Runners Profile

Your Name: David Bone

Occupation: I work with the handsome and talented Jamie Holmes in I.T for a small London tech firm Xoomworks

Home Town: Hackney, London

Running Background

What is your running background?

I cut my cloth in school county cross-country running but then found a greater love with cycling in the 80s before discovering Ibiza and Dj’ing. There was quite an exercise wilderness for me before a return from a stag party in Lithuania (with Jamie Ellis!) where my doctor sternly told me to change my ways or die. I was bullied into running the London marathon in 2005 and since then I’ve been happily running ultras and triathlons

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

Fellow 2017 Sparta buddies Darren Strachan, James Ellis, Jamie Holmes and I wanted to raise funds for our favourite charity HemiHelp and they offered us places in both Brighton and London marathons back to back. So we decided to return to Brighton in the middle of that week and run an ultra to London and thereby run over 4 marathons in a week. It was a huge buzz and we formed a special ultra-running bond between the four of us. Since then we’ve done Cotswold 100, 24hr race, UK 100km championship plus a few of the well-known ultra-races in the UK together. However from an early point we heard about the legendary Spartathlon and we wanted to do it – together. We all entered in 2015 and only James and Jamie got in (Daz and I crewed). Darren re-entered in 2016 and this year all four of us tried and miraculously got in. Being a group of 4 close friends all getting in this year’s 2017 Team GB Sparta is a miracle and one I am blessed to be part of.

When or where (at which events) are we most likely to see you?

You will always find me in Victoria Park or Hackney Marshes, London. I’m heat training in Lanzarote, Bulgaria and Romania

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

I have a marathon PB of 2.51, a 100km PB of 9:07 a 24 hour PB of 112.36 miles

What was your hardest race experience?

Most ultra-runners know that each event is unique. In the Cotswold 100 I had such chronic stomach problems that it was a miracle that I finished. I returned to Paddington station and collapsed unconscious in the train toilet for quite some time as well. In the UK 100km Champs I was injured inside 3 hours and ran with that injury for 7 hours – stupid I know but once again you find out stuff about yourself. Strangely the hardest event I’ve ever done was the original Tough Guy. 4 plus hours breaking ice lakes in January and constantly being subjected to ice water based torture – I have bone and mental scars from that one event that still haunt me.

What events do you have planned for 2017 up to Spartathlon?

This year Darren and I are in the World 24 Champs in Belfast in July

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

If, as is the case in this year’s Sparta, I am fortunate to be with life-long friends then my simple aim is to help them and see if we can finish together. I truly believe that running is a joy and that long-running means more time (hopefully) out in the wonder of nature (or Hellas Can Factory land)

What does a typical training week look like?

I’m lucky that my gorgeous wife Gaby is also a runner. She could be an ultra-athlete but her GWR social life would prevent it. We do however run with our friend Alice two or three mornings a week. I also prefer to mix things up. I’m sticking to skiing and long distance swimming in my routine as well as some cycle sportives. However inspired by the mighty auto-qualifiers in this year’s event I will be looking at hitting some quality 100 mile weeks and that will undoubtedly mean meeting Darren and Jamie at Hyde Park Corner on many 4am Friday mornings

What one tip would you pass onto people running an Ultra marathon for the first time?

You need to do yourself some justice by preparing with quality training miles. My Californian buddy Mike Bestvina always says “train for what your goals are” – So if you are doing a 50km then get your shorter faster distances honed and if you are planning a Sparta assault then make sure you follow a “road + heat + miles + hills (down-hill)” training regime….otherwise….

Can you tell us one interesting fact about yourself?

James Ellis (McInner Tube) and I (PonyMC) used to be part of a Dj Crew called “Pony on a Motorcycle” with our beloved friend Johnny (2%) – We did a tour to Les Vegas in the 90s and that was probably the last time that I spent 36 waking hours with James. Problem I will have at Sparta is the lack of Strawberry Daiquiris

Spartathlon Questions

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

No

 

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Pinching myself on more than a few occasions that I am in the race itself and making sure that I do everything I humanly can to support both Darren and I finishing

What are you not looking forward to during the Spartathlon race?

Something is going to go wrong – just need to be ready for it and beat it

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

“road + heat + miles + hills (down-hill)” training

Will you be bringing any support crew to the race?

It’s in the planning stage!!!! There will be friends and wives on route as well which will just add to the experience