Karen Darke is a British Paraplegic adventurer, athlete and author. Karen was a keen runner and mountaineer (climbing both Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn), however, at 21 years old, she was paralysed from the chest down following an accident, whilst sea cliff climbing.
Karen has continues to go follow her interests and passions and loves going on adventures, which have included, hand cycling over 2,000 miles from Canada to Mexico down the Pacific Coast Highway, which she did in 2017.
Karen also become the first paraplegic woman to handcycle across the Himalayas, sea kayak from Canada to Alaska (1500 km, 2003), skied across the Greenland Ice Cap (a trip of over 600 kilometres, 2006), and climbed the kilometre high overhanging rock-face of El Capitan. She has also hand-cycled down the Silk Route, the length of Japan and across Tibet.
During this episode Karen share more about her personal challenges, Quest 79 and the Pole of Possibility.
You can listen to Karen on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time!
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Show notes
Being a modern day Alchemist
Why 79 is such a special number
What quest 79 is
Wanting to encourage other people to step outside their comfort zone
Winning the gold medal at Rio
The defining moments in her career
Surprising herself with her performance
Working with a sports psychologist
Asking the question - Who am I? Who are you?
The Wild Way
Having something to look forward to after the Rio Olympics
Getting resupply on the route
Struggling to wild camp in Chile
Loving the Himalayas
Dealing with descents
Riding into Katmandu
Not being supported by a team
Doing adventures and journeys with people you don’t know
Overcoming challenges
Working towards a common goal
The pole of possibility
The importance of having a purpose
Partnering with the Polar Academy
Dealing with the cold
Regulating her body temperature
79 is the atomic number for gold
Inner gold
Why it’s always about the journey
The connection of the inner and outer worlds
Learning from every journey
Why you have to feel your emotions
How Covid has impacted on Karen
Writing books
The Adventure Mindset Program
Final words of advice
Social Media
Website - https://www.karendarke.com
Facebook @karenquest79
Instagram @handbikedarke
Twitter @kdarke
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