Expeditions require alot of training and mental fortitude, read more here about what the Ario expeditions skills can transfer to here:
https://www.yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk/blog-posts/britains-most-brutal-completing-the-190k-spine-mrt-race
My race no., the label of madness for passers by
Summit Fever Media Click here for: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 10
The journey not the destination
Only 110 miles to go! Beaming on Jacobs Ladder
At the top of black hill, happy as Larry
I'm still in shock, is that really my name?
Home turf. Buck up, no being rescued by my own!
The Crux
It was time to Woman up!
And so, we eventually made it, but in a way I didn’t cause the person who set off wasn’t the one who walked over the finish line.
]
This one, cracked open to a whole new radical interpretation of what’s Possible
Only an hour after the deed & my whole body was starting to swell, the 'tankles' on Mon were impressive!
Steph and Mike, were joint 6th overall and Steph was the only and hence 1st lady to finish in a time of 41 hours 52 minutes and took 5 hrs 39 mins of the existing ladies record.
My why
Sarah Fuller an amazing mother who has finished the full 270 odd mile Spine said that you need to know, your why. As in the deepest darkest parts of your misery you might need it to hand.
Mine is: to prove to women that if I can do it, you bloody well can! But it would not have been the same without all the support, belief and encouragement I got from so many incredible friends, many impressive women athletes. Women need to receive those 3 things as much as the boys do because we know scientifically they really make a significant difference to participation and performance.
Thank you so frickin much to those who’ve changed my life.
I also did this in aid of two charities, the Cave Rescue Organisation for which I am an underground controller and the mental health charity, Mind Yourself, because we should!
Mind Yourself: www.givey.com/stephmike
Cave Rescue Organisation: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/crospine
Feet firmly back on the floor
Delighted ;-) pulling my gritty oversuit over achy limbs. Prepped for the 'beloved' de-rig.
A caving friend asked me, so is it the hardest thing you’ve ever done, how does it compare to your expedition caving? Well, there were glimpses at the end when it felt immense but it’s hard to compare the two. I’m no-where near as experienced a fell runner as an expedition caver, but what is for sure, it was as almost hard as some of some of the more challenging caving trips I’ve done or the time I had to self-rescue from deep within Pozu del Xitu with a few broken bones. But what is defiantly different, is after the climax of the ‘race’ aka when you exit the cave, you re-emerge into solitude, in my Ario context 1,800m up a harsh, pathless mountainside where you’ve to continue to survive and then prep yourself a few days later for another epic, totally uncelebrated detackling of the cave. That’s the difference and that’s what humbles me.
The two eejits at camp in Cave C4, some 350m down
I LOVE YOU MIKE and thank you for sharing this amazing journey with me.
For more info visit:
A life loved for an interview with me covering different aspects of the race, my strategy and training, me generally, women in sport and more, https://alifeloved.com/steph-dwyer-endurance-racer/ –
www.ariocavesproject.com