Inov-8 Athlete Profile Interview: Anne Riddle Lundblad

In this addition of Athlete Profiles I had the unique opportunity to interview one of the world's most renowned yet humble ultra runners. Anne Riddle Lundblad is a world-class ultra marathoner and has be crowned USATF runner of the year and Ultra Running runner of the year multiple times. Anne has an extensive list of impressive racing achievements, some which include: Silver medalist at the 2005 100km world cup, team gold at 2005 world cup, 2006 IAU world 50mile trail champion, and 9 time USATF National Champion ranging from trail marathon to 100km distances. One would think that she lives the life of a professional runner in order to run this well, but this is far from the truth. Anne is not only a full-time counselor at W W College, but wife and mother as well; responsibilities that make her achievements even more amazing. Anne was kind enough to take time to answer some of my questions.


INOV-8 Athlete Profile
Anne Riddle Lundblad
Interviewed by: Wynn Davis

1. As a professional counselor, what got you interested in the profession, and is there a particular area that peaks your interest most?

I think what drew me to the profession was the desire to understand people – how personalities develop and why people do the things they do. Having my own experiences with depression in my family also made me interested in helping people. I currently work with college students, a population I love. I particularly enjoy accompanying them on their journeys of self-exploration and existential/meaning of life sorts of issues.

2. The western portion of North Carolina (Asheville) seems to be a hotbed for outdoor enthusiasts. Can you tell us about some of your favorite trails in the area?

I live on the campus of Warren Wilson College and am extremely fortunate to have close to twenty-five miles of trails outside my back door. Most of my daily runs are done right on campus. I’ve got some flat trails that run along a river (good swimming holes there, also), as well as more technical trails with a bit of climbing. On weekends, Mark and I will often head over to the Mountains-to-Sea trail, which basically parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway, or run up towards Mt. Mitchell if we want to get some good climbing in.

3. You are a versatile runner in regard to distances and terrain. What are some of the most notable challenges and/or techniques you have found between the marathon and 100km, as well as trail versus road?

I never quite had the speed for the marathon, but am good at maintaining a steady pace, so the 100km road is good for me. I like to lock into a pace and just zone out, which is why I’ve been pretty successful at repetitive loop courses. Trails are more of a challenge, because I’m not as strong of a technical runner, especially on the downhills. I’ve had to really work on my downhill trail running, and I still get killed in races with a lot of technical downs.

4. Your husband Mark is also a very accomplished runner. Can you describe your feelings the day you both captured National titles together at the 2007 50mile championship?

It was very exciting. Mark had had so many close seconds and had worked really hard for this race. We passed each other on an out-and-back when he had about 4-5 miles to go and he had about a minute lead, so in the final miles of my race I just kept wondering, was he able to maintain it? Whenever we both run the same race, I find myself thinking a lot about him being further up in the field, wondering if he’s having a good day, and hoping it will be a successful performance for both of us. It’s awesome when things come together and we both run well.

5. Last year you competed in your first 100mile race at Western States. Were there any significant differences you noticed in the transition from 100km races to the 100mile distance?

Actually, this was my second 100mile, the first being Vermont in 2004. They were both extremely painful and frustrating! The difference between 100km and 100mile, between 8 hours and 18-24 hours, is immense. For me, I think it comes down to mental preparedness. I learned a lot in my first 100mile and hoped that my second would be more successful, but what I found was that 100 miles just isn’t my distance. I have a very difficult time maintaining focus for that period of time.

6. Have you ever “bonked” in a race, and if so, what can you remember? What did you do differently afterward in order to prevent it from happening again?

I always go through periods of highs and lows during a race, and I always arrive at the finish line feeling completely drained – I’m not sure if that qualifies as “bonking” or not. One memory that sticks out in my mind is that of my first 100km. At about 35 miles, I hit the wall and wasn’t sure if I could go on. My coach, Kevin Setnes, happened to be on the sideline about that time and he told me that lows are normal and that I should just run another lap (5 miles) and see how I felt. Sure enough, the next time I came around, that feeling had passed and I felt confident that I could go the distance. I try to keep that in mind every time I hit a rough patch in a race, that ultras are long enough that you can really hit bottom but then a few miles later, after some fluids, maybe a gel, maybe a nice downhill stretch, your energy returns.

7. Who do you feel was your greatest competitor through the years, and is there a single performance that stands out most?

Having the opportunity to be on the national 100km team six times has given me the chance to run with, and against, some of the best ultra runners in the U.S. – and the world. But probably my best competition has consistently come from my own neck of the woods – Annette Bednosky. We both tend to run a fair amount of East Coast races and our friendly rivalry has pushed us both to great performances. One that stands out in particular is the 2005 Mountain Masochist 50 Mile. We were both running very well that year (Annette won Western States and I was the silver medalist at the World Cup 100km) and arrived in Lynchburg ready to race. I ended up beating her by just five minutes or so, but we both eclipsed Nikki Kimball’s course record (although Nikki came back the following year to reclaim it!)

8. What does a typical training week look like for you leading up to a peak race?

During the two months prior to a big race I’ll run 85-100 mpw. Typically I’ll run a short track workout on Tuesday – 400’s, 600’s, 800’s – and a longer interval or tempo run on Thursday. Thursday workouts vary – it could be a ladder of 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes hard with 3 minutes recovery, or could be something like 90 minutes at tempo pace. On Saturday I’ll do a long run of 25-35 miles. The remainder of the days are easy, with 2-3 days of double runs.

9. Are there any key physical and/or mental training techniques that attributed toward your success at the 100km championships?

I’m a big believer in the mental aspects of training. I always set very clear goals for an upcoming race, and then develop a positive self-affirmation or mantra that will lead me to that goal. The mantra thing sounds cheesy, but I’ve had many experiences in training and races when I’ve felt physically and mentally depleted, then I’ll remember that saying and begin repeating it in my mind. Something shifts, and I find myself running stronger and feeling more confident. I also use a lot of visualization, envisioning the upcoming race and imagining myself running strong and in control.

10.Can you reflect a little on your maturation process over the years in regard to running? Were there any significant learning curves?

My running career has followed a fairly typical path, I think. I began running in 9th grade, primarily because I wasn’t good enough to play any other sports and the cross-country team didn’t have cuts. I ran competitively throughout high school and college, and then took a break after college to become a recreational runner, climber and mountain biker. I ran my first ultra in 1999 and immediately fell in love with the sport. I guess the big breakthrough for me occurred in 2001 when I ran my first national championship, the GNC 100km in Pittsburgh. Prior to that I had never envisioned myself running on any sort of national level and was actually looking forward to just doing ultras for fun. My coach at the time saw some talent that I didn’t, however, and encouraged me to compete in that race, which also served as the qualifying race for the World Cup 100km. I trained harder than I ever had in my life and also began working on the mental aspects of training, which I think really made the difference for me. I won that race and qualified for the national team.

Unfortunately, I went into the World Cup injured and had a poor performance. Over the next several years I struggled a bit, putting in some great performances and then being sidelined by injuries. It was several years before I finally put together a string of solid races and began to see myself as someone who could compete on the highest level here in the U.S.

11. In 2005 you placed silver medalist at the World 100km race. Can you describe how you were feeling and what was going through your head at around the 85km mark (Approx: 10 miles to go)?

That race was crazy! I had suffered an injury a month out and wasn’t even sure I’d be able to compete until two weeks prior to race day. I went out too fast and by 30km was really struggling, dizzy and nauseated, not sure I’d even finish. Our team doctor, Lion Caldwell, told me to slow down for the next 30km, make sure I got in my fluids, and see what happened. I followed his instructions and remembered my mantra, “I’m strong, tough and healthy”, and began to pull it back together. I passed several women and by 85km was in 3rd place, a position beyond my wildest dreams. There was an out-and-back in the last 10km and I saw that I wasn’t too far behind 2nd, so went for it and passed her. At that point, I was still ten minutes behind the leader, so I figured she was out of reach. I think I floated through the last several miles. When I finished and found that I was only forty seconds out of first place, I obviously second-guessed a lot, thinking about all of the points during the race when I could’ve picked up those seconds. But it was still a thrill to run a PR, be the silver medalist and to lead the U.S. women to a team gold.

12. Is there a particular Inov-8 shoe you gravitate toward and how so?

I really like the Roc Lite 305 and the 295. Both are light but provide enough cushioning and protection on rocky trails. Most importantly, they fit my feet perfectly and I rarely finish a race or long run with any blisters!

13. Finally, can you describe the importance or role running/exercise plays in your overall lifestyle?

I can’t even imagine life without it – it’s as natural as brushing my teeth every day. I don’t know that I’ll continue to race forever, but definitely plan on continuing to run as long as my body allows me. I’m actually looking forward to the day when I’m not training quite as intensely, as it will allow more time for some other physical pursuits – I’d like to improve my swimming and maybe try some aqualathons. My daughter and I are also getting into geocaching these days, which is a great way to get outdoors and have a bit of an adventure.

Thanks Anne!