#NoTThinkTankYou
JUAN DUAL AND RUNNIFE.
RUNNING FOR LIFE

No colon, rectum, stomach or gall bladder due to a genetic condition that leads to cancer along the digestive tract. Juan Dual first set out to cycle across Latin America, some 7000km from Nicaragua to Mendoza, and then to run, literally, through the mountains of the world.

Her story is an example of motivation and self-improvement, how to soak up life and enjoy it, even if it puts obstacles in your way.

This June, he will embark together with Loreto Pérez andn the completion of the Trans-Pyrenees Crossing, both will cross the Pyrenees from sea to sea with two messages: the fight against Cancer and against HIV..

You can follow this adventure on Juan's social profiles: Twitter (@dualcillo) and Instagram (@dualcillo).

More information at Runnife. 

We have been talking to Juan and his new project, about life and how to soak it up. Here is the interview we did with him.

Who is Juan Dual?

I am a 32 year old Valencian boy, carefree and cheerful, who due to a series of genetic conditions has inherited an enormous possibility of developing cancer in the digestive tract. This meant that over the last 14 years I have undergone a series of surgeries that have taken away my colon, rectum, stomach and gall bladder. Despite all this, I felt that had an opportunity to send a message of strength and energy.. Through a cycling trip across Latin America first and through races and mountain activities later on.

How would you define it in a tweet, 140 characters?

With resilience as my banner, I'm not waiting around to see what the world has to offer - I'm going out into it to soak up the experiences!

You have been cycling through Latin America for more than a year. I imagine that you bring back great experiences and anecdotes in your saddlebags.

From the hardest moments on the side of a road at a service station in Argentina feeling totally lost to the landscapes like those of the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca or those of Ushuaia that can fill the human soul the most. The truth is that it would be impossible to name them all, but I think that to date I would choose the a woman's embrace at the finish line of the Ushuaia Trail Race 25km in which he conveyed a really powerful message to me. Her daughter was battling stomach cancer and seeing me running and climbing around the world being happy without all my bits and pieces was encouraging her to fight and keep going.
Imagine how I felt! Anything more I could do was too little, with such powerful messages.

What is adventure and self-improvement for Juan Dual?

To be able to not quite understand why I am at such early hours of the morning or even early hours of the morning, climbing a mountain or running up a mountain, when I should be, logically after having been through so many major surgeries and turn around, look down at what I have come through and smile inside full of excitement remembering that this is what is worth it. To be able to soak up the experiences and keep growing, going further and further. Transmitting energy, power in its purest state.

Tell us about the Runnife Project. In June we will see you running through the Pyrenees from end to end.

Runnife was born with the intention to show, as it means, Running for Life, that Life, existence itself is something that cannot wait to be run, to be lived, to be wet, to be felt, it is too important because we only have this opportunity to enjoy it and to fill ourselves with energy and memories of beautiful moments. It is too important because we only have this opportunity to enjoy it and fill ourselves to the brim with energy and memories of beautiful moments. How can we wait to see what it has in store for us? I'm looking forward to join forces too, from now on, now that you are starting to know about me. cancer projectWe are also in contact with other people with really powerful life stories and who are also in the breach, motivating and inspiring, from the personal improvement through sport.

What equipment will you carry in your backpack? We assume that there will have to be a balance between utility and lightness.

Within the backpack come, above all, a great desire to continue learning about ourselves. We are excited to continue reaching new homes and bringing them energy and a smile from the top of the mountains. We are also very well equipped with the material that Mountain Hardwear has provided me with to make it more viable and comfortable. From a ultra light tent a technical trousers so that I can climb and scamper around without worrying about being the basket case that I am of absent-mindedness. Inside will also come cooking equipment, running shoes, photography equipment and of course, some food.which is also important! The issue of lightness is something fundamental, as it will allow us to advance quickly and comfortably with so much unevenness that ends up accumulating.

What do you expect to find (sporting, cultural, human...)?

Well, I don't expect anything. I'm always open to the fact that whatever comes along will be something fulfilling and will allow me to get to know me a little better, move on. On a sporting level, I hope to be able to, day by day, go preparing and strengthening myselfor your legs a bit more in preparation for the next Ultra Trail races. Torres del Paine and Eurafrica Trail, 80 and 70 kilometres respectively. Humanly and culturally, I would like to have the opportunity to be able to feeling people's kindness in what we misnamed the first world as I was able to experience so generously throughout Latin America, where so many households shared their experiences with me.

What would you say to someone who can't find motivation?

That it is worth the effort and struggle. That thanks to going through the most terrible and complicated moments of everyday life, we can constantly and permanently create tools to be able to continue moving forward in life. No matter how much we believe that we can't climb certain walls that today places in front of us, with patience and dedication we can. But, to think how it can be possible that a guy with no stomach or large intestine can be running around the mountains of the world and still be alive, kicking and, above all, happy..