24 Hours on the Track: An Interview with Endurance Athlete Matthieu Bonne
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Last week, we featured professional Belgian endurance athlete Matthieu Bonne's epic 177.5 mile / 275.2 km track session in our Spotted on Strava weekly roundup. That activity set a Belgian record for longest distance covered in 24 hours on a track. We wanted to find out more about Matthieu's record-breaking feat, so we reached out to him to learn how he fueled for this run, what it takes to keep going all day and night, and what big achievement the multiple world record holder has his sights set on next.
How did you fuel during your 24 hours on the track?
My nutrition plan was BIG. I tried to get around 50g of carbs from isotonic drinks every hour. Every half hour I ate a snack containing around 30-50g of carbs. These snacks came in the form of gels, energy bars, and sport gummies. All my nutrition is from Etixx, a Belgian company I partnered with.
Every 4 hours I took a 12-minute break during which I could eat whole foods like bananas, rice, sandwiches, etc.
How did you stay mentally strong when running around the same track again and again?
To me, running on a track feels meditative. I would focus on small parts of the run, not on the end result. It's better to divide such a run into components instead of looking at the big picture. Try to survive every 4 hours with a good feeling and move from there. Every 4 hours adds up and before you know it, you are already halfway there.
I also use music but not all the time. Music can be very helpful, but don't use it all the time otherwise its strength will decrease. I listen to podcasts too, but mostly at night. Running at night can be difficult. Listening to podcasts at night makes me feel that I'm not alone, like I have company. It makes the run easier.
Tell us about your gear. Did you switch shoes?
I started the first 10 hours with the HOKA Rocket X (carbon). After that I switched to HOKA Mach 6, and every 4 hours I would switch pairs. Every break I also switched out my socks, T-shirt, and shorts. I used anti-friction salve between my legs and armpits and taped my toes to prevent blisters.
You hold world records for the longest nonstop ocean swim and longest distance cycling in 7 days. You have also run 8 triathlons in 8 days on 8 Canary Islands. What's next for you?
From September 5-11, I'm participating in the Gomu EMU World 6 Day Championships in Hungary. My goal is to break Yiannis Kouros's 20-year-old world record in which he ran 644.36 miles / 1,037 km in 6 days.
Five months ago ago, I attempted to break Kouros's world record but had to abandon my attempt due to terrible weather in Belgium, which led to lung pneumonia, a muscle tear in my leg. and open wounds on my feet. I ended up with 492.75 miles / 793 km in 111 hours. I was on record pace the entire time before my attempt was determined on medical grounds. Now I'm better prepared and I'm running MUCH faster, as my Belgian records shows.
Follow Matthieu Bonne as he attempts to break another world record
