Running 250kms in 33hrs non-stop!

Coach Rob Jones Completes Historic Spartathlon Race in 33 Hours!

Now, this is EPIC.

Over the weekend, Rob proudly represented Great Britain in the Spartathlon, a historic 250km ultra-distance race that brings together over 350 athletes to face its punishing course across Greece.

Owing to its unforgiving weather conditions and strict time constraints at 75 control points, the Athens to Sparta route is one of the world's most challenging and rewarding ultra-distance races. To enter the Spartathlon lottery, runners must complete a qualifying race, such as a registered 24-hour ultra, and achieve a specific distance within that time frame.

Saturday, September 30th, 2023, saw 380 runners begin the gruelling 250km race. With a mere 36-hour window to complete the Spartathlon, 67% of athletes crossed the finish line on Sunday evening.

Rob completed the race in 33 hours.

Rob faced numerous highs and lows throughout the event, yet he never faltered. After the initial 80km, Rob felt like he was nearing the finish line, only to realise he had covered one-third of the distance. The sweltering heat and aggressive starting time caps began to take their physical and mental toll. Rob says, "Once you pass the 80km mark, you begin to relax, and your mind begins to wonder and try to convince you that you're nearly finished." Rob described the next 30km as a mental battle. Along the final route, Rob also suffered an ankle injury. Yet, when others would have quit, Rob persevered.

Rob attributed much of his success to the invaluable support of his crew, particularly Marcus Smith, who was there every step of the way. Furthermore, the presence of other inspiring athletes on the course served as a continuous source of motivation for Rob. Among them were fellow "crazy ultra runners," including those who had accomplished the extraordinary feat of finishing 25 consecutive Spartathlons.

When asked to share his thoughts on the race, Rob shared, "For those considering an ultra, all you need to do is start, and you'll find that when you finish, you won't feel any worse. Don't look at my feet because they're not painting a good picture right now."

Sometimes, words fall short of capturing an individual's awe-inspiring achievements. Rob's unwavering determination has epitomised the spirit of "Show No Weakness," and the entire InnerFight community is beyond proud.