“The world is full of wonderful things you haven’t seen yet. Don’t ever give up on the chance of seeing them.” ― J.K Rowling
Another amazing interview this time with Liz! An incredible women who has an incredible life from working as a firefighter to summiting Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro and nights in the Amazon Rainforest. With a supporting and adoring husband, Liz is managing to squeeze as much adventure into her life as humanly possible. She is a inspiration!
You can find Liz on Instagram @liz_hd1980 and her husband who is her biggest fan at @fitness_and_adventure_
1. Can you tell us something about yourself?
Liz, 40, I’m a Firefighter & also spent 12 years as an Army Reserve, which included a tour of Afghanistan. I’ve always been into adventure, my husband & I don’t do sofa or all inclusive holidays. I’ve been to Everest Base Camp, summited Kilimanjaro, done the High Inca Trail & Macchu Picchu & spent a few nights in the Amazon Rainforest. Fortunately for me, my Husband shares my exact same mindset, he’s a Snowboard Instructor & it’s how we met. We also love our snowboard holidays
2. What is the first memory of an adventure you had? And why does it stand out?
Snowdon, with my Dad when I was about 9 years old. It was the first time I summited a mountain & I just fell in love with being in the outdoors.
3. What are three things on your bucket list?
Three things on my bucket list, my Husband & I try to complete as many fitness/endurance events as possible & we’ve just booked one of our main bucket list goals, Rat Race Mongol 100. In 2022, we’re going to race 100 miles across a frozen lake in Mongola! Also at the top of my bucket list, I’m going to travel to Argentina to summit Aconcagua which is just under 7000 metres, meaning it’s around 1000 metres higher than the summit of Kilimanjaro! Another thing I really want with the Husband is a road trip around Australia.
4. Your partner has told me you are a firefighter, I can imagine you have to be in excellent shape, do you have a special training plan to keep you fit?
I love my career, we have a gym in the fire station I use as often as possible, I mainly run, do weights & circuit training. The husband & I try not to drink too much or eat too much chocolate!
5. What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
Always keep exploring!
6. What advice would you give someone who is just starting their outdoor journey?
Set some goals, no matter how big or small they may seem. Don’t ever put adventures off!
7. What is the hardest adventure/hike you have done and why?
The descent from the summit of Kilimanjaro as I have a huge phobia of tripping & falling!
8. What is your favourite thing about the outdoor community?
Spending time around like minded people, it’s a very friendly community & I love exchanging knowledge & adventures.
9. Is there anything you would change about the outdoor community?
No, not really. The husband & I love it!
10. Is there a sport/adventure pursuit you would like to try? If yes what’s stopping you?
We are very active, we snowboard, climb, paddleboard, road cycle, mountain bike, hike & run together. We love doing obstacle races & endurance runs too. I’d like hang gliding at some point, it looks good fun!
11. Has the outdoors impacted your mental health?
Absolutely, there’s no better medicine than being out on a mountain or an adventure in the outdoors!
12. What does a typical adventure day look like for you?
As we’ve so many outdoor hobbies, a typical adventure day for me varies according to what hobby we’re doing. We’d be up early, have a good breakfast, pack any kit needed from our ‘kit room’ (we’ve got that much outdoor gear we’ve had to turn one of our spare rooms into a kit room!) then drive somewhere, get excited whilst on route, do that activity, then have a sense of achievement afterwards (& a pint of cider sometimes!)
13. Are there any women that inspire your adventures or that you look to for inspiration?
My Mum inspires me. She’s had MS for 38 years & has coped remarkably well. Unfortunately she can’t do the things I can do but as we’re very close, she loves seeing all the things I do & seeing me happy.
14. Do you struggle to find a balance between outdoor life and being a adult?
No, I don’t struggle with that at all. Although my job is demanding & serious, we do have a laugh whilst at work. I try to keep my spare time just as exciting!
15. What is the one song you would pick to sum up your time outdoors?
I don’t have a particular song but I do have a lot of banging house music on my iPod for running
16. Do you ever have days where you just can’t be bothered? If so how do you over come that feeling?
Some days yes, mainly if I’ve been really busy at work, it’s ok to have a chill day/rest day from time to time, it does us good as long as there’s not too many of them. When I’m having a rest day I’m usually planning more adventures though, we’ve just got back from an incredible adventure travelling around Belize that I organised for our honeymoon & my 40th & recently we’ve been researching & planning a trip to the Galápagos Islands & Costa Rica.
