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
