Ninja Warrior mum, 59, set for 125-mile jungle trek explains how she retains match

A 59-year-old mom who gained a BBC TV present greater than 20 years in the past is gearing as much as rejoice her sixtieth birthday by finishing a 125-mile trek.

Gill Watson, from Chellaston, Derbyshire, has spent years sustaining her health, competing in a 36-hour working race and showing on Ninja Warrior UK.

But for her sixtieth birthday subsequent 12 months, she plans on going through her greatest problem but – spending 10 days within the Panama jungle finishing a trek.

Speaking to DerbyshireLive she stated: “It’ll be tough but it’ll be a laugh. I’m looking forward to it. It’s just a great experience. It’s the people. It’s a journey. It’s fantastic. You just see places you’d never see otherwise.

The Panama Coast-to-Coast Challenge, as it is officially known, involves 100 miles of walking and 25 miles of rafting over just ten days.

Gill, who is travelling through expedition company Rat Race Adventures, is taking on what is described as one of the “hardest adventures”.

The website says those travelling with the group “should be capable to trek for 12 hours a day carrying a 20-25kg pack and be confidently self-sufficient”.

Gill, who works as a fitness instructor by trade and is also a member of the Sinfin Running Club, only started running in her 30s.

“You’ve simply acquired to maintain going and take care of your physique. That’s my solely secret. I maintain very match. Keeping your self and your joints sturdy is essential as you grow old. I joined CrossFit just lately which is the perfect factor I ever did. I ought to’ve executed it years in the past”, she said.

“A superb psychological outlook helps as nicely. You may be as sturdy as an ox but when your head’s not within the sport and also you surrender simply it will not work. I’ve at all times been fairly good at focusing and getting issues executed. Ticking challenges off piece by piece.”

Gill intends to complete the Panama challenge with friends she met on previous Rat Race trips, including the Race to the Wreck desert run/cycle in Namibia and the Mongol 100 trek across a frozen lake in Mongolia. She knows how difficult this one will be, though.

She said: “It’s about completion, not competitors. But it’ll be fairly unhealthy. The jungle setting could be very, very, very harsh. At each step, one thing might be attempting to chew you, sting you or scratch you. Plus, the mud is known and the warmth is quite a bit to place up with. The jungle is likely one of the hardest environments to deal with. I’ve been to the jungle earlier than and do not actually wish to return however I wish to do the problem.”

Gill might be sponsored by Derbyshire out of doors clothes model Alpkit on her journey. You can donate to her Children with Cancer fundraiser here.