ASHBY'S TRAILS AND TREKS
About Me
As Senior Operations Manager with over 20 years experience in financial services, I understand the importance of taking care of our mental health. I manage 60 members of staff, and their health and wellbeing are always a priority to me.
Taking my passion for wellbeing into the community, I became a qualified run leader. I now organise and lead group runs several times a week, including a beginners' running group to get you off to a running start.
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I get a great deal of satisfaction from encouraging other people, bringing out the best in them, and allowing them to expand, develop, and learn - while staying safe and well. But in order to do so, we need to challenge ourselves. And that applies to me, too.
In October 2021, I completed the Ultra Tour of Arran, a double ultra marathon on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. The two-day mountain running event took participants over Goat Fell mountain, which involved climbing some serious vertical gains!
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Prior to this, I had taken part in half marathon trail runs, longer runs over 20k, 10k races, and, a few years ago, the Three Peaks Challenge. During the Three Peaks, I climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in 24 hours with little or no sleep. Those who know me will know that Snowdon is a personal favourite of mine; I have been to the peak of Snowdon many times.
I love to see people improve and I know how to help them to push themselves harder, especially when they doubt their own ability. My focus and determination stems from my years in the British army, when I pushed myself to my own personal limit and beyond, and realised you can do far more than you think you can, even when you think you are done. Serving across numerous areas of the world, I gained many survival and navigational skills along with becoming a mountain warfare expert after serving a number of years in Norway. My motivational skills were clearly defined when we won the NATO march and shoot, a gruelling long march, assault course and shooting competition against every Country in NATO.
Early in my military career, I excelled at outward bounds activities becoming qualified in numerous areas:
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Army Ski instructor
Mountain Warfare Specialist
British Canoe Union Instructor
Top Rope and Abseiling Instructor
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When I’m not running, I love exploring remote parts of the UK with my family. I am a trained and qualified first-aider, and I have a strong interest in sports nutrition.
I can help you improve your level of fitness, explore new territory, or become a better, happier runner. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been trekking or running for years, I'd love to hear from you.