Spotlight On: Lesley Mason

FAVOURITE RACING OR RUNNING DISTANCE

100km on the trails is magical because at the mid to back of pack you’re out there for 24 hours….or not all that far off it. You don’t need to factor in a nap, and you’re not needing to run at an intensity where you can’t talk; you can take pics of the views and enjoy heaps of time at aid stations.

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOU GETTING INTO ULTRA RUNNING?

It starts with me learning to run 10 years ago. The magic of running 5km non-stop, then 10km, then a half marathon, then a marathon. There is a buzz after running your longest distance ever each time so whilst my first love was the marathon I thought…why not the ultra at the Great Ocean Road Running Festival? At the time I blissfully ignored the challenge of the cut-off and found a friend to join me for the 2018 edition. As part of training, we ran the 50km at the Canberra Marathon Festival; neither of us ran the ultra that year. And whilst I found a love of the trails in events such as the Galston Gutbuster and Great Nosh Footrace and even a trail run in New Caledonia….I didn’t run another 50km until the Mount Stromlo event in 2020. Then of course the rest as they say is history. Run up mountains called and so did the 100km. Because hey. Why not?

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE ULTRA RUNNING EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

My 2023 DNF at CCC has been my favourite experience because it showed me what real mountains look and feel like and what attempting great things without certainty can teach us. In Australia we have generous cut-offs and don’t really have mountains, so we overestimate what it takes to run far up big mountains. We will mostly only hit that start line if we’re guaranteed of a finish. At the CCC there were so many conversations around embracing experiences, seeing how far we could get and embracing uncertainty. It was refreshing and full of character building. Even though I shed tears when I was cut off I am satisfied with every step of that journey and feel no need to cross that finish line to prove myself. The journey was everything!

IF YOU WOULD WANT ANYONE IN THE WORLD TO PACE YOU AT AN EVENT, WHO WOULD IT BE? 

Lucy Bartholomew because I will never forget her cheering me on during the 2023 Ultra Trail Kosci 100km. I am a nobody, yet she remembered the name on my bib and called it out with such joy every time she saw it. That is the energy everyone could use from a cheer squad and pacer.

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS WE WOULD ALWAYS FIND IN YOUR DROPBAG?

(1) A spare pair of shoes because they are heaven to sore or wet feet. (2) A buff with peppermint essential oil on it for a pick me up. (3) Some flat coca cola in case you get soda stream Pepsi at aid stations (IYKNY).

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FILM OR BOOK ABOUT RUNNING?

Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer reminds me that female runners have come a long way in just over 50 years.

RECOVERY IS IMPORTANT – WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE OR BEST POST-WORKOUT/RECOVERY STRETCH OR EXERCISE?

Compression boots after every run and a hot bath if I can let myself rest enough. Movement is medicine and allowing our bodies to heal through improving blood and lymph flow means we can back up again faster.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM RUN OR EVENT?

Ridge of the Tatra mountains in Poland. This mountain range has a deeply personal meaning because it forms the border of the countries of my parents birth. My mum was born in Poland and my Dad in Slovakia. The course for this event is literally on the border of both countries and I would have a foot in each as I completed it. I have a lot of work to do to qualify as these mountains are next level. But “dream big and work hard” is my mantra.

If you would like to be featured in our Spotlight On segment, email ultramag@aura.asn.au with your interest!