Team Member Spotlight

If there’s one thing Lisa Mazur knows how to do, it’s how to motivate others — whether it’s on the soccer field, the track, or out on the race course. The retired coach and teacher from Austin, Texas, has spent her life leading, inspiring, and competing — and for the past 11 years, she’s been doing it with the Texas Beef Team.

A lifelong athlete, Lisa brings the same grit and energy she once shared with her students and players to every start line. “Honestly — I started running to stay healthy, stay competitive, and stay just a little crazy,” she laughs. “Running keeps me grounded, challenges me, and gives me that perfect mix of sweat, sanity, and endorphins.”

Before her running shoes hit the pavement repping Texas Beef Team, Lisa was making history in other arenas. A college athlete in both soccer and basketball, she later coached a varsity girls’ soccer team to the state tournament three times in four years, earning Coach of the Year in San Antonio for each of those years. And when it came to breaking barriers, Lisa became one of the first female football kicking coaches in Texas, inspired by her family’s deep football roots.

“Football is in my blood,” she says proudly. “My Uncle John Mazur was the quarterback for the 1949 National Championship Team at Notre Dame and the first head football coach for the New England Patriots. Keeping it in the family, I was inspired to become one of the first female football kicking coaches in Texas for the San Marcos Rattlers.”

Over the years, Lisa has racked up over 380 races, including 9 marathons, 6 triathlons, and a growing list of cycling events. Her proudest running moment? Earning her Boston Qualifying time of 3:50:02 at the Walt Disney World Marathon. “Every mile truly was magical,” she recalls. She also holds a half marathon PR of 1:40:38 from the Illumination Half — “one of those races where everything just clicks.”

Now, Lisa’s channeling her competitive drive into the triathlon and cycling world. “With an aging body and a couple of stubborn knees, I’m transitioning from only running into triathlons,” she explains. “I’ve quickly fallen in love with cycling. I’m currently pursuing criterium racing — it’s a fresh chapter in my endurance journey, and I’m embracing every pedal stroke along the way.”

Lisa joined the Texas Beef Team in 2013 and has been a proud ambassador for beef and healthy living. “Honestly, my favorite Beef Team memory is anytime I hear someone cheering for me by name,” she says. “The support from Beef Team members — whether at water stops, the finish line, or cheer stations along the course — that encouragement and camaraderie make every mile feel a little easier and every race a lot more special.”

And when she’s not racing, she loves the team’s famous retreats. “What more could you ask for? Pool time, cocktails, friends, and incredible food — sizzling steaks, juicy burgers, and every beef bite in between. Sunshine, laughter, and good company make it the ultimate recipe for a perfect getaway.”

Her go-to cuts of beef? Filet Mignon and Ground Beef, often turned into her personal creation: Mazur’s Mush — “a hearty, protein-packed bowl born from a craving, a creative spark, and a bit of laziness,” she jokes. “Ground beef, red onion, avocado, and a hint of Yellowbird hot sauce. Simple, satisfying, and packed with flavor.”

Just like every athlete has their favorite protein, they also have a go-to mantra that keeps them motivating and moving forward. Lisa’s might be one of the most memorable: “Go Little Leggies, Go!!!” “It started on one of those tough runs full of hills,” she says. “I just kept telling my legs to keep moving and not quit. Over time, it stuck — a fun little reminder that determination (and a good sense of humor) can get you up any hill, literal or otherwise.”

She also shares one of her favorite pieces of racing advice, passed down from runner Kiplimo Chemirmir: “When running, start picking off fruit.” Lisa explains, “You assign a piece of fruit to the person in front of you based on their shirt color — then focus on ‘picking them off’ by passing them. It’s a fun, visual way to stay motivated and make racing strategic and playful.”

For Lisa, running and triathlons are more than hobbies — they’re a way of life. “Every race, every trek, every finish line adds something new to who I am,” she says. Her adventures have taken her across the globe — from trails in Peru to coastlines in Greece — and she’s now on a mission to race in all 50 states.

“It’s not just about the miles or medals,” she reflects. “It’s about the journey, the community, and the joy of testing my limits — one incredible race at a time.”