Beau van Erven Dorens

TV personality Beau van Erven Dorens (39), known for programmes such as CQC, I love Holland, The sixth sense and Deal or No Deal, enjoyed the 36^th CPC Run The Hague with his wife Selly on Sunday 14 March 2010. "I'm coming back next year."

'The feeling of solidarity is very special'

What was it like to take part in the CPC Run The Hague?

"It was fantastic. What a wonderful atmosphere! I think The Hague is a fantastic city. Open and green by the sea. We are very happy in Amsterdam, but I can also see myself living in The Hague. I would run on the beach every day. I also love Scheveningen. During the CPC Run we went criss-cross through the neighbourhoods and that is really special. Shame we couldn't run a little longer on the boulevard. And that pier! I was really looking forward to it. I guess that thing was not built for such a mass of people.

"What I thought was nice was the silence that sets in after about ten kilometres. Then everyone is concentrating on running and you feel the tiredness in the group. That feeling of solidarity is very special. That hand on your shoulder or a little conversation or joke with someone. My wife and I have enjoyed it.

"From a sporting point of view I wasn't satisfied. I'm a beginner endurance runner. I ran the Amsterdam half marathon and the New York marathon thereafter. I ran the Amsterdam half marathon in 1.43 and would have like to have run a little faster in The Hague. The first fifteen kilometres went well. After that the 'fatigue' set in and I really couldn't do any more to improve on my time. I get so excited by running. I feel like an athlete, ha-ha, and slowly begin to realise that I am not one. Ultimately I ran 1.46.94"

When did you start running?

"About two years ago. I used to run around the Vondelpark now and then, but after three kilometres I'd collapse ha-ha-ha.  I like being outside and not inside in a gym, and that you can lose yourself in your thoughts and wear yourself out at the same time. My dream is to run many races and be a little faster each time. I'm looking at the triathlon. That really appeals to me. I train by myself and run a kilometre or ten, and sometimes a little further, along the Amstel every other day. I love it!"

Did you run with your wife in The Hague?

"Yes, she also took part in the half marathon in Amsterdam. My sons are 8 (twins), 6 and 4, so we haven't got them running yet.  Although… they run every day and can't sit still for a moment. Their muscles and their suppleness always fascinate me. That is purely the force of nature. They squat as if they're apes, which I suppose is what we really are of course. People lose their suppleness and power gradually."

What have you taken up or given up for running?
"That's the nice thing about running: you can do it whenever you want. I'm often up and running at six in the morning. There's no better way to start the day. There's not much that I've given up, though smoking and running don't go together. Drinking a lot is also not very clever. Then you might as well not run. I've become much more moderate in that area.''

What do you like most about running?
"I like to go very deep, so far that you think: I can't go any further, and then just continue. At the same time I think about everything. Sometimes about unpleasant things, that's not so nice as they stay in your head, but mostly about good things. I am a great dreamer. I can imagine myself on the moon.''

What is the most moving moment that you have experienced as a runner ?

"Crossing the finishing line in New York was fantastic. After 42 kilometres I was completely broken and the last five kilometres were the most difficult. The atmosphere was so amazing that you found yourself in a trance. I could have cried, but I was too tired to do so. I just sat on the ground, on a small step, a little distance from the clamour of the finish and I thought: I've made it, man, I've made it.''

In 2008 you ran the Letteren Run on bare feet, your first ten kilometres run. You've described it as: "At one point it felt like I was running on shrapnel."  You also ran the Dam-to-Dam Run in 2009 on bare feet and had to go to first aid after the finish.  Why was it so important to run on bare feet?

"Running on bare feet is a wonderful, liberating, natural and comical pursuit. As soon as the weather improves I'll be training on bare feet again. In a measured way of course, building up slowly, first a few kilometres on grass and then on asphalt etc.

"I got it wrong during the Dam-to-Dam Run in 2009. I had trained too little on bare feet because the year before I had trained too much on bare feet, which gave me problems with my ankles. It's an exact science, do I have to be careful.

"I wanted to be faster in 2009 than I was in 2008 and I achieved that (1.22), but it cost me the soles of my feet. I won't show the pictures but it wasn't a pretty sight, the entire sole of my feet was hanging off it. That was not a good example to others, so the next time I wanted to emerge unharmed.

"I can talk for hours about running on bare feet. Try it. Injuries? There isn't a shoe manufacturer in the world that can show any research that confirms running shoes prevent injuries. That is a big misconception in the running world. However, running long distances on bare feet does demand a lot of training. I would really like to run a marathon on bare feet sometime. My current maximum is 16 kilometres.''

You ran the New York marathon in November 2009 in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 33 seconds.  Did you enjoy it?

"The NY marathon was fantastic; 42.000 runners, four million spectators..., the atmosphere was unique. Every neighbourhood has its own music and atmosphere. It was amazing. The whole city comes alive for the marathon. After the finish you are cheered on throughout the city and even treat you to something. I'm definitely taking part again next year. Perhaps on bare feet, but then I do have to be sure I can run on bare feet for 35 kilometres. I'll pull myself through the final seven.

"I wasn't concerned about the time in New York, I didn't even have a watch with me. I carried a camera with me and ran in a suit and tie etc. I was reporting for CQC. I kept stopping, that didn't help my time. I am aiming for under four hours next year.''

You ran the Letteren Run for a charity the Run4School Foundation. You and your team collected 17,000 euros for War Child when you ran the Dam-to-Dam.  You presented the TV appeal for Haiti.  What's with you and charity?

"I have a lot of time for charities and take part in all sorts of things (including running) for them.''

You always look well groomed on TV, is clothing important to you when you're running?

No, that's quite funny, because when I'm running I don't worry about clothing at all.  In any case I never run in tights, I always wear shorts over them.''

Do you have a running hero, an example?

"For those who know: the Tarahumara, a tribe in Mexico; the ultimate ultra runners. Some of them ran for 450 kilometres without stopping, in a red tunic and in dilapidated sandals made from car tyres."

What do you think is the best song for running? Is there any such thing as ideal "running music"?

"I run without music!"

What is your ultimate running dream?

"The Leadville 100 is my ultimate running dream. A hundred mile running race in the high Colorado mountains. Once you've run those 160 kilometres, through wind and rain, over mountains, climbing hundreds of metres, you've really put yourself through the mill."