Category: Notes from the founder

Your Life Will Change, because we’ll help you find your key!

Posted on by Jonathan Kattenberg

Does taking part bring metaphorical meanings and realisation towards your life journey?

Imagine this hypothetical scenario: –

Imagine receiving a phone call that someone you love dearly needs your help and only you can help!

Your only option to help them is to walk way beyond what you thought was achievable and if you don’t, the consequences are not worth thinking about!

All of a sudden, you automatically become emotionally charged with such determination that the mere thought of failure doesn’t comprehend!

Now imagine being able to tap into the level of emotional drive from this scenario without the hypothetical scenario, and you apply the level of emotional drive towards your approach to life!

Imagine what you can truly achieve?

On November 30th 2024, you’ll set off at 7am in the morning to take on Stage 1.

A 42km guided walk where you’ll take in the amazing views if the weather is in your favour!

But hold on a second, it is the UK weather and this can be unpredictable with potentially wintery conditions! A journey with lots of ups and downs, the wind potentially blowing in your face, rain pouring down on you, tired legs and your mind potentially questioning not only your sanity but maybe the elements against you!

But what if this has similarity towards your life journey up to your present moment in time?

A fast paced reflection that may bring questions and realisations to things you’ve experienced and possibly thoughts, actions and feelings that you have been holding onto for too long…

All being well, you arrive back at the stage finish point in the required time for a warm meal and hot drink with 1 hour to rest and reflect on your stage.

If you’re part of a team, you’ll be looking forward to passing the baton to your team mate who will be pulling the tyre on stage 2.

Stage 2

It’s 7pm and you’re on the starting line with your harness on and tyre behind you.

Headlamp on providing the much needed light to guide you on your route around the reservoirs.

For some, this can represent a light guiding you on your journey of life.

The light beam is your focused attention on the things that are present in your mind, often missing things going on around you!

But hang on a second, you’ve got a tyre attached by a rope and it’s following you for 42km’s!

You’ll noticed the logo which has a bear on a tyre being pulled by someone. It’s a metaphor for your bear.

The bear is a metaphor for your mind. If you can’t control it, it will potentially eat you alive.

Control your bear, and it will support your pursuit to achieve all that you desire in life.

The only thing is, for a lot of people, they drag unwanted things through life with them and often things that can hold them back!

Stage 2 enhances the potential to take back control, find your key to life by letting go of the past you have been dragging.

Pulling a tyre for 42km’s in the dark with just your headlamp can bring huge benefits especially when you have limited vision with so much unknown around you which is representative of the dark so many feel they are in at stages in their life.

Imagine having up to 8 hours to process, reflect and become empowered to own your past, ready for stage 3 when you let go of the tyre that has been holding you back.

Just like aspects of you that may have been preventing you from truly achieving the life you desire.

It’s 3am and you will hopefully be back in time for the stage 2 cut-off. Another warm meal and drink ready for you to eat while you reflect on your experience.

Stage 3

It’s 4am, if you’ve taken on stage’s 1 & 2, you will be tired having not slept. Your desire, tenacity and resilience all being tested!

Yet, you’ve let go of the tyre that has been slowing you down and you’re now free to go out and achieve the final stage without restrictions from your mind.

Why? – Because you’ve let go of the past.

If you’ve been handed the baton as a team member, you’ll be on fresh legs ready to prove as a team player that you can support your team to achieve whilst each team member plays their part.

Headlamp on, you set off onto the Peak District whilst being guided by your mountain leader.

A brief 15-20 minute walk on a gravel path before you ascend onto the Peak District paths and bogs.

Individuals always feel refreshed for a short while when they have had rest, been on a holiday, yet before long feel they are back on the treadmill of work and life!

The gravel path can for some represent this. It’s an easy section before you begin the ascent.

You’ll be filled with a sense of achievement knowing the terrain may try and challenge you, but you’ll have a degree of tenacity and resilience within, that is determined to succeed.

As you trudge through the boggy areas having left the easy first section of the gravel path, you may find it represents a path in life that isn’t always easy. Limited vision, potentially challenging weather but with the peace of mind your mountain leader is still guiding you along the route.

The mountain leader can represent your future self guiding you through any challenges that may arise and whilst you focus on your performance staying with the pace to successfully complete stage 3, you know you are being guided safely no matter what the challenging conditions are.

Imagine having a mindset that truly believes in the decisions you make in life and your levels of tenacity and resilience are geared for success with your future-self guiding you!

As the sun rises from behind you, whether the weather be good or rough, you know you can go onto to achieve.

You’ll come to a checkpoint for a snacks and warm drink before setting off for the final stage.

As you progress, you’ll come to Kinder Downfall. A location famous for observing the waterfall being blown back up over itself in challenging windy conditions. This can have many metaphorical meanings.

A brief pause to enjoy the moment before taking on the final stage.

You continue your adventure challenge with limited flexibility on your time. A bit like when you are focused on achieving work and personal aims, goals and aspirations with targets!

Your mind focused with a non-negotiable approach towards successful completion of the challenge, you know you must press on as time is imperative.

Reflecting at the final stage

If you’re taking on all 3 stages on your own, a sense of fulfilment knowing you have achieved something incredible as you approach the final few hundred metres knowing you will “Stand Proud Amongst The Great”.

If you’re a team player completing any stage, a sense of achievement knowing that the experience of working collectively and strategically to each other’s strengths has resulted in an amazingly successful outcome, and if you’re the team player completing stage 3, the joy of being greeted and cheered that you were able to carry the baton to the finish point is a moment of pride as you see your team welcome you.

For some, you may have taken on the challenge to raise money for amazing charitable causes. A testimony to you passion for supporting an amazing cause.

The TMB Challenge provides a unique opportunity that can reflect your efforts to raise greater awareness for your cause with so many metaphorical resemblances towards your cause, whilst supporting to help raise money for others to benefit.

Conclusion

We all have moments in life that can influence us both negatively and positively, but it’s how we process, reflect and embrace our experiences to use towards our approach to life and business.

No one has a crystal ball in life, but if we are equipped mentally with learned experiences of tenacity and resilience from participating with positive experiences, and with a potentially new found level of emotional drive towards life and business, imagine what we can truly achieve.

Words from the founder of The TMB Challenge

For me, my whole aim and objective is to provide a unique challenge that not only tests your physical abilities, but truly supports, tests and challenges your desire to succeed, especially when you are tired and exhausted, your mind feeling worn out.

A challenge whether individually or as a team player, you gain a transferrable skill and awareness to achieve whilst dealing with the elements and undulating terrain.

It’s a bit like having found the key to your journey in life, knowing your mind has the experience and new found knowledge to achieve anything you desire.

Warmest wishes

Jonathan Kattenberg – Founder of The TMB Challenge and Walking With My Bear

Why The TMB Challenge is split into 3 stages.

Posted on by Jonathan Kattenberg

The Background

As I continue to enjoy and embrace guiding clients on certain long-distance events/challenges whilst empowering individual’s overcome mental health challenges, I wanted to create a platform for people to go beyond their comfort zones.

A platform that I believe is a safe place to address their mental wellbeing whilst becoming empowered through physical challenges amongst the outdoors.

What better a way I feel than to create a multi-stage challenge where each participant will have full support throughout the event.

Let’s have a look.

Stage 1 – 42km Guided walk – “A time for reflecting on your own journey of life!”

I chose the Edale skyline for the majestic Derbyshire Peaks.

An undulating journey with stunning views in all directions. 

A bit like a life full of rollercoaster moments!

The walk starts with a quick ascent for the first 20 minutes which then descends before beginning the next ascent onto Crookstone Out Moor. A section of the route that will certainly open your lungs!

As you walk along the skyline you walk past wind shaped stones, passing through Fords you’ll hopefully have views over Edale Valley as you continue towards Brown Knoll once you pass the turning for Jacobs Ladder. 

Jacobs Ladder is a turning point that can represent a metaphorical exit route if you’re finding your initial stage of the challenge too demanding.

Often a representation of an individual’s low level of resilience, tenacity, and emotional drive to achieve, which for many can also create justification for excuses why they should exit.

Yes, it’s a key point to take a break and reflect, but not too long a break because if you spend too much time reflecting, you could lose precious time to meet your goal waiting ahead – Your 11-hour cut-off.

Shortly after passing Brown Knoll, you begin the lovely walk along Rushup Edge on to Mam Tor with stunning views towards Back Tor and Loose Hill. All the while enjoying in the amazing countryside whilst you fill your water bottles at the checkpoint and grab much need snacks.

As you descend Loose Hill into Hope, you cross a quite country road before a quick ascent with your guide taking you on to Win Hill. Don’t forget to look back over the Edale Skyline as you stand on the top of Win Hill!

It’s not long before you begin a quick descent down to Ladybower reservoir where you walk along enjoying the calm waters.

Before you know it, you’re walking towards the amazing reservoir turret towers with a hot meal and drink ready and waiting.

The time allowed is 11 hours to complete this stage whilst being guided through the route with a 1-hour rest before the 7pm start for Stage 2.

Often in life we can be held back given what we carry with us. For some, you could be pursuing your goals and dreams, working hard on achieving our desired outcomes but with super channelled vision. 

I always ask clients, whilst I encourage not to dwell on the past, do we spend enough time sense checking, reflecting, and acknowledging our great achievements, or sometimes it could be reflection on what good looks like, what changes or adjustments do we need to make?

Stage 1 is geared to help you reflect on your journey. A stage that supports you analyse your journey up to the present moment and what good looks like.

For some, questions may begin to arise from within your mind….

You’ll have the full support of our amazing team who will be ready and at hand to help you explore your thoughts actions and feelings.

Stage 2 – 42Km tyre pull – “A metaphorical period for pulling your challenges, limiting belief’s, business and personal life matters.”

It’s 7pm and you have an 8-hour window to pull your tyre around the chosen route.

This is your chance to “Tame Your Bear”.

A route that is part tarmac and part gravel with a few undulating sections.

This stage isn’t really about fitness, but now becomes more about what’s going on in your mind.

The first 20 minutes for many will involve loosening your legs after the 42 km walk earlier in the day if you’re taking on all 3 stages. If it’s your only chosen stage given your part of a team of 3, you’ll be probably taming your nerves and relaxing into the stage. 

Nutrition and hydration will be key to ensure your longevity and success in this stage.

After 20kms you may begin to feel the effects of pulling a tyre. You may begin to start feeling tired (no pun intended!) as you’ll probably be hitting the midnight point on your adventure. 

As you approach the 8-hour cut-off at 3am, it becomes a moment of time for reflection of what you have been pulling through life and maybe it’s time to let go.

The whole principle of pulling the tyre is to help you understand, what have you been dragging with you in life and what will you be letting go of for your next stage in life!

You may succumb to a realisation you’re not performing at your best, or you may even attain a realisation that you’ve been performing in life with amazing results, yet now feel you have even more to achieve!

Stage 3 – 47km Guided Walk – Released from everything that has been holding you back, you’re now ready to go onto something you want to achieve!

It’s 4am, your tired, potentially exhausted but with one key element to consider. 

If this is your chosen stage as part of a team, you’ve taken the baton to ensure all your team’s hard work is continued towards success.

You have been freed from your past having the tyre pulling stage successfully completed, to now go on to achieve an amazing 47km through the early hours of the morning across challenging peak district terrain guided by your amazing mountain leader. 

Your head torch now lights up the journey ahead with likeminded people.

Your mind and body filled with a sense of freedom with a realisation you do not have a tyre attached to your waist to pull around.

As the walks ascends towards Margery Hill from Derwent Dam, you’ll be faced with typical UK December early morning weather. An unpredictable time yet filled with determination to achieve you goal as you watch your footing amongst Howden Edge.

Leaving Margery Hill, you’ll be heading in a north westerly direction with a hopeful sunrise arising from behind as you continue along towards Featherbed Moss. 

If the weather is true to form, the ground will be soft, muddy and with lots of puddles along your way. In a metaphorical way, this can symbolise your determination to achieve your goals even though the path you take can potentially seem challenging. 

As you head towards Bleaklow stones, you’ll be led through tricky terrain with peat-based trenches that twist and turn leaving you potentially disoriented. A resemblance of how life can be as you pursue the life you desire through trials and tribulations.

A moment for rest for reflection and a quick snack before approaching your morning checkpoint.

A great opportunity to bring your vision into play whilst sense checking your milestone marker.

As you arrive at your checkpoint, snacks and fluids will be ready. Refreshing energy drinks will be at hand before you head towards Mill Hill and Kinder.

You now leave the checkpoint and head onto High Peak towards Mill Hill. Maybe unaware that all around you are historic plane crash sites where pilots have struggled with their navigation in tricky terrain and weather. If only they had a navigator that could have guided them through the tricky conditions

This can often resemble an individual’s strategy plan in life and business when checkpoints, milestone markers and success models are not reviewed on a regular basis.

Only this time, your allocated mountain leader has the potential to be your metaphorical future self-guiding you to success!

Approaching Kinder, you head towards Kinder Downfall.

Another great metaphorical opportunity to cement your focus on your journey – Your guide knows the way. 

To clarify within your own mind that you can reflect and adjust your journey in life to support an amazing journey ahead with your future-self guiding you.

From Kinder Downfall, you take the old Pennine way route towards Crowden Tower through Edale Moor.

You’ll be faced with many sections with limited vision, streams of water that you will walk through which supports your focus to trust in your journey knowing your mindset is geared for success.

It’s as if your mountain leader represents your newfound future-self guiding you on the next stage of your journey, you allow yourself to trust in your future aims, goals and aspirations.

As you begin the final section along the skyline heading east, you will see Mam Tor, Back Tor, Loose Hill and Win Hill on your right across the valley.

Before you know it, you’ll be heading towards the final 100 metres to the finish point to receive your much deserved medal, Challenge T shirt and goodie bag.

Whilst receiving the medal is an amazing moment whether individually or collectively as a team, the true reward will be yourself awareness of the enormous achievements you have just accomplished and your inner-self able to guide you on the next stage of your journey of life.

An achievement that has so many transferrable skills to other aspects of life and business.

A reflection of the metaphorical journey:

The metaphor of the mountain leader can ultimately relate to the trust in your current and future self-guiding you on your journey.

Stage 1 – The mountain leader helps you navigate your past and present, a time to reflect, decide what you will let go of and what your driver is to go forward.
Stage 2 – You will be pulling everything you wish to let go of, but also a time to reflect on your mindset and can you really “Tame Your Bear”.
Stage 3 – You will have taken the decision to release yourself from any mental baggage and build your confidence so that you can go onto to achieve amazing things in life, even when times may seem tough.

You’ll aim to attain a sense that your future self within you is ready to guide you on the next stage of your journey no matter your past! 

Empowered to pass through challenging terrain to go onto achieve your goals and dreams.

If you would like to discuss how you or a team from your organisation or charity would like to take on The TMB Challenge, please don’t hesitate to get in touch or visit www.thetmbchallenge.com for more information.

Warmest wishes

Jonathan Kattenberg

Founder of The TMB Challenge

Why is The TMB Challenge different to any other challenge event out there?

Posted on by Jonathan Kattenberg

3 categories of participants.

1/   Sole entrants – aiming to complete all 3 stages within rules allowed.

2/   Teams of 3 – Each team member must select which stage they will complete.

These participants can be either friend/colleagues looking for a challenge. 

There are 2 reasons for encouraging companies to enter a team of 3:– 

  • A team building experience with unique transferrable skills that can be applied into not only the workplace, but also life!
  • Team building with a company Charity fundraising experience where we will promote your fundraising campaign.

3/   Charity Fundraisers – These can be sole entrants or teams of 3 where each team member selects their chosen stage where we will promote your fundraising campaign.

So why is The TMB Challenge different to any other challenge event out there?

The challenge is geared and structured to support participants to go beyond their comfort zones both mentally and physically providing transferable skills that can be applied to life and business with specialist trained team members.

  1. Physical Aspects – Many people don’t ever achieve their true potential unless a life changing event occurs in some way or another. It’s not until they do something they thought was initially impossible that highlights what they can truly achieve to which they go and do something extraordinary in other aspects of life.

Not only will our mountain leaders support each participant throughout the challenge, The TMB Challenge has collaborated with an ex Royal Marine Commando – Jamie Archer. 

Jamie, an Endurance & Adventure Performance Coach and Performance Osteopath providing unique training programs that can provide up to date progress reports on not only individual, but also team training progress leading up to the event through a unique web app and online training program.

Participants will also have opportunity to enrol for training programs which will be led by Jonathan Kattenberg and Jamie Archer on a face-to-face basis which will include aspects of fitness, techniques and mindset.

  • Mental Aspects– Many people allow life experiences and both internal and external influences impact on their state of mind. 

A prime example for many, is their initial response when considering the perceived enormity for a sole entrant of The TMB Challenge, or even the thought of pulling a tyre for 42 km’s. 

What if an individual’s mindset perceived The TMB Challenge as achievable? 

Imagine the transferable beliefs that can be applied to work and life and the things they can overcome and achieve through this unique journey?

All participants leading up to The TMB Challenge will have access to group online sessions where we explore mindset programming, how we are influenced, what our Locus of Control is and why this is important to understand how it influences our decisions in life and business. 

How we can truly Navigate Our Future with a powerful mindset that removes all limiting beliefs, phobias etc and ultimately empowers an individual with improved mental resilience, tenacity, and focus.

During The TMB Challenge, All participants will be supported by all crew, especially when things get tough.

A key objective for The TMB Challenge is to empower all participants to achieve their very best in life by utilising the training and experience of participation through the event.

Jonathan (Founder of The TMB Challenge & Walking With My Bear) believes this provides a unique team building experience for key individuals within any company having not only participated but also delivered on team building events throughout the years.

Is 6 months enough to be ready for such a challenge?

To provide an initial insight to Jonathan’s experience, Not only is Jonathan an active mountain leader, but he’s also a clinical hypnotherapist, life & wealth coach, course creator and trainer on subject matters about mindset and life planning delivered amongst the outdoors. That said, a key example of what is achievable, in 2021 he also completed 1,053 miles unsupported using his legs in under 13 days and stayed outside until it was completed. A testament to his mindset and physical abilities for endurance.

In 2015, Jonathan completed the infamous Marathon Des Sables, 6 months before he completed his first official marathon and 4 months prior completed his first 84-mile ultra-marathon before setting off to compete to be amongst the elites. Imagine having a mindset that can pursue life and business goals with this level of focus and determination?

To answer the question – Yes, we believe if you have enough desire to achieve, anything is possible in life and business.

In our next article, we will cover more detail about Jamie Archer and his training programs.

Between Jonathan and Jamie, participants will have exceptional support and training available.

The TMB Challenge is the first of 12 events that will ultimately be run through the course of each year going forward, with each event offering something different.

If you want to know more about how to enrol for The TMB Challenge and our training programs, email contact@walkingwithmybear.com.

Welcome to The TMB Challenge

Posted on by Jonathan Kattenberg

An note from the event owner/principle – Jonathan Kattenberg

Imagine having a mindset that can taken on any challenge in life..

An active mountain leader and aspiring adventurer having spent time in extreme conditions from the Sahara, Yukon, Alaska, Norway and many other areas of the world, I created the event so individuals from mixed backgrounds could have a safe place to test their mind and body under challenging conditions.

You may be training for an ultra or long distance event, maybe looking for a challenge either individually or as a team of 3 for a bit of fun, or even looking for a unique challenge to take on so you can raise money for a great cause individually or as a team of 3 where each team member chooses which stage they will take on.

When guiding clients on challenges such as National 3 Peaks and much more, one of the key elements of success is an individual’s mindset.

More often than not, when people have trained, the distance, terrain and their fitness isn’t the challenge, it’s their mindset that can get in the way, especially when they are experiencing tiredness and fatigue.

With this in mind, all participants will have mental health support, access to online group sessions where we will explore mindset techniques and effective practices to support overcome mental health challenges, resilience and how to build on your mental health performance.

My Last Challenge

In April 2021 I set off to complete 1,000 miles pulling my expedition pulk on wheels around the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District Reservoirs with all my supplies to support an unsupported challenge.

Unfortunately due to loosing too much skin on my heels following a recent 120 mile tyre pulling virtual ultra 3 weeks prior, rather than quit due to the injuries on my heals, I split the distance between pulling my pulk on foot and utilising my mountain bike.

I stayed outside unsupported, preparing my own food, personal hygiene, sleeping in a tent, and keeping up to date with my admin as they say! The challenge took me 13 days to complete with some days being very long with little or no sleep. I covered 1,053 miles.

When I’m training in the area pulling my tyre, my training days can be up to 15 hours covering over 40-50 miles unsupported, so I’m not asking anyone to do anything I can’t do myself on The TMB Challenge! The question you have to ask yourself is – Do you have what it takes?

Although I’m an active qualified mountain leader, clinical hypnotherapist, mindset troubleshooter, trainer, author, and also planing to break a South Pole world record in 4 years time, I appreciate not everyone has my training nor experience to safely take on such challenges in life.

Why I chose to create The TMB Challenge

For me, my 1,053 mile fundraising challenge in 2021 was all about mindset and it was fun. I wanted to create a safe unique guided challenge for individuals in a beautiful setting who are looking for their next big challenge having completed a Yorkshire or National 3 Peaks, maybe completed a triathlon, marathon, ultra marathon, maybe training to pull a pulk in arctic conditions or even looking for their next charity fundraising event.

You’ll have the peace of mind that a team of highly skilled and experienced mountain leaders, medical team and support crew will provide assurance and guidance throughout the whole event to allow you to test yourself beyond your limits and experience an amazing time.

Be under no illusion, for the majority of you, you will be pushing yourself to the limit and for some going beyond your perceived limits.

The TMB Challenge is the first event of 12 unique events soon to be released through the UK.

For some, the thought of taking on such a challenge like this is a little too far.

If you do feel the thought of taking on such a challenge is too much at this moment in time, this is one of the many reasons why you should register and join now.

Why? Purely because it is a state of mind!

Imagine what you could achieve if your mind had no limits?

Here at The TMB Challenge, we have unique training packages that can support you both physically and mentally to achieve such an amazing challenge.

If you want to find out more about the training packages, why not look at the training courses on the website or get in touch.

When I successfully completed the Marathon Des Sables, I had only completed my first official marathon 6 months before and my first ultra marathon 4 months before setting off to the Sahara.

If you have the right mindset and coaching, anything is possible…

Have you got what it takes to take on The TMB Challenge?

To find out more and register for The TMB Challenge, click on the link to start your journey https://www.thetmbchallenge.com

I look forward to seeing you on the event….

Warmest wishes

Jonathan