Eleanor Carey is the first Australian woman to row across the mid-Pacific Ocean. Rowing 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii. Spending 62 days at sea in a 7.5m ocean rowing boat with two other women, as she battled extreme seasickness, sleep deprivation, multiple hurricanes and forty foot waves to set two Guinness World Records as part of a trio.
A true adventurer at heart, Eleanor has also cycled solo across Europe, conquered a 100km ultra-marathon and completed many more multi-day human powered journeys worldwide.
Through these extreme journeys, Eleanor has learned the power of adventure therapy and nature’s ability to assist in healing, overcoming trauma and to fuel personal growth.
Eleanor is driven to help others experience the power of adventure for themselves, improve wellbeing and nurture the ability to step into the unknown.
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Show notes
- Being based in Australia on the gold coast
- Using adventure to help people build grit and resilience
- Her adventure story
- What her childhood was like
- Moving over the UK and not knowing anyone
- Being inspired by - Cycling home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall
- Taking a year before taking action
- Not knowing many women doing these types of challenges
- Taking action - the HOW
- Thinking about taking on a cycle journey
- How her Europe cycle trip came about
- Booking a one way flight to Norway…
- The fears and concerns before the trip
- Having 3 months to get sorted
- Wanting to try
- The reality of cycling day after day
- Why it was one of the best things she’s ever done
- The challenges while out on the road
- The internal dialogue and dealing with it
- Using adventure as a building block
- Looking for a career change
- Being a planner and a goal setter?
- Being willing to try anything once
- Making a career change
- Moving back to Australia and setting up an innovation hub
- The path to ocean rowing and being inspired by Losing site of Shore
- Connecting with Pacific Terrific
- Saying yes to the opportunity with 6 weeks to go
- Would it be possible to get the qualifications in time
- The mental side of preparation
- Team dynamics…. in a trio
- Having open conversations
- Expectations versus reality of the row
- Learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable
- Tips for getting through the day
- Managing her mental health while out on the ocean
- Being better while on the ocean
- The simple way of living while rowing
- Magical moment from rowing across the Pacific Ocean
- Feeling safe while out on the water and being at peace
- How the row changed her
- Writing a book about her experience
- Crossing the finish line
- Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you
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