Well – what a crazy 7 months the whole World has experienced. The C word has taken on a whole new meaning. For those new to me and the Relentless Challenge, my family and I were due to traverse the World travelling and living the life as a digital nomad, athlete and eco warrior. After selling up all my estate – the C word dropped. I used anther C word in a vulgar moment of frustration.

No family home and isolated in the UK, we moved to the coast and then settled into a 1800’s cottage in the beautiful Cotswolds. Amazing forests, rural spots and amazing people (from a distance) made the 4 months nice but inside my mind started to spiral out of control. Staying sanatised, social distancing and the reality that my project had been left in tatters. Sponsorship gone. Challenges cancelled. Ordinary life gone.

Adding to this trauma, approaching fast was the year anniversary of my mother’s passing – this hit me harder than when she actually passed. Constant stress about this what was going to happen with the virus and where the hell we were going to travel to played over and over in my head. Mental health degradation at its best – I was not used this type of mindset. I was training twice sometimes three times a day but was fueling my body with carbs and sugar. Comfort eating – ‘what was I training for?’ was all I was thinking about as I was pushing myself but something inside me forced me train and train hard. I somehow dug deep mentally to inspire myself into the stock markets and use 14 years of experience to make money and cover the expensive costs of AirBnb and car rental and some more. Also Worldschooling my child was and is still a great experience and challenge at times!! Training, trading and teaching my kid – the only constants that kept me sane.

Not wanting to see or speak to most people whilst I started to sort my head out was easier said than done. The lifeline of a route to the travel life came through…well it did after a couple of cancellations due to the FCO exempt corridor list!!!

Now we are finally away – actually 5 weeks in. There are few countries now open to travel through to and expecting my family to live this way has not quite worked out but plan B has been activated and I alone will continue my journey across the planet once the Ordinary World returns. As you can see the water is clear and I have even re-started some parkour training on some crazy sharp edged rocks.

Relentless Challenge was close to the end – but I have pivoted my mindset and restructured my plans – the target of what I want to achieve has in fact been raised to a higher level. I can not wait to share the plans I have drawn up these past 2 weeks. Both mental and physical challenges to push my limits and if it inspires just one other person – I will be very happy.

Mental health awareness is better than it used to be and for me to open up and admit how tough life can get hopefully inspires others to open up and talk about things.

Next Blog – ‘2021 The New Frontier’