Mike Allsop USANA Health Sciences Ambassador Interview

Mike Allsop USANA Health Sciences Ambassador Interview

Adventurer Mike Allsop completed a feat nobody has conquered before him – he has successfully run the world's highest ever marathon, completing the 42.2km at 18,503 feet in Nepal.

Allsop completed the distance in 16hours 43minutes (moving time) in extremely tough and often freezing conditions as he battled altitude sickness, fatigue and isolation.

Allsop started the marathon at 6am Nepal time in minus 30 degree temperatures. He was so cold that his hands were freezing and he immediately fell behind schedule. Over the first 3 hours he travelled just 9.1 km. At one stage this was looking very unlikely when the conditions got so bad that it was deemed too unsafe for him to continue.

'I had to sit tight in a small tea house along the route and wait for conditions to improve; it was frustrating but all part of these types of adventures sometimes."

Earlier this year Allsop became one of only a few people in the world to complete 7 marathons in 7 days over 7 continents, raising over $75,000 for KidsCan NZ.

Before he commenced training for the initiative, Allsop had never run a marathon in his life.

Mike Allsop is an ambassador for USANA Health Sciences, a global Health and Wellness company that supplies him with the nutritional products and vitamins that are vital in maintaining his good health and recovery.

Interview with Mike Allsop

Question: What inspired you to run the world's highest ever marathon?

Mike Allsop: I was after a huge challenge, something that seemed impossible, something that I could break down into small parts. I also wanted to show people that they too can overcome huge obstacles to achieve what may initially seem impossible.


Question: Can you talk about the difficulties associated with running this specific marathon?

Mike Allsop: Altitude, it's very high - starting at over 18,500 ft. No-one has ever done it before and there is good reason. Freezing temperatures, lack of oxygen - even climbing up to the start at Kalapatar is difficult. You are shattered even before you start.


Question: What did you learn about yourself during this marathon?

Mike Allsop: Bear Grylls gave me a quote for my new book, High Altitude, 'A regular family man faced with some very irregular adventures." I'm a regular guy, I have a wife and 3 kids and a regular job as an Airline pilot, but I've been blessed with the ability to overcome huge challenges, this adventure was no different. I believe in myself, and if you believe you can do it you will. This is the message I want to share with people, particularly youth.


Question: How did you feel when you finished the 42.2km?

Mike Allsop: Absolutely shattered, and relieved!


Question: Can you talk us through altitude sickness? How did you overcome this?

Mike Allsop: I'm lucky to have been at altitude many, many times before - so from experience I know exactly what to do! Even so there is no guarantee I would not be affected. I pay attention to my foundation, my immunity, my water intake, food and nutrition and ascend up slowly.... There are no heroes at altitude.


Question: How did you push through after the conditions got so bad that it was deemed too unsafe for you to continue?

Mike Allsop: After being on the move for over 15 hours above 17,000ft I started to stagger and on a snow and ice covered tiny track with a huge drop off on one side, it was just too dangerous to continue in that state.

One thing you learn as an airline pilot is to continuously re-asses your situation.

So I decided to hunker down for a few hours and recover, before I fell off the side of the mountain.
I found a single small house and knocked on the Door and asked if I could stay. The house was very primitive, dirt floor etc....but the Sherpa woman was very hospitable and welcomed me and my two Sherpa friends into her home. We stayed for a few hours. Just enough to recover a little and then continued on well before dawn.


Question: How did you recover, after finishing this marathon?

Mike Allsop: Recovery wise, firstly nutrition - USANA Nutrimeal and a nutrition bar. Then I got my Skins compression gear on.


Question: What inspired you to begin running marathons?

Mike Allsop: My love of adventure.


Question: Can you talk us through the USANA Health Sciences vitamins and products you use? Mike Allsop: USANA is my foundation to good health. I take USANA Healthpak, BiOmega, Proflavanol and HepaPlus. Because I'm an airline pilot I also take USANA's their Visionex eye supplement.


Question: What have you got planned next?

Mike Allsop: A little rest then working on bringing out a documentary film around the world's highest marathon. The documentary will target young people and endeavour to prove to them that they too can overcome the fear of failure. That is truly is possible to achieve huge goals by breaking them down into smaller parts, getting out there and giving it a go.

After that, well.... The North Pole is calling me.


Interview by Brooke Hunter