Why?
How often do you get the chance to push the limits, do something this extraordinary and take part in something that most people wouldn't even dream of doing? The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a once in a lifetime opportunity, a 3000-mile race across the Atlantic Ocean starting at Le Gomera and finishing in Antigua. It is one of the most brutal, physically demanding races on the planet, and one of the ultimate endurance challenges in the world!
Why Not?
Don’t ask ‘why’, ask instead, ‘why not’. – John F. Kennedy –
I have been involved with exercising and enjoying physical fitness since I joined the Army way back in 2002 and even more so since completed my Physical Training Instructor course in 2005. But it was in 2004 when I was first introduced to an indoor rowing machine whilst I was recovering from a back injury. I instantly took to it and started utilising it during my injury recovery process. Since then, I have been training on the indoor rowing machine more and more. Approximately 6 years ago, 10 years on, I managed to take my indoor rowing to the next level, by stepping in to the Army Indoor Rowing league fold. Since stepping up, I have assisted with the running and organisation of the rowing league and competed at all levels. To date, I have competed for the Royal Army Physical Training Corps Indoor Rowing Team, and more recently, the Army Indoor Rowing Team at numerous Army, National, International and World Indoor Rowing Championships.
Around 12 months ago, during a telephone conversation with ‘Cap’ Scott Pollock, he happened to mentioned briefly about potentially planning to row the Atlantic Ocean, I instantly thought, I would love to be a part of this adventure.
Not knowing to much about ocean rowing, I started to carry out some research and watch videos on YouTube, which only fuelled my desire. Then earlier this year, I received a text message asking the question of all questions, and without hesitation, I replied, “I’m in!”
Why Not Me?
From a very young age, I had to go through and experience some tough life events. On reflection, and drawing the positives out of a negative space, it has helped shape the person I have become today and helped me develop a certain degree of mental robustness, which kept me strong and got me through it. When I reached the ripe old age of 18, I decided to join the British Army. I always had aspirations to join since I was a young boy, but something clicked and I felt that this was the right moment in time. A year or so passed and it became apparent that I had made the right decision. My newly found love of exercising and high-level of physical fitness coupled with the already acquired mental robustness, enabled me to develop the art of resilience. This became evident when I received the Top ‘Sapper’ Student award on my Royal Engineer phase 2 training and a few years on, I was awarded Top ‘Fin’ Student on my Military Diving course. Two courses which are renowned for being some of the most arduous courses, not just within the Royal Engineers, but within the Military.
After the death of my younger brother in a tragic accident in 2019, I decided to put my art of resilience to its toughest test. One year on, on the first anniversary of his passing, I organised a 100-mile (160,934m) charity row on an indoor rowing machine, in his memory. The plethora of questions and comments that followed in the lead up to the row, only served to prove exactly how much this was going to test myself, not just physically and mentally, but also emotionally. The general recreational trainer asked; how long will the row take? The standard gym goer said; it will be too hard! And the more seasoned and experienced rower said; no, I won’t be able to accomplish such a distance individually, which only propelled me further and made me more determined to do so. Therefore, I found myself embarking on a 6-week build up programme with the goal of just being able to complete it, to finishing the row individually in; 13:50:24.0....
Why Not Now?
Throughout my Military career, I have strived to push the limits and I have been lucky enough to experience some of the most extreme, thrill seeking, adventurous activities. There have been times I have found myself 50m below the surface of the ocean scuba diving to being 12,000ft up in the clouds jumping out of an aeroplane sky diving. All of which, has left me asking the same question, what next.... The perfect combination of my love for the sea and passion for adventure, Team Force Atlantic and The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge!
From the moment our team selection was confirmed and we sat down on our first Zoom meeting, it’s felt right! I had a hunch that this team is exceptional! It has been evident from the start; we all share the same common goal and purpose for wanting to embark on this once in a lifetime, extraordinary challenge together. Each team member has their own unique strengths within their respective areas and roles. Combining this with our high-level of physical fitness, is what makes ‘Team Force Atlantic’ the formidable force it has already become.
My role of Training and Nutrition Lead within the team seems a natural fit for me. My previous knowledge and experience from working within the Maritime environment, as well as my zealousness for performance nutrition, can only serve to be of maximum benefit to our team. Over the next few months, the training lead role will step up to the forefront as we commence our eagerly awaited training and mandatory courses. My aim over the next 12 months is to fulfil my role to its full potential and lead our team on the right precise training journey, so we are fully prepared for the most brutal, physically demanding race on the planet and arrive on the start line in the best possible condition and state of mind, in Le Gomera, December 2021.
Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.
– Pablo Picasso –
Phil Welch
Training Lead, Team Force Atlantic