her friends at Ujena Swimwear and caught the running bug again. Putting in an average of 20-25 miles a week Jodi is quickly getting her legs back and her goal is to become a national class runner for her age group.

In 2012 Jodi is also throwing her hand into the author ring as she has agreed to write a book about anti-aging, and how to look younger then you are. She is also looking forward to running more races in 2012 including the three Bob Anderson’s 15K challenges at the Ujena Jam events in Mexico.

It is a pleasure working with Jodi and having a running mate at our Ujena Jams.  She has tons of ability as a runner, business woman and model.  Plus she has a great personality and is fun to be around.  (Interview by Bob Anderson)

1.Are you a runner or a jogger?
I am a runner! I never understood why people “Jog”!

2. How many miles are you currently running weekly?
Currently I am running 20-25 miles a week. I do at least a 5K daily and one 10K. I am working on upping my daily minimum to 4 miles and at least 2 10K's weekly which will take me to more the 30 miles a week.

3. How often do you run races?
In 2011 I ran eight races. I really enjoyed it, and I am going to try to average at least one a month in 2012.

4. At forty two you still look great in a Ujena bikini. Do you just wake up and look this way or what are you doing?
I wish I could wake up looking this way! I am sad to report that there is no quick fix, and it does take an effort on my part. As I mentioned before, I run 30 miles a week (my goal is to do 40 a week). In addition to this I work out with weights 3-5 times a week (very important for us gals over 40 – Muscle mass burns more calories, and creates bone density what I do now will make it less likely to fall prey to a broken hip or osteoporosis in my 60’s and 70’s). I also really do watch what I eat.

5. How do you feel modeling swimwear?
I love it! Especially Ujena! I have been wearing Ujena since I was 18 years old! Although the styles I choose now may be different from the 18 year old Jodi I still feel Super Sexy!

PHOTO: Jodi was the first model to finish the Bob Anderson 15k Challenge in Cabo held Oct 22, 2011.  She ran 48:27 10k at 7:30am and then 24:29 5k at 9:00am for a total time of 1:12:56.  She is hoping to beat this in Cancun March 3.  photo by Addison Fitzgerald for UjENA FIT Club

6. You hold the model record for the Bob Anderson 15k Challenge. Your time continues to improve. Tell us about this.
I showed up in Cancun last year not having really run in a few years. I didn’t think I could even do the 5K, but Bob immediately said “You’re doing the 15K challenge right?” I don’t know why I said yes, but I did it! Not only did I finish it, but I broke the standing record by 15 or 16 minutes (I think). That got my passion for running renewed, and I started to actually train! In June I beat my time by 6 minutes, and by October, I was down another 11 minutes, and had the fastest time in the 10K and 5K as well! Now I am going for the overall win in the 40 and over age group!  [In this event runners first run 10k at 7:30am and then 5k at 9:00am - times are added together for scoring.]

7. Do you do anything special with your diet?
Yes, I have Celiac disease, and allergies to just about everything else. I am a frustrated foodie!! I have to question EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. However, I eat a lot! I have no problem ordering the 12oz New York Strip with a family size order of steamed asparagus at a restaurant, it just comes without butter or sauce (as natured intended). Once you get used to it you just can’t imagine it any other way.

8. What do your family and friends think about you still being a bikini model?
On my last birthday one of my friends called me an Ageless Freak, but they all think it is awesome!

9. A lot of models don't like to tell people their real age but you don't seem to have a problem with this?
No I don’t! I am proud of my age (42)! I am so tired of models lying about their age thing! I’m also tired of people saying she looks good for “her age."  The truth is there are so many gorgeous women over 40 who just look GOOD period (and better than many women half their age)! I am not going to apologize for getting older. It’s a process, and I am enjoying it!

10. How do you fit running into your busy life?
I just do! Travel a lot for work, and if I am not traveling I have odd hours. I just fit it in if it means getting up earlier or staying up later I do. I have also embraced the run fast theory! I am trying to get my 5K down to 20 minutes and who doesn’t have at least 20 minutes a day to do something?

Comments and Feedback
run Jodi you are one busy woman...and you are still able to get in 25 miles per week. Love the interview!!!
Bob Anderson 1/17/12 10:12 pm
,,,,,


11. You are the VP of Sales for a Skin Care Manufacturing company. Tell us about this?
Yes, I am! It is a hard job. I reap what I sew. I deal with clients from all over the world like: Japan, Canada, Turkey, and Australia! I am also an on air person on the Shopping Channels. It is crazy! Some days I am up at 3:00 in the morning to talk to people in Japan, other days I am flying off to Canada in the Middle of January for a meeting. The hardest thing is the Shopping Channels. There have been days where I have been on air every hour for 24 hours! The last time I had to do that I was so punch drunk I was literally telling people to buy it now and thank me later… and they did!

12. Have you set any running goals for the future?
Yes! I want to become a national class runner for my age group! The good news is the times get slower with age.

13. How important is running for you?
Running is very important to me! Running is the one exercise that I have done on and off my entire life (more on), and it is the exercise I can continue to do for many years! I think it really keeps you looking and feeling younger. It is easy to do. You don’t need anything outrageously expensive to do it, and you don’t have to join a gym! It is the perfect sport for everyone.

14. Does your family run?
Lately my family has gotten back into it. My man took notice of how I was doing and he decided to start up again. We do a couple of runs a week together now, and I hope it will be more soon

15. What advice to you have for someone just starting in running?
Don’t give up! It is like anything else, the more you doing it the better you get! I took almost 20 minutes off my 15K in just 7 months, and lost about 14 pounds in the process… GO FO IT!!

16. Do you run with a watch and time your workouts? Why?
Yes, I do! I am constantly trying to run faster. Wearing a watch is key to monitoring my pace.

17. Do you do anything special in getting ready for a race?
I try to get my miles in. That is the most important. I do try and push my speed! Someone (Bob Anderson) told me in order to run faster, you have to run faster!

18. You were one of the founders of the UjENA FIT Club...how important do you think this venture will become?
I think the Ujena Fit Club will become extremely important! Many programs out there set people up for failure. I love a lot of the latest and greatest workouts, but even the beginner level is too much for most, and that just leaves people frustrated, and they end up quitting! The Ujena Fit Club is here to help everyone GO FOR IT!! It doesn’t matter if you walk a mile, or run a marathon, the Ujena Fit Club is here to help and inspire everyone who needs it!

19. A lot of younger bikini models don't seem to even workout...do you think this trend is changing?
Many younger models are - let’s face it – Built that way. They are naturally very slim and have never had to work out a day in their life. It is genetics. They think the ride will never end, and they will never have to do anything to maintain their current weight. Reality slaps you in the face around 25 (Oddly enough when most models careers are over)!

That is why the Ujena Jams are so great! Ujena requires all models to complete at least the 5K run/walk at all events. A model’s first Jam can be quite an eye opener. Many models can’t even run a 5K! After the Ujena Jam you always see one or two models start to share about how their running is coming along for the next Jam. I love that! In fact I think this last Jam we had the largest number of models sign up for the 15K ever!

20. Do you think the public understand what it takes to be a bikini model?
Noooo…. It really does take some serious discipline to be a bikini model! Especially to do it for many years! You constantly have to watch what you eat and exercise daily. Being in shape goes beyond looking good! In Puerto Vallarta I had to walk a half a mile straight up to get to a location, and we had to take a small water taxi out in the ocean to get there! If you aren’t in excellent physical condition you simply won’t cut it.

PHOTOS: Beach shots taken at the Ujena Jam Cabo during one of four photo tours.  Photo by Bob Anderson for UjENA FIT Club 

21. When did you first start modeling bikinis and why?
I entered a local model search on a dare, and walked away with the title, and a new Jeep YJ! From there I got to go the Miss Swimwear Illustrated International Model Search in San Francisco, CA. This is where I met Bob Anderson, and the rest is as they say history!

22. What other interests do you have?
I love to spend time with my family, golf, read, cook, and I am a wine enthusiast! I also, like to write, and I am working on book about anti-aging. I enjoy my little dog Pom Ollie, and taking him to classes, and making him wear little outfits (so wrong…)

23. What set Ujena apart from other swimwear companies?
I started buying Ujena Swimwear in my teens. At 42 I still buy Ujena, because they continue to offer a wide variety of styles for all ages! They keep their styles current, and age appropriate! I feel as sexy in a Ujena suit today as I did 20 years ago!

24. Do you think Bob Anderson is going to achieve his goal of running 50 races in 2012?

HA! I think Bob will throw a couple of more in there for good measure! He’ll be banking races!  We needed to run 30 miles [since Bob always runs at least 30 miles per week] our week in Cabo at the Ujean Jam, and we ended up doing 44! Bob the Energizer keeps going and going and going…

For additional information -
UjENA FIT Club Profile link: Jodi LaBossiere

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Double Road Race