“Bachelorette” Runner-up Runs the Falmouth Road Race

By: Christopher Kazarian
Published: 08/17/10

Cape Cod fans of “The Bachelorette” were genuinely upset when one of their own, Chris Lambton of Dennis, came in second in the competition to win Ali Fedotowsky’s heart in the final episode of the reality television show that aired earlier this month.

But there were a number of women who were secretly excited to know the 33-year-old heartthrob was still on the dating market. And this past Sunday those women were not hesitant to let their feelings be known about the reality star who competed in the 38th running of the Falmouth Road Race.

Unlike his second-place showing in “The Bachelorette,” he did much worse in the race, finishing in 2,474th place overall with a time of 1:03:01, despite his running pedigree.

Mr. Lambton ran track at Providence College, where he earned All-New England honors in 1998 as well as being named to the Big East Conference Academic All-Star Team in 1998-99.

But a quick glance of Mr. Lambton after the race—where females young and old lined up for a chance to take photos, to get a hug, and an autograph from him—revealed that the Dennis resident came in first in attracting attention from those of the opposite sex.

Registered nurses Nancy B. Koss of North Falmouth and Nicole Tropeano of Hanson were among dozens who had Mr. Lambton sign their race numbers. Although both are married, Ms. Tropeano said, “we are trying to hook our nurse friend up with him.”

In that sentiment the two can join a long list of eager applicants.

When Sheryl Briggs of Marion, a former assistant track coach at Falmouth High School where she doubled as a culinary arts teacher last year, learned that Mr. Lambton had run the race along with her, she lamented the fact she did not do more to attract his attention.

“I should have run with a dozen roses,” she laughed, referencing the tradition the show has in which the bachelor or bachelorette lets contestants know they can continue vying for their love when they receive a rose at the end of each episode.

She said she enjoys the show “because of the drama, with the cat fights and the girls fighting. It is ridiculous.”

This did not diminish her thoughts about Mr. Lambton, although she was unsure whether he could keep up with her—she ran a personal best of 55:56. If Mr. Lambton is interested, Ms. Briggs said, “tell him to go run Chicago,” in reference to that city’s marathon, which she is running in October.

As to what makes Mr. Lambton so special, former East Falmouth School music teacher Dana L. Ayers said “he is very dreamy,” minutes after she had completed the race with her friend, 2004 Falmouth High School graduate Amy Fox of Franklin and Ms. Fox’s mother, Pamela J. Falcone of North Falmouth.

“He’s cute and he likes dogs,” Ms. Fox added.

“He likes blondes, which helps,” Ms. Falcone said, making a pitch for Mr. Lambton to date her daughter.

As to whether he would be single after Sunday, the trio were in agreement—no chance. “There’s way too many hot women like us,” Ms. Fox laughed.

Although nurse Heidi O. Scheer of of Dillingham Avenue, Falmouth, is already spoken for and admittedly did not watch this season of “The Bachelorette,” she said at least one of her friends who was also running the race was excited about the potential of rubbing shoulders with Mr. Lambton along the 7.1-mile course. That friend, Ms. Scheer said, “wrote him a letter and he wrote her back. She hopes to run into him today.”

The reaction from those watching the race was just as enthusiastic, although, on occasion, there were those who had no idea who Mr. Lambton was or what station airs “The Bachelorette.”

As she sat in a lawn chair alongside family and friends at a summer rental along Falmouth Heights Road before the race began, Marissa DaSilva of Arlington lamented the fact that Mr. Lambton did not win the reality show.

“I wish she [Ms. Fedotowsky] picked him over Roberto,” she said, in reference to the first-place contestant.

Would she ever want to date him?” “Oh no. I have a boyfriend,” she laughed. “My boyfriend is better looking.”

“She’s single,” Jane Hull of Seymour, Connecticut, said, pointing to her daughter, Kelsey Hull.

“I’m also 17,” Kelsey pointed out.

Near mile six, at the dog water station where two bowls lay for passing canines, Megan Grady of Cockeysville, Maryland, said she was rooting for Mr. Lambton to find love on “The Bachelorette.”

She sat in the front yard of her parents’ summer home on Falmouth Heights Road waiting for the race to start and her boyfriend, Kevin Sullivan, to eventually pass.

While she is in a relationship, Ms. Grady laughed that “a lot of my friends wanted me to go find him in Dennis.” She said she would not only cheer for him, but “maybe I’ll drop some of my friends’ phone numbers on him.”

Seated on the ground with her back resting against a telephone pole at the intersection of Harbor Avenue and Falmouth Heights Road, Falmouth Recreation Director Helen E. Kennedy said she only watched the final episode of “The Bachelorette,” but was pulling for Mr. Lambton.

On Sunday, she was observing the race, not to catch a glimpse of Mr. Lambton, but of her two children, Shawn, 32, and Elizabeth, 27, the latter of whom is single, Ms. Kennedy said, joking that her daughter may wind up being the next Ms. Lambton.

Kim B. Muma of Frederick B. Douglas Road, North Falmouth, had similar aspirations for one of her daughters, Karrie G. Muma, 22, or Jacquelynne B.Muma, 20, who were running Sunday’s race.

“We all loved Chris,” her friend Ann M. Rennie of Arthur Street, North Falmouth, said, mentioning that her two daughters, Elizabeth, 17, and Caroline, 14, were huge fans of Mr. Lambton. “My daughters are looking for him,” she laughed.
“I think all the women are,” Ms. Muma chimed in.

“I bet he gets a lot of roses,” Ms. Rennie said. “He will not be single by the end of this day. He will have his choice of women for sure. He may even propose to someone today.”

Seated next to the two North Falmouth parents was the Hopkins family from Dennis who said Mr. Lambton has become a celebrity from adoring women in his hometown.

“He has some followers, but I don’t think he’s settled down yet,” Karen Hopkins of Dennis said, as she made a sign in support of her sister, Katherine Hopkins, along Falmouth Heights Road.

Despite his popularity, there were some like Sarah Lavoie of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who said, “I would not recognize him if he walked by me right now.” One reason for her disinterest, she laughed, is that she was married last year in Falmouth Heights. “I’m not eligible,” she said. “I’m sure for some it is a thrill that he is running.”

Stacey K. Zylinski of John Parker Road, East Falmouth, was another in the same group as Ms. Lavoie. “”I don’t know who he is,” she said, joking that her one piece of advice for Mr. Lambton would be “don’t get married.”

As he was swarmed with adoring fans on Sunday, Mr. Lambton did not appear to be in any rush to find a bride-to-be. “I’m single,” he said bluntly.

For him the day was less about finding someone than about accomplishing a goal—finishing his first road race while personally helping to raise over $10,000 for Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS) to raise awareness for ALS.

His mother, Margie Lambton, died from multi system atrophy nearly two years ago, but not before she received care from CCALS as a client. “That’s the one great thing about being on the show is I can use my celebrity to give back to worthy causes,” he said.

Overall, he said, his first experience with the road race was truly enjoyable, particularly with the support he received from fans along the route. And to the delight of adoring women, he plans on coming back to Falmouth next year.

“I loved the Road Race, so definitely I want to run it again,” he said.