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Alex Staniforth

Alex Staniforth

Adversity Adventurer, Motivational Resilience Speaker, Author and Mental Health Activist

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cheshire

August 18, 2017

Expedition tips: the kit list for a 5,000 mile adventure challenge

Whether it's climbing Everest, rowing the Atlantic, or cycling around the world, we seem to have a fascination about the equipment chosen to get the

Category iconChallenges,  Climb The UK,  Endurance,  Inspiration,  Inspiring,  Viewranger,  Westgrove Group,  YHA Tag iconadventurer,  adversity,  alex staniforth,  charity,  cheshire,  climb the uk,  ClimbTheUK,  Counties,  everest,  highest points,  icefall,  mental health,  motivational speaker,  record,  wellbeing,  young minds,  young people

CLIMB THE UK

April 21, 2017

Climb The UK – A route to all 100 UK counties!

My latest challenge nears closer - reaching the highest point of all 100 UK counties on bike, foot and kayak in just over two months. I will now be

Category iconClimb The UK,  Inspiration Tag iconadventure,  alex staniforth,  challenge,  cheshire,  climb the uk,  Counties,  cycling,  fitness,  mental health,  mental health week,  outdoors,  prince harry,  running,  walking,  yha,  young minds

Fellrunning Lake District

July 20, 2016

Training for Everest or an 8000m peak

With 16 talks in the last 32 days to over 900 people, one of the key questions has been: โ€œWhatโ€™s next?โ€. Itโ€™s Cho Oyu. The 6th highest peak in the

Category iconCho Oyu 2016,  Everest 2015,  Training Tag icon8000m,  alex staniforth,  author,  bear grylls,  bike,  cheshire,  cho oyu,  cycling,  everest,  everesting,  fitness,  Health,  himalayas,  icefall,  mountaineering,  movie,  training

Cho Oyu Advanced Base Camp

June 10, 2016

Cho Oyu 2016 – Down, but not out!

So... what's next? Since Everest last year I've been asked this continually. If you've read my book you probably have a better idea. But in the

Category iconCho Oyu 2016 Tag iconadversity,  alex staniforth,  bear grylls,  charity,  cheshire,  cho oyu,  climbing,  everest,  himalayas,  icefall,  tibet,  westgrove

May 12, 2016

What were you doing this last time year?

I was returning from my second attempt to climb Everest. The Nepal earthquake put a stop to that. Three guys on my team didn't come home after an

Category iconInspiration Tag iconalex staniforth,  Avalanche,  cheshire,  climbing,  earthquake,  everest,  fundraising,  hull,  icefall,  keswick,  mountaineering,  nepal,  westgrove

May 2, 2016

Icefall – the book tour!

Pleased to announce the first dates of my book signing and speaking tour across the UK over the coming months. More details will follow - but this is

Category iconIcefall Tag iconalex staniforth,  author,  Avalanche,  bear grylls,  blog,  book,  cheshire,  climbing,  everest,  icefall,  nepal,  release

December 31, 2015

Dealing with the festive blues

So it's the time of year when I'm as cheerful as a Turkey at Christmas, we're swamped with cheesy inspirational quotes for the year ahead, when health

Category iconInspiration Tag icon2016,  alex staniforth,  Avalanche,  blog,  book,  cheshire,  coventry house,  depression,  earthquake,  everest,  icefall,  mental health,  new year,  resolutions,  SAD,  seasonal affectivity disorder

November 28, 2015

The University of Life

Climbing Mount Everest is widely known as a pinnacle of achievement and mental tenacity in itself, but the 'Everest' ideology applies everywhere in

Category iconInspiration Tag iconalex staniforth,  cheshire,  depression,  epic7,  everest,  leadership,  mental health,  resilience,  speaking,  university

March 28, 2015

Found a way and made one.

Thankyou. Seriously, thankyou. The aim of this blog in particular is to try and show my appreciation for the selfless generosity, time, support,

Category iconEverest 2015 Tag icon2015,  alex staniforth,  cheshire,  epic7,  everest

March 6, 2015

A day in the life of an Everest climber-to-be…

At a talk last weekend, my fourth of the week (a new personal best!) I was asked: ''When was the last time you said no to someone?''. Which got me

Category iconEverest 2015 Tag iconalex staniforth,  cheshire,  everest 2015,  everest expedition,  everest training

February 9, 2015

Reviewed: the Invisible Tent

Rather than trickling in bits about my training, I thought I should write a little piece about my recent experiences ahead of this weekโ€™s EPIC7

Category iconChallenges,  Everest 2015 Tag iconalex staniforth,  cheshire,  dayinsure,  everest 2015,  everest expedition,  giles babbidge,  sponsorship,  tarporley

December 23, 2014

No snow? Never mind – there’s plenty on Everest…

So here's a post before everyone breaks up for the Christmas period. Unless you're working part-time in a restaurant like me, in which case it only

Category iconEverest 2015 Tag iconactive cheshire,  alex staniforth,  cheshire,  climb,  epic7,  everest,  everest 2014,  nepal,  south ridge,  teenager,  westgrove

December 3, 2014

The Everest dream remains afloat!

Had an interesting couple of weeks. Both successes and troughs. So I'll focus on the successes. Glad to confirm Dayinsure.comย as the most recent

Category iconEverest 2015 Tag iconalex staniforth,  cammell laird,  cheshire,  dayinsure,  epic7,  everest,  insurance,  tarporley

November 9, 2014

Solo National Three Peaks Cycle Challenge

It's that time after a challenge where I can take the time to recover in my comfort zone and enjoy reflecting on what I've just endured, whilst

Category iconChallenges,  Uncategorized Tag iconactive cheshire,  alex staniforth,  challenge,  cheshire,  climb,  climb4change,  cycle,  epic7,  everest,  mountain,  mountaineering,  record attempt,  solo 3 peaks,  teenager,  westgrove

October 21, 2014

The long and winding road to Everest 2015 is getting shorter!

Been looking forward to posting this blog for a while!! Epic news folks and I'm absolutely buzzing to be sharing it with you. Especially to be in this

Category iconUncategorized Tag icon2015,  active cheshire,  adversity,  alex staniforth,  cheshire,  climb,  epic7,  everest,  inspire,  mount everest,  sponsors,  teenager,  warrington,  westgrove

March 16, 2014

”Are you the chap that’s climbing Everest?”

The title of the blog is the question I was asked by a lady whom I'd cycled past on Wednesday evening, on a routine 60 mile ride from my local village

Category iconEverest 2014 Updates Tag icon2014,  alex staniforth,  charity,  cheshire,  chester,  climb for change,  climb4change,  everest,  himalayas,  I,  itv news,  Mountains,  nepal,  pingtree,  record attempt,  south,  southeast ridge,  teenager,  textlocal,  uk loans

February 9, 2014

Carpe Diem… what does that mean?

I'm glad to confirm Great Bear Distribution of Tattenhall, Cheshire, as my latest sponsor who have contributed a significant amount towards my trip as

Category iconEverest 2014 Updates Tag iconalex staniforth,  cheshire,  everest,  everest 2014,  everest expedition,  sandstone trail,  training

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alexstaniforth_

Challenges are what I do.
Ultra-running, Adventure, Mental Health.
Founder @mind_o_mountains. Author. @inov_8 @ellisbrigham Athlete.
๐Ÿ‘ฃ Lake District

Alex Staniforth
Just keep swimming! No better place to finish 32 Just keep swimming!

No better place to finish 32 swims in 32 days than 2km across Buttermere into the sunset with friends. 

It was one goal I never managed last year but I'm glad - because last night it meant so much more. It's been my easiest challenge to date, yet one of the most fun. Getting to be a clueless beginner once again, exploring 32 places and sharing it with 18 friends old and new has been a blast. It's been great to discover an amazing community who use cold water for managing anxiety and stress too. I always thought they were mad - but now I totally get it ๐Ÿ˜‚ Once I get back from Canada in September I'll be back in the water again.

Mental health will always be one of my biggest challenges, so thanks to everyone who's donated to @mind_o_mountains to help us support mental health through time in nature alongside professional support. Still way off my target so please give if you can.

Despite nearly losing my GoPro in Buttermere, there'll be a short film soon to share the highlights... In the meantime, thanks to @kenny.d.block for the ace photos.
.
#32dipsin32days #wildswimming #swimming #openwater #lakedistrict #lakes #lakedistrictuk #mentalhealth #sunset #buttermere #speedouk #mindovermountains #lakesswimming #adventure #wildswimminguk #openwater
Why stop with a pool like this? That's 30 dips i Why stop with a pool like this? 

That's 30 dips in 30 days complete. But mental health is a daily process, not just a month. So if you're in the Lakes tomorrow, come and join us at Buttermere for the finale. I'd wanted to swim Wastwater but that's the usual challenge voice kicking in, and pushing myself too much right now defeats the object. 

Swim the full 2km, paddle or even walk along the lakeshore. All are welcome. 6:30pm at Gatesgarth Farm (or 7:30ish on the other side). It's looking like a scorcher!

Even if you're not in the Lakes, why not join us virtually by going for a dip at your nearest water or pool at 6:30pm? @bestillstephen is joining us from Bala Lake in Wales! Please stay in your limits though, especially in the hot weather. 

It's not too late to sponsor a swim for @mind_o_mountains if you can - link in bio - thanks for your support! 

๐Ÿ“ธ @andydicksonforce4good

#wildswimming #lakes #lakedistrict #openwater #30dipsin30days #lakedistrictuk #ullswater #summer #wildswim #challenge #mindovermountains #mentalhealth #getoutside
Progress rarely goes in a straight line. We want Progress rarely goes in a straight line. 

We want to keep getting better every year and to keep pushing the bar as we build our confidence, experience and resilience. 

This year I had more races booked and even bigger challenges planned than the last. But Covid had other ideas for me.

This week I've pulled my last race of the year (Lakes In A Day) in October to try and recover for 2023.

But this week I also: 

- Swam Loweswater, where we started the Lakes, Meres and Waters run back in April. That was my first 100 miler and I'd never have believed that I'd end up swimming across it 4 months later.

- Went for my first swimming lesson in 20+ years. Less tears and tantrums this time, but lots still to work on.

- Swam Derwentwater with Tim Mosedale, my Everest 2014 + 15 expedition leader. Opposite where Tim took me on my first rock climb 12 years ago. I was probably equally knackered, to be honest. 

This year's progress looks more like a rollercoaster wave than a straight line, but what goes down, must come back up again. Trust the process.

๐Ÿ“ธ @andymiltonphotography because he did a grand job. 

@ellisbrigham
@inov_8
@ordnancesurvey

#playthelonggame #ultrarunning #wildswimming #lakedistrict #longcovid #covidrecovery #enduranceathlete #ultrarun #lakedistrictuk #lakes #getoutside #ultrarunner #100miler #setbacks #injuredrunner #mindset #progress
First swimming lesson in 20+ years. Turns out you First swimming lesson in 20+ years. Turns out you don't get badges when you're 27 though. Gutted! 

I had developed my very own swimming style which generally involved swallowing the water of various lakes, meres, waters and rivers in the last 25 days. You're never too late to learn something new. Thanks Heather @south_lakes_swimming for putting up with me!

@speedouk

#stillwantmybadgethough #30dipsin30days #swimming #openwaterswimming #openwater #windermere #lakedistrictuk #lakes #fellfoot #wildswimming #training #speedouk
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