Team – Lexie

Race Time

26 November 2014

Tags: as worn by, awesome, British, Fit, inaction, Lake Leggings, Sarah, team, win

Race Time

The last two months has been an incredible learning curve for me, and I have finally begun to understand how to balance different goals.

For the first time in my life I am pursuing my three greatest passions all at the same time.

I am in full time training for Jasmin Vardimons young company JV2, with trail running and surfing events squeezed in at the weekends and during the Christmas holiday break.

I believed for a very long time that there was no limit, and in many ways, it still remains a foundation in my motivation.

But it is clear that doing TOO much can hinder your performance in everything you do, and in a way, your limit for achievement begins to drop.

The last few races have been a huge eye opener to what the human body is capable of.

Helped along by reading ‘Born to Run’ a both educational and inspirational book written by Christopher McDougal, I decided to venture further than the 42 mile race I had dragged myself through in Cornwall.

I first ramped up a gear and took a slightly doubtful dive into the self-navigated 58mile race across the sparse Snowdonia mountain range.

I had entered without really thinking about it, and it was only when Benn Berkeley, a good friend and experienced expeditioner, helped me track and visualise the route along an OS map that I gulped with apprehension. He looked at me and said ‘wow, that’s long way’ … and that was coming from a man who has endured one of the toughest endurance ice races across Siberia!

None the less, I had entered, and I am not one for backing out, so I set off on an adventure with the thought that if the worst came to the worst, I could always pull out at a checkpoint.

The small pool of runners set off as the sun rose, and I was in my normal chirpy mood, excited to explore a great route across mountain range I hadn’t seen before.

I latched onto the back of two Australian runners in desperation of not getting lost, but they shot off after the first 6 miles.

I knew there was a long race ahead so I stuck to my own pace and made more of a focus to reach the end in one piece.

With over 10,000 ft. of elevation, I felt at times I would never stop climbing, but luckily the surrounding view was enough to distract from the pain.

I wearily stopped to fill my water pouch from the fresh river by the slate quarry, then continued, paying close attention to the terrain.

By the fourth checkpoint, I had caught up with a lovely chap called Tom. His smile was enough to cheer me up from a severe state of self-pity and I decided I would try and stay close too him for as long as possible.

He munched on some jellybeans and bound off down the trail, so I plodded after him, still shovelling nuts into one side of my mouth whilst trying to breathe out the other.

He welcomed my company and became a hugely motivating leader. He had some knowledge of the area so whilst he chatted away, I replied very abruptly, just trying to concentrate on keeping up.

All in all we ran together for a good 6 hours and I feel that without his chirpy spirit I may have crumbled and withered far sooner!

As we reached the last checkpoint, I was so desperate to finish but my legs were screaming at me, so I told Tom to head off without me and assured that I would see him at the finish line.

He spun round and waved me a good luck smile before disappearing into a never-ending horizon.

For the last few miles I had my map clutched in my fingertips, tracking every slight advance towards the end.

As I crawled out of the forest and reached the road, I could smell both civilisation and the finish line.

An old man stood with a walkie-talkie and buzzed back to HQ that he had seen the first woman. I had no idea I was running in the lead! My mind had been so focussed on my map, looking where my feet were going and not losing sanity, I almost forgot I was even in a race.

I was hit with a wave of last wind energy and embodied the bounding energy I had envied Tom having hours beforehand.

I could hear the band playing and I could see the lights of the finish.

As I broke through the tape I was greeted but the few male runners that had come through already, a teary eyed mum, and a very happy race director armed with a bowl of hot pasta.

I was in disbelief at my finishing time and position.

Being the youngest runner by about 6 years I was overwhelmed with words of congratulations from spectators and other runners.

Sarah x

Sea-Sick!

05 May 2014

Tags: chickenpox, english nationals, Sarah, surf, team

Sea-Sick!

While we've been kicking back and enjoying the sunshine, super girl Sarah has been battling it out at the English Nationals this weekend! Unfortunately, not only did she manage to catch some waves but also the chicken pox! Sending big love, a get well soon and a big congrats for being such a trouper! True Lexie Girl Grit!

Sarah

16 April 2014

Tags: cornwall, dance, gym, lexie girl, Sarah, surf, team

Sarah

Aged just 21, Lexie Girl Sarah has managed to pack more in to her multi tasking, mile a minute days than many twice her age.

Born in London but with her heart in Cornwall (“It’s such a beautiful place to live and there is so much to do here”), Sarah combines a love of long costal runs, gym based workouts and surf instructing with an inability to sit still for longer than a minute and dancing until she drops.

Gaining her dream place the Northern School of Contemporary Dance aged 18, Sarah heard the sea’s siren call and couldn’t resist jumping in the opposite direction, heading off around the world to work as a surf instructor.

Having explored Africa, Indonesia, Central America and Europe and with a hunger for further travel, Sarah has no plans to stop, “my list of places to go is ever growing!” but for now at least, she has her feet planted in the UK,

“I’ve challenged myself this year to compete on every stop on the UK Pro Surf Tour and the goal is to finish ranked in the top 10, but I’m also currently auditioning for dance companies with the dream of gaining a position as an apprentice dancer!”

Currently pushing herself to achieve in her degree of Surf Science, Sarah is the first to admit that she finds staying still hard,

“Me and sitting still don’t really ever meet in the same sentence and I pretty much pounce on any opportunity …”

With her outrageous laugh, extraordinary hair and sun beam personality we find it hard to believe that anyone can pin this girl down, but in a moment of quite reflection Sarah confides that downtime does exist,

“On the rare occasion, I just like to chill with friends and play the guitar at home. My favorite time of day is sunrise so I always love to be up to watch it”