Darren Grigas – Adventure Athlete
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  • 17th November 2019 Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Featured  1

    A world-first 127 mile foot-crossing over the 55 million year old Namib

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  • 9th March 2018 Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Featured, Race reviews  1

    100 miles of ice!

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  • 7th April 2017 Blog, Challenges, Race reviews  3

    14 hours in the hands of the Special Forces

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  • 29th September 2016 Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Race reviews  Like

    Running the inaugural Cape Wrath Ultra, a truly Beautiful Behemoth

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PSHE

Blog, Motivational talks

2nd February 2020

Talking to the children of Fulbridge Academy

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Blog, Motivational talks

21st May 2019

An invite to Buckingham Palace

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Blog

6th September 2020

Cycling the Green Wheel

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Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Featured

17th November 2019

A world-first 127 mile foot-crossing over the 55 million year old Namib

...

Read more

Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Featured, Race reviews

9th March 2018

100 miles of ice!

...

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Blog, Challenges, Race reviews

7th April 2017

14 hours in the hands of the Special Forces

...

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Blog, Motivational talks

3rd November 2016

Talking at the Palace

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Adventures, Blog, Challenges, Race reviews

29th September 2016

Running the inaugural Cape Wrath Ultra, a truly Beautiful Behemoth

...

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  • PSHE

    2nd February 2020

     Like 473

    Talking to the children of Fulbridge Academy

  • 21st May 2019

     Like 607

    An invite to Buckingham Palace

  • 3rd November 2016

     1 2417

    Talking at the Palace

  • 29th September 2016

     1 2148

    Cathedral abseil for its 900th birthday, yes please!

  • 29th September 2016

     1 2419

    £26,000+ – Amazing support for Rory and family.

  • 23rd September 2016

     Like 2929

    Guest Speaker: Duke of Edinburgh Awards at TDA

  • 4th August 2016

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    Guest Speaking at Duke of Edinburgh Awards – Peterborough Town...

  • 27th January 2016

     1 3092

    Dumball – It’s a Goa!

  • 27th January 2016

     Like 2288

    Individual Fundraiser of the Year! – £18,000 for Anna’s Hope

  • 27th January 2016

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    Jools Holland Fairies for Anna’s Hope

  • 30th September 2015

     Like 2637

    Prince’s Trust Motivational Talk

  • 18th August 2012

     1 2232

    Pride in Peterborough Awards

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Darren Grigas

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The man doesn’t know there is a snake biting the The man doesn’t know there is a snake biting the woman. The woman doesn’t know that there is a stone crushing the man. The woman thinks: “I am going to fall! And I can’t climb because the snake is biting me! Why can’t the man use a little more strength and pull me up!” The man thinks: “I am in so much pain! Yet I’m still pulling you as much as I can! Why don’t you try and climb a little harder!?” You can’t always see the pressure another person is under, and the other person can’t see the struggles you’re having. This is life, with work, health, family, feelings or friends, we should try hard to understand each other, communicate more openly and show consideration for others who may too have their struggles. Be kind to people. Everyone we meet is fighting their own battles big or small. In the words of Bill & Ted, BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER!!✌🏽❤ #bekind
Back on target for the 3,000 push-ups in November Back on target for the 3,000 push-ups in November challenge for @teenage_cancer 300 very difficult push-ups forced out last night as I'd fallen behind target after a couple of days missed 🥵💀 I'd been averaging 100 a day up to 700 by the 7th, but after a couple of days rest (rest meaning a 60km bike ride and 5km run for Ironman training), I had some catching up to do to get back on track for 3,000 by the end of the month. Sets of 30 quickly dropped to 20, 10 and at times just 5 or less in one go as my arms started to buckle. The arms are feeling heavy this morning, neck a little stiffer than normal, I'll see how things are when I attempt another 100 today on this aching rig. Another 2,000 still to go! 🤞🏻😬 This effort isn't for bravado, (I wouldn't be doing it in my PJs, if I wanted to look good), but to raise vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. Whilst many people are fretting about having to wear masks or not go to the pub, others have much bigger problems as they battle to survive cancer and still keep a brave face. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, you're amazing and your support is making a real difference to those teenagers who need it most. 🙏🏼🥰 Thank you all. https://www.facebook.com/donate/360731928367178 (Link in bio ☝🏼) #3000pushupsforTCT #3000pushups #teenagecancertrust #3000pushupsinnovember
Day 7 of the 3,000 push-up challenge for @teenage_ Day 7 of the 3,000 push-up challenge for @teenage_cancer and I'm feeling it already with 2,300 still to go! DOMS: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is muscle pain that begins after you've worked out. It normally starts a day or two after a workout. You won't feel DOMS during a workout. Pain felt during or immediately after a workout is a different kind of muscle soreness. It's called acute muscle soreness. I feel I've got a dose of each overlapping now. My sets quickly dropped from 30, to 20, down to 5 and less at a time. With 23 days still to go as my body adapts to this fatigue it may hopefully get easier, but I've got to go through the hard part first, pain and more pain. In physical rehabilitation and sports training, the SAID principle asserts that the human body adapts specifically to imposed demands. It demonstrates that, given stressors on the human system, whether biomechanical or neurological, there will be a Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID). So I'm looking forward to some specific adaptation!! To support this challenge and help the young adults battling cancer, please find the link in my bio and donate what you can. https://www.facebook.com/donate/360731928367178 Many thanks and keep pushing! #3000pushupsin30days #3000pushups #lockdownchallenge #teenagecancertrust #doms #pushupchallenge #saidprinciple #donate
Wiggle those fingers! These beauties were life sa Wiggle those fingers! These beauties were life savers today out in the lake. As I suffer a bit with Raynaud's anyway, open water swimming when heading into winter is a tad fresh on my poor digits. Thankfully @tallington_lakes have an awesome pro-shop where I picked up these bad boys. I like that these have the '5 finger design' as 6 or 7 just doesn't work for me. 👋🏼🤘🏼 I'm glad to say, my hands were snug all the way around and it made my second swim effort much easier going. Being able to feel your hands is quite a bonus. I also got my goggles right this time and can confirm that being able to see also helps a lot. Looking forward to getting back in there for next Saturday's morning session. There were a fair few people down there today including long term pals @owen.karl and @ltmuxlow who have their own Ironman goals lined up for next year too. There was even one guy without a suit! 😬🥶 Fair play, I tip my hat Sir.👊🏼 #tallingtonlakes #oneill #neoprenegloves #openwaterswimming #ironmantraining #skinnydipping
Its almost time to go Through The Mill! All the l Its almost time to go Through The Mill! All the lovely bits of a beautiful wellness retreat, the yoga, peaceful walks, fine foods, stunning venue, sports massage, hypnotherapy, fire pits and hot tub drinks... However... Now, add in Royal Marine Commandos, an Ultra-marathoner, a Royal Ballet trained personal trainer, massive tyres, heavy logs, cold rivers and a lot of fun ways to 'earn your retreat'... You've got our Through The Mill experience! We can't wait to launch the inaugural experience next weekend and our willing participants are going to absolutely love it (well most of it). Dates to be announced soon for 2021. Comment below or DM to be first to hear and secure a spot for you and others. This will be an event like no other. #retreat #bootcampuk #throughthemill #challengeyourself #bodyupgrade #hypnotherapy #mindsetiseverything #royalmarines
Okay yes, I have to agree at 11.5° that water was Okay yes, I have to agree at 11.5° that water was officially 'nippy'. My first flailing attempt at kicking off this Ironman training, and I definitely have a lot to learn on the swimming front. In July I'll need to swim 2.4 miles in a crowd, at race pace. Tonight I just about managed to crawl, breast stroke and muddle my way around the 750m lap of one of the lakes at @tallington_lakes taking twice as long as any half-decent swimmer. But importantly I made it round. That's a win right? #winning I 'had to' stop and bob around on my back for a bit to watch the amazing starling murmuration dancing overhead, thousands of them, creating amazing morphing shapes was a great excuse to stop and catch my breath. 😍 Cycling and running, I kind of know what I'm doing, but this is a whole new discipline for me, so I'm starting from scratch and learning all the lessons as quickly as I can. My swimming experience is a few breast stroke lengths of a pool after a gym trying to keep up with the elderly ladies making it look easy. Day 1 lessons. 1. Neoprene gloves needed - I suffer a bit from Raynaud's Syndrome, which result in numb fingers easier than normal. Swimming when you can't feel your fingers and toes is complicated. You know they're there but don't know what they're doing. 2. Get your suit size right. Mine was too tight on my neck and chest and restricted my arm movement, so up a size next time and I'm sure that will be just right. 3. Get the right shape head for your goggles. I think the goggles are fine, I just need to fit them properly before setting off. 4. BREATHING! This is the main area I have a lot to learn, slowing this down to relaxed and controlled breaths so I don't get lightheaded and have to keep stopping. I'll definitely need some help here. 5. Starling murmurations are amazing when over your head whilst you're bobbing alone in a lake. Okay. Eight months to get the hang of this, swim 2.4 miles, then 112 miles on the bike and a marathon to finish. How hard can it be right? 😬 #ironmanrookie #openwaterswimming #ironmantraining2021 #ironmanbolton #tallingtonlakes #tallington #triathlonjourney
Help me name this three-day thingy....👀 I'm no Help me name this three-day thingy....👀 I'm not sure if we can call it a retreat, a challenge, or an event, it's a merger of them all? I see a lot of 'wellness retreats' with pampering and relaxation and also countless races, and rough camping adventures and have done my fair share of epic challenges, so wanted to create something that merges them all into one amazing weekend, where we can push people physically and mentally, and also give them everything to relax, recover and grow too. Those who brave it will leave feeling aching but proud of what they pushed through, like they've had a mental and physical upgrade, having been fine tuned to mentally stretch their limitations. Set in the 20 stunning acres in West Deeping near Peterborough, these three days will combine an intense but perfect mix of the rough with the smooth, bringing a collective of specialists into one place to offer a perfect range of experiences. Some of the fun bits: (don't want to give it all away yet) 💪🏼 Royal Marine led Bootcamp and training challenges (the 🥶 River dips and swims 🙌🏼 Team & individual tests, (stay alert) 🥵 A string of physical and mental challenges to compete in including; rowing, cycling, slacklining, tyre flips, log carries and more... The nice bits: 🥗🥘Healthy and freshly prepared meals, snacks and shakes throughout the event, 👉🏼 Consulation and treatments with a renowned Sports therapist 🧘‍♀️ Yoga and meditation style 3D Flow to relax, stretch and aid recovery 👩 Guest speakers, with motivational stories of adventure, overcoming adversity and the mindset it takes to accomplish epic goals 👩🏻 Hypnotherapy and mental healing - an introduction to proven methods of flicking sub-conscious switches to help push past obstacles holding your mind back. 🔥 Fire Pit and hot tub wind down time 😴 Last but by no means least. Stay in a large luxury room of your own with your own private bathroom, in the stunning Mill and Granary, beautifully refurbished throughout. This place is truly amazing! So, 'Through the Mill'. Is this an event, challenge, experience, retreat, escape....? #throughthemill
Only 4 weeks to go until the launch of our 'Throug Only 4 weeks to go until the launch of our 'Through The Mill' experience. We'll break you down and then build you back up with Marine led bootcamp, river swims, sunrise yoga, mindset mentoring, hypnotherapy, fire pits, hot tubs, detox/retox nutrition and more, beats & treats combos. This is going to be one awesome immersive weekend! Nov-6-8, let's do this! #throughthemill Reposted from @glenn_roberts The perfect office (Hot tub with a Gin). I have just signed off very exciting virtual meeting with @darrengrigas to throw some wicked ideas for our *Brand New* retreat. Set in the glorious grounds of Molecey Mill - this will challenge you in ways you can't imagine. Together we will give you the tools - the mindset and confidence to achieve. This is a bespoke experience that we are crafting together. Over to a Marine Commando for bootcamp !! #home #virtual #meeting #office #sun #hottub #garden #gin #retreat #watermill #wellbeing #mindfulness #yoga #bootcamp #marine #colour #covid_19 #countryside #moleceymill #newbuisness #shoplocal #stamford #commando #nature #health #fitness #challenge
I was really chuffed to be invited by @markstokes. I was really chuffed to be invited by @markstokes.stokes to co-author this brilliant book along with many fantastic people from all walks of life. I have shared my story, from a car accident damaging tissue around my spine to struggling to run past 1 mile, to the unlimited potential I've realised since. But mine is just one of 49 stories from many incredible people I feel humbled to be amongst and honoured to share space in the book with. Pick up Advice To Your Younger Self from Amazon or any other retailer you fancy and read these inspiring stories from real people overcoming adversity, achieving success, helping others or simply finding their happiness and purpose in life. ALL PROFITS FROM THIS BOOK SUPPORT WORTHY CAUSES INCLUDING @british_heart_foundation AND @buy1give1 #forceforgood #author #inspiringbooks #b1g1 #britishheartfoundation #successmindset #inspire #advicetoyouryoungerself
If you need more sleep, "just sleep faster" @schwa If you need more sleep, "just sleep faster" @schwarzenegger Get up early, chase the sun, achieve something awesome before your mates have even got out of bed. This morning we got up at 4.30am to be at this point before the sun came up. We passed the spare minutes by throwing a few shapes. My son @ejgrigas pulls some pretty awesome moves! @jolambe01 showed her pilates is paying off, then with the sun on our backs, we adventured along the Gower Coast taking in some absolutely stunning scenery and trails. (See next post). #thegower #aonb #southwales #getupearly #subrise #stopdropandyoga
We struck gold with the weather today as we took o We struck gold with the weather today as we took on some awesome trails around Afan Forest. There are some serious gut-busting hills to climb, but they're totally worth it for the epic views and brilliant trails back down. @ejgrigas suffered an unprovoked ambush from a branch which jumped into his wheel and snapped his derailleur. This added a new challenge of removing the chain, tying the derailleur with my shoelace and then coasting it back down for the final couple of miles and running it up any further hills. This should totally be a new sport if it isn't already. Chainless MTB! Thanks to Ben and co at @afanvalleybikeshed for being understanding and as cool as always. We'll be back soon, and do our best to avoid aggressive branches and foliage. #afanforest #afanforestbikepark #afan #mtb #visitwalesafterlockdown
How quickly do you think you can climb Europe's 2n How quickly do you think you can climb Europe's 2nd biggest sand dune? Or ascend the 886m summit of Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons where SAS selection takes place? Can you hold your nerve riding the more technical routes of Afan Forest? Next weekend I'm returning with a group who will be challenging themselves to do all of this over three tough but amazing days, designed to be great training for ultra marathons, desert marathons and simply smashing your perceived limits through to another level! This will be the fourth time leading a group, and everytime the progress each person makes over the duration is simply brilliant. Each pushing their limits, with my guidance and coaching throughout. I share everything I've learned from my years of endurance challenges, to fine tune your efficiency, mindset, nutrition, form and more. It's great to see each legend in the making, getting mentally stronger every day, and leaving dripping with sweat but beaming with pride and excitement. If you're interested in future dates for the three-day event in 2021, tag/comment below and DM me to be first in line, as I only take small groups so places are genuinely very limited. #challengeyourself #penyfan #wales #hiking #deserttraining #endurance #endurance #nolimits #ultramarathontraining #ultratraining #afanforest #mountainbiking #sanddunes #runningonsand #breconbeacons
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Prince's Trust - Guest Speaker

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As a guest speaker Darren is a true inspiration to all. His approach to challenge, personal development and lifelong learning made him the perfect guest speaker to inspire and motivate our team. His adventures are the perfect hook to get the young people engage and his subtle but targeted “suggestions” on personal development stayed with the team throughout the twelve week programme.

Kit Lists - Everything you need for your running and adventure challenges

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If you're just starting out, or planning to cross a desert, jungle or 100 miles of ice, I share all the tips and recommended products here
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Peterborough Open Awards Centre CIC - Motivational Speaker

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Motivation and inspiration are key elements in encouraging young people to strive beyond their limiting beliefs. As a guest speaker on our National Citizen Service courses; the group listened attentively as he talked them through his various exploits as an extreme adventurer and charity fundraiser. His stories of completing the Marathon Des Sables and spending a week challenging alongside Sir Ranulph Fiennes as he became the oldest UK citizen to complete the challenge held his audience spellbound. A true motivational speaker.

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