In the world of filmmaking and endurance sports, there exists a unique intersection where personal journeys are captured and shared, often revealing profound insights into human resilience and vulnerability. Director Victoria Negri and her subject, Lucie Beatrix, exemplify this intersection, as they delve into the transformative role of running in their lives through an intimate conversation a few years after they filmed the short documentary, Personal Best.
Victoria first connected with Lucie back in 2020, immediately following Lucie’s spur-of-the-moment 76-mile ultramarathon attempt around McCarren Park track in Brooklyn, New York. Martha Frances Williams (Victoria’s friend and one of the producers of the film) told Victoria about Lucie’s feat, and being an ultrarunner herself, Victoria knew she had to connect with Lucie. They met by the track and immediately bonded over shared past events in their lives. Both women lost their fathers in their twenties and explored running as a means of coping.
For Lucie, running began as an escape—a means of distancing herself from the pressures of the fashion world and discovering a sense of empowerment. “Running was something that I did to get away. I was getting closer to the person that I wanted to be,” said Lucie. Through running, she found solace and strength, redefining her priorities, getting sober and embracing a healthier perspective on life.
One of Lucie’s fashion photos displayed among her running gear. Photo courtesy Victoria Negri.
As their running journeys evolved, Lucie and Victoria encountered moments of introspection and self-discovery on their shared love of running. Victoria used running as a coping mechanism during difficult times, recalling a poignant run in Connecticut before her father passed away after he suffered a massive stroke. “I just started crying while running, and I kept running. This feels good for whatever reason,” she revealed. Lucie, who also lost her father around the same time, acknowledges the emotional release that running provides. “The harder you push, the more likely your emotions are really going to come out.”
Despite the physical and emotional challenges they faced, both Lucie and Victoria found liberation in letting go of their past anxieties and embracing the present moment. In the last year, injury forced Lucie to press pause on all the mileage and confront the transient nature of running, leading to a newfound appreciation for the sport as a tool for personal growth rather than a defining aspect of her identity.
Photo courtesy Victoria Negri.
As Victoria contemplates her future in ultrarunning, she pondered the significance of her motivations, recognizing that the “why” behind her pursuits can profoundly shape her experiences. Lucie echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s reasons for undertaking challenges like ultramarathons. “If I ever go after 100… it’s all about the why.”
For Lucie, watching the documentary Victoria filmed of her in a peak ultrarunning stunt captured in Personal Best served as a poignant reminder of their journey—a time capsule capturing both the intensity of her struggles and the beginning of recovery from addiction. “I love it because it’s a time capsule of a really low point, even though it was the beginning of something really beautiful,” said Lucie.
Reflecting on the documentary, Lucie acknowledged the profound changes she has undergone. “I was in a really dark, scary place then…I treated running like it was life or death,” she admits. However, she also recognized the strides she’s made since then, crediting therapy and a renewed commitment to addressing her addiction.
Lucie at night. Photo courtesy Victoria Negri.
Through their candid dialogue after the filming of Personal Best, Lucie and Victoria offered valuable insights into the transformative power of running and the ongoing journey of self-discovery. As they continue to navigate the highs and lows of ultrarunning and personal growth, their shared experiences serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of vulnerability in the pursuit of growth and fulfillment. Both Lucie and Victoria touch upon a common struggle: the tension between the performative aspect of the sport and its intrinsic value. Victoria candidly shares her own journey of seeking validation through social media posts about her running achievements, highlighting the pressure to conform to societal expectations of success.
Lucie also acknowledged the allure of external validation and the temptation to measure one’s worth by athletic accomplishments, even pointing out how that was a major part of the stress she faced during the filming of Personal Best. Yet, she also recognizes the dangers of this mindset, noting the importance of grounding oneself in the intrinsic motivation behind her pursuits.
As Lucie and Victoria continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of ultrarunning and personal growth, their shared experiences serve as a reminder that true fulfillment as a runner of any distance lies not in the pursuit of external validation, but in the cultivation of inner peace and self-compassion.
Find Lucie and Victoria on Instagram at: @luciebeatrix and @victorianegri. Victoria’s current and upcoming film work can be viewed at victorianegri.com. Currently, she is in development on her second narrative feature film called ULTRA, a psychological thriller about ultrarunning. Stay tuned to Lucie & Victoria’s social media for upcoming in-person screenings of Personal Best.