Ross Edgley - The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body

Contents

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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2020

FIRST EDITION

Text Ross Edgley 2020

Illustrations by Liane Payne HarperCollinsPublishers 2020

Jacket design by Sim Greenaway HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

Front cover photograph Andrew Brown

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Ross Edgeley asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008356989

Ebook Edition April 2020 ISBN: 9780008356965

Version 2020-04-04

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Page numbers taken from the following print edition: ISBN 9780008356989

Thank you to my dad, the most stoically strong man I know.

CONTENTS

You only have to look at the numbers: 1,780 miles, 157 days at sea, half a million calories burned, over two million swim strokes completed. Staggering. And do you know whats even more mind-blowing? Zero sick days.

Here was I thinking it would be hard enough to sail around Great Britain: who whould be crazy enough to swim all the way around it?

Thats why I wanted to be one of the first to congratulate Ross when, after five months out at sea, he got himself back to Margate beach at the end of his mammoth Great British Swim. One of the things I remember most about that day was that he was exhausted, he was hungry, he looked like an alien from another world and yet he had this huge smile beaming across his face.

One of the key mindset principles that has got me through life is positivity. And for those who know him, you dont need me to tell you that Ross has that in bucketloads. It means you have more mental energy. Youre smart. Your positive mindset can get you out of those dark places (and when youve read this book, youll see that Ross has been to a few of those).

What gives you the motivation that drives you through the pain barrier and the resilience to cope with any obstacles that nature throws your way? What is it about the mind that is so powerful it can lead you to achieve incredible things? How did Ross find the unbelievable strength to go against the grain of human nature and tackle something which has never been done before?

When I think of the answers to these questions, I reflect back on my time in the Special Forces and how training taught me how to play the odds. So in a combat situation I would be thinking about what would happen when I went through that door with an armed enemy on the other side. Is he going to get me before I get him? What are the risks of me getting a bullet through the head that kills me instantly? In most situations Id calculate the chances were slim, so Id say to myself, Fuck that, the odds are with me, Im going in.

Ross overcame all the odds. The jellyfish in the Corryvreckan, the tankers crossing his path, the treacherous currents and tides, the winds and the waves, the storms. Its a wonder the odd Atlantic shark didnt decide to join the welcoming party!

With his physical and mental capabilities, backed up by his professional sports science qualifications and understanding of nutrition, if anyone was going to make the Great British Swim a success, it was Ross. You could be the best swimmer in the world but you wouldnt make it past the first week without mental fortitude, resilience and flicking yourself into survival mode.

The transformative lessons you can learn from this daring endeavour are countless. Dont let other people define you. Overcome that fear of the unknown. Purge your mind of everything apart from you against the water. Crack on, get in the zone, and get the job done.

Ross is one of the most humble and inspiring individuals you could ever wish to meet. From reading this book, the message that comes shining through is this: you can achieve anything.

Who dares swims. Good luck, mate I couldnt be prouder to call you a friend. You are one of a kind, a true British hero and I cant wait to see whats in store for your next big (and hopefully dry) adventure.

Its 10.00 a.m. on 31 January 2018 at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon. I had just completed a 48-hour training swim (covering 185 km in the centres training pool) in preparation for my quest to set the record for the worlds longest current-neutral swim in an ocean, sea or bay. I was planning to take on this challenge around Bermuda where the waters were warm, the food was great, and I knew lots of people with boats so plenty of support would be at hand.

Entering the officers mess (an area where military personnel socialise and eat) I sat down with my good friend Ollie Mason, a Royal Marine Captain, head rugby coach and my temporary training instructor, to reflect on the last few days. Perched on a couple of grand leather sofas, we drank tea and spent the first few moments in silence.

Looking around it always felt like such a privilege for me just to be here. Hundreds of officers would have passed through these doors over the years. Yet this place still possessed a kind of timeless, old-fashioned opulence and came complete with solid-oak bookcases, polished brass door frames, a grand piano in the corner and a huge painting depicting a group of commandos receiving their green berets and becoming fully-fledged Royal Marines.

The silence was broken as we were joined by one of the older officers.

You boy, he said pointing at my shrivelled feet and hands. I heard about your 48-hour training swim. What is it that you are training for?

He was tall with massive hands that made the teacup he was drinking from look comically puny. He also had an equally impressive moustache. You couldnt have designed a better Royal Marine Officer if youd tried.

Im possibly training for the worlds longest current-neutral swim, I said.

He paused and sipped his tea, looking pensively into the bottom of the cup as if searching for clues before giving his verdict.

Can I be honest with you, young man? he asked.

Yes, please do, I replied, intrigued as to what he could possibly say.

That just sounds a bit shit.

Needless to say, I wasnt expecting this response. Nor did I actually ask for a response. In fact, I was still yet to introduce myself and learn his name. But it seemed the usual pleasantries had been forgotten and wed gone straight into an impromptu brainstorming session.

Ollie then intervened. Im going to be honest, mate. I think you should just man up and swim around Great Britain.

Why would I do that? I asked stunned at the scale of his proposed swim.

Well, I can think of at least three reasons, he said. Its about 1,800 miles so would be the longest staged sea swim in human history. Youd be bringing that record back home to British waters. And it doesnt sound as shit as a current-neutral swim in Bermuda.