Name: James Ellis

Occupation: Nutritionist

Home Town: Leeds

Questions

What is your running background?

Used to run when I was younger. Then stopped for more than 30 years. Then started again.

When did you first start running Ultra marathons and why?

When I first ran Spartathlon in 2015, my answer to this was the Leeds Half Marathon ☺
Now I run a series of local races called the Punk Panther and the occasional timed track event, occasional canal runner. Sparta tends to be my annual suffer fest.

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

Spartathlon more than anything – and some local races to me in Leeds called Punk Panther.
Plus the occasional track or canal race.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

I’ve now done six Spartathlons and one Spartathloff when Ian Thomas, Ektoras
Agathokleous and myself ran the route when the race was cancelled due to covid.
Third at the Athens Ultra Festival 2018 with 137 miles (not sure I’ll ever beat that)
And I used to podium quite a bit at the Punk Panther events above, especially when I turned 50 and moved into vets. Six years later, not so much.

What was your hardest experience?

Poohgate at Spartathlon 2019. Just before the race started, I went to a portaloo under the
Acropolis in the dark. Someone previously had hovered and missed the toilet and I ended up putting my hand in a steaming pile of their crap five minutes before the race. I never really recovered mentally from the shock and DNFed outside Nemea.

What is your typical race strategy for an ultra?

Fight the urge to start like a twat. Try and keep it steady. Walk if need to when miles are banked. Try and eat/drink regularly.

What does a typical training week look like?

Couple of strength sessions in the gym, Maintenance miles between 40-60 then ramping to a few weeks of 70-80 before a big race. This year, thanks to crewing Laura Watts at
Badwater, I’ve done some proper heat training in a chamber and everything. Will be
interested to see how that translates to Spartathlon.

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

It will feel great, then crap, then great, then crap. Just know that feeling comes in waves,
but nothing tops getting over the finish line.

Can you tell us one interesting fact about yourself;

I was brought up in Greece, so if you need someone who speaks the lingo, I’m your man.

Have you taken part in the Spartathlon before?

This year will be my 10th run of the route.

How did you get on?

Six finishes, 2 DNFs, 1 SpartathlOFF

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

The absolute key to a finish is to manage the heat in the afternoon of day one when you still
need to be running at a decent pace. Do that, get to Corinth with 45 to spare and you
should be good.

What are you looking forward to at the Spartathlon race?

The finish is just the best.

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

The afternoon of day 1 if it’s a scorcher. It’s torture.

How will you prepare specifically for the Spartathlon race?

The treadmill in the garage is surrounded by heaters, but as above, Ive done some in-lab
training this year.

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

Back in 2015, I first ran this absolute epic with the inimitable Jamie Holmes. We were
crewed by Daz, Bone and my bro-in-law Andy. Jamie has since crewed me multiple times
and is back on my team again. He is absolutely awesome, you just won’t find a nicer guy – if
you need help on the course (runner or crew), look him up. His experience is massive – and
he always has a smile on his face.