Linda Blakely is a remarkable athlete and adventurer, known for her extraordinary accomplishments in the world of endurance sports. As an Ironman competitor, she has completed 25 full Ironman races, including three World Championships, achieving an impressive ranking of 19th in her age group worldwide.
Linda proudly represented Great Britain as an age group athlete at long-distance triathlon events, earning a silver medal at the European Championships in 2015.
In 2018, Linda achieved an incredible feat by summiting both Everest and Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, within 24 hours of each other. This made her only the fourth female to accomplish this remarkable challenge and the first British woman to do so.
But her adventures don’t stop there; Linda also became the first woman from Northern Ireland to row the Atlantic Ocean solo and unassisted, completing a gruelling 3,000-mile journey from Gran Canaria to Barbados.
Currently, Linda is preparing for her next formidable challenge: the Marathon des Sables, a 250km race across the Sahara Desert, where she will carry all her supplies on her back over seven days.
Join us as we delve into Linda's awe-inspiring journey of perseverance, resilience, and her relentless pursuit of adventure!
This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking motivation to pursue their dreams and conquer their own challenges.
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Show notes
Who is Linda
Running three children's care homes in London and Essex
Care homes focused on children with trauma and learning disabilities
Linda’s journey into care homes began with a chance meeting in Thailand
Being active in many sports as a child, including gymnastics and swimming
Her love for mountains grew from completing the Duke of Edinburgh
Moving to London in her 20s and working various jobs
Rediscovering sport in her 30s after a 10-year break.
Doing first Ironman at age 34, starting with a super sprint event
Quickly getting hooked on Ironman and aiming for the toughest races
Completing 25 full Ironmans and three Kona World Championships
She used to race 3 Ironmans per year but now focuses on qualifying for Kona
Protein shakes and recovery boots being used for training
Not believing in full rest days but take easy days for recovery
Ranking swimming as her least favorite discipline but works hard at it
Improving her bike leg with strength training
Being strong in all three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running.
Her overall approach to racing is consistency across all three sports
Linda’s next challenge, including mountain adventures and solo expeditions
Linda's summit experience on Mount Everest
The hardship of living conditions on Everest
The striking sight of red head torches climbing Everest
Her feelings on the summit ridge
How she approached the challenge of summiting Everest
Her decision to attempt both Everest and Lhotse
Linda's reflections on the summit ridge of Everest
Her emotional reaction to encountering a deceased climber on Lhotse
The somber realities of high-altitude climbing
The importance of respect for fallen climbers
Linda’s successful summit of Everest in 2018
The use of supplemental oxygen during the climb
Becoming the first British female to traverse Everest and Lhotse.
The desolation of Camp Four on Everest
The logistical challenges after summiting Everest
Walking down from base camp instead of taking a helicopter
Dealing with adventure blues after completing major challenges
Linda’s love for planning future adventures
The reality and beauty of climbing Everest versus rowing the Atlantic
Experiencing menopause at 47
Feeling stressed, tired, and angry without knowing why
Seeking treatment after the GP suggested antidepressants.
Starting HRT, feeling more like herself again
Struggling with exhaustion during training before HRT
Turning 50 while rowing solo across the Atlantic
Rowing alone for 54 days on the Atlantic Ocean
Rowing for 16 hours a day, taking short breaks for food
Planning meals daily to save time and energy.
Managing sleep by setting an alarm every 45 minutes
Listening to music and audiobooks for mental stimulation
Starting a dress rental business after the row
Dealing with painful skin sores from sitting too long
Experimenting with different seats to ease discomfort
Rowing in minimal clothing to avoid saltwater irritation
Never considering quitting during the challenge
Sharing her birthday experience while rowing the Atlantic
Describing the emotional journey of overcoming bad weather
Talking about accepting the change in goals from a record to enjoying the journey
Highlighting the support received through social media on her birthday
Mentioning her admiration for Victoria Evans' rowing record
Discussing the changes in boat design affecting the record challenge
Explaining her achievement as the first woman to summit Everest and row solo across the Atlantic
Preparing for an Ironman race and training for the Marathon des Sables
Planning ultra-marathon training with back-to-back races in February
Fundraising for Action Medical Research to help sick babies and children
Final words of advice
Social Media
Website: www.lindablakelysboutique.com
Instagram: @blakely.linda
Charity: www.action.org.uk
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