An impressive weekend of trail running, despite wet, rainy conditions in the Blue Mountains.
Lucy Bartholomew and Tim Tollefson (featured in our June edition) took first place in the women’s and men’s 100K event at the 10th Ultra-Trail Australia race – Australia’s premiere trail running event – over the 18–20 May weekend.
Tollefson crossed the finish line first – in an impressive eight hours, 52 minutes – ahead of Rob Krar (9:11) and Aurielien Collet (9:30). Australian David Byrne finished fourth in 9:32.
Bartholomew, who celebrated her 21st birthday at the race, won the women’s race in 10:52, finishing in front of fellow Australians Lou Clifton (11:24) and Hanny Allston (11:12).
Weather conditions were less than ideal and saw over 5000 participants (competing in various distances) battle cool weather and severe rain, as well as last-minute course changes due to flooding. The course featured technical terrain, tough climbs (total elevation 1100m) and steep descents across the beautiful Blue Mountains.
“It was the most special race I’ve ever done. I had people coming at me, wishing me happy birthday, telling me I’ve got this and I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Bartholomew says. “The win is a bonus, but having my dad and my brother to come up here and my brother to crew me and his girlfriend, that means the world to me, more than a first place on the podium. But it’s a bonus, I wouldn’t change it.”
Pick up a copy of our June edition to read up on Tim Tollefsen’s key workouts.
