> Running the Ultimate Race

During an after hours’ run, a severe case of dry heaves forced Willie Lambert to face reality. As a thirty-year-old, stressed out, overweight shoe salesman, he could either give in to his pain or get up and keep moving. He chose the latter.

At first, running was all about him. While lacing his shoes, Lambert would be anticipating the “just me” time ahead; time to sort through current challenges and future goals.

As the stress of climbing the corporate ladder increased, so did the miles. Just “a little bit further” moved him beyond 10Ks (6.2 mi.) to training for the 26.2 mile Twin Cities marathon. For four months, Lambert “put one foot in front of the other and ran” up and down the hills west of Topeka. And on a crisp fall day in 1997, family members shared his tears of joy at the finish line.

Motivated by a “runner’s high,” Lambert began participating in marathons across the country. But it was a casual hat purchase, following a Colorado run, which shifted his focus. He was about to enter the world of ultra-marathoners.

For four times now, Lambert has endured six months of intensive training to face head-on the challenges of the renowned Leadville 100. The world of ultra-marathons, distances beyond 26.2 miles, demanded of him an even higher level of self-discipline and response to pain management. “The ability to achieve things beyond ourselves is inside each one of us. We just need to accept pain as part of the process to get to it,” he staunchly believes
Fifteen years later, as a veteran of over 25 marathons and as many ultra-runs,
Lambert brings wisdom, born of experience and pain, to the service he and his wife Karen, and their crew impart at Great Plains Running Company. A dream come true, GPRC provides a venue for personal service and encouragement to walkers and runners alike.

“Team sports aren’t accessible to nor are they practical for the majority of adults,
Lambert shares frequently with customers. “There’s nothing more portable and efficient for relieving stress and increasing one’s metabolism than walking and running.”

Reflecting back, Lambert freely admits his initial after hours’ workouts were all about him. “Now it’s relational, giving back to younger runners. Hunting for challenging courses. Providing the right gear. Seeing a whole new group cross the finish line and experience the sense of accomplishment I have felt.”