Name: David Nightingale

Occupation: Logistics General Manager

Home Town: Southampton

Questions

What is your running background?

I started running to aid weight loss a few years ago as I have heard so many others did something similar. In 2017 I weighed 20 stone through diet initially and then running I managed to lose 7 stone.

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

I didn’t really have any interest in Ultra marathons at all until I met Nathan Flear in Thailand in 2020. He would tell me some of the runs he had completed and while I hadn’t ever heard of the name of the run he would talk about the distances were insane (I actually thought he was making the distances up !!!).

Think my first Ultra race was the Test Way in 2020 when I only went to keep a mate company.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

I have been lucky enough to win a couple of low key races over the last few years, but the highlight races are a PB at London and finishing the ARC 50 mile but I have to go with getting the distance at Battersea in 2025 to enable me to have a ticket for Spartathlon as my personal highlight to date.

What Races do you have planned up to Spartathlon

Nothing specific other than a track event in July which was booked before Spartathlon was confirmed. Im lucky I live right on the edge of the New Forest so plenty of options for training runs.

What was your hardest experience?

DNFing at the ARC 100 this year, I had the dreaded Plantar for a few months which really restricted my training, the lack of training meant I shouldn’t have started the race as wasn’t fit enough. It taught me so much about the importance of being in the best shape you need to be for those types of events, basically you cannot just turn up and expect to finish if you are not in good shape.

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

I’ve generally tried to keep races semi low key and local ish…and tend to choose races around a holiday (which Tracey my wife has now sussed out).That said I have been lucky enough to run races in Thailand,& USA as well as all over the UK.

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

Depends what type of race it is however in the main I will get a strategy from Nathan Flear and try to stick to that for as long as possible, there comes a point when it goes out of the window and it becomes a case of breaking things down to please the mind and gut !

What does a typical training week look like?

My Run week is pretty much a similar structure each week consisting of around at least 4 x runs however living on the edge of the New Forest and Bournemouth beach there are lots of options during the year to have a variety of lovely scenery and surroundings.

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

You will regret it at some point in life if you don’t give at least one a go, if you manage to give one a go I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t end at one.

Tell us one interesting fact about you?

I have worked at same company employer for 41 years!. 

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

No

How did you get on?

N/A

What tip would you pass on to those taking part for the first time?

N/A

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

Hopefully being there at the “foot” and joining the list of incredible runners that have experienced and finished  this iconic event. Looking forward to meeting experienced BST regulars and drawing on their experience in the build-up.

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

Nothing much that I’m “not” looking forward to however the heat and mountain are obviously a concern as are the cut off points.

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

Being a first timer, I will leave the bulk of the  preparation to my coach and good friend Nathan Flear, as mentioned living near the New Forest there are plenty of undulating runs both on the road and hard gravel tracks. There are a few races I have my eye on to use as training runs one being a track race which was booked before Spartathlon was confirmed.

Will you be bringing any support crew to the race? (If so, please introduce them briefly)

Yes – I’m lucky to have my coach Nathan Flear who has kindly offered to be my crew for this event, he knows the course as well if not better than most !