Although Amy Lamprecht is using Saturday’s Lilydale Lope as training between far bigger undertakings, she said it is dangerous to under-estimate the undulating 16.6-kilometre Launceston Running Club event.
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The 36-year-old former triathlete will be tackling her fourth Lope having been the fastest female in 2014 (70.07), second to Kate Pedley last year (in a personal best 69.49) and sixth on the all-time list.
She warmed up for the event by running Australia’s biggest 100km event in the Blue Mountains, finishing 30th and fourth female from 1500 runners.
“It was fairly tough,” she admitted. “It took 12 hours so the Lope is very different but it is also hard.
I prefer longer distance but this feels long because of all the hills
- Last year's runner-up Johnno Claridge
“I like a hilly race and this is a nice distance. I like hills and there are plenty of those.”
A caterer at Newstead College, Lamprecht has run five Ross marathons and four in Hobart and said her next goal is to run the world ultra-marathon championship in Europe, also over about 100km.
Her partner Johnno Claridge also warmed up in the Blue Mountains over the marginally less demanding distance of 50km.
Also 36, the Legana mechanic will be tackling his seventh Lope having finished between second and fifth in previous attempts with a best time of 62.32 in 2012 and second fastest last year (62.52) when Beechford’s Dave Thomas set the race record of 52.59.
A prodigious long distance runner, Claridge has won the Ross Marathon three years in succession, completed 10 Three Peaks with two wins, competed in the Buffalo Stampede Sky Marathon at Bright last month and said his longest competitive run was the Overland Track.
“I love it. It’s a tough, challenging 16km and I like the tough ones,” Claridge said of the Lope.
“I prefer longer distance but this feels long because of all the hills.”
Claridge coaches runners in a group called ULTRAIN to encourage and improve their distance running.
Also tackling the Lope will be Scott Greaves but the 48-year-old Launceston engineer was quick to distance himself from the challengers.
“I’m nowhere near these two but find it quite challenging,” Greaves said.
“I’ve done it three times. I’ve also done the Scottsdale to Bridport half-marathon and this is a harder course.”
Targeting 85 minutes, Greaves said he developed an interest in running for fitness and has been with Launceston Running Club for 10 seasons, on the committee for six and become treasurer.
He has had two wins in club handicap events, at the university 5km in 2007 and said his best performance was winning the Blackstone 10km in 2014.
The handicapped race starts when the first runner heads off at 11am on Saturday from Lilydale Larder.
Back markers will leave about 50 minutes later with the winner expected home at about 12.45.