This Ultramarathoner Runs 100s of Miles to Build Inner Strength and Confidence
“Through ultrarunning, I’ve learned how tenacious and resilient I am.”
Name: Rachel Bambrick Age: 31 Hometown: Philadelphia Occupation: Occupational therapist, ultrarunning coach, founder of Women in Ultrarunning Time Running: 9 years Reason for Running: Running, and ultrarunning in particular, teaches me something new about myself every time I’m out on the trail.
When I moved to Philadelphia in 2016, I wanted to find an active community to meet new people and continue to challenge myself. I laced up my shoes, and started running with run clubs in the city.
In 2018, I watched a friend take part in the Run Across Haiti, a 200-mile run in eight days, organized as a fundraiser for WORK, a nonprofit which financially empowers families through employment.
I knew it would be difficult to push myself through the distance. I had never run an ultramarathon before, but I was determined to see how far I could go. I decided to take the leap and give ultrarunning a try through a worthwhile cause in Haiti.
Inspired by my friend, I completed Run Across Haiti in 2019, raising money for WORK. The adventure made me reflect on what drew me to ultra distances. While fighting sore muscles, scorching heat, and self doubt, I surprised myself that I still continued and succeeded. This journey of self-discovery empowered me to explore my limits.
I kept running ultramarathons following Run Across Haiti, and eventually set my sights on something longer: the epic Cocodona 250-mile race, which leads from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona through the rugged and exposed trails of the backcountry.
In May 2023, I set off from Black Canyon City. For more than 119 hours, I wondered if I was strong enough to finish, and if I would make the cut-off time. When I could actually sleep, it was just for an hour or two at aid stations, or curled up in the dirt on the side of the trail.
But I kept moving, and telling myself “I am exactly where I need to be” and “It will get better.” I cried and smiled when I saw the finish line in Flagstaff. I was proud of how far I had come and of my inner strength in those many challenging moments.
I’ve been lucky to reach many starting lines these past few years and meet amazing people. But I felt like something was missing. I wanted to create a space for women to share experiences, knowledge, and support in ultrarunning.
So, I founded Women in Ultrarunning in January 2024 as a four-part program providing women in the Philadelphia area with a space to learn about ultrarunning. The group is a mix of seasoned ultramarathon runners and newer ultra runners who are looking to sign up to their first ultra race.
The first events began at local trailheads with an introduction to ultra running, mental strategy, nutrition, and how to navigate technical trails.
After discussions, we set off through the trails for a 90-minute run, maintaining an average 13-minute-per-mile pace to stay together. Our goal is to foster community and connection, not break speed records. We’re out there to enjoy the company, stay together, and learn from one another. A time-based group run allows us to be pace inclusive and welcome those who may be out on their first trail run.
Women in Ultrarunning is now a community across the United States, and an online community on Heylo to celebrate each other’s successes, help find training partners for runners, and chat about all things ultrarunning, like gear, nutrition, and strength and conditioning. It has been surreal to see an idea that lived in my head grow into fruition and take shape.
Through ultrarunning, I’ve learned how tenacious and resilient I am. I’ve also found a supportive community that I’m proud to be a part of. Because of the Women in Ultrarunning community, I’ve experienced a connection to ultrarunning in a way I never thought was possible.
I hope to be here for years to come with glitter on my cheeks and a smile on my face to continue to cheer on women as they achieve their toughest goals.
These three tips have made my running journey a success:
1. Be consistent and patient with nutrition on the run
Just like training your legs for races, you need to train your stomach for races. Don’t be disheartened if you have a string of discouraging runs. The process can be very rocky, and you may need to try a few brands before you find what works for you! It took me years to be comfortable with fueling on long runs.
2. Remember that trail pace is different than road pace
Getting used to running on rocky terrain, sand, or dirt takes time and practice. While it’s easy to get swept up in paces on the roads, try to run on trails based on effort. Some miles will be slow going! What matters is you are still moving forward.
3. Give yourself grace
Remember in running you’ll have low moments, but what is important is how you pull yourself out of the negativity. Feel the struggle and remind yourself it’s okay to feel down, then put yourself back into a mindset that allows you to continue positively. If you fall or fail, give yourself grace to get back up and continue on.
Rachel’s Must Have Gear:
→ WildSense Run Glitter: My approach to running and ultras is all about adding softness and sparkle wherever I can. Wild Sense’s glitter is all natural and biodegradable so I can feel good about the sparkly little trail I may leave behind.
→ HOKA Challengers: Living in the city of Philadelphia, being a trail/ultrarunner can be tough sometimes! Often my runs have one objective: How can I get to the trails? The Challengers are perfect because they’re designed as all-terrain shoes so I can easily take them from city streets to the trails of the Wissahickon.
→ Zensah Seamless Run Bra: As an ultrarunner, chafing can be a huge issue. Especially with sports bras. This bra from Zensah has been my go-to for all my long efforts and races for years. I used these bras for the entirety of the Cocodona 250 in 2023 and walked away without any bra hotspots.
posted Sunday July 14th
by Runner’s World