World Junior Skyrunning Champion takes on Tarawera Trail 50km

Following in the footsteps of her father and paving her own victorious pathway, Melbourne based Junior Skyrunning Champion, Lucy Bartholomew, is taking part in the Tarawera Trail 50km in Rotorua this November.
 
Lucy’s ultramarathon and skyrunning career all began when she was crewing for her father’s ultramarathon, at the age of 15. Not knowing how to get from checkpoint to checkpoint, Lucy decided to run and was automatically hooked.
 
“It was a real life changing day for me. I could have caught the bus, but thankfully I decided to run,” Lucy explains.
 
“After that I decided to enter the Surf Coast Century 100km and because I was only 16, I had to race alongside my dad the entire time. We finished in 12:32:00 and I felt great, I really found a love for the long stuff there.
 
“The following year I entered the Big Red Run – a 250 kilometre race across five days. Dad didn’t talk to me for months because he didn’t approve, but I finished second overall.
 

World Junior Skyrunning Champion, Lucy Bartholomew is landing on New Zealand shores to take part in the Tarawera Trail 50km in Rotorua. Photo courtesy of Shine PR

“I came back from the Big Red Run and quickly decided to run Surf Coast Century 100 again and this time I was allowed to run solo. I was the second female to cross the finish line with a time of 9:36:00 - that's where I got noticed.”
 
After proving her outstanding ability in ultramarathon running, Lucy took to the mountains and it was there that she discovered her real passion for longer hours but shorter distances.
 
“My biggest achievement so far would be at the Skyrunning World Chamionships, held in Chamonix, France as part of the Mont Blanc Marathon. It was here that I was titled the Junior World Champion.”
 

Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50km participants start their journey as Te Puia’s Pohutu Geyser bursts into action. Photo courtesy of Shine PR

In her four years of competitive running, Lucy has travelled around the world and says it’s one of the most exciting aspects of competing.

“Running is such a great way to see the world and I love finding races to take me to all the hidden secrets.
 
“My dad started marathon running at my age when he was travelling as a way to see cities. I’ve taken that a bit further, following my passion of trail and mountain running as a means to explore.
 

With Lake Tarawera in their sights, Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50km participants race towards the finish line at Hot Water Beach. Photo courtesy of Shine PR

“I ran the Tarawera Ultramarathon in Rotorua in 2014 (although it was shortened because of a cyclone) and I’m super keen to get back over to New Zealand and see it again.
 
“I decided to extend my running season to include the Tarawera Trail 50km as it’s such a beautiful place to visit - I see it as a great opportunity to run some beautiful trails.”
 
Combining Rotorua’s remarkable scenery with Māori cultural heritage, the Tarawera Trail Marathon and 50km is a spectacular point-to-point course from geyser to volcano.
 
Starting at Te Puia’s world-famous Pohutu Geyser and finishing at Hot Water Beach on the shores of Lake Tarawera, the event takes runners along a geothermal pathway, retracing one of New Zealand’s most important historical routes.