Thinking of putting body, mind and soul on the line in a once-in-a-lifetime challenge? This expert advice can help set you up for success…

Feeling inspired by Russ Cook’s (aka Hardest Geezer) phenomenal African adventure earlier this year?

Of course you are.

Whether you’re gearing up for a local challenge, looking at entering Huel’s endurance challenge TK actual name TK, or simply searching for inspiration, there’s nothing better than picking the brains of the men and women who’ve actually done it.

From scaling mountains to crossing countries and oceans under their own steam, the heroes below have seen and done it all.

Here’s their best advice for aspiring endurance adventurers.

Plan your recovery

Gavin Cullen cycled from the Pacific coast of Chile up and over the Andes to the Atlantic coast of Argentina, a journey of 1,700 km. Later the same year, he cycled across Africa.

“Rest and recovery planning is as important as planning for your physical exertions,” he says. “In the training phase leading up to an ultra endurance challenge, it’s easy to get caught up in the physical training and logistical preparation for the event itself. The importance of well-planned rest and recovery can get overlooked but if your body is not well rested, well-nourished and properly hydrated, your performance will suffer significantly.”

Cullen recommends a hearty mix of carbs and protein at breakfast such as porridge oats and eggs or meat. He tested all of his gels and tablets at home before embarking, and drank 500ml of water per hour, with hydration tablets to replace lost salts. He’d use a foam roller as soon as he’d finished for the day, and brought along his own pillow and earplugs for a restful night’s rest.

Own the suffering

Johnny Ward rowed the Atlantic, climbed Everest, and completed the Marathon des Sables and the North Pole Marathon.

“2023 was the deadliest Everest season for climbers on record,” Ward says. “A famous climber died just as I got to Base Camp and it really knocked my confidence. In the face of loss and fear, the most important lesson Everest taught me is: I made this choice. When you’re facing freezing winds, exhaustion, and the fear of what could go wrong, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But in those moments, I reminded myself that I chose to be here. It was my goal, and dream, for over a decade. This journey was mine, and so was the responsibility to see it through.”

Doing tough things is tough. But if you’ve chosen to be there, accept it, dig deep, and push through.

Limit phone access, and focus

In January 2020, Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean broke three Guinness World Records, becoming the first three brothers to row any ocean, and the youngest and fastest trio to row across the Atlantic Ocean. The key to their success? Less screen time.

“Limiting phone use can be challenging, but it helps you focus and fully dedicate yourself to the task at hand,” says Lachlan, describing the unplanned corrosion of their iPhone cable in the middle of the Atlantic. “Rationing our listening was a blessing in disguise. It forced us to embrace the peace and quiet one only finds in remote places like the middle of an ocean. We found clarity that none of us had experienced before.”

The lesson? Take time to appreciate your surroundings, appreciating the small moments – no matter how tough.

Don’t ignore the warning signs

In June 2022 Andy Stone achieved the Guinness World Record for 70 x 70.3M triathlons in 75 days - the equivalent distance of London to Beijing. It could have gone a lot smoother if he’d paid attention to his body from the start.
“The human body is capable of more than you can imagine, but you have to look after it properly,” he says. “I arrived at the start line with no idea if I had done enough training. My mind and body were more than capable but, because I didn’t give enough attention to the maintenance of my feet, the wear and tear caused a large blister and an ingrowing big toe nail to become infected. Despite having a small procedure to cut away the nail by a podiatrist, the infection travelled up to my groin with medics calling a stop to my challenge on day 36. Fortunately, after four days rest I was able to continue.”
Best advice, don’t ignore those little niggles – deal with them early before they become a bigger problem later.

Remember your ‘why’

Gavin Kibble MBE took on a relatively low-key but no less taxing adventure, walking coast to coast in support of a project to build classrooms in Zambia this May. A few days in, and he was beginning to feel the strain:

“I’m told that day three of any long-distance walk is often a watershed moment,” Kibble says. “Crippled with a blood blister and deep tissue bruising I arrived at Grasmere in the Lake District in agony, feeling like an idiot and worried that I couldn’t finish the challenge. Some friends joined me for part of the walk and I reminded myself ‘There are 200 children in Mazabuka who need this money. How could I live with myself if I didn’t complete this?’

Whether you’re doing a challenge to help others, or for yourself, keeping your goals in mind can be a powerful motivating factor.

Grab opportunities

Multiple Guinness World Record holder and author Neil Laughton is currently leading a team of cyclists across the world’s most mountainous region, raising funds for a remote school.

“I had a plan to climb Mount Everest on my Seven Summits push, but an opportunity presented itself and I did the other thing instead,” Laughton explains. “If your gut instinct is telling you to do something, change your existing plans and take the new opportunity – it will probably work out for the best. You have to be engaged to identify those opportunities. I sat next to a businessman on a flight and instead of reading my book, I introduced myself. That gentleman went on to become my biggest supporter and sponsor.”

The takeaway? Opportunities comes in the most unexpected places. Be ready for it.

Don’t let fear stand in the way