“Sitting in class all day was painful for me as a young boy... Running set me free. I’ve always related to the world by being outside, moving.”
He will also avoid all trans fats and hydrogenated oils. “My diet has changed considerably
over the years of running,” he admits: “I used to eat all kinds of junk food but now I really think about what I put into my body and I think my performance has benefitted hugely as a result.”
Tough trainer & multi-sport enthusiast
Among Dean’s other favourite sports are surfing, cycling and rock climbing. But when preparing for a challenge he trains anywhere between 70 and 200 miles per week, covering the distance either by running or using the Elliptigo (www.
elliptigo.com), a new product which is like an elliptical machine for the outdoors and for which Dean is now a global brand ambassador. “It’s hard to get me to believe in
anything new to be honest,” he admits. “But I really love the Elliptigo because it allows me to do back-to-back hard days’ training because using it has zero impact on your body and yet, unlike cycling, you’re recruiting the same muscles as running. For a lot of runners who are injured or have joint problems it’s brought back the magic of running as it requires the same striding motion.” He insists that it is determination and
hard work that has got him where he is today, rather than talent or genetics. “Sometimes I train by running all night
for eight to 10 hours because I have to get used to not sleeping for when I do 48 hour races.” “The worst running experience I’ve
ever had was probably when I ran through three nights without sleep. I fell asleep and woke up sleep-running down the middle of the road. I’ve read reports of soldiers on the battlefield who sleep-march. I guess it was a bit like that. I didn’t fall over, I just kept going.’ “I’m not special. I’m not gifted or superhuman. There’s a training effect, and I’m passionate about my training and I think that anyone can do what I do. If you train diligently and really go about it as professionally as I have, then anyone can do it.” *Run: 26 stories of Blisters and Bliss (Rodale, from £8.24 on
amazon.co.uk) Find out more about Dean at
www.ultramarathonman.com.
RUNNING FREE n 45
RUNNERS
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