The Greatest Deadly Dozen Athlete Ever? Dave Parkin’s Story

In this episode of the Deadly Dozen Podcast, we’re joined by Dave Parkin — the first person ever to break the 40-minute barrier in The Deadly Dozen, setting a world record in an astonishing 37:59 . But Dave’s story goes far beyond records. Just over a decade ago, Dave weighed 18.5 stone, had no fitness background, and struggled with everyday movement. After joining a gym simply to lose weight, he became hooked — going from being the least fit person in the room to completing marathons, 100-mile bike rides, competitive cycling, and eventually rewriting the endurance record books . In this conversation, Dave opens up about: • Starting fitness later in life with no athletic background • Losing weight and building discipline through consistency • Transitioning from gym circuits to endurance sport • The mindset required to break world records • Why showing up repeatedly matters more than talent • What’s next in a huge year of competition ahead This episode is packed with honest insight, motivation, and real-world lessons for anyone who thinks it’s “too late” to get fit, chase performance goals, or reinvent themselves. 🎧 Listen now and get inspired by one of the most relatable endurance stories you’ll hear.