15-year-old Ontario runner completes 100-mile race

June 6, 2024

Completing a 100-mile race is an accomplishment for any runner, but Ronnie Bondy stood out from the other athletes at the First Annual weULTRA Run (FAwR) in southwestern Ontario’s Essex County last weekend—Ronnie, from Belle River, Ont., is only 15. The Grade 9 student ran with his father, Brian Bondy (an accomplished ultra-distance athlete himself, who competed on the Canadian Backyard Ultra team in 2022) for 27 hours and 24 minutes, to finish fifth overall.

FAwR is a self-supported race, but runners can accept aid dropped off along the course by “road angels,” and can access gas stations along the course. Ronnie had a large support system that included his mother, grandparents, and friends and family, who ran and biked with him for sections of the course. He fit in only one 20-minute power nap at mile 72, before continuing through the night in heavy rain. Canadian Running