Dean Crow Athlete Ambassador
Dean enjoys the thrill of tough endurance challenges and has his sights set on some big events. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
I have always played sport, mainly football and rugby at school. Outside of that, I did a lot of surfing. When I got older, I moved more into football, recreational running, and cycling to work
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
Football changed; it got too dangerous as I had to consider work and family, so I decided to stop playing but needed to fill the gap so I joined the local triathlon club. I love the three sports so why not do triathlon?
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
Brutal Extreme Triathlon Snowdon 2019. I focused a lot on running that year so the other elements had been put to one side but a friend said let’s do it. I went in feeling strong but was surprised by just how strong I was and finished 1st by a mile.
And your proudest achievement?
Representing Team GB at Challenge Weymouth long distance triathlon in 2015. Finishing 5th in my age group was a huge result as the sport was still new to me then.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
Plymouth Triathlon in 2018 was the only time I have had to DNF as my calf muscle cramped half a mile into the run, which was disappointing as it’s my local event.
The toughest race I've done was Challenge Weymouth as, after posting an impressive bike leg time of 5:14 in tough conditions, both of my IT bands caused huge pain through 24 miles of the run. Just finishing was a mental challenge but I was never going to give up
How do you overcome setbacks?
Setbacks are an opportunity to refocus and align weaknesses. As much as they are inconvenient and really annoying, they also serve as a chance to sit down and build a stronger base to make you stronger
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
I would've liked more advice on the different events and distances available. It’s important to understand your strengths and weakness; there are so many different formats to suit different people and getting into the right one can help you be more competitive and build confidence.
What are your goals for 2020?
The main goal is to complete a sub 3-hour marathon and then see how fast I can go under that. I am also looking to cycle from Land's End to John O' Groats in 6 days and do a 24-hour swim in Scotland.
Who do you take your inspiration from?
I take my inspiration from other competitors and how they manage to push their bodies through some amazing challenges like deca triathlons and 24-hour runs. I am so impressed by ultra athletes; it pushes me on to look for something extreme myself.
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
The kit from Sundried is great quality. We are all aware of ensuring we do our bit for the planet so having kit made sustainably and ethically is a big positive for me, it means the clothes I purchase are going to last and be as good as they were when I got them, even after a lot of use. Currently, my favourite bit of kit is the bib shorts, they fit just right and the chamois padding is perfect for even the longest of rides.
