Tickets £5/£3 available at the Store or by calling 0131 554 0114.

Meet Patrick

I first met Patrick on the Tube, staring out at me from a bill board. Not smiling. Not frowning. Just staring out from the board. He looked determined, like a man on a mission. And, with his paint box and easel, he is. For Patrick is an artist and his mission is to paint 100 portraits before he dies.  He’s on 11 so far, and I’m excited and chuffed to say that I am on the list to be painted. The clock is against him, however, for Patrick has Motor Neurone Disease. MND is a bastard of a disease, painful, degenerative and  incurable. This  means that he is slowly losing the ability to walk, talk and paint. Move, eat, breathe; Patrick is dying.

This means that his wife Kath will be left to bring up their three young children on her own and that his youngest probably won’t remember her Daddy. It is heart breaking to see such a witty, talented and wonderful man deteriorate. But it is wonderful watching his blog and following his story, for Patrick is an Incurable Optimist, full of the sort of energy that can make a difference and boot MND into touch. One brush stroke at  a time Patrick the Optimist is showing the world that MND is about living, not just about dying: it is about living every day to the full, about hope and the quest for a cure.

Making lemonade

I’m en route to Cornwall at the weekend and am planning to touch base at Optimism HQ to meet Patrick in person.  I can’t wait. It is this sort of spirit and attitude that I thrive on and so admire in many people – the sort that says ‘Two fingers  to bad news or challenges – we’re making our own party!’ It is the sort of attitude that the indomitable Kris Hallenga used to turn her news of breast cancer diagnosis  into a charity encouraging the ladies of Britain to get to know their boobs. She calls it making lemonade when you’re handed sour lemons.I saw the same optimism in Dad as he battled the dastardly rheumatoid arthritis and in Ed Stafford as he walked the length of the mighty Amazon. It i’s the same undaunted energy that these guys are using to pedal from John O Groats to Lands End on an enormous bike for seven people and that my friend and paraplegic Jamie Dunross used on his epic solo sail round Australia recently. All of them are Incurable Optimists.

It’s not to say that these people are super human in their ability to ride out the storms; they each acknowledge that there are dark days along the way.  But so long as the balance sheet has more bounce than blues, then you too can be an Incurable Optimist.
Meanwhile, check out Patrick’s page here and an interview he did with BBC World Service right here. it will make you laugh and cry – it is funny, poignant and very thought provoking. For more info on MND click here.

Happy August folks,

S x

PS Order forms for my first book ‘A Dip in the Ocean’ will be available soon.

PPS Today I spoke with Jamie & Emily of Global Boatworks. Tomorrow Jamie starts laying the frames and foam for Dippers II – my new boat

PPPS Plans for ‘London to London: Via the World’ are going well. First Major Sponsor now on board.  Logistics Manager Tim Moss will be heading out to Russia and Japan to recce my landing sites in October and training is going well.

PPPPS Do you know anyone with links to or contacts in Sakhalin? If so – please give me a shout.

People always ask me about training for my next expedition, ‘London to London: Via the World’ and wait with goggly eyes for me to recount tales of hauling tyres 24/7 or cycling thousands of miles with weights tied to my ankles. It’s probably a bit disappointing when I say that actually, I haven’t yet hauled a tyre and I haven’t yet cycled over a few hundred miles in one sitting. The  reality is that life is as busy as can be with planning and sponsor finding, book writing and speaking, so training gets shunted down the list of priorities and squeezed into little pockets, gems of anticipation and physical activity within the hubbub. After all, without all these other things there would be no expedition!

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

Preparing for any expedition takes heaps of planning, a lot of team work, time and money.  For London to London the training is just one aspect, albeit super important; and it is also one with many facets. It is not all about getting big and strong. I need to be technically sound, mentally focussed and have supreme endurance across my three disciplines – rowing, cycling and kayaking. We’re talking 2.5 years of expedition here, so my body and mind will take a beating, and I need to be as fully prepared as possible. Beyond that, I think success is all down to being lucky, but I am giving myself a good as start as I can and would like to share it with you, with hope that before I leave I shall be able to share at least one tyre hauling story with you.

My Core team

Firstly, I want to introduce my team at Core Cambridge, who are fixing the leftover muscular issues from my row (believe me, there are plenty) and guiding my physical preparation for the journeys ahead. I generally start my sessions with some soft tissue massage on my back and shoulders, though I can safely say there is nothing soft about either my muscles or their massage. Then I am put through my paces with the trainers.

As in any walk of life, there is a lot of hot air in this world of physical fitness, training and sports therapy. I treat it just like anything else and look for sound, sensible, results-orientated experience that can help me achieve goals. I have found exactly this professional brilliance with the folks at Core, and am happy to supported by them.

I’ve been working with them over a few months now, starting with the basics to fix weaknesses and improve my core strength, before targeting my trip specific fitness. There are no fancy machines or gimmicks – it is all back to basics, simple stuff. And it works. In just a few weeks various weaknesses and imbalances in my musculature have been corrected and my core strength is improving. I have been really impressed with their work and approach, and am having a lot of fun to boot.

Quadzilla

You might have been bewildered (indeed a bit worried!) as to why I called this blog ‘Taming Quadzilla’. Worry ye not, Quadzilla is me. Dan at Core nicknamed me this after discovering that my oversized quadriceps are greedy and do all the work, even when they’re not supposed to, meaning that my back and glutes do nothing at all and so are weaker than weak could be. In short, I have a huge derriere tagging along for a ride. So thank you Core for literally kicking my ass into gear…

My only grievance about my team at Core is that they are of Light Blue origin, based in Cambridge – which, for a Dark Blue Oxford girl, always takes some swallowing. But besides that, they are top stuff and well worth a visit. Truly one of a kind.

More to follow on training and the expedition itself as the weeks and months progress. Meanwhile, if you have training stories or nightmares or thoughts or brilliant ideas you want to share, then please get commenteering.

Yours in taming and training,

All salty best,

Sarah

PS: ‘Tis the season: I have been supra busy with school prize givings all over the country recently and will one day publish a book on the best and worst of speech days! Best venue so far – an amphitheatre in the woods at Gresham’s School.

PPS: Book: Due to be published in February 2011 by Summersdale, we are soon to go in for editing.

PPPS: This time last year Dippers and I had been at sea for 100 days. Mad!

PPPPS:  CoBi UK:  Check out this website for more info on a very cool bike ride happening in August, down the length of the country. A seven-seater bike, world records and lots of fun raising money for Cancer Research UK.

I am very excited about speaking down in Plymouth at the BLUE Lectures on July 3rd, along with a range of other very cool folk. Book your ticket now people!

Blue Miles

Besides acting as a training run for our respective future expeditions, our aim was to encourage lots of people out on the water with us to complete as many Blue miles as possible. A blue mile is a mile travelled on or beside the water, and is an initiative set up by the Blue Project, for which Dave and I are both Ambassadors. Clocking up hundreds of blue miles between us and our accompanying paddlers and cyclists, we paddled under Tower Bridge on World Oceans Day, June 8th. While we weren’t at sea, the Thames is tidal below Teddington and of course this time last year I was out at sea on my very own piece of ocean, so it was important we landed on this day.

‘Are you supposed to be standing up?’

The adventure was full of thrills and spills, lots of funny misadventures and an awful lot of portages where we had to haul out and walk our boards around whatever obstacle was in our way, including 38 locks before breakfast on one day. Thankfully there were a few chocolate bars floating about, too, so I was happy! Lots of people have said that it was a bit of a step down compared to the Indian Ocean last year, but I disagree. Of course it wasn’t as long and was very different- you can see where you go on a paddle board, I had company, we had people feeding us and driving a support van and of course I had to wear clothes all the time  – but it was still a challenge and full of all the things I think adventure should be. The hardest thing was actually standing up for twelve hours a day – I had never considered how much it would hurt my feet.

For now I am supra busy with talks and finishing off my book to meet my publisher’s deadline, so I leave you with a little trailer of the documentary we shot and some of my favourite comments shouted at us from the banks. Enjoy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

‘That looks like the most precarious thing I’ve ever seen in my life’

‘Which one of you is Jesus?’

‘I hope you don’t get eaten by aligators’

‘It looks like

the working class version of punting’

‘That’s so cool. I love what you’re doing’

‘You’re never going to make it!’

A final thank you to all of our wonderful team and our sponsors for helping us make this happen, and all the lovely people who joined us en route to tear up some miles.

For more information check out www.thegreatbigpadle.com and www.theblueproject.org

So in Spring next year, just as I leave on my next big expedition, my salty tales will be available for you all to read and you can find out the ins and outs of the ocean and all those bits I said you would have to wait for. Any title ideas, anyone?

Meanwhile, I’ve just cycled across Cornwall in the fight against cancer and am about to Stand Up Paddleboard from Bath to London with my good friend Dave Cornthwaite. Yes, Australia you might know him – he skateboarded across your country a few years back and recently paddled the Murray.

Saltiest,

Sarah

Enjoy!

Adventurers and the X-Factor

When Jessica Watson sailed triumphantly into Sydney Harbour a couple of weeks ago and became the youngest, solo, unassisted, round the world yachtswoman (or man for that matter), she was welcomed by a crowd of 50 000, the Australian Prime Minister and the moment was beamed out live on national television.  Sponsors who had backed her were rubbing their hands with glee, while those who had not were most likely kicking themselves.  I, for one, was stoked for Jess.  She had set a huge goal and achieved it, in spite of a lot of knockers.  Then, I started to think.  As a professional adventurer, what on earth could I do that would illicit such a public response?  I am still thinking.  The answer, I fear is, nothing.  As a young (relatively!), fit, strong, white male I do not face a hell of a lot of obstacles in life and as a result my achievements are somewhat more expected (fair enough I suppose).  Rest assured I am not chasing acceptance or validation by the wider community.  I am most definitely in the wrong job for that.  But still, being recognised on some level, for me and others like me is absolutely necessary to make a living.  Sponsors want recognition and booking speaking engagements becomes a lot easier with a name that is known.  So, what to do?  Mmmm….?

Perhaps more quirky, novelty expeditions might work?  I am bound to get a column inch or two in the Metro or The Sun.  I will be noticed by millions, just as quickly forgotten and lose a good bit of pride.  Not the best result.  I could jump on a bandwagon (who said climate change can’t be a positive?).  Not really my thing.  It looks as though there might be only one viable path left to me, bloody hell!

Just keep going!  Not so glamorous, but results are assured and it has worked for the best.  Germany’s Huber brothers, Thomas and Alexander are two of the world’s best climbers and mountaineers.  They have been for quite some time.  Speed climbing, fast and light their speciality.  Last year they signed on to become the global face of sports giant, Adidas, new line of outdoor kit.  Cha-ching!  Sorted.  What a deal!  But, this was no overnight success.  No made for TV special got them there.  The boys are both past 40 and have been climbing since their teens.  How did they make their living all this time?  Well, you know, the usual.  Small town slide shows, an article here or there, odd jobs and they even made a movie that got some decent publicity in their homeland.  Oh, it also helped that they did some very hardcore stuff along the way.

I might never shake hands with the Prime Minister on my return from expedition or be patted on the back by 50 000 fans but I am fairly confident I can undertake some tough expeditions of my own choosing and make a good living doing it.  What more could you ask for?

For more info on Mark and his expeditions, see www.markkalch.com

Previous blogs on the ABC:

Sarah Outen on Team Work, hosted by  Dan Martin  http://www.danmartinextreme.com/home.php

Tim Moss on Community, hosted by Dave Cornthwaite     http://www.davecornthwaite.co.uk/blog/?p=314

One of those reasons was that my schedule is flexible enough to allow me to have lots of mini adventures – and my plans to loop the planet under Sarah-power next year mean that I need  them too. Cycling will form a big part of my planetry loop, so I am pedalling miles and miles and miles and have plans to get in some serious paddling training too.  In fact I recently had my most enjoyable commute – a 180 mile cycle ride back home from York after a speaking gig. Happy days, eh?

I am excited to have two mini adventures planned for the next few weeks – one is on a bike and one is on a board. One will be watery and I really hope the other is not. Both will be brilliant.

Pedal for Pounds

Over May Bank Holiday weekend I will be joining 45 other cyclists, including the wonderwoman that is Olympic    heptathlete Denise Lewis, to cycle across Cornwall. ‘Pedal for Pounds’ is the brain child of my friend and cancer warrior Kris  Hallenga, founder of the brilliant breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel. I will be supporting Coppafeel through my ‘London to London: Via the World’ expedition too – so you will hear more about Kris and this fantabulous charity over the months ahead.If you would like to pop a few nickels in the charity tin then please click here.

Bath 2 London

As soon as  I have pedalled to Lands End I shall be nipping up to Bath ready for my next mini adventure, which will see fellow adventurer and quirky nutter Dave Cornthwaite and I  Stand Up Paddle Board to London. A what? I hear you say…  SUP is fairly unknown and certainly a bit of a head turner. It’s simple, you stand up on a big board and paddle with a big long paddle. I am excited about this  – we have a great band of sponsors covering all our costs (including our very own Spaceship) which means we can raise more dollar for our chosen charities. Mine is Coppafeel and Dave’s is The AV Foundation.

We would love folks to join us on the water and also to welcome us in to London Bridge on June 8th. So if you would like to get involved or throw a few spare pennies at the pot then click here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For now, thanks in anticipation of all your good-hearted coin throwing.

Saltiest,

Sarah x

PS The wonderful Jessie Watson landed in Sydney today after her epic 210 day loop of the planet.  Well done Jessie!

PPS  People keep asking me to spill the beans about ‘London to London: Via the World’ and  I promise to post more information about it all before long.  Put April 2nd in your diaries for next year, book a ticket to London and watch this space.

PPPS I still have  a stash of  limited edition ocean polo shirts – both big people sizes and children’s. Perfect for the summer and bargain price of £10/£8 plus p+p. Email me if you want one.

PPPPS If you’re into this Twitter lark then you can keep up to date on all the fruitloopy happenings  @SarahOuten

As such, I want to write about two modern and salty Greats. Both Australians, both on epic journeys. One is about half way there, one is nearly home. I think they are both  incredible, for their skill, tenacity, wit and stamina. One of the sailors is a sixteen year old girl and the other a paraplegic father – that is to say, he is paralysed from the chest down. One has just sailed around the world and the other has his sights on it after his current solo sail around the kingdom of koalas and kangaroos.

Meet Jessie Watson and Jamie Dunross.

Jamie Dunross – Paralympian I was lucky enough to meet Jamie last year when I was in Perth getting ready for my row.  He became one of my staunchest  supporters and mates over there and he even sailed out to visit me on my Warm Up Lap. I thought I was having issues in the big seas and strong winds, but I watched in awe from my little boat as he maneouvered himself around his boat, hoisting himself up and down into the cabin. I was mightily impressed. Speaking to him both before and after, I got the sense that he would do anything he said he was going to do. You don’t pick yourself up after a paralysing accident and go on to win multiple Paralympic medals without having balls of steel and mighty inner strength, eh? The man has spirit in bucketloads, a veritable hero.

Jamie is currently on a mission to circumnavigate his country. Alone and unassisted – a journey through some of the most hostile waters in the world. Then you add another layer to the story when you find out that he plans to loop the planet, too. Perhaps we’ll see each other on the way round.

If you want to follow the exploits of an extraordinary chap, then go to www.solo1.com. au and meet Jamie for yourself.

Jessica Watson – Teen sailor

Jessie Watson is currently five days away from Sydney and finishing her own loop of the planet. She will become the youngest person ever to sail round the world. An energetic young woman with a kick-ass attitude to life, her blogs have been great fun to follow.  Unfortunately, her team is currently under fire from various quarters about the minutiae of circumnavigation records. My attitude is, who cares? She has just sailed around the world with no outside assistance and no stopovers; regardless of minutiae, that is a fantastic feat and I think she is an inspirational young woman. Australia, you should be proud! www.jessicawatson.com.au

PS

* Upcoming public talks in Guilsfield, Wales May 20th; Falmouth May 27th; Plymouth July 3rd. Email  for details: hello@sarahouten.co.uk

‘Tis the season

Soon it will be Prize Giving season; school years will draw to a close with final celebrations of achievement and all the accompanying bells and whistles of a school on show and proud to be so. I love the energy surrounding these events, the  bashful smiles of secretly chuffed  students and parents bursting with pride, teachers happy that their charges have earned their stripes and made some progress down whatever roads they are travelling. Often my jaw rests open on my lap, amazed at their achievements and efforts. I generally finish up with tingly hands from clapping so much. They are great days, always.

Today I firmed up some details for one such event in July, where the headmaster has asked me to talk on their school dictum, ‘Learning adventurously.’ Don’t you think that’s a great motto to live by? For in adventure we learn and in learning we adventure.

I love all flavours of adventures, even ones without sea salt. While I  have a bit of a soft spot for the ones where you get wet and muddy or cold and hungry, where you travel across maps or through deserts or oceans, I also thrive on the everyday ones, too. I especially love the vicarious ones, where the adventures are in my head, inspired by someone else’s. For any adventure at all involves excitement, the unknown, effort, energy, hardship, exertion, learning and growth, discovery and novelty and at times monotony. I remember my schooling being just like that too, and am grateful for it. I think that every sort of education should be an adventure and that every sort of adventure offers us an education of sorts – both in ourselves, the planet, and in others. That way we learn as we grow and grow as we learn; always, even when we finish the journey. In fact, perhaps it is afterwards with some reflective hindsight and the passage of time that we learn the most.

Every day adventures

Books are full of adventures, even ones that you find outside of the ‘Adventure’ shelf at the book shop. At the moment I am travelling across 1940’s  America with the Joad family in  Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. I read it at night, warm and dry in my bed; but I am still learning and questioning and finding out about the world. Therefore I adventure. At the weekend I was lucky enough to be the keynote speaker the RSPB Member’s Weekend and had the privilege of hearing some of their leading conservationists talk about their work and the challenges facing the charity and the wider world. It was both an intellectual adventure and an eye-opener. For example, I don’t think I even knew what a saiga antelope looked like and no idea that they live in Kazakhstan.  I came away with a stack of new contacts and ideas to follow up – I had just expanded my horizons and widened my world.  And once the world is wider, there is no going back – only thirst for more knowledge, more experience, more adventure and more journeys into the unknown.

So here’s to learning adventurously, and always being adventurous in our learning (with or without a dash of sea salt).

PS

If you would like to hire me in to talk to your students, business or group then email: speaking@sarahouten.co.uk

PPS

Wanted: Suitably nutty folk to join fantabulous Olympian Denise Lewis and a group of nutty others on bike ride to the end of the world! (Or to Lands End). 29th-31st June. See here for info.

PPPS

And now just to amuse you, here is my favourite funny sound byte from a child recently:

Child: ‘Please may I have three autographs?’

Sarah: ‘Why three?’

Child: ‘One is for me, one  is for my brother and one is to sell on Ebay!’