Wingsuit flying? Dogsledding? Working 100 plus miles? Cave diving inside an iceberg?
I’ve received 15 journey athletes you’ve received to fulfill! Once I first began writing Thrill Seekers: 15 Outstanding Ladies in Excessive Sports activities, I spotted an unlucky truth. I barely knew something about journey sports activities, not to mention the individuals who apply them. I’d by no means heard of ultrarunning, and what on earth (or above earth as I discovered) was highlining? Who knew {that a} wingsuit flyer may zip right into a human-sized ‘flying squirrel’ go well with with a purpose to bounce from a cliff or helicopter and soar horizontally?
Whereas I’d by no means given a lot thought to those numerous outside-the-lines pursuits, what I did perceive was that journey sports activities are high-risk. So why do them? What’s the draw for highlining, balancing alongside a versatile 2-inch wire typically tons of of ft above the bottom? In some situations with out a tether. Why would somebody signal as much as run 50, 100, even 200 miles or extra in a race in opposition to time or different athletes? Wasn’t taking part in a 26-mile marathon superhuman sufficient?
The ladies I interviewed for Thrill Seekers are all journey athletes, passionate about their sports activities, positive, but in addition tapping into one thing extra. I made a decision to determine what that ‘extra’ was all about.
I’m most likely common with regards to sports activities and health. I’m not tremendous coordinated, nor exceptionally sturdy. I grew up in Canada so snowboarding was our factor, however I used to be by no means a lot into organized sports activities. I did used to run—nonetheless do—however it’s at a snail’s tempo and solely a few miles 3 times per week. Working is easy and it’s secure. I lace up my sneakers, plug in earbuds, and go. In my case, every time I get to any form of elevation, I gradual to a stroll. Like I stated: secure. But …
Impressed by the eagerness of the women I interviewed, I made a decision to do some firsthand analysis. First I attempted scuba diving. It was pre-Covid, and we had been at a resort that provided an all-in-one lesson package deal. I confirmed up, placed on the gear, and initially sat on the underside of the swimming pool utilizing weights to carry me down. Although it was solely a two or three ft to the floor and simply reachable by standing up, this was the scariest half for me. Respiratory underwater felt mistaken. I needed to put aside logic to take breath after breath with out panicking. It was occurring, although, and so once we took it a step additional and walked into the ocean from the seaside, I had reached an understanding that respiratory underwater was going to be okay.
Below the floor of the ocean, the water was clear, however it wasn’t like trying on the horizon on land. There was restricted seen distance. It crossed my thoughts {that a} shark may simply come out of the murk at any time. No sharks appeared, fortunately, however we did see a stingray laying on the sandy backside. Because the divemaster shooed it away, it rose up and soared into deeper waters.
Okay, so scuba diving was checked off my record, albeit the newbie’s model. Subsequent, intrigued by the thought of high-stakes racing, I signed as much as do a ride-along in a modified Method racecar, one other of the chapters I’d lined in my ebook. As I stepped onto the Richmond Raceway, I may odor the oil and, I swear, the adrenaline. As soon as strapped into the seat of the racecar, a driver jockeyed from the pit to the observe. He accelerated, and we had been off at a breakneck tempo. I do recall elevating each fingers from the wheel to do a rollercoaster-esque no-hands wave—however just for a second.
Maybe the very best expertise I attempted, as soon as once more impressed by interviewing some really superb individuals, was skydiving. It was tandem, in fact. Apparently guidelines dictate that you should dive strapped securely to an skilled for no less than 25 occasions earlier than going at it alone. Fantastic by me!
Each a part of this expertise was a pleasure. From strolling on the tarmac to the airplane, from cramming inside that small hen to perching on the sting of the gaping aspect door, each second was novel and thrilling. With the wind whipping previous us, my teacher—his title was Cornelius—requested me if I used to be prepared. Then, after a one, two, three, we dropped from the airplane … and saved dropping. At that time I had little consciousness of the bottom, solely the sense of falling. Someday through the freefall we flipped over. When Cornelius deployed the parachute, the mad rush of air was changed by a profound magnificence and peace.
As soon as earthbound once more, I performed over the expertise. Sure, there had been a component of actual danger. There have been positively issues that might have gone mistaken … Finally, although, what I felt was a heightened sense of being alive. Ah-ha, I believed, that is the “extra” these excessive sports activities women have tapped into. Extra pleasure. Extra life. Extra appreciation. It’s a treasured feeling.
