Admas Belilgne as a child in Harare, running came naturally. Whether it was during physical education class or while competing on the school athletic team, the result was the same, it just felt right. Actually and this is shocking for an ultra runner I started out as a sprinter and a long jumper in high school. I stayed in shape, by swimming, bicycling and cheerleading. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved running. I used to day dream about running long distance. In my gut, I knew I would be good at it. It was simply a matter of time before I realized how fast and how far I could go.
A mother of three, I enjoyed running during each of my pregnancies. Joggers in Houston's Herman Park never got used to the sight of me trucking around the two and half mile loop while nine months pregnant in the sweltering summer heat. My kids now in their twenties, all run recreationally. Although I jogged regularly back then, it wasn't until the early 1980's that I dove into racing. After running a number of 10 and 15 kilometer races, I took the ultimate challenge and decided to enter the 1981 Houston Tenneco marathon. Despite my fears otherwise, it was very easy and I finished in 3hrs 33 min. In fact it was so easy, that two months later I managed to take third place in the Galveston marathon after leading for the first 18 miles.
I have run 35 marathons with a PR of 3:19:27. My true passion however lies with Ultra Running. I began running ultra distances 8 years ago and, at the age of 51, have completed close to 50 races ranging from 50km to 100 miles. I have six 100 milers under my belt and placed as the first woman in three. I have completed 24hr, 12hr,9hr, 8hr and 6hr races. I won first woman in three of these and placed 2nd in the 12hr race. My most recent win was an 88+ mile/24hr run, on an outdoor track in queens, NY which I completed five days after running the NYC marathon.
I have competed heavily on the international ultra running circuit. Over the past few years I have run races in locales as diverse as China, Brazil, Jamaica, Jordan, France and the UK. I have received four awards in the famous London to Brighton ultra run placing as the third woman over all, the U.S. team winner, and on two occasions earning the Ted Corbitt Cup which honors the first American finisher. I am also a three time finisher of the grueling Comrades Marathon in Durban, South Africa.
The joy and happiness I get from ultra running is indescribable. I love it! So much so that I encourage anyone and everyone I meet to try running. My friends like to say that I make distance running look easy. What I say back to them is that it is simply a pure reflection of how I feel inside.

Admas Belilgne Race History
Long Island 24 Hour Race - First Place 2004
Verbier La Course 50km - First Place 2004
Vermont 50km - Second Place in Age Group 2004
London to Brighton 2004 First Place in Age Group