I have been working with a coach since I was 16 years old, and was first coached by someone who loved the data and numbers—the metrics mattered. I was constantly trying to stay in the correct heart rate zone,...
Articles by Lucy Bartholomew
Much like the result of climate change, it can be hard to know what season we are in, in both nature and sport. With ultra and trail running booming in participation numbers, so are the number of races that seem to sp...
In August, I had the privilege of jumping the border from France into Switzerland to help crew, pace and support a friend taking on a 100-mile trail race that climbs and descends 33,000 feet of elevation....
What is “race day mentality?” It’s that mindset that we slip into as we chase a goal we’ve been working toward and have dedicated hours of preparation — not only in training the body but also training the mind to be f...
I live in Australia and my house sits in a suburb called Diamond Creek. The name supposedly came from a cow called Diamond that fell into a creek and died. (Or so, that's what my Dad and I were told when we moved here...
Here we go again. Welcome to a new year, a fresh start, clean slate or whatever you want to call it. Maybe you are starting from ground zero, drawing up floorplans of what you’re going to be building. What is running...
Before talking about winter, I want to mention that I am an Australian who has lived her life avoiding the cold by continent-hopping, chasing dry, warm and sunny trails where I can roam around rocking a sports bra,...
The Oxford dictionary defines “legend” as “an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field.” In Australia, we throw the world legend around, particularly if we can’t quite remember a person’...
I remember the exact moment I heard footsteps behind me, the shuffling of feet and the “swish, swish” sound of knee-length shorts rhythmically moving at the cadence of someone still running, 50 miles deep into a 100-mile...
Returning to my house after six weeks of being away, and having been in this little bubble of a residence for 13 months, was equally exciting, terrifying and understandably, felt unfamiliar. Especially...
They say it’s about the journey – not the destination. I say it’s all about the company – not the trail. “What is your favorite trail?” It’s a question I am regularly asked along with, “What is your favorite distanc...
Curiosity is the word I use to describe how I live my life. I chase answers to questions, I chase new experiences, and I’m willing to try – succeed or fail. I’m incredibly lucky to have had so many opportunities, but...
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” – Audrey Hepburn To do anything today is to believe in a tomorrow – we book appointments, arrange to catch up with friends and train for races because we believe that...
This year, I endured my first winter in Australia. It may sound like a small feat, but for six years I have followed the sun around the globe while chasing the running calendar. Winter in Australia makes a lot of peop...
I’ve often been told that starting with your why is the best place to start anything. Once you have that, the what, where, who and when doesn’t matter so much. And when two people share the same why, you have more than c...
As I write this, we are three days into a six-week lockdown – the strictest lockdown Victoria, Australia, has ever seen. All businesses, bars, supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations are closed. In regards to the ou...
I have been in the sport of long distance running for eight years and I can reassure you that I am still learning, re-learning and then frustratingly, learning again. And I’m not the only one. That’s the beauty of this s...
“Tough times build tough people.” That’s what I keep telling myself and those around me. Let me preface this with that whatever you are feeling during this time of uncertainty, if your races are being canceled, if life h...
“Iconic” refers to something having the characteristics of an icon. For trails around the world it means showing off the beauty in well-known, historical areas. When people think of Australia, if it’s not for the coffee...