230km Amazon jungle trek for Bridgnorth former marine
A former Royal Marine from Bridgnorth, who has turned his life around after ending up homeless, is set to trek 230km through the Amazonian jungle.
For Craig Williams the challenge is his second after completing the Marathon Des Sables in 2016.
It will see him heading deep into the Peruvian jungle with not only stamina to worry about, as a number of participants raised fears of the prospect of encountering a wild jaguar.
The 41-year-old, who flies out for the five-day challenge on May 31, will complete the marathon journey between June 2 and 7.
He said: "Although the Amazon has almost always had a mystical appeal to me, it is an extremely harsh and unforgiving environment. Pretty much everything wants to bite, scratch, sting or suck your blood and the weather can be just as hostile.
"My biggest worry is looking after my feet and managing my water intake! I completed the Marathon Des Sables in 2016, a similar race across the Sahara desert and almost fell foul to dehydration and heat exhaustion then. I don't want history to repeat itself.”
From the ancient capital of the Incas, the Jungle Ultra will take Craig through the mountain passes of the Andes to an altitude of 17,000ft above sea level, before descending 9,000ft into the Amazon rainforest, where he will have to be almost completely self-sufficient, living on the limited kit and equipment carried on his back.
He said: "Jaguars seem to be the biggest worry for most competitors, personally I am more concerned about the distance which culminates in a double marathon stage on the final day of 58 miles in a single day. We get limited protection from armed wildlife rangers, but the flora and fauna only add another dimension to what I know will be an amazing adventure.”
Craig co-founded the extreme weight loss camp, TEAM Bootcamp in Eardington.
His decision to enter the Jungle Ultra is a culmination of his rise from heavily depressed, suicidal former Royal Marine suffering from symptoms of PTSD to a business owner, author, coach to the stars, and even his post as an expert for weight loss to ITV's Jeremy Kyle show.
No stranger to endurance events and harsh environments, Craig joined the Royal Marines after leaving school and passed the arduous Commando Course at a little over 17 years of age.
He conducted many jungle operations while serving in the Marines including in Brunei, Guatemala, Belize and Sierra Leone.
Race organisers Beyond Ultimate ensure each competitor carries a number of compulsory items including a minimum of 2.5 litres of water, 2,000 calories of food for each day, sun lotion, a sleeping bag and hammock, a head torch, a knife and venom extraction kit.
Craig’s business partner and wife Paula has been supportive, if a little apprehensive, about the Jungle Ultra.
“I try not to think about it. I don't know how he comes up with these crazy ideas, but I have to admire his dedication and tenacious pursuit of goals and (though I may not tell him) I am very proud.”
In 2016, Craig ran the Marathon des Sables, a gruelling six-day race through the boiling sands of the northern Sahara Desert.
To prepare for the Jungle Ultra, Craig is running between 60 and 80 miles a week along the banks of the River Severn as well as foul weather and active recovery training in Bridgnorth gym, My Gym Club and is participating in yoga classes to help prevent injury with Bridgnorth Yoga.
He is following a special diet plan of 2,500 calories a day, made up predominantly of fat.
He will also conduct heat training in the last few weeks before the race by jogging on the spot in a sauna for over an hour to simulate the Amazonian heat and humidity.
Even with the preparation, Craig knows there will be times that the race will test his limits.
“Adversity such as I expect to experience in the jungle always exposes character. I expect to learn a lot about myself during those long five days, but will undoubtedly return with lots of stories to help inspire my clients, but also raise some much-needed funds and awareness for veteran charity SOS (Save Our Soldier).”
All the money raised from sponsors of his race will go towards Save Our Soldier a veterans charity which made Craig a patron in 2017.
Anyone who wishes to donate to Craig's £3,000 target for SOS can do so at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CraigAWilliams
