There aren’t many runners who can say the sport originated at the same time as me, but Lucy Bartholomew is one of them. She ran her first 100km at the age of 15, chasing her father down the road, and since then the years have taken her from a teenager on the starting line to one of the most recognized names in ultrarunning, with a Western States podium finish, multiple UTMB finishes and a Tarawera win along the way.
What kept her there wasn’t just the results. It’s the way she talks about the sport: the highs, the dark valleys, the joy that guards it as if that’s the point, because for her, it is. We sat down with Lucy to talk about how her relationship with running has changed over fourteen years, the Australian trails she keeps returning to, and the one lesson the mountains have taught her home more than any other.
Q: Your running journey has evolved alongside you. How has your relationship with running evolved over the years?
Lucy: Running has been an enriching addition to my life. It was my passion that became my profession at a time when the sport was becoming more popular – it feels like divine timing; The right place at the right time to ride the wave of sport growth and immerse yourself in it. My relationship has been as up and down as the alpine trails I’ve run – there have been some really high highs and equally deep dark valleys, but there’s beauty and strength in both. I’ve outgrown my love of running, but I’m also falling back in love with it. Having lived through so many experiences, I know the importance of maintaining joy, playfulness and curiosity, and although this is my job, it is not work all the time. I am very proud of my personal development, including the changes in my sport and personal growth over the past 14 years.
Q: In Australia, where is your favorite place to run and why?
Lucy: Yes! This is very difficult! I love a lot of places, but mostly because of the memories I have there. I adore and need to return to Tasmania to explore more – this place is absolutely beautiful. The Blue Mountains will always hold a special place in my heart. There I saw my dad run his first 100km (TNF100), and on the train back to Sydney Airport I wrote to the race directors asking if they would let me do it too. Finally, I love the Alps in Vic – Buffalo Mountain and Feathertop Mountain (the Razorback Range!!) never disappoint…I could go on!!
Q: How do you stay connected to the fun and play of running, even on the competitive side of the sport?
Lucy: For me, happiness comes from company and flexibility. I have a coaching staff that allows my internal compass to take over during the more relaxed parts of the season. Holding lightly in the training moments protects the joy when the race starts creeping up, and we need to grab hold of it and rush into it. I’m so lucky that I travel a lot to really cool places and bump into so many fun human beings who keep it light but also care – it brings out the best in us, and the miles pile up so much easier.
Q: What does your training look like at the moment, and what are you focusing on?
Lucy: It’s been training all over the shop, but in the best way. I was recently at the Salomon Ultra Training camp in Gran Canaria, where we covered some huge miles and greenery. Then I was lucky enough to score a bib for the Paris Marathon, which was a great way to go; It felt like a whole new sport! I recently returned from a filming trip in Morocco, where I was able to run as best I could. I think one of the nice parts of running is that you can choose your look; The surface, the pace, the spacing, the intensity – they keep it fresh and fun!!
Q: If you could impart one feeling or lesson from running to others, what would it be?
Lucy: The instability of everything. Often times in races, I will feel terrible, then great, then okay, then okay, then good. Everything is never the same again, so relax and enjoy the journey of these feelings as they come and go. You always have two things under your control: your effort and your attitude, so try, try again and keep that smile.
