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INSPIRATION
FOLLOWING IN
DAD’ S FOOTSTEPS
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Who is Jonathon Beard when he’ s not running? When time off from running allows, I’ m an attorney, but I like to pretend that I’ m a mechanic. My dad and I love working on cars! I also like to explore overland around Southern Africa, birdwatch, take‘ old-school’ film photos, and restore old Gaggia coffee machines.
Amongst the runners that will line up for the 2027 TTOM Ultra will be one who proves that the apple really doesn’ t fall far from the proverbial tree! Meet Jonathon Beard, whose own TTOM running is inspired by his father, David, and their shared love of the TTOM event. – COMPILED BY LINDY-JOY DENNIS
YOUNGEST MALE BNC ULTRA ENTRANT
Jonathon Beard
Age: 32 11 Ultra Marathon medals – Blue Number 6407 4 Half Marathon medals
Father: David Beard 30 Ultra Marathon medals – Blue Number 2271
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What was your reason for taking up running, and what motivates your running today? Running for me started thanks to the influence of my dad, David Beard – as is the case with so many others, I suspect. He is an ultramarathon runner and a near 40-year veteran of Rocky Road Runners( club) in Johannesburg.
To say I was overweight as a child is probably being kind. One Saturday morning when I was about 10, Dad grabbed me out of bed and told me I was doing the Rockies 5km Time Trial at 8am. It may have taken me more than an hour to finish it, but since then I have always run – mostly to keep up, and, of course, eventually beat my dad, but also to better myself.
Running saved me from being the chubbiest kid at school and gave me many friends, so it changed my life. It’ s also generated some of my proudest moments, and provided an outlet for stress. It continues to provide an infinite horizon of achievement − you can always run faster, further, or somewhere more interesting!
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You completed four TTOM Half Marathons before migrating to the Ultra at the age of 20. Was that always the plan? Every Easter holiday was spent in Cape Town watching my dad run the Two Oceans Ultra. As soon as I started running at 10, I knew I wanted to do the Ultra, but Athletics South Africa( ASA) rules meant the best I could do from age 16 to 19 was run the Half. As soon as I was eligible to enter the Ultra at age 20, I did.
Jonathon Beard will be the youngest male Ultra Blue Number-holder in the 2027 Ultra
34 TOTALSPORTS TWO OCEANS MARATHON 2027 POWERED BY BYD