Running and dancing are more similar than you might think. Either that, or Dancing with the Stars (DTWS) professional partner Alan Bersten has a multitude of talents. At Saturday’s RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, the 30-year-old waltzed to a 1:38:43 debut, impressing the dancing world and shattering stereotypes often placed on dancers.
“We did it!” Bersten wrote on Instagram. “My first half marathon! That was so hard!”
The Minnesota native, now based in of Los Angeles, admitted to getting emotional during the race. “Still on cloud nine after yesterday,” he wrote. “I’m so proud of myself. I got emotional around mile nine and found myself crying in the middle of the run. I don’t know why–I think trying something hard just for me and also putting myself in a position where I pushed myself to this extreme in a foreign environment is new to me.
“My whole life people have always put me in a box, told me what I can and can’t do. And people have told me ‘I’m just a dancer,’” he continued. “I wanted to show everyone what I already know is true–that dancers are athletes too, and you truly can do anything you put your mind to!”
Bersten has been dancing since he was seven, and a DWTS cast member for the past 13 seasons.
Upon crossing the finish line, he embraced his girlfriend, Emma Slater (also a DWTS pro). The pair only went public with their relationship last month and have already become fan-favourite couple.
Typically, Olympic and world-class athletes who participate on the show as “stars” tend to go far. Last season saw Team USA rugby star Ilona Maher, gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik (a.k.a. “pommel horse guy”), eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and two-time Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola shine in the ballroom. Maher, paired with Bersten, finished second overall.
Maybe dancing and athletics do go hand-in-hand–earlier this month, Bersten met up with Nike athletes and Paralympic/Olympic power couple Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall to offer some dance tips (and maybe hint at their potential DWTS debut?)
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