Ireland-based ultrarunner killed by car while running

Austrian-born ultrarunner Thomas Bubendorfer, 52, well-known in Irish running circles and for his blog Diary of a Rubbish Marathon Runner, was killed when hit by a car during a run last week in Madrid. His wife, Niamh Swan, confirmed his death on social media. “My darling husband Thomas Bubendorfer was killed hit by a car while out for a run in Madrid. We were married 25 years with four children and still so much in love. There are no words,” Swan said.

Bubendorfer, who was an accomplished athlete who worked as a computer programmer, running many marathons and ultras and competing in the IAU 24-hour world championships in 2017 and 2015. He also completed the infamous 246K Spartathlon in 2015. His award-winning blog chronicles his journey toward completing a sub-three-hour marathon and details how he discovered a love and skill for running ultra distances.

World champion ultrarunner Camille Herron expressed her condolences to Bubendorfer’s family on Twitter, and added: “He commented on my post about Spartathlon a week ago. I’ll dedicate this year’s race to him.”