As a child I was always outdoors. Growing up in the Australian bush, I had the opportunity to explore paddocks, swim in rivers, climb trees (and fall out of them). That adventurous side has always stuck, initially in my pursuit of a football (soccer) career.

Throughout my teenage years and the majority of my twenties, I travelled around the world pursing my boyhood football dream. I was lucky enough to play not only in my homeland, but in the U.S.A, Belgium and England. Although I never quite reached the level I strived for, I still had a satisfying career.The final three years of my football career I experienced more lows than highs, as a result I began to suffer from depression.

I was always a happy energetic child and adolescent, but now as an adult and dealing with constant physical injuries disabling me from not only pursuing my career but inflicting constant pain and heartache into my life, I felt crippled, exhausted, and fed up with life!

Playing football

During this time I had two foot surgeries, a plate and eight screws inserted into my collarbone, a major groin injury, severe back injury, numerous muscle tears, and countless injections, all the while being in an emotionally exhausting relationship.

At times I was unable to get out of bed, pretending to leave my home so my house mates thought I was out for the day, but really I was holed up in my bedroom, hiding away.
Weeks past where I had no recollection of what I did, where I went, or who I even engaged with; I felt lost, numb, and void from the world!

My self-confidence, and usually high self-motivated drive evaporated, I felt I was in a bottomless pit with no way out, and with my close-knit family on the other side of the world.

I literally couldn’t have felt further away from the supportive environment I had grown up in. I hid my struggles from the most important people in my life, knowing full well they would understand and want to help in any way they could.

Tearing my calf muscle while routinely training was quite literally my breaking point, and at this moment I knew it was time to officially retire from football.
This major decision left me with what I thought was a directionless life, and feeling like I had a huge void to fill, I signed up to the infamous Marathon des Sables; a 250 kilometre, six stage self-sufficient running race through the Sahara desert in Morocco.This would be my first ever race of any kind.

Having never run more than 10 kilometres at any one time, and with only six months to prepare, I needed to focus on a new type of training, which was a perfect distraction from my unfulfilling, tiresome life.

reflection

I felt rejuvenated, energised, and like my old self while training for this race, and even managed to finish the Marathon des Sables after sustaining a reoccurring knee injury on the first day, needing an IV drip while suffering from severe dehydration on the fourth day, and without any skin on several of my severely infected toes that were covered in blisters.

But reality came crashing down on my return from Morocco, the battle with overcoming my constant depressed state now felt insuppressible.

I felt I had nowhere to go, so I launched myself into extreme adventures & endurance sports, taking on anything, no matter the magnitude.

At first, it was slightly detrimental with the extreme velocity I challenged myself, but over time I found a balance and realised that being on my bike, swimming in lakes, or running along picturesque trails created a calming sensation, while giving me insight into my destructive internal self; for the first time in many years I felt at peace, and with a clear mind!

After this enlightening experience of discovering a new love for endurance sports and accepting my mental health illness, I knew a mix of adventuring and endurance sports was the direction I wanted to take.

From a young age, I was fascinated with food and nutrition. Through my teenage years I researched for countless hours what I should be eating, and when, to fuel my athletic performance.

Cooking became a passion of mine, as did experimenting with random flavours, ingredients, and ways of preparation. Today my passion is just as strong as it was when I would help my mum in her kitchen cutting up carrots for the evenings dinner.I’m a natural cook, using only real food (wheat/gluten/and dairy free), and real ingredients in my meals, snacks, baked goods, and homemade energy bars to fuel my endurance adventuring and everyday life.

I have a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science, and am a qualified Personal Trainer. I’ve worked with many athletes, and  clients throughout the world to achieve their various health and fitness related goals.

Through my adventures and challenges I want to not only inspire you to live your life, achieve the goals you’ve always wanted to achieve, and make the unthinkable a reality, but also create awareness that anyone who suffers from a mental health illness can still achieve the unimaginable; I did, so why can’t you…