The ultra sport athlete Mathieu Bonne from Bredene in West Flanders has embarked on a new challenge. Currently in Taiwan, the 31-year-old aims to run at least 473km in 48 hours. Unlike the West Flemings’ previous attempts to break the distance record for running within 48 hours, this time Mathieu Bonne is participating in an organised event and competing against other athletes that like him hope to break the record.
West Flemish ultra sport athlete Matthieu Bonne aims to run 473km in just 48 hours
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Any participant in the event that has run (or walked) more that 473km in 48 hours will have broken the existing world record. However, it will only be the athlete that has covered the most ground (in excess of 473km) that will be the new world record holder.
"The current record was set almost 29 years ago and hundreds of people have already tried to break it. This is a very highly regarded race," Mathieu Bonne’s coach Matthias Lievens says. "The competitors run in 600-metre circuits on a tarmacked road and they change direction every 8 hours”.
“He has a plan that has been made especially for him. It may be that someone shoots ahead straight away, but then you have to have faith that you might catch up with them after 6 or 12 hours. Everyone has his own personal plan, so he should not get distracted. The race is only over after 48 hours."
48 hours is short for Matthieu Bonne
Matthieu Bonne’s main challenge will not be lack of sleep. "48 hours is actually quite short for Matthieu. Especially if you compare it to his previous challenges, such as his 6-day race', where he ran 1,038.8 kilometres in six days. Or his week of cycling or his record-breaking ocean swim, where he swam 131 kilometres at a stretch."
"Here, the main thing is to follow the schedule to the letter. It is important to keep the pace high. It is a very tight schedule. He will have to remain highly disciplined during the breaks. Then he won’t sleep but will be given minimal medical care."
"The plan is has been drawn up with the aim of being able to break the record, so if he sticks to it, it should work. We definitely highly rate his chances."
The record attempt in Taiwan is one of three challenges Matthieu Bonne plans to take on this year. Besides running, he also wants to break the 48-hour swimming and cycling world records.