LAURA
AGE: 40
FROM: Lincolnshire
OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur

ABOUT

Laura went through a massive transformation as she reached her 30s, discovering the outdoors, fitness and adventure. Since then, she has taken on several endurance events, including rowing the Atlantic.

This new lifestyle is a far cry from the life Laura previously lived. Throughout her 20s Laura ran her own beauty salon, living a lavish lifestyle, seeking material happiness and enjoying the finer things in life. As she approached 30, she took stock and realised that she was deeply unfulfilled, so she gave up the salon, the glamorous clothes and her bling lifestyle in an attempt to find the real Laura.

Laura has always wanted to have the opportunity to take on a challenge at this level and she’s desperate to see whether she is both mentally and physically capable of doing it. For Laura, this adventure would pull together everything she has devoted the last 10 years of her life to learning.

Interview with Laura

Why did you want to take part in Alone?

This is the ultimate adventure - it’s all of the lessons that I’ve taken from my previous challenges put into one and putting me to the test to see how well I’ll do. I’m desperate to get out and connect with nature, and be away from the noise of digital and other people and to go really, really deep and see what I’m capable of. I feel a deep desire to go through this discomfort. And I just want to see if I am capable of getting my water, getting my food, building my little home and finding out how I will cope whilst doing all of that.

What strengths will you bring to the wilderness?

My strengths are my routine and the care I’ve put into my body and mind. I love a routine, I’m very methodical and I like scenario planning and thinking of solutions. I’m also really good at self-care, looking after my body because I’m a runner and I exercise, so that helps me stay injury free. Plus I keep my mind healthy. So I’m looking forward to taking those strengths and skills out with me, because it’s not all about axe work and knife, it’s about looking after my feet, looking after my mind and getting lots of sleep as well. So I’ll just find that balance between all of the skills.

How big a challenge will this be for you?

This is going to be my biggest challenge to date, my ultimate adventure. This involves such minimal kit - I’ll be by myself, just me and mother nature. This feels like the ultimate challenge and all the lessons that I’ve learnt previously have led to this moment.

Mental or physical, which do you think you’ll be stronger at?

I will probably do better at the mental side, only because my skills aren’t as strong as I would like them to be. During previous challenges, I’ve found my body often says no more but my mind tells me to carry on, so I’ll just keep listening to my mind and carry on, especially knowing that if I have a bad day one day, the next day might be a good day.

What worries you the most about this adventure?

If my kit gets wet, if I can’t build a good enough shelter and the weather gets the better of me, that concerns me because generally that means I might have to tap out. But then I try not to focus on those things because if I think about it enough, it might happen. The only way that I can stop those things happening is by focusing on what I can do.

What do you think most people would think about you doing a challenge like this?

When I tell my friends that I’m doing this, they will say “of course you are.” Other people might wonder why on earth I would want to do that, but those who know me know this is absolutely perfect for me.

What do you see as your main competition?

I feel as though once I’m out there all sense of competition will be lost because the reason I’m there is to find the lessons.

Would you like this experience to change you?

I would like to find some lessons to help me become more rounded, soften those sharp edges and help me cope with everyday life a bit better.

How will you feel if you have to tap out?

If I had to tap out, despite feeling disappointed, I wouldn’t want to live with a regret. If that is the case, I’ll just accept that’s happened and cherish all the moments before that. I’d like to come away feeling great rather than feeling sad about having tapped out.

How do you think you’ll cope with the hunger?

Because I have done several long fasts, I feel confident, knowing how my body and mind is going to act. It’s going to be a bit of sticky transition but I feel happy with how I’m going to cope. I’ve also got these extra six kilograms on me, that extra bit of fat. Saying that, it’s not going to stop me going out and finding food every day, because ideally I wouldn’t want to get into that mind-set of relying on my bodies stored energy.

How did your passion for the outdoors begin?

My passion for the outdoors began with a run to the end of my road. I’d seen people on TV, running across the mountains and in the forest, and I always wanted to do that. So, the obvious thing for me was to start running around the block. Then that run led to longer runs, which led to marathons. And it just kept escalating and the more stuff that I did outside, the more I loved it and felt so fulfilled. It was not something that I’d ever experienced before. And so as that grew, all of the materialistic stuff, all of the shopaholic traits that I had, they kind of burnt out and my outdoor passion grew.