Meet Ali Ince!
Hometown - Bloomington, Ill.
High School - Normal HS
College - University of Oregon
Favorite color? Light Blue.
Favorite food? This sandwich from a local coffee shop: Turkey, pesto, arugula, brie, and aioli on focaccia.
Favorite drink? Iced maple sea salt latte.
Favorite running training shoe? Vomero Plus and Streakfly’s.
Favorite running race shoe? Nike Victory 2.
Favorite place to run? A spot 30 minutes from campus called Dorena Lake. We go here for most of our long runs.
Best race memory? My favorite race memory so far would be the B1G Cross Country Championships my freshman year in Savoy, Illinois. Not only did we win with the lowest team scoring point total ever for a B1G 10 Championship race, but we also were the first sport at Oregon to win a B1G title since joining the conference. Above those achievements, the most special part that sticks with me is being embraced in big hugs by teammates at the finish lines realizing what we had just done together. This race was also special because it was held only 45 minutes from my hometown, so a lot of my friends and family were able to come out and support us!
Personal best times?
- 800m - 2:03.18
- Mile - 4:30.85
- Cross Country - 19:58
What's your current injury? When did it happen and how? Coming off the end of the cross country season, I got a stress reaction in my femur. Looking back, I think this injury resulted from a combination of increasing my mileage, running my easy runs too fast, and not focusing enough on recovery/incorporating deload days and weeks.
Have you had this injury before or one similar? This was my first bone stress injury, and hopefully last :)
How do you feel about your injury mentally? What's your recovery plan? This injury was especially challenging and mentally frustrating because it was a low-grade stress reaction that never actually caused me much pain while I was running, but led to significant discomfort at rest. I knew it was important to take time off and allow it to heal properly. Ignoring those warning signs could have led to a full fracture, ultimately keeping me out for much longer. Deciding to step back and prioritize my long-term health over short-term progress was difficult, but necessary.
How will LightSpeed Lift be incorporated into your recovery plan? The LightSpeed Lift played a key role in my recovery, both mentally and physically. After a few weeks of complete offloading, I was able to begin incorporating short runs on it. I started off with 10 minutes and gradually made my way up to 35 minutes before moving to run/walks on land. The LightSpeed allowed me to keep doing what I love—running—while still giving my body the offloading and support it needed to heal. If I did not have access to a LightSpeed, I would have most likely had to cross-train for several more weeks.
What do you love best about the LightSpeed Lift? I love that the LightSpeed offloads weight, but also allows you to still keep a normal running stride and pattern. It feels very natural. It is a great tool for injury, but it can also be used for high-intensity training. It allows the body and legs to reach a faster leg rate turnover more easily without a huge cardio strain. This primes the body for reaching faster paces on the track!
How long have you been using the LightSpeed Lift? I have been using the LightSpeed Lift for 6 years. I started using it my freshman year in high school. In high school, I also played basketball, so I primarily used the LightSpeed to still get my runs in, while deloading my legs and keeping them as fresh as possible for basketball practice and games.
"I first met Ali and her family while installing a LightSpeed Lift system in their home between her junior and senior years of high school. Breeda Willis, one of Ali’s coaches, recommended the system to support her endurance and prevent injuries while she was balancing basketball, cross country, and track. We reconnected in 2024 during a publicity photo session with other LightSpeed Lift influencers, including Gary Martin, Star Price, and Bob Liking. It has been wonderful to see Ali’s success through high school and college, and I look forward to watching her compete in her third year with the Oregon Ducks." - Malcolm Macaulay, LightSpeed Lift Founder
"My family lived in Chicagoland for a number of years, so I had the privilege of watching Ali compete as a prep. One highlight was watching her win the 800 at Distance Night as a freshman! Ali is an exceptional young lady, always kind to others and humble." - Molly Watcke, LightSpeed Lift Sales & Marketing
Photos 1/2 by Kevin Gunawan & Photos 3/4 courtesy of Ali Ince.