Sub-3 marathoner reaches Dancing With The Stars finale
For Dylan Efron (yes, actor Zac Efron's brother), being a runner has clearly paid off in the ballroom
Dancing With The Stars
During Tuesday’s Prime-themed semi-final of the 34th season of Dancing With The Stars (DWTS), contestant Dylan Efron explained that the show is a marathon, not a sprint. “Trust me, I would know,” Efron said. “I’ve run plenty of them.”
Naturally, we investigated this claim.
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Efron, 33, is an internet and television personality, outdoor enthusiast, and the younger brother of actor Zac Efron (who was in the audience). He’s not wrong about DWTS being an endurance challenge; contestants train between four to six hours a day, or 24 to 36 hours a week, for the show’s 10-week span, eventually building to two to three dances per episode.
On Tuesday, Efron performed a tango to “I Would Die 4 U,” and a cha cha to “Kiss,” both by Prince & The Revolution, earning scores of 27 and 28 out of 30, respectively, with pro partner Daniella Karagach. Combined with viewer votes, the results secured their spot in next week’s finale.
Efron’s endurance resume
Efron wasn’t exaggerating about knowing a thing or two about marathons. According to his AthLinks profile, he’s completed several major marathons and triathlons over the past decade, highlighted by an impressive sub-three-hour marathon personal best of 2:57:50 at the 2018 Boston Marathon. (That was the year of the freezing rainstorm).
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In an Instagram post about that event, Efron outlined his three race goals: “A) 2:50–the time I trained for, my perfect race. B) 2:53–the NYC Marathon qualifying time. C) Sub-three hours–a realistic time that I would be happy with.”
Efron also ran the 2016 Chicago Marathon (3:01:32) and the 2024 New York City Marathon (3:38:58), in addition to several 10Ks in the 37-minute range.
But his endurance experience isn’t limited to running; in 2016, he had a heavy focus on triathlons. He completed the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii (5:10:32) in July, the Ironman Wisconsin (11:42:48) in September and the Ironman Arizona in November, clocking an impressive 10:29:16. He’s raced numerous other triathlons since.
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Efron’s endurance resume places him well above the recreational level–perhaps part of the reason he has handled the DWTS’s gruelling schedule so well this season.
Other celebrities advancing to the DWTS final include internet personality Alix Earle, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, The Parent Trap star Elaine Hendrix and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin.
Dancing with the Stars champion to run TCS New York City Marathon
