In this month’s issue of “Murfreesboro Makers”—featuring individuals from Murfreesboro who made it big—I sat down with a local, ultramarathon business legend of a man, David Jones.
David holds the American records for fastest 100-miler ever by a runner aged 65 to 70, and the American 100-mile record for age 70 and over. He is presently the only American over 70 to have run 100 miles in under 20 hours.
In the following interview you will find out more about his passions for running, business and adventure.
Mr. Murfreesboro: Tell us who you are.
David Jones: My name is David Jones, I was born in the old Rutherford Hospital and I am 71 years old.
Where did you go to school?
I went to Crichlow [Crichlow Grammar School, formerly located on North Maple Street, closed in 1968] then on to McFadden. In 1966 I went to Central High School and I finished up at Rockvale. I later graduated with a psychology degree from MTSU.
Where did you grow up?
In the downtown area of Murfreesboro near Spring Street and Maple Street.
Why did your family move so much?
We were not wealthy. The saying was when I was at McFadden, was when a kid got back from recess, it was a good day.
Did you play any sports?
I played baseball and basketball at Rockvale, which was a smaller school than Murfreesboro Central.
Tell me about your family origin?
My father was Buck Jones and my mom was Elizabeth Ann Jones and they owned and operated Jones Car Wash, starting in 1971 here in Murfreesboro. I have a brother, Palmer Jones, and a sister, Charlotte Jones Stinson.
Where did you go to college?
MTSU. Palmer and I were the first two in our family to go to college.
Where did you work?
I started working in 1971 seven days a week at Jones Car Wash.
When did you get started in banking?
I got started in 1977 helping to start Citizens Central Bank with Don Moser.
When did you meet your wife?
I knew Pallie Walker in high school and we reconnected in the early 1990s. She moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to pursue nursing.
So how did that work with her living in Lexington and you in Murfreesboro?
Every Friday I used Tennessee Airways to fly to Lexington. I did it so much I used to ride copilot. On one trip to Lexington it was me, the pilot and David Cassidy from The Partridge Family. Pallie and I married in 1983 and will be married 40 years in October of this year.
When did you start running?
I started running in the 1980s at the MTSU track.
Who helped you get started running?
Pallie, my wife.
What was your first marathon?
In 1987 I ran the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, Alabama. A marathon is 26.2 miles.
When did you start running ultramarathons?
In 1987 I also ran the Strolling Jim, which was 41.2 miles out in Wartrace, Tennessee. Gary Cantrell Wildman is the race director. That race is very hot and hilly and is run in May and is the second oldest ultramarathon next to the Western States Endurance Run in California.
How many times have you run the Strolling Jim?
This year was my 35th year running the race; [I ran it this year] after coming back from Mount Everest.
How many marathons have you run? What are some of them?
I’ve run hundreds of marathons. I’ve run the Boston Marathon five times. I ran it at 1996 for the 100th anniversary of it. I’ve qualified since 1997. I’ve run the New York Marathon. The first time I ran the Boston Marathon there was probably 3,500 runners. I was running with people like Grete Waitz, Frank Shorter and Boston Billy Rogers to name a few.
How come you’ve never done a triathlon or Iron Man?
I love running too much.
How many miles do you run a week and how many do you run when you’re training for a race?
I run 100 miles a week and when I’m training I run up to 180 miles a week.
Where do you typically run?
I mainly run at the Battlefield and the Greenway here in Murfreesboro.
How many miles have you run since you started this journey of running?
I’ve run nearly six times around the world, somewhere around 150,000 miles.
You just got back from the Badwater Race out in Death Valley. How was it?
The Badwater starts in Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level and we run 135 miles up and finish at Whitney Portal, which is the base for the hike up Mount Whitney, which is 14,550 feet above sea level. Typically it’s 120 degrees. In certain places, five feet off the asphalt is between 160 and 180 degrees. The last 13 miles we climb from 3,000 feet to 9,000 feet. We run through parts of where Top Gun: Maverick was filmed and where Charlie Manson’s ranch was. The Badwater is recognized as the world’s toughest foot race.
How do you make it through those conditions of heat, distance and altitude change?
There is a line in your consciousness where you can’t take any more. That’s when you find out what you are really made of. There have been times when I ran the Badwater when I thought there was a bridge and bridge construction going on, but after the race I asked my team “Where was the bridge?” There are no bridges in the desert. Another time I fell asleep running. There were a stack of rocking chairs, holding me up, that would go away and come back. There have been other times where I had an out-of-body experience where I was hovering above my body, watching myself run.
Why do you push yourself to these extremes?
I get through it by digging down deep. Not only do I have to be physically fit, but more importantly, 100 percent mentally ready to run a race. I was the oldest finisher at the Badwater this year.
I understand you had your toenails removed. Why?
It made running a lot easier cause they hurt all the time. I had all 10 removed in one day eight years ago. Going toenail-free was the best thing I ever did regarding my feet.
Regarding your foot races and adventures, what are you most proud of?
This past year I did my climb of Mount Everest, to base camp, close to 20,000 feet, in Nepal. Secondly, my 35th Strolling Jim race in Wartrace, Tennessee. Lastly, the Badwater 135 in Death Valley, California.
What made you want to climb Mount Everest?
It’s always been one of my goals. I guess for selfish reasons; the danger. And I wanted to see the Khumbu Icefall which is 18,000 feet up and is beautiful. It’s part of a glacier.
Tell me about your trip to Mount Everest.
We flew into Kathmandu, which is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. We then had to hike 36 miles to camp. During that time we got acclimated to the altitude. We had Sherpas, who are guides who lived there. They took us on an alternate route to the base camp. We had whiteouts and we were on trails that were only 18 inches wide and we were all on all fours with a 5-to-6,000-foot drop off. I didn’t train for that. There was a lot of exposure there. I began to question, what was I doing? I thought of stopping because I didn’t buy into this exposure. We didn’t have the right equipment or the skills, but we pushed through. This is the only time I was concerned about my life. Our guide had summited Everest 16 times. It took us 12 days to hike 36 miles into camp, which is just shy of 20,000 feet, with no electricity, no running water, no heat. A few years ago, 19 folks were killed at the Khumba Ice falls from an avalanche.
Do they talk about death there since there is a probability that someone could die from slipping, altitude, sickness, the weather and other health issues?
Yes, they talk about deaths quite a bit. One of my friends died while on the trip. There are a lot of people still on the mountain who didn’t make it.
Why didn’t you climb to the top?
I didn’t have the right skills to try it. I got pinkeye and the Khumbu cough while I was there. Out of the seven in my group, two did summit—two ladies—and one person died.
Tell me more about your adventure at Everest?
April 1 of this year we took a tea break and we went into this building and we were sitting around and the building started to shake and shiver so I followed my Sherpa outside. It had been an earthquake. Therefore, we were all concerned about an avalanche.
How was the airport in Kathmandu?
It was okay. It was strange going through the airport and seeing men with machine guns. I was told by our guide to just smile and keep moving.
What made this possible for you to do all of these travels?
The nursing home business with my father-in-law, Dr. Joe Tom Walker, and also the real estate business.
What nursing homes are we talking about?
We had Glen Oaks in Shelbyville, Tennessee. We had Boulevard Terrace and Northside Health Care over by MTCS here in Murfreesboro.
What about your real estate endeavors? Where was it mainly located?
My father-in-law, Dr. Walker, and myself would buy farms in Beech Grove, Bell Buckle and Wartrace, and we did some developing of those. I sold out of the nursing home business somewhere around the last 10 or 12 years. I’ve sat on the Ascension board for many years. I’m very proud of our hospital here in Murfreesboro.
What are your thoughts about the growth of Murfreesboro?
Controlled growth is good as long as it’s planned well. I always say one man’s progress is another man’s nuisance. When I went to MTSU in 1969, there were 5,900 students there, and the only time there was traffic was during the holidays, especially around Christmastime. No one knew that Murfreesboro and this area was going to grow like it has the last 20 years. If you are a homegrown ’Boroan like you and me we just hate all the traffic.
Thank you David for sitting down with me and opening up about your unique, adventurous life. Remember folks go out and be the best you can be and do something nice for somebody today. For me I’m going to go climb Tiger Hill. Who’s with me?
