Darroch Davidson
If you want to relax, destress, get fit, lose weight, see nature, test yourself, find solitude, enjoy companionship, make a change or just simply have fun the outdoors has it all. It's an all inclusive environment regardless of who you are and your budget providing something on your doorstep no matter where you live. What you get out of your adventure will constantly change through life, in my forties I have found that solitude, good company, fun, relaxation, a challenge, immersion in nature and keeping my weight in check are increasingly more important to me.
To date I have completed four iron man distance triathlons (3 x Challenge Wanaka and 1 x Challenge Roth), the 'Double Brutal 463km' mountain ironman, an 88 mile ultra marathon across Hadrians Wall in under 24 hours twice, climbed Iraq's highest mountain, cycled toured and bikepacked extensively throughout the UK, Europe and New Zealand. I also enjoy hiking, open water canoeing, sea kayaking, ski touring and anything else that gets me into wild and remote country. I'm a qualified SMBLA mountain bike guide and UK outdoors first aid practitioner.
My professional life started in the British military developing foundational skills in navigation, safety and survival that have served me well. This training and experience has shaped a practical, robust and safe approach to operating outdoors. After an operational tour of Helmand Province (Afghanistan) in 2006, I made the decision to leave the military. I wanted to continue working in challenging and adventurous places and joined Control Risks as a security advisor in 2007 working in Nigeria until 2011 and Iraq until 2017.
The upside of this career transition was plenty of time off and a move to a New Zealand mountain town called Wanaka. Wanaka is brimming with outdoor addicts, professionals and elite athletes. It's a great place to explore big country with like minded people, who know it well and are always keen for challenge and adventure! Having been a regular visitor to the UK's national parks and remote country, I couldn't believe my luck because all this and more was now in my backyard. The opportunities that Wanaka and New Zealand provide outdoor athletes is one of the reasons Rickie and I met and the idea WildSwimBikeRun.com came about.
Currently my wife and I live between the UK and New Zealand. Catherine is a seasoned ultra distance swimmer having just returned from the World Masters Championships in Auckland with a bag full of medals and is now training for the 26km Zurich swim marathon (summer 2018). I completed Challenge Roth in 2016 in 10hr 59mins, Roth was an absolute blast with 250,000 spectators and supporters on the course, one for anybody's bucket list. In 2017 I finished the 'Double Brutal' extreme triathlon in 7th place (37hr 39mins) with a smile on my face promising 'never again', until the next time anyway! My 2018-20 objectives are; to finish an ironman distance triathlon sub 10 hours using a practical training programme that anybody can follow, complete a deca-ironman and finish the 'Triple Brutal' mountain ironman.
To date I have completed four iron man distance triathlons (3 x Challenge Wanaka and 1 x Challenge Roth), the 'Double Brutal 463km' mountain ironman, an 88 mile ultra marathon across Hadrians Wall in under 24 hours twice, climbed Iraq's highest mountain, cycled toured and bikepacked extensively throughout the UK, Europe and New Zealand. I also enjoy hiking, open water canoeing, sea kayaking, ski touring and anything else that gets me into wild and remote country. I'm a qualified SMBLA mountain bike guide and UK outdoors first aid practitioner.
My professional life started in the British military developing foundational skills in navigation, safety and survival that have served me well. This training and experience has shaped a practical, robust and safe approach to operating outdoors. After an operational tour of Helmand Province (Afghanistan) in 2006, I made the decision to leave the military. I wanted to continue working in challenging and adventurous places and joined Control Risks as a security advisor in 2007 working in Nigeria until 2011 and Iraq until 2017.
The upside of this career transition was plenty of time off and a move to a New Zealand mountain town called Wanaka. Wanaka is brimming with outdoor addicts, professionals and elite athletes. It's a great place to explore big country with like minded people, who know it well and are always keen for challenge and adventure! Having been a regular visitor to the UK's national parks and remote country, I couldn't believe my luck because all this and more was now in my backyard. The opportunities that Wanaka and New Zealand provide outdoor athletes is one of the reasons Rickie and I met and the idea WildSwimBikeRun.com came about.
Currently my wife and I live between the UK and New Zealand. Catherine is a seasoned ultra distance swimmer having just returned from the World Masters Championships in Auckland with a bag full of medals and is now training for the 26km Zurich swim marathon (summer 2018). I completed Challenge Roth in 2016 in 10hr 59mins, Roth was an absolute blast with 250,000 spectators and supporters on the course, one for anybody's bucket list. In 2017 I finished the 'Double Brutal' extreme triathlon in 7th place (37hr 39mins) with a smile on my face promising 'never again', until the next time anyway! My 2018-20 objectives are; to finish an ironman distance triathlon sub 10 hours using a practical training programme that anybody can follow, complete a deca-ironman and finish the 'Triple Brutal' mountain ironman.
So what value do I think we have to offer.....
The military provided the ability and understanding of how to operate safely in the outdoors, pushing the limits of my own and others physical endurance to break point. I have taken this robust and practical philosophy and applied it to everything I do. A fundamental component of this is 'attitude'. I am a firm believer that completing any arduous task is 10% physical but 90% mental. 25 years of pushing my body and mind hard have allowed me to understand exactly what it can do. I am a firm believer that even those with limited experience and exposure to endurance activities can achieve incredible gains in a short period of time as long as they are prepared to follow the '10% physical and 90% mental' mantra!
I don't enjoy nutrition plans, rigid or inflexible training programmes and unnecessary time spent in a gym. I listen to my body, if I am feeling good I go hard or longer but if I am tired and aching I will go easy or even rest. This has helped to keep me motivated during harder days as training rarely feels like a chore. Not being a slave to a programme means that I can always capitalise on good weather, feeling strong and never miss a social ride or day out with friends.
This approach was particularly effective in the build up to my first Ironman (Challenge Wanaka) and first triathlon event! From the outset I knew I would finish 'if' I approached the event thoroughly researched, with a detailed plan, flexibility, robustness, some physical rehearsals and positive visualisation. This approach was the guarantee of success I knew was required and that accumulation of knowledge dispelled many of the fears and insecurities I had about the distance. I started the day not knowing if I would finish the swim as the furthest I had swum in training was about 600m (Swim training was completed in a 5m pool in Lagos, Nigeria!). Knowing if I could grind out the 3.8km swim, success would be in the bag as I love cycling and trail running so how could I fail! Walking out of the lake with a huge grin on my face, the race was as good as finished... I approached the remainder of the race as a big day out; tracking my 'race plan' kept my mind busy, prompted and able to adapt my plan as race conditions changed. I finished my first ironman distance triathlon in 12hr 50mins with plenty left in the tank. I had a superb day, surrounded by people bursting with energy in a beautiful setting - the buzz was infectious, enjoyable and fulfilling. I was hooked!
During and immediately after Challenge Wanaka I could see how people could be confused, intimidated and put off triathlon and endurance events. There is a confusing and intimidating wall of information and marketing selling nutritional products, equipment, coaching plans and performance enhancing products as a prerequisite for success. Through previous experience of arduous physical events in the military I had a good understanding of the physical and mental preparation required. This approach achieved the same result incorporating my basic knowledge of triathlon, supported by some research and planning leading to a successful finish on race day. This stripped back approach and introduction to triathlon allowed me to understand the information and products of value to me and those I could discount!
So... if you have read this far, I hope we have your interest. Our aim is to provide value to anybody visiting the site who wishes to enjoy the outdoors, improve performance, enhance key skills and plan new adventures. Most of all we want to provide a guide for what we feel is essential, appropriate, enjoyable and inspiring.
'We are here for a good time, not a long time' as my best mate Ben always tells me!
The military provided the ability and understanding of how to operate safely in the outdoors, pushing the limits of my own and others physical endurance to break point. I have taken this robust and practical philosophy and applied it to everything I do. A fundamental component of this is 'attitude'. I am a firm believer that completing any arduous task is 10% physical but 90% mental. 25 years of pushing my body and mind hard have allowed me to understand exactly what it can do. I am a firm believer that even those with limited experience and exposure to endurance activities can achieve incredible gains in a short period of time as long as they are prepared to follow the '10% physical and 90% mental' mantra!
I don't enjoy nutrition plans, rigid or inflexible training programmes and unnecessary time spent in a gym. I listen to my body, if I am feeling good I go hard or longer but if I am tired and aching I will go easy or even rest. This has helped to keep me motivated during harder days as training rarely feels like a chore. Not being a slave to a programme means that I can always capitalise on good weather, feeling strong and never miss a social ride or day out with friends.
This approach was particularly effective in the build up to my first Ironman (Challenge Wanaka) and first triathlon event! From the outset I knew I would finish 'if' I approached the event thoroughly researched, with a detailed plan, flexibility, robustness, some physical rehearsals and positive visualisation. This approach was the guarantee of success I knew was required and that accumulation of knowledge dispelled many of the fears and insecurities I had about the distance. I started the day not knowing if I would finish the swim as the furthest I had swum in training was about 600m (Swim training was completed in a 5m pool in Lagos, Nigeria!). Knowing if I could grind out the 3.8km swim, success would be in the bag as I love cycling and trail running so how could I fail! Walking out of the lake with a huge grin on my face, the race was as good as finished... I approached the remainder of the race as a big day out; tracking my 'race plan' kept my mind busy, prompted and able to adapt my plan as race conditions changed. I finished my first ironman distance triathlon in 12hr 50mins with plenty left in the tank. I had a superb day, surrounded by people bursting with energy in a beautiful setting - the buzz was infectious, enjoyable and fulfilling. I was hooked!
During and immediately after Challenge Wanaka I could see how people could be confused, intimidated and put off triathlon and endurance events. There is a confusing and intimidating wall of information and marketing selling nutritional products, equipment, coaching plans and performance enhancing products as a prerequisite for success. Through previous experience of arduous physical events in the military I had a good understanding of the physical and mental preparation required. This approach achieved the same result incorporating my basic knowledge of triathlon, supported by some research and planning leading to a successful finish on race day. This stripped back approach and introduction to triathlon allowed me to understand the information and products of value to me and those I could discount!
So... if you have read this far, I hope we have your interest. Our aim is to provide value to anybody visiting the site who wishes to enjoy the outdoors, improve performance, enhance key skills and plan new adventures. Most of all we want to provide a guide for what we feel is essential, appropriate, enjoyable and inspiring.
'We are here for a good time, not a long time' as my best mate Ben always tells me!
