Louis Alexander | Completes The Australian Outback
Louis Alexander is a 23-year-old professional explorer, adventurer and storyteller. From running through deserts, and swimming across shipping lanes, to summiting some of the world's most notable mountains, Louis has conquered numerous endurance feats at a young age.
His endeavours have raised tens of thousands for charity, support from adventure greats including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and features in the international press, named by The Times as the 'Modern-day Byron' after his successful swim across the infamous Hellespont strait, which separates Europe and Asia.
Louis is currently embarking on the pinnacle of running: to run seven marathons on seven continents, from Africa to Antarctica. There are around 400 members of the exclusive '7 Continents Marathon Club'; however, Louis' plan is unlike anything ever achieved before, intending to run in the most remote corner of each continent. Thus far, Louis has completed four legs of the project, running through the Agafay Desert in Africa, the Wadi Rum Desert in Asia, Alaska in North America, and most recently, The Australian Outback in Oceania. We caught up with Louis to see how he is getting on during his project and his most recent swim:
1. Since our last chat, you have run through The Australian Outback for the Oceania leg of your project; what was that like?
"It was truly spectacular. There are moments in life when you know you are exactly where you need to be, and that was the Outback expedition for me. The run was hot and humid, and I had another interesting encounter with a wild dog - this time being chased by a junkyard dog! But running through sunrise, surrounded by the iconic Eucalyptus trees, with the orange sand glowing below me, made it all worth it. The marathon was everything I could have dreamed of."
2. During your runs, what goes through your head? What is your thought process?
"The dream and plan behind this project is to run in the most remote corner of every continent, from the desert in Africa, to the heart of Antarctica. The marathon times are not the focus, because I'm not motivated by looking down at my watch. Instead, I'm motivated by looking up at everything around me! The truth is: the marathon is just the surface of this project, the iceberg underneath is the privilege of being about to travel to some of the most remote places on this planet, meet amazing locals in their communities, and seeing all the incredible wildlife and nature out there. When each marathon becomes tough, such as the heat of the desert in Africa, or the sub-zero conditions of Alaska for the North American leg, I remind myself where I am, and where I hope to go on my journey. I find every run difficult, both in training and on expeditions, and I will never hide that. However, these adventures have given me the greatest gift in life: purpose, and they are helping me become the man I want to be. That's the greatest inspiration."
3. You recently swam Alcatraz; how did it go?
"Whilst waiting for the seasons to change for my running project over summer, I decided to keep myself busy with another swim, and this time the infamous Alcatraz in San Francisco! On 24th June, I swam the 2 mile stretch from the feared island prison to San Francisco Bay, through the choppy waters and strong currents. It was a tough but epic test of my swimming strength. At moments, the waves were so strong they knocked my goggles off, and I drank a lot of sea water in the process. But I'm pleased to say out of 62 swimmers, I was the only finisher to not wear a wetsuit - just a pair of shorts, goggles and a cap! My hard work and preparation with cold exposure, such as regular Cryotherapy at The Body Lab, paid off!"
3. Are there any plans to take on another feat like this in the future?
"Those around me know I find many aspects of my career challenging, from training to logistics, to the expeditions themselves, but the one part of my career as a professional explorer that comes naturally is dreaming of the adventures. I have a constantly growing list of adventures, from swimming to kayaking. My marathon in Antarctica this December will conclude my first running chapter, so I will be putting away the running shoes for a little while afterwards, to focus on some other dreams, many of which have never been attempted or achieved before!"
4. How important would you say recovery is during your training, and how does optimal recovery look when preparing for a feat you're taking on?
"My recovery is equally as important as my training! They are both an absolute priority. My preparation has shifted over the last six months, since working with my coach Jayke at The Body Lab. The focus is not to be the fastest runner, but instead the most resilient. To be as injury resistant as possible. The marathons during this project are not the standard road marathon, and therefore my preparation must reflect that! The ability to access the incredible facilities at The Body Lab on a weekly basis, from Cryotherapy to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, when at home is one of the greatest privileges since going full-time with my adventures 18 months ago. Since becoming an ambassador and staring to use the recovery facilities, I have been injury free for over a year, allowing me to return straight into training after getting back from some of the most harsh environments around the world: from the desert to the mountains."
6. Where will you complete your project?
"Later this year, I will complete the final three continents of my project, with South America in October, Europe in November and lastly Antarctica in December, where temperatures will be as low as -25°C. One of the greatest challenge in Antarctica is avoiding sweating, because if your clothes become damp they will freeze, which can lead to frostbite and hyperthermia! The solution is to run at a consistent and controlled pace, where you can manage your temperature, and use multiple thin layers and switch them out as needed, as the wind goes up and down."
Louis is running in support of Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity leading the fight against Dementia, after making the promise at 19 years old to support the cause until the day they find a cure. All donations go directly to the charity. To donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/runningthesevencontinents
