Stay Home Special

On this stay home special of Talking Bull, we reunite Max Verstappen, Alex Albon and Christian Horner on a Zoom call, we get the lockdown lowdown from legendary cricketer Ben Stokes and we speak to one of the most inspirational people In the world - Ex rugby pro Ed Jackson

**Summary of the Aston Martin Rebel Racing Podcast Episode:**

The podcast begins with a lively conversation between Max Verstappen, Alex Albon, and Christian Horner, hosted by Nicola Hume. They discuss their current quarantine routines, including workouts, gardening, and virtual racing.

**Key Insights and Perspectives:**

* Max Verstappen enjoys spending hours on his bike trainer while watching TV to stay fit during lockdown.
* Alex Albon has been cooking and experimenting with new recipes, including banana bread and blueberry muffins.
* Christian Horner has been training hard and achieved a two-minute plank, which impresses the other hosts.
* The drivers share their experiences with virtual racing, emphasizing the intense competition and the need for practice.
* For a hypothetical island scenario, Max would choose Alex for his cooking skills, Pierre Gasly for his quiet nature, and George Russell as his buddy.
* When asked about their favorite race track, both Max and Alex express their preference for Spa and Zandvoort, respectively.
* Max recommends visiting Thailand and promises to take the hosts on a culinary adventure.
* The drivers discuss the challenges of sneezing while driving, with Max suggesting that the adrenaline rush helps suppress the urge.
* Max admits to being terrible at playing tennis and golf, despite his efforts to learn.
* The hosts reminisce about their early experiences riding bicycles and offer advice to Christian, who is teaching his daughter to ride.
* They unanimously agree that pineapple does not belong on pizza and prefer gherkins in their McDonald's cheeseburgers.
* The drivers express their excitement about the potential first race at the Red Bull Ring and acknowledge that it has been the longest break from racing in their careers.
* Max shares an anecdote about doing a show run at the Red Bull Ring in reverse, highlighting the challenges of driving the track backward.
* Alex mentions his younger brother Luca's impressive speed in online racing, sparking a discussion about the age at which drivers should start their careers.
* Christian reveals that he mowed his lawn for six hours, covering 41 kilometers, showcasing his dedication to maintaining his garden.
* The hosts express their admiration for the Formula One mechanics and engineers who volunteered to create a new ventilator for the NHS, demonstrating the team's engineering capabilities.
* The podcast concludes with a conversation with legendary cricketer Ben Stokes, who shares his experiences participating in the virtual Dutch Grand Prix alongside Alex Albon.
* Ben emphasizes the importance of practice and learning from mistakes in virtual racing and admits to feeling nervous before the race despite its non-competitive nature.
* Ben and Alex discuss the pressure of performing well in front of a large audience and the satisfaction of achieving good results.

**Overall Message:**

The podcast provides an entertaining and informative look into the lives of Formula One drivers and their experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. It highlights the drivers' dedication to fitness, their passion for virtual racing, and their camaraderie as a team. The episode also showcases the Formula One community's willingness to contribute to society during challenging times. # Podcast Transcript Summary

**Episode Overview:**

This podcast episode features an engaging conversation with former professional cricketer Ben Stokes and ex-rugby player Ed Jackson. The discussion revolves around their personal experiences, challenges, and achievements, highlighting the resilience and determination they have shown in their respective journeys.

**Ben Stokes Interview:**

* Ben Stokes shares his experience participating in a virtual Formula One race organized by Red Bull.
* He describes the immersive nature of the simulation and how it closely resembles a real Grand Prix.
* Stokes discusses the mental and physical skills required for both Formula One racing and cricket, emphasizing the importance of timing, coordination, and focus.
* He acknowledges the high-pressure environment of Formula One racing and draws parallels to the competitive intensity of cricket.
* Stokes reflects on his initial struggles with the Formula One simulator but highlights his rapid improvement with practice.
* He mentions the added challenge of operating the steering wheel controls while maintaining concentration on driving.
* Stokes expresses his newfound respect for Formula One drivers and their remarkable abilities.
* He discusses his involvement in race tactics and strategy during the virtual race.
* Stokes reveals his enjoyment of the competitive aspect of the race and compares it to the thrill of playing cricket.
* He contemplates the possibility of pursuing a career in motorsports but dismisses the idea due to his diverse interests and skills.
* Stokes shares his participation in various challenges during the lockdown, including the "Bring Sally Up Challenge," which involves performing push-ups in sync with a Moby song.
* He describes the grueling nature of the challenge and his initial struggles to complete it.
* Stokes mentions his eventual success in finishing the challenge before his competitor, Paul Collingwood.
* He also discusses his upcoming half marathon and his motivation for raising funds for charity.
* Stokes emphasizes the importance of staying fit and active during the lockdown, despite the lack of competitive cricket.
* He expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to spend extended time with his family during this period.
* Stokes acknowledges the challenges faced by international cricketers due to travel restrictions and the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of matches.
* He emphasizes the priority of ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved before considering the return of cricket.

**Ed Jackson Interview:**

* Ed Jackson shares his remarkable story of recovering from a life-changing accident that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.
* He describes the incident that occurred during a swimming pool accident three years ago, resulting in a dislocated neck and a severed spinal cord.
* Jackson recalls the immediate aftermath of the accident, including the fear of drowning and the critical medical interventions that saved his life.
* He highlights the significance of his recovery, considering his initial prognosis that he would never walk again.
* Jackson discusses the physical and emotional challenges he faced during his rehabilitation, including the need for extensive physiotherapy and the adjustment to his new circumstances.
* He emphasizes the importance of setting goals and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the recovery process.
* Jackson shares his motivation for climbing Mount Snowdon, a challenging hike, as a way to inspire others and demonstrate the possibilities of recovery.
* He describes the transformative experience of reaching the summit and the sense of accomplishment it brought him.
* Jackson reflects on the role of his sporting background in shaping his mental resilience and his ability to overcome adversity.
* He highlights the importance of breaking down large goals into smaller, achievable steps and celebrating incremental progress.
* Jackson discusses his involvement with Wings for Life, a charity dedicated to funding research for spinal cord injuries.
* He expresses his support for the organization's efforts to find a cure for spinal cord injuries and improve the lives of those affected.
* Jackson mentions his friend Matt Hampson, a C1 quadriplegic with a permanent ventilator, who exemplifies the hope for a cure.

**Overall Message:**

The podcast highlights the extraordinary journeys of Ben Stokes and Ed Jackson, showcasing their resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit in the face of adversity. Their stories serve as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of human potential and the ability to overcome challenges with a positive mindset and unwavering perseverance. **Ed Jackson's Extraordinary Stairway Challenge:**

Ed Jackson, a former professional climber who sustained a spinal cord injury in 2017, embarked on a remarkable challenge to raise funds for Wings for Life, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. Inspired by the cancellation of the World Run, Wings for Life's flagship fundraising event, Ed decided to turn his staircase into a mountain, aiming to climb the equivalent of Mount Snowdon, the first mountain he climbed after his accident.

**The Challenge:**

- Ed's initial plan was to climb the equivalent of Mount Snowdon, which would take approximately six to seven hours.
- However, driven by his determination, Ed extended the challenge to climbing the height of Mount Everest, a four-day expedition involving camping at the bottom of the stairs.
- The challenge involved climbing 2,783 flights of stairs up and then the same again down, totaling over 5,500 flights.
- Ed climbed for approximately 45 hours in total, covering over 89,000 steps.

**Highlights and Insights:**

- Ed's challenge garnered immense support, raising over £50,000 for Wings for Life and the NHS.
- Formula One stars like David Coulthard and Alex Albon reached out to Ed, offering encouragement and even joining him for a few sets of stairs.
- The challenge became a symbol of hope and resilience, demonstrating the transformative power of human spirit in the face of adversity.
- Ed's efforts highlighted the importance of continued research and funding for spinal cord injury treatments, as there is currently no cure.
- The challenge also emphasized the value of community support and the positive impact it can have on individuals facing life-changing circumstances.

**Ed's Reflections:**

- Ed acknowledged the monotony of the challenge but emphasized the motivation he derived from the support and messages he received.
- He spoke about the significance of small gestures of encouragement in bolstering his spirits during difficult times.
- Ed expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and friends, as well as the wider community that rallied around him.
- He shared his hope for continued improvements in his neurological function, highlighting the potential for recovery even years after a spinal cord injury.

**Future Endeavors:**

- Ed plans to continue fundraising for Wings for Life and has established his own charity, the Millimeters to Mountains Foundation, to support disadvantaged people in accessing mountain experiences.
- He is preparing for his next challenge, a 268-mile walk along the Pennine Way, England's longest footpath, which he aims to complete over two weeks.
- Ed hopes to raise awareness about spinal cord injuries and inspire others to push their limits and make a difference in the world.

[00:00.000 -> 00:03.000] Hi there, this is Christian Horner.
[00:03.000 -> 00:06.000] You've won the Austrian Grand Prix!
[00:06.000 -> 00:08.000] Hi, it's Alex Albon.
[00:08.000 -> 00:12.000] Hi, I'm Max Verstappen and you're listening to the Aston Martin Rebel Racing Podcast.
[00:12.000 -> 00:15.000] Oh, this feels good!
[00:17.000 -> 00:22.000] Hello and welcome to a very special stay-at-home edition of the Talking Bull Podcast.
[00:22.000 -> 00:29.240] While the world is in lockdown in these unprecedented times, and while we all wait for the days when we can go racing again, we want to continue
[00:29.240 -> 00:32.600] to bring you the features and entertainment we know you love.
[00:32.600 -> 00:37.400] Coming up we get the lockdown lowdown from legendary cricketer Ben Stokes, we speak to
[00:37.400 -> 00:43.320] a truly inspirational ex-rugby pro Ed Jackson who has climbed the height of Everest at home
[00:43.320 -> 00:47.360] on his parents' staircase during lockdown, which would be hard for anyone.
[00:47.360 -> 00:51.240] But Ed is a recovering quadriplegic after an accident a few years ago.
[00:51.240 -> 00:53.000] Trust me, you need to hear his chat.
[00:53.000 -> 00:56.140] But let's start by checking in with the guys you all know and love.
[00:56.140 -> 01:00.280] We put in a Zoom call between Max Verstappen, Alex Albon and Christian Horner.
[01:00.280 -> 01:03.680] It's been a while since they've all been together, but here they are.
[01:03.680 -> 01:04.680] Hi guys.
[01:04.680 -> 01:10.080] Yeah, we're here for the Talking Bull podcast together with Christian and Alex.
[01:10.080 -> 01:14.360] It's a little bit different than normal, of course, but we're trying to make the best
[01:14.360 -> 01:15.360] of the situation.
[01:15.360 -> 01:16.360] So here we are.
[01:16.360 -> 01:17.360] Christian, where's your AirPods?
[01:17.360 -> 01:18.360] I'm not that modern.
[01:18.360 -> 01:19.360] I don't have any.
[01:19.360 -> 01:20.360] I'm going old school here.
[01:20.360 -> 01:21.360] They feel a bit like earrings from far.
[01:21.360 -> 01:26.000] If this man has got a cap on, I can see your haircut. I'm going old school here. I'm going to hook you up with a pet. They feel a bit like earrings from far.
[01:26.000 -> 01:29.000] If these manxers got a cap on, I can see your haircut.
[01:29.000 -> 01:31.000] Things aren't going that well, huh?
[01:31.000 -> 01:33.000] We've had better days. You've had better hair days.
[01:33.000 -> 01:35.000] I'm thinking about doing it today.
[01:35.000 -> 01:37.000] My wife's getting carried away, so...
[01:37.000 -> 01:40.000] Mark, you now. I'm worried about Mark 3.
[01:40.000 -> 01:43.000] What I'm worried about is that the last time I've seen the clippers in use
[01:43.000 -> 01:53.520] was for my dog, so I don't know if I'm worried about is that the last time I've seen the clippers in use was for my dog. So I don't know if I'm, I don't know if I'm going to be clipped by the same razor as my dog.
[01:53.520 -> 01:57.920] I mean, my mum is practicing on my dog at least. So at least she's not practicing on me first.
[01:57.920 -> 02:02.800] Okay, so I've got a question for Matt. How many e-races have you done now?
[02:02.800 -> 02:05.200] How many e-sport races have you done now?
[02:05.200 -> 02:09.200] So official ones, I think four or five,
[02:09.200 -> 02:12.320] but in the meantime, like on the game itself,
[02:12.320 -> 02:14.840] you can also like try to get your rank higher.
[02:14.840 -> 02:16.640] So basically like your rating.
[02:16.640 -> 02:18.560] So that's what you try to do most of the time,
[02:18.560 -> 02:20.720] because that means the higher rating you have,
[02:20.720 -> 02:23.280] you end up in like the top split all the time.
[02:23.280 -> 02:27.160] You've done more time in the simulator seat than you've done in the race car this year?
[02:27.160 -> 02:31.800] This year? For sure, yeah. Unfortunately, I prefer to be in the real thing.
[02:31.800 -> 02:33.600] Do you play every day, Max?
[02:33.600 -> 02:40.080] Yeah, every day, because this weekend I have another race, so we have to practice. I'm
[02:40.080 -> 02:45.840] driving against really, really good guys on the simulator, so I cannot afford to not be prepared.
[02:45.840 -> 02:49.400] So I really have to put the hours in to be competitive
[02:49.400 -> 02:52.600] and maybe have a top 20, you know, that competitive it is.
[02:52.600 -> 02:53.440] Oh, very good.
[02:53.440 -> 02:55.320] So are you guys keeping fit?
[02:55.320 -> 02:58.520] Yes, we got the, well, I mean, staying at home really.
[02:58.520 -> 03:00.360] Staying at home really to do the workouts.
[03:00.360 -> 03:02.920] As here in France and Monaco, they're quite strict
[03:02.920 -> 03:06.880] on the amount of time you have to be outside.
[03:06.880 -> 03:13.680] But luckily I got the stuff at home and then together with my trainer Brad I think it's all
[03:14.400 -> 03:17.840] working really well. So yeah all good there.
[03:17.840 -> 03:22.880] So I've been training hard. I'm probably the fittest I've been in 20 years.
[03:22.880 -> 03:24.480] I can do a two-minute plank now.
[03:24.480 -> 03:25.600] Oh that's not bad.
[03:25.600 -> 03:26.440] Wow.
[03:26.440 -> 03:27.260] We can have a plank before we get back.
[03:27.260 -> 03:28.640] We're gonna finish quarantine.
[03:28.640 -> 03:30.080] Yeah, first race.
[03:30.080 -> 03:32.400] We're gonna have like a six pack.
[03:34.080 -> 03:34.920] It's been okay.
[03:34.920 -> 03:37.840] I think it's just trying to keep that motivation up
[03:37.840 -> 03:39.840] during the whole thing,
[03:39.840 -> 03:42.520] because obviously it's just sitting at home.
[03:42.520 -> 03:44.480] I got a lot of stuff.
[03:44.480 -> 03:46.480] Jonathan Wheatley has
[03:46.480 -> 03:50.280] organized a lot of gym equipment to come to my house. I've been doing that
[03:50.280 -> 03:54.840] really and yeah I've been having dumbbells and seats and all that kind of
[03:54.840 -> 03:57.920] thing that he's been giving over so it's been really good. Have you done any gardening?
[03:57.920 -> 04:02.720] Are you looking after your mom's garden? Yeah some gardening as well. I bought a
[04:02.720 -> 04:06.200] golf net and I've been golfing in the back garden.
[04:06.200 -> 04:11.840] And apart from that, that's been about it. I bought inflatable footballs as well. And
[04:11.840 -> 04:17.920] I've lost every single one. I've lost about 15 balls into the neighbor's garden. And yeah,
[04:17.920 -> 04:23.120] every once in a while a ball comes back at me and I'm like, thank you. Thank you. Sorry.
[04:23.120 -> 04:29.000] And what have you been doing to keep fit Max? So I got my like what bike at home I got like this ski
[04:29.000 -> 04:33.180] thing this like it's they are like almost the same thing as the rowing
[04:33.180 -> 04:39.040] effect but I prefer this bit where it's like this cross-country skiing thing and
[04:39.040 -> 04:43.200] then I just got like dumbbells I got some weights I got the bands I got my
[04:43.200 -> 04:45.760] my neck harness which I can attach outside.
[04:47.440 -> 04:51.680] I just do everything inside at the moment. It's good. I mean, I install the bike in the
[04:51.680 -> 04:58.400] living room and then I just put on the TV and you kill the hours behind that. It's actually
[04:59.040 -> 05:04.560] not too bad. Nice one, boys. We've been getting questions from so many fans all over the world
[05:04.560 -> 05:06.200] with questions for them to answer
[05:06.200 -> 05:10.940] We thought it would be perfect to get them to do it on the podcast. So over to you guys
[05:12.600 -> 05:18.780] And I'm in Italy so I've been in quarantine for a long time and I'm running out of ideas what to do and I was hoping
[05:18.780 -> 05:24.120] Maybe you guys have any ideas of what to do or what you've been doing during quarantine and I hope you're all well
[05:24.160 -> 05:25.040] of what to do or what you've been doing during quarantine and bye hope you're all well.
[05:30.400 -> 05:35.600] Cute. Well I've been getting my brother to, I mean if you have a simulator everything's a bit simple. I've been playing with my brother on the simulator and I'm guessing that won't be that
[05:35.600 -> 05:43.360] easy to do in Italy and get a simulator sent to your house. But we've been spending most of the
[05:43.360 -> 05:47.040] time outside. We've been in the garden training. I've been getting them fit. I've been spending most of the time outside. We've been in the garden, training.
[05:47.040 -> 05:48.640] I've been getting them fit.
[05:48.640 -> 05:51.480] I've been giving them my racing programs to do.
[05:51.480 -> 05:53.560] And we've been doing circuit drills.
[05:53.560 -> 05:55.760] And so, yeah, that's been pretty much it.
[05:55.760 -> 05:57.400] And cooking, a lot of cooking.
[05:57.400 -> 06:01.960] There's been a lot of banana bread and blueberry muffins.
[06:01.960 -> 06:03.560] Yeah, well, I mean, I'm on my own.
[06:03.560 -> 06:08.840] So I would recommend just some board games
[06:08.840 -> 06:10.800] if you're with family, I think that's always good.
[06:10.800 -> 06:14.560] I mean, I always loved to play Monopoly with the family.
[06:15.920 -> 06:16.760] That's dangerous.
[06:16.760 -> 06:19.040] I could imagine it gets aggressive over there.
[06:19.040 -> 06:20.540] Exactly.
[06:20.540 -> 06:23.200] Yeah, yeah, the board always ends up on the floor
[06:23.200 -> 06:24.040] towards the end.
[06:24.040 -> 06:29.360] But yeah, for me, when you're locked up inside and you can't really go outside,
[06:29.360 -> 06:31.840] these kind of things work the best.
[06:31.840 -> 06:36.000] Watching some series, I think I've almost finished Netflix at the moment.
[06:36.000 -> 06:39.000] There are not many more series left to watch.
[06:39.000 -> 06:43.400] Yeah, completed the whole company.
[06:43.400 -> 06:49.120] And then what Alex said, of course, I think a bit of a workout, you know, it's always
[06:49.120 -> 06:51.120] good to keep the movement going.
[06:51.120 -> 06:52.120] Next question.
[06:52.120 -> 06:54.960] Hi team, a question for Alex, Max and Christian.
[06:54.960 -> 06:58.360] Given the struggles we've had to get various food items in supermarkets during lockdown,
[06:58.360 -> 07:03.200] I just wondered if any of you have had to resort to any crazy food combos during quarantine?
[07:03.200 -> 07:06.200] Yeah, it's been a bit desperate at times
[07:06.200 -> 07:08.040] because obviously not all the food
[07:08.040 -> 07:10.120] has been all the time available.
[07:10.120 -> 07:12.920] So I'm not a big fan of vegetables,
[07:12.920 -> 07:14.800] but I've been eating more vegetables than I've eaten
[07:14.800 -> 07:15.720] since I was a kid.
[07:15.720 -> 07:18.800] So I've actually been being pretty healthy
[07:18.800 -> 07:22.080] because all the rubbish stuff isn't available.
[07:22.080 -> 07:23.440] So I think that helps.
[07:23.440 -> 07:25.200] Alex, you've been cooking right?
[07:25.200 -> 07:32.240] I've been cooking I've been making my own my own breads and desserts so maybe that's not
[07:32.240 -> 07:37.040] the opposite of Christian maybe I'm going to come back and I'm going to be 85 kilos when I
[07:37.840 -> 07:43.360] get into the car. There's nothing being too crazy I'd say the other day I was eating some bread and
[07:44.560 -> 07:46.400] it tasted a bit sour and
[07:46.400 -> 07:50.640] I was a little bit surprised and then I checked the rest of the bread in the bag
[07:50.640 -> 07:55.760] and there was a mold on it. That was it, that's my story.
[07:55.760 -> 08:02.520] So yeah, I had enough in the house but then also I can order all the food from
[08:02.520 -> 08:06.040] the restaurants here, like a few good ones are open
[08:06.040 -> 08:07.560] and they're basically delivering.
[08:07.560 -> 08:09.200] So that's what I'm doing.
[08:09.200 -> 08:10.240] Next question.
[08:10.240 -> 08:14.400] So my questions for both Max and Alex
[08:14.400 -> 08:17.200] and is if you were stuck in an island
[08:17.200 -> 08:18.640] and you could only have three
[08:18.640 -> 08:20.400] of the current F1 grid with you,
[08:20.400 -> 08:23.680] which three would you have on there with you and why?
[08:23.680 -> 08:27.540] Whoa, tough one. Driversvers what well I would take you Alex
[08:28.460 -> 08:30.460] I would
[08:30.780 -> 08:32.340] honestly
[08:32.340 -> 08:36.040] Yeah, the cooking mate you can get the coconut stuff
[08:37.460 -> 08:41.240] I'll make a nice coconut muffin. I would probably take Pierre and
[08:42.420 -> 08:46.280] Something like that. I'd say I'll take you Max. I think
[08:46.280 -> 08:51.280] Kimi would be a good person to take because he would be very quiet. I think he'll just
[08:51.280 -> 09:05.600] stay out of it. And then I'd take George, your buddy. My buddy, George. Yeah. I think Kimi would hate himself. Yeah, he would be running around Topsoft.
[09:05.600 -> 09:06.600] Kimi might...
[09:06.600 -> 09:10.600] Yeah, that's true.
[09:10.600 -> 09:11.600] Next question.
[09:11.600 -> 09:14.320] Hey Max and Alex, hope you're both well and safe.
[09:14.320 -> 09:17.800] My question for you is when we do finally get back racing, what is the one race that
[09:17.800 -> 09:19.600] you want to make sure is on the calendar?
[09:19.600 -> 09:23.960] Well, I mean for me it's two, because I think it's Zandvoort and Spa.
[09:23.960 -> 09:33.000] Because Spa is my favourite track, but of course Zandvoort is my home Grand Prix now, so I think everyone was really looking forward to see that happening.
[09:33.000 -> 09:47.160] So I really hope that we can Or Vietnam, I think that would be...
[09:47.160 -> 09:49.880] Just looking at the track, what was done to it, looks really cool.
[09:49.880 -> 09:51.160] I think it must be a big shame for them.
[09:51.160 -> 09:53.640] I don't know what's the situation there.
[09:53.640 -> 10:02.000] I want to ask that, as you are Thai, I want to know if Max has a chance to go to Thailand,
[10:02.000 -> 10:06.400] what do you recommend to him to do in Thailand? Thank you. Personally, I'm going to have to take you to all to Thailand. What do you recommend to him to do in Thailand? Thank you.
[10:06.400 -> 10:09.360] Personally, I'm going to have to take you to all the foods. I think,
[10:10.640 -> 10:14.000] how are you with spicy food actually? You're not that good with spicy food.
[10:15.520 -> 10:20.000] Not nothing like super spicy. I mean a little bit, but not crazy.
[10:20.000 -> 10:23.040] Okay, I'll show you the wonders of Thailand. Next.
[10:23.040 -> 10:29.520] Hi guys, this is Marga from the Netherlands. Sometimes I have to sneeze while I'm driving
[10:29.520 -> 10:34.640] and I close my eyes for just a split second. My husband doesn't touch the steering wheel
[10:34.640 -> 10:40.000] when he sneezes. How do you solve that problem? Or do you have tricks that prevent you from sneezing?
[10:40.880 -> 10:41.380] Bye!
[10:53.400 -> 10:57.440] I have had it once because I was really sick. That's why normally I never like you never I think sneezing in a car, but I've had it
[10:57.440 -> 10:59.920] once because I was feeling sick.
[10:59.920 -> 11:03.240] I think yeah, like you say, Alex, I think it's the adrenaline or something, which is
[11:03.240 -> 11:04.240] stopping that.
[11:04.240 -> 11:08.700] Yeah, true. And plus, anyway, we don't need to cover our mouths because we have our helmet.
[11:08.700 -> 11:12.700] Could you imagine, we sneeze and we put goggles to our helmet?
[11:12.700 -> 11:14.700] It would be awful.
[11:14.700 -> 11:16.700] Next question.
[11:16.700 -> 11:18.700] Hi Max, I'm doing it in English.
[11:18.700 -> 11:29.980] Me and my friend really want to know if there's one thing that you can do, no matter how much you practice it. So we're very curious to find out. Thank you! No matter
[11:29.980 -> 11:34.180] how much I practice on tennis or golf I'm just so bad. Like I'm just
[11:34.180 -> 11:39.820] useless. Yeah I don't know I mean I enjoy playing tennis to a certain point where
[11:39.820 -> 11:45.880] I just I mean I want to learn it but I just can't. I am so bad. It's horrible.
[11:45.880 -> 11:46.880] I'll teach you, Max.
[11:46.880 -> 11:47.880] I don't have the patience.
[11:47.880 -> 11:48.880] It's not happening.
[11:48.880 -> 11:49.880] Okay, next.
[11:49.880 -> 11:50.880] Hi Max and Alex.
[11:50.880 -> 11:58.960] If someone says, think of an F1 car, do you think of the modern ones that you're driving
[11:58.960 -> 12:02.600] now or do you think of an earlier era from when you were watching as a child?
[12:02.600 -> 12:08.160] Because personally, I think of the modern 18, 19 cars and the halo, but my friend thought of the 90s cars when he was growing
[12:08.160 -> 12:09.160] up.
[12:09.160 -> 12:14.320] I think because we're in it, we always think of what's modern, what we're driving now.
[12:14.320 -> 12:19.240] So I would say, yeah, even to me when I think about it, it's this year's car.
[12:19.240 -> 12:22.680] Yeah, I don't know why, but always the latest car I find the most beautiful one.
[12:22.680 -> 12:25.520] So that's why I always like to think about the
[12:27.520 -> 12:27.760] latest one so
[12:30.160 -> 12:30.840] These cars when they went full-out if
[12:35.720 -> 12:36.280] Ground effects, but that would have been some of Adrian's early cars like that Williams
[12:38.280 -> 12:38.640] You know the one that Nigel Mansell
[12:41.800 -> 12:45.800] Drove that up pretty that would be pretty awesome. I think to drive Yeah, yeah. Because I think it just feels so different to what we have
[12:45.800 -> 12:50.000] right now that it's very interesting also to experience
[12:50.000 -> 12:51.040] something like that.
[12:51.040 -> 12:51.880] Next question.
[12:51.880 -> 12:52.720] Next question.
[12:52.720 -> 12:53.960] Hello Max and Alex.
[12:53.960 -> 12:56.000] I hope you are both well.
[12:56.000 -> 12:59.920] I'm just wondering, what is one food you are indulging in
[12:59.920 -> 13:03.040] now more that you aren't usually able to indulge in due
[13:03.040 -> 13:04.560] to formal restrictions?
[13:04.560 -> 13:07.280] Tata and thank you very much for answering my question.
[13:07.280 -> 13:09.280] Well, McDonald's.
[13:09.280 -> 13:12.080] Are you doing anything naughty that you shouldn't be doing?
[13:12.080 -> 13:18.560] Nah, because if I start eating what I would eat normally, let's say, outside of my Formula 1 season,
[13:18.560 -> 13:26.800] then I end up being like 80 kilos or something, so I can't do that. I've been pretty good. I think it's like you, Christian,
[13:26.800 -> 13:31.040] just because there's nothing else really to do. I try to stay as healthy as possible.
[13:31.680 -> 13:36.480] Kind of enjoy it as well, making your own food all the time and doing your own thing.
[13:36.480 -> 13:39.600] I mean, yeah, I'm on pretty much the same food I would normally
[13:40.480 -> 13:46.200] eat as well throughout the Formula 1 season. So not much, because you have to stay ready, isn't it?
[13:46.200 -> 13:51.200] Like, we're going to start again in July now, so hopefully.
[13:51.920 -> 13:56.400] So, yeah, you just need to be like ready to go.
[13:56.400 -> 14:00.400] So I was teaching my daughter how to ride her bicycle
[14:00.400 -> 14:01.960] without the stabilizers at the weekend,
[14:01.960 -> 14:04.400] which is like a fairly major thing.
[14:04.400 -> 14:06.640] I mean, you guys, it's not so long ago since you took the stabilizers at the weekend, which is like a fairly major thing. I mean, you guys, it's not so long ago
[14:06.640 -> 14:08.800] since you took the stabilizers off.
[14:08.800 -> 14:09.640] Only last week.
[14:09.640 -> 14:13.640] Have you got any tips that I can pass on?
[14:13.640 -> 14:16.600] I've broken a collarbone and my leg three times
[14:16.600 -> 14:19.880] riding a bike, so I'm gonna leave this question to Max.
[14:19.880 -> 14:21.480] Three times, your leg?
[14:21.480 -> 14:24.480] I've broken my leg once, my ankle twice.
[14:24.480 -> 14:26.120] I've broken my leg once, my ankle twice, I've broken my wrist once
[14:26.120 -> 14:33.840] and these are all on like on scooters or bikes, always on two legs. Made! It's terrible.
[14:33.840 -> 14:39.840] I was in like a period of three years of my life I broke maybe seven bones in my
[14:39.840 -> 14:47.360] body it was really bad. Impressive! Wow! Okay not we're not gonna get any advice of you then. I
[14:49.520 -> 14:55.860] Just wanted to be rusty that badly I think it's all about how you're sitting on the bicycle as well like you
[14:56.380 -> 15:00.760] Try to be as straight as possible. Like I think when you are when you're having the stabilizers they
[15:01.360 -> 15:05.960] You know, it can't fall over right? So So they are like leaning sometimes a bit to the left
[15:05.960 -> 15:07.240] or like to the right.
[15:07.240 -> 15:08.080] So I think first of all,
[15:08.080 -> 15:10.560] they have to like try to sit still in the middle.
[15:10.560 -> 15:13.820] Yeah, that's also with my little sister at the moment,
[15:13.820 -> 15:17.680] like my dad is teaching her to ride the bicycle as well.
[15:17.680 -> 15:20.600] And she's like always leaning too much to one side.
[15:20.600 -> 15:23.280] So my dad is like trying to put her in the middle.
[15:23.280 -> 15:24.640] That's exactly what she's doing.
[15:24.640 -> 15:25.680] She's always leaning to me
[15:25.680 -> 15:27.680] and I'm always pushing the other way.
[15:27.680 -> 15:28.520] Yeah.
[15:28.520 -> 15:30.440] I must have run about four miles behind her now.
[15:30.440 -> 15:33.640] So it's a good workout for you, Christian.
[15:33.640 -> 15:35.360] It's a hell of a workout.
[15:35.360 -> 15:36.200] Yeah.
[15:36.200 -> 15:38.360] Yeah, so I think it's just all about the stabilizing,
[15:38.360 -> 15:41.640] just staying like straight up on the bicycle initially
[15:41.640 -> 15:47.440] to try and like, yeah, try to teach that. I think, yeah.
[15:47.440 -> 15:49.680] We got to the stage where I said, I'll ride the bike and you push.
[15:52.640 -> 15:54.720] With or without the stabilizers for you, Christian?
[15:55.680 -> 15:57.520] I'm probably better with the stabilizers.
[15:59.840 -> 16:00.640] Next question.
[16:00.640 -> 16:06.560] Hi, this is a question for both Max and Alex. It seriously needs to be answered.
[16:06.560 -> 16:11.160] Does pineapple belong on pizza?
[16:11.160 -> 16:12.800] Praying you guys say no.
[16:12.800 -> 16:14.360] Does not belong on pizza.
[16:14.360 -> 16:15.820] I would say the pineapple.
[16:15.820 -> 16:17.080] I have cheese, ham and mushrooms.
[16:17.080 -> 16:19.280] I think why the hell did they stick a pineapple on there?
[16:19.280 -> 16:21.560] It's got nothing to do with the pizza.
[16:21.560 -> 16:22.640] I almost take it off, yeah.
[16:22.640 -> 16:24.280] It should be with the ice cream.
[16:24.280 -> 16:26.080] Yeah, yeah. I'm a no pineapple guy as well. I'm with you pizza. I almost take it off. It should be with the ice cream. Yeah, yeah. I'm a no
[16:26.080 -> 16:30.240] pineapple guy as well. I'm with you guys. I think that's literally the first time.
[16:30.240 -> 16:33.920] Are you a gherkin at McDonald's? I mean, I don't have a McDonald's very often,
[16:34.480 -> 16:37.920] but in the cheeseburger, are you a gherkin in or out kind of guy?
[16:38.480 -> 16:48.080] In. In. In. In as well. Yeah. You're out? You're out? Yeah. I love it I love I love that place oh my
[16:48.080 -> 16:53.280] god okay so would it be safe to have a second race on the same circuit but in
[16:53.280 -> 16:58.880] the opposite direction depends on maybe yes we looked at this in Austria but the
[16:58.880 -> 17:02.800] amount of changes you'd have to make from a safety point of view because all
[17:02.800 -> 17:08.320] the barriers are effectively in the wrong places. I mean technically you could do it but from a safety point of view it would be
[17:08.320 -> 17:15.280] a massive amount of work to put the gravel traps in the right places and so on but you
[17:15.280 -> 17:18.560] know it would probably be one of the more straightforward ones. Can you imagine doing
[17:18.560 -> 17:25.760] a rouge the other way? I was thinking like. I've done it. I've done it the other way. I've done.
[17:26.120 -> 17:29.840] When was that? 2015, I guess. 15 or 16.
[17:29.840 -> 17:34.240] I've done it the other way around because I had to do the show run and they didn't
[17:34.240 -> 17:37.720] let me do the whole track. So I had to do the last bus stop,
[17:37.840 -> 17:42.720] then turn one up to the chemistry and then I had to turn around and I had to do
[17:42.720 -> 17:45.260] that a few times and it's pretty
[17:45.260 -> 17:48.120] scary the other way around because also the barriers are open.
[17:48.120 -> 17:50.120] You must be blind.
[17:50.120 -> 17:56.000] Yeah, it's super blind. You arrive and suddenly it just goes down left.
[17:56.000 -> 18:00.920] If we could have backwards tracks, I think it would be quite fun. If we can't do as many
[18:00.920 -> 18:06.400] tracks as we want to, but as you said, I guess it's too much hard work. Okay, next question.
[18:06.400 -> 18:10.000] Are you all excited the first race could be held at the Red Bull Ring?
[18:10.000 -> 18:11.800] I am, very much.
[18:11.800 -> 18:17.000] Looking at the last two race results there, so absolutely.
[18:17.000 -> 18:18.000] Alex?
[18:18.000 -> 18:19.400] It's good to get ready.
[18:19.400 -> 18:21.200] Yes, yes, yes, I'm ready.
[18:21.200 -> 18:23.600] Any race is good to start, any circuit.
[18:23.600 -> 18:25.440] That's the wrong answer, Alex. That's the wrong answer Alex.
[18:26.160 -> 18:29.600] That's the wrong answer. Of course the Red Bull Ring is the preferable circuit.
[18:33.360 -> 18:40.080] Right next question is this the longest break that you've ever had from racing? Yeah I think
[18:40.080 -> 18:46.840] it is yeah. It would have been. I think since I started go-karting before, I never had such a long break.
[18:46.840 -> 18:50.200] For me, it's the longest break I've had since 1986.
[18:50.200 -> 18:51.200] Wow.
[18:51.200 -> 18:52.200] Yeah.
[18:52.200 -> 18:53.200] Even more professional, maybe.
[18:53.200 -> 18:55.820] It is really strange.
[18:55.820 -> 18:57.120] You just want to get going again.
[18:57.120 -> 19:01.000] I think now we've got a date that hopefully will be fixed.
[19:01.000 -> 19:03.160] It allows at least you to start focusing on that.
[19:03.160 -> 19:05.920] For people like the mechanics and the pit stop crew,
[19:05.920 -> 19:10.920] it's a long time for them to be out of the game.
[19:10.940 -> 19:14.520] So we're doing a lot of online training with them,
[19:14.520 -> 19:16.560] fitness, just trying to keep them sharp.
[19:16.560 -> 19:19.200] I joined a group session yesterday,
[19:19.200 -> 19:22.760] where there's about 40 of the team all doing squat thrusts
[19:22.760 -> 19:25.280] and jumping, and it's quite funny actually.
[19:30.240 -> 19:38.320] Well we'll have to join in one time just do a surprise a surprise join in Zoom. Exactly right so the next question Alex your little brother Luca is super fast online
[19:39.200 -> 19:43.200] has Dr Marco tried signing him to be in the junior team yet?
[19:44.200 -> 19:49.200] Marco tried signing him to be in the junior team yet? Yeah, I mean, I feel like he's going to replace me soon.
[19:49.760 -> 19:53.080] So, got to look over my right shoulder.
[19:53.080 -> 19:55.720] Get ready for Dr. Marco to,
[19:55.720 -> 19:59.440] there's only one album allowed in the Red Bull team.
[19:59.440 -> 20:01.120] He's quick, I don't know if you've seen him.
[20:01.120 -> 20:03.280] I've been trying to get him to do the virtual GP race,
[20:03.280 -> 20:06.660] but he's super fast
[20:07.480 -> 20:13.640] How old he doesn't even drive that much. He's he's 17 now. So he's a bit too. He's past the
[20:14.320 -> 20:16.000] He's past the time
[20:16.000 -> 20:22.600] He's not he's not he's getting younger. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. How old were you when you went into F1 when I start 17?
[20:22.640 -> 20:24.960] So you he should be an F1 by now. Yeah
[20:21.520 -> 20:22.880] How old were you when you went into F1? When I started, 17.
[20:22.880 -> 20:24.720] So he should be in F1 by now.
[20:24.720 -> 20:26.480] Yeah, well, time has gone.
[20:27.600 -> 20:29.120] Yeah, you know, that's the thing.
[20:29.920 -> 20:33.520] I think even if you start when you're like 12, 13,
[20:33.520 -> 20:36.160] I think it's still possible, but you still miss,
[20:36.720 -> 20:39.840] yeah, just like the basic experience initially,
[20:39.840 -> 20:41.840] which I think is so important to be
[20:42.640 -> 20:44.480] at the end of the day successful, you know?
[20:44.480 -> 20:46.400] What you learn from when you're like five,
[20:46.400 -> 20:49.920] six years old, like almost till like, yeah, you are 12,
[20:49.920 -> 20:51.600] that first few years, I think,
[20:51.600 -> 20:53.500] those first few years are very important.
[20:53.500 -> 20:55.640] And yeah, starting at 12, 13 already,
[20:55.640 -> 20:58.400] it's quite, you know, that would be really late, so.
[20:58.400 -> 21:01.360] And the big difference now compared to where Max came in,
[21:01.360 -> 21:04.840] that there's now the point system.
[21:04.840 -> 21:06.920] So, you know, you've got to collect all these points
[21:06.920 -> 21:11.040] in categories, so it's impossible to do what you did now
[21:11.040 -> 21:12.820] where you did one year in car racing
[21:12.820 -> 21:14.840] and then boom, straight into Formula One.
[21:14.840 -> 21:15.680] Yeah.
[21:15.680 -> 21:16.500] There you go.
[21:16.500 -> 21:17.340] Next question is for me.
[21:17.340 -> 21:18.960] How often do you mow your lawn?
[21:20.040 -> 21:22.040] Well, I've got like two jobs now,
[21:22.040 -> 21:24.220] so I'm assistant gardener.
[21:26.240 -> 21:29.840] I mowed the grass last Friday afternoon
[21:29.840 -> 21:34.840] and I walked behind the mower 41 kilometers.
[21:35.040 -> 21:35.880] 41!
[21:36.880 -> 21:40.080] 41 kilometers I walked behind the mower.
[21:40.080 -> 21:41.840] That's pretty impressive, huh?
[21:41.840 -> 21:44.880] That's a very good effort.
[21:44.880 -> 21:49.920] You know, these things that measures how you sleep, if you're ready, if you need to eat,
[21:49.920 -> 21:50.960] if you need something else.
[21:54.320 -> 21:56.080] Anyway, so I had a look at the end of it.
[21:56.800 -> 22:01.840] It took me six hours and I'd done 41 kilometers, equivalent.
[22:02.880 -> 22:03.120] Wow.
[22:03.120 -> 22:04.160] That's a great performance.
[22:04.160 -> 22:06.000] I could have gone in a straight line with the mower.
[22:06.000 -> 22:08.000] Still living at home.
[22:08.000 -> 22:10.000] I could have gone with the mower
[22:10.000 -> 22:12.000] from my house to your house, Alex.
[22:12.000 -> 22:14.000] Walking by.
[22:14.000 -> 22:16.000] I was just going to
[22:16.000 -> 22:18.000] see a guy with a lawnmower walking
[22:18.000 -> 22:20.000] knocking on my door.
[22:20.000 -> 22:22.000] Yeah, that would be me.
[22:22.000 -> 22:24.000] You need that fastest mower.
[22:24.000 -> 22:26.920] You know the Honda one which goes like our fastest ago
[22:28.560 -> 22:34.160] Really no, yeah, they set a record with it. I need to speak to turn our way my mother needs a tuna
[22:34.840 -> 22:39.480] Yeah, okay. Okay. Next question last question, even though it doesn't say that
[22:41.000 -> 22:42.360] What
[22:42.360 -> 22:47.400] Were you impressed to hear that your mechanics and engineers were working on making a new
[22:47.400 -> 22:49.960] ventilator for the NHS?
[22:49.960 -> 22:50.960] Yeah, massively.
[22:50.960 -> 22:57.840] To be honest, I haven't heard too much from since you guys announced it, how it's been
[22:57.840 -> 23:01.160] going, but obviously seeing all the hard work and everything has been amazing.
[23:01.160 -> 23:08.400] But what I'll do is to explain it to you. So we were, well, first of all, we offered to the NHS
[23:08.400 -> 23:11.520] to say, look, we've got these Formula One facilities
[23:11.520 -> 23:15.280] and know-how, can you make use of it?
[23:15.280 -> 23:18.400] And they came back and said, well, we've got this ventilator
[23:18.400 -> 23:22.800] that's been designed as an emergency ventilator.
[23:22.800 -> 23:24.720] And they said, could you turn it into something
[23:24.720 -> 23:30.000] that is fully functional? So it was a basic design we had over 200
[23:30.000 -> 23:36.880] volunteer step forward and in within two weeks they completely redesigned it and
[23:36.880 -> 23:40.640] also we had Renault as well they had a whole bunch of volunteers as well so we
[23:40.640 -> 23:51.800] said well you may as well come and work in our factory. They had a fully commissioned ventilator, and thankfully, they said that they didn't
[23:51.800 -> 23:55.700] need to progress any further because it felt like they got the situation with the ventilators
[23:55.700 -> 23:56.700] under control.
[23:56.700 -> 24:03.000] But it just showed what Formula One and the engineering skills that we have is capable
[24:03.000 -> 24:05.240] of, which is something that would usually take
[24:05.240 -> 24:07.920] two and a half years to two and a half weeks.
[24:07.920 -> 24:09.240] Yeah, that's impressive.
[24:09.240 -> 24:11.960] Yeah, it's amazing that so many people step up
[24:11.960 -> 24:14.120] and volunteer to do that.
[24:14.980 -> 24:18.100] I think it just shows that everybody wants to help out
[24:18.100 -> 24:21.440] and that a racing community can also just help
[24:21.440 -> 24:22.600] the general community.
[24:22.600 -> 24:24.640] So, yeah, it was really impressive to see.
[24:24.640 -> 24:32.000] Hey guys, so we just finished up our podcast. Hope you enjoyed it with our new guest, Christian.
[24:32.000 -> 24:36.800] Not sure if you're going to be joining us in any more of them. But hope you enjoyed
[24:36.800 -> 24:39.680] it and have something fun to listen to.
[24:39.680 -> 24:40.680] See you guys.
[24:40.680 -> 24:43.680] Stay safe, keep fit and good to see you guys.
[24:43.680 -> 24:44.680] Will do.
[24:44.680 -> 24:45.760] Yes, will do. Yeah, I'll get you to see you guys. Will do. Yes, will do.
[24:45.760 -> 24:46.760] Good to see you.
[24:46.760 -> 24:47.760] Stay in touch.
[24:47.760 -> 24:48.760] That's very special chaps.
[24:48.760 -> 24:52.040] Hopefully you'll get to see each other in person again soon.
[24:52.040 -> 24:56.200] As you heard then, while we can't race on the track, many of the guys have been turning
[24:56.200 -> 24:58.200] to virtual Grands Prix.
[24:58.200 -> 25:00.600] But it's not just the Formula One drivers getting involved.
[25:00.600 -> 25:04.400] Legendary England cricketer Ben Stokes has been competing for us too.
[25:04.400 -> 25:05.000] I put
[25:05.000 -> 25:08.320] in a call this week to see how he's finding the lockdown period.
[25:08.320 -> 25:13.320] Hey Ben, how's lockdown been going for you? Have you been baking any banana bread?
[25:13.320 -> 25:21.080] Yeah, it's been going alright actually. Obviously it's different for us and different for everybody
[25:21.080 -> 25:26.600] all around the world. But yeah, we've just been trying to cope. It's not all
[25:26.600 -> 25:33.320] been sunshine and roses as people might say. It's had its challenges and stuff like that.
[25:33.320 -> 25:37.320] But as a family, we've just been trying to get through it as well as we can.
[25:37.320 -> 25:41.200] Let's have a chat about the virtual Dutch Grand Prix which took place yesterday. You
[25:41.200 -> 25:49.320] were once again representing Aston Martin Red Bull Racing alongside Alex Albon. We are delighted to say that Alex won the race with an incredible
[25:49.320 -> 25:53.000] virtual drive, a proper battle between him and Charles Leclerc at the front of the race
[25:53.000 -> 25:59.160] for most of it. This was your second time taking part, P17 on the grid when you finished
[25:59.160 -> 26:03.440] 13th, which is an incredible result. How did you find it? Did you enjoy it?
[26:03.440 -> 26:05.100] Yeah, I absolutely loved it.
[26:05.100 -> 26:07.640] I think I managed to learn from my mistakes
[26:07.640 -> 26:10.640] from my first effort.
[26:10.640 -> 26:12.920] And this time I actually did a lot of practice
[26:12.920 -> 26:16.640] in like Grand Prix with other AI cars.
[26:16.640 -> 26:19.880] Whereas last time I was just doing like time trial sprints
[26:19.880 -> 26:21.600] on the track, thinking that would be the best way
[26:21.600 -> 26:22.440] to go about it.
[26:22.440 -> 26:24.400] But then obviously with other cars on the track,
[26:24.400 -> 26:26.200] it's completely different. I did it with
[26:26.200 -> 26:29.320] Stuart as well because we were linking up together and doing these races
[26:29.320 -> 26:32.520] together for practice. So yeah I put a lot more thought into the practice this
[26:32.520 -> 26:37.520] time and just basically tried to stay on the track and not get too overconfident
[26:37.520 -> 26:41.880] and try and overtake people when I shouldn't which then meant I didn't spin
[26:41.880 -> 26:49.200] off the track or anything like that. So I mean you beat Stuart which must have been worth its weight in gold.
[26:49.200 -> 26:54.800] Yeah I mean obviously this time there was someone who I could actually race against
[26:54.800 -> 26:59.080] whereas last time I was basically just racing against myself and getting overtaken by the
[26:59.080 -> 27:03.560] F1 drivers which was, it was still fun but obviously it wasn't ideal but this time obviously
[27:03.560 -> 27:06.400] I had my mate Stuart there who we
[27:06.400 -> 27:10.600] were battling against to see who would come in a better position and thankfully I managed
[27:10.600 -> 27:11.600] to do it.
[27:11.600 -> 27:15.160] He was in the Alphatoria wasn't he? Has he been in touch since the race? Have you guys
[27:15.160 -> 27:17.240] had a chat about a debrief?
[27:17.240 -> 27:22.920] We both said that we were absolutely exhausted. All the practice that we did obviously didn't
[27:22.920 -> 27:25.840] come close to the feelings that we had before the race started.
[27:25.840 -> 27:30.320] You know we were both very tense, I had sweat patches in my armpits like Si the dinner plate
[27:30.320 -> 27:33.140] after and he was the same.
[27:33.140 -> 27:37.720] You know even though it's only like virtual and you know there's not exactly a prize at
[27:37.720 -> 27:39.320] stake it was still very nerve-wracking.
[27:39.320 -> 27:42.120] I was going to say, were you nervous before the race?
[27:42.120 -> 27:45.840] Because there's a lot of pressure there even though it's not a real race.
[27:45.840 -> 27:50.960] There's people watching, there's judgement, there's competitiveness with a team-mate as
[27:50.960 -> 27:51.960] well.
[27:51.960 -> 27:56.440] Yeah, I think knowing all of that, it was on Sky Sports, there's people going to be
[27:56.440 -> 28:00.400] commentating on it, I think that added to the pressure.
[28:00.400 -> 28:04.320] You still want to give a good account of yourself, even though we had to be realistic and understand
[28:04.320 -> 28:08.480] that we're going to be nowhere near the F1 guys. But yeah, we still obviously wanted to do
[28:08.480 -> 28:13.280] ourselves proud, which I think we both managed to do. I was quite happy with the result in the end,
[28:13.280 -> 28:16.960] but me and Stuart both absolutely loved it. It was a great thing to be a part of.
[28:16.960 -> 28:21.760] It's crazy how realistic it is to watch. When I was watching, it's almost like you're watching
[28:21.760 -> 28:24.400] a Grand Prix. I mean, it seems stupid to say, but it's almost like you're watching a Grand Prix.
[28:24.400 -> 28:27.560] You forget so quickly that it's a game and that it's virtual.
[28:27.560 -> 28:34.060] I saw you've got the proper gaming seat set up and the steering wheel as well.
[28:34.060 -> 28:39.200] How quickly as a driver do you slip into the mode of being in a proper Formula 1 car?
[28:39.200 -> 28:49.440] The first time I got in it, I was absolutely useless. I had no understanding of when to brake or the angles
[28:49.440 -> 28:53.440] to attack corners or anything like that. It didn't take me too long but the more and more
[28:53.440 -> 29:02.160] I practiced the better I got. I've spent more time in the simulator than I have in an actual
[29:02.160 -> 29:09.680] car but when I go out and get shopping and stuff, getting into the car, it almost felt like you'd gone from a go-karting track
[29:09.680 -> 29:13.080] into a car again and it just feels completely different.
[29:13.080 -> 29:17.960] You're obviously used to high-pressure environments. The mental side of being a Formula One driver,
[29:17.960 -> 29:21.320] probably sometimes people forget about, is a huge amount of skill involved in being a
[29:21.320 -> 29:26.240] driver. Were you able to transfer any of your high pressure moments and knowledge from that into
[29:26.240 -> 29:28.160] the race yesterday?
[29:28.160 -> 29:38.400] I think the one thing that you could probably say that come together is timing and coordination
[29:38.400 -> 29:43.280] because there's a few things that you have to do whilst driving whilst not looking at
[29:43.280 -> 29:45.240] something.
[29:45.240 -> 29:49.700] Because there's the fuel levels that you obviously want to change throughout the race, you know
[29:49.700 -> 29:53.700] like getting to the high mix when you're on the straights and then put it back down.
[29:53.700 -> 29:57.320] And you obviously have to do that all whilst not looking at the steering wheel.
[29:57.320 -> 30:00.640] So still concentrating on where you're driving whilst doing all these little manoeuvres on
[30:00.640 -> 30:04.860] the steering wheel is actually, it takes a while to get used to, but then once you've
[30:04.860 -> 30:07.680] done it enough you sort of get it but then bearing in mind
[30:07.680 -> 30:12.280] I was driving automatic those guys had to use all the paddle shifts so they've
[30:12.280 -> 30:17.640] got all of that going on whilst driving at 200 miles an hour and obviously in
[30:17.640 -> 30:20.780] the back of their head they've got you know the thought of crashing and what
[30:20.780 -> 30:24.600] could happen to them so yeah after doing a few of these races you know they've
[30:24.600 -> 30:27.760] got so much respect for what these guys do
[30:27.760 -> 30:33.080] day in day out, bearing in mind that in normal circumstances they're doing that for real,
[30:33.080 -> 30:34.800] not sat in a car seat in a simulator.
[30:34.800 -> 30:38.680] So you've got a proper window into what it's like to be a Formula One driver now.
[30:38.680 -> 30:44.280] Were you responsible for your race tactics or did you get some help there?
[30:44.280 -> 30:49.360] So initially, the first race I did in Melbourne Melbourne I had no idea what was going on. I had no
[30:49.360 -> 30:56.400] idea what the best tactics are to do and stuff like that. Alex gave me a few tips about that.
[30:56.400 -> 31:00.800] Me and Stu we were practicing as I say for about 10 days before the race and we were
[31:00.800 -> 31:10.180] going through all types of tactics about what tyres to start on, when to change and the tactic we went for was we both started on medium tyres
[31:10.180 -> 31:13.900] because we knew we wouldn't be in the top 10 so then we could choose what
[31:13.900 -> 31:18.060] tyres to start on. So we both started on mediums, pitted at 15 and then finished
[31:18.060 -> 31:22.140] on socks. Are you hungry for more now? I mean I've absolutely, I've really really
[31:22.140 -> 31:27.240] enjoyed doing it and I think it's the build-up period as well, you know all the hours that you put in practising to then actually come
[31:27.240 -> 31:31.960] to the race. It is quite similar, you know like in cricket we train, we net for that
[31:31.960 -> 31:39.000] game situation and obviously the practice that we put in was for a race. So it was similar
[31:39.000 -> 31:45.600] obviously, you know completely different sports but it still had that competitiveness and we both
[31:45.600 -> 31:50.160] have the desire to be as good as we possibly could on the race day. So you
[31:50.160 -> 31:56.320] know you could say that the sportsmen and the both of us did come out and build up for the F1 race.
[31:56.320 -> 32:00.880] I was gonna say, I mean as someone who likes to do a bit of sport myself, I'm really missing being able to be
[32:00.880 -> 32:04.440] competitive with people. This must be a nice little substitute for that while
[32:04.440 -> 32:11.600] you can't be on a cricket pitch. Yeah it is. As athletes, not just in my sport,
[32:11.600 -> 32:15.760] in all other sports, everybody's missing that at the moment. You miss that competitive side of
[32:15.760 -> 32:22.880] things, trying to be better than someone or trying to win a game. You got that feeling back a little
[32:22.880 -> 32:25.040] bit whilst we were in that race.
[32:25.040 -> 32:27.840] Could this be a second career after cricket maybe? Motorsport?
[32:28.880 -> 32:33.200] No, I don't think so. I mean, funny enough, talking about lockdown, I've literally just
[32:33.200 -> 32:41.360] finished removing all my wife's hair extensions. I've got all sorts of, you know, I can be an F1
[32:41.360 -> 32:46.000] driver, I can be a hairdresser, I can be a barber, you know, this lockdown is...
[32:46.000 -> 32:47.480] You're multi-skilled now.
[32:47.480 -> 32:48.800] Yeah, I know, it's ridiculous.
[32:48.800 -> 32:50.760] Let's have a quick chat about some of these challenges
[32:50.760 -> 32:52.680] that you've been taking part in over the last few weeks,
[32:52.680 -> 32:55.280] because your Instagram is full of some
[32:55.280 -> 32:57.680] of this competitiveness showing itself.
[32:57.680 -> 32:59.680] I wanted to talk quickly about the Bring Sally Up Challenge,
[32:59.680 -> 33:01.480] because I've done that once,
[33:01.480 -> 33:03.240] and I've not been back for more.
[33:03.240 -> 33:06.520] You've been doing this every week, and you going head to head with Paul Collingwood,
[33:06.520 -> 33:08.240] I think, on this one, aren't you?
[33:08.240 -> 33:09.240] Who's currently in the lead?
[33:09.240 -> 33:10.240] Who's got the best time?
[33:10.240 -> 33:15.440] Well, we initially... so this first started off in South Africa when we were touring there.
[33:15.440 -> 33:18.920] I was in South Africa but I wasn't in the squad.
[33:18.920 -> 33:23.440] I was taking a break but I stayed out to do some training and stuff.
[33:23.440 -> 33:25.360] I think it was whilst we were batting or something like that,
[33:25.360 -> 33:28.400] he was doing this thing and I was like, oh, doing the bring Sally up again.
[33:28.400 -> 33:30.960] He was like, yeah, just going to try and see how far I can get.
[33:32.960 -> 33:34.720] And then obviously when lockdown started,
[33:34.720 -> 33:37.920] there was a lot of people doing sort of challenges for people to do at home.
[33:37.920 -> 33:42.720] So we both thought, why don't we both do it as a challenge to ourselves
[33:42.720 -> 33:45.600] and maybe like some other people might want to do it as well.
[33:45.600 -> 33:49.640] So we said, right, we'll do one every week, try and get our time better and better each
[33:49.640 -> 33:50.920] week, which we did.
[33:50.920 -> 33:56.280] And then obviously stop it once we've managed to complete it and see how long or see who
[33:56.280 -> 33:57.760] does it the quickest.
[33:57.760 -> 34:03.080] He started off further than me, but he couldn't get above the two minutes 30 mark for like
[34:03.080 -> 34:09.200] three or four weeks, whereas I managed to sort of have little improvements week by week and then I eventually finished
[34:09.200 -> 34:13.080] it a week before him. So yeah, it was one of those things that we looked forward to
[34:13.080 -> 34:15.520] every Monday but we didn't because it's absolutely brutal.
[34:15.520 -> 34:18.520] Oh mate, it's horrendous. It's absolutely horrendous, isn't it? So for anyone who's
[34:18.520 -> 34:23.040] listening who doesn't know what this is, you're basically doing a push-up in time with a Moby
[34:23.040 -> 34:29.800] tune and you have to hold the top and the bottom of the push-up in time with the music, but you're not allowed to...
[34:29.800 -> 34:31.600] It's a low plank position at the bottom, isn't it?
[34:31.600 -> 34:32.800] And that's the killer.
[34:32.800 -> 34:34.160] That's where it really hurts.
[34:34.160 -> 34:35.160] Yeah.
[34:35.160 -> 34:38.960] I mean, and then obviously there's the, like, it goes, bring Sally up, bring Sally down,
[34:38.960 -> 34:43.680] but then every like 40, 50 seconds, there's one of those holds that...
[34:43.680 -> 34:45.960] That was my first barrier to get over was
[34:45.960 -> 34:53.160] the hold at about two minutes. And I just couldn't do that for like, I think the first
[34:53.160 -> 34:58.240] week I couldn't get past it. But then once you get past the hold, it's then a lot easier
[34:58.240 -> 35:02.000] to go up and down again. And then you get to get to the next hold, and then it's like,
[35:02.000 -> 35:07.560] oh, I've got to get up again. You can sort of gauge yourself by how far you're doing if you can get back up from that hold, but
[35:07.560 -> 35:08.560] yeah, it's brutal.
[35:08.560 -> 35:12.960] That's hardcore. Speaking of which, you just casually threw in a half marathon tomorrow,
[35:12.960 -> 35:13.960] I think. Is that right?
[35:13.960 -> 35:19.080] Yeah, that's right. It's always been one of those things that I've always thought about
[35:19.080 -> 35:24.240] and it's like, oh, it'd be nice to be able to say I've done one, but I've just never
[35:24.240 -> 35:25.320] got around to doing it.
[35:25.320 -> 35:26.920] My wife's done the Great North Run,
[35:26.920 -> 35:29.000] as well as one of her best friends, Hannah Gilling,
[35:29.000 -> 35:30.360] they completed that last year.
[35:30.360 -> 35:32.840] And obviously lockdown, I just started thinking,
[35:32.840 -> 35:34.400] oh, well, good opportunity to go out
[35:34.400 -> 35:35.480] and see if I can do one.
[35:35.480 -> 35:37.000] But then I thought, well, if I'm gonna do it,
[35:37.000 -> 35:39.840] might as well try and raise some funds,
[35:39.840 -> 35:42.520] because I'm sure people will donate by me doing it.
[35:42.520 -> 35:43.960] And then my wife, Claire, said,
[35:43.960 -> 35:46.040] oh, have you seen what the guys are doing in their garden?
[35:46.040 -> 35:47.520] So I went on and checked them out.
[35:47.520 -> 35:50.040] And I was initially gonna do a GoFundMe page for myself,
[35:50.040 -> 35:52.440] but then thought, well, these guys are doing
[35:52.440 -> 35:54.140] such a good thing by raising money,
[35:54.140 -> 35:55.320] not only for the NHS,
[35:55.320 -> 35:57.200] but also for the Chance to Shine Foundation,
[35:57.200 -> 35:59.760] which is obviously a massive involvement in cricket.
[35:59.760 -> 36:01.480] So I thought, well, if I'll do it,
[36:01.480 -> 36:04.320] and I'll hopefully be able to give some exposure
[36:04.320 -> 36:07.320] to these three guys who are doing the marathon in their garden
[36:07.320 -> 36:12.340] so I'm basically doing it to help sort of broadcast what they are doing as well
[36:12.340 -> 36:15.440] as trying to add to funds which they've already managed to raise. You said you
[36:15.440 -> 36:18.800] haven't run a half marathon before how far do you reckon you're gonna get with
[36:18.800 -> 36:22.360] this is this gonna be an easy challenge for you or? I've never been a fan of long
[36:22.360 -> 36:31.080] distance running all the training that I do is short but at a good pace because that's really relative
[36:31.080 -> 36:32.080] to cricket.
[36:32.080 -> 36:35.560] It's all short, sharp bursts of running.
[36:35.560 -> 36:41.520] There's no real time or there isn't any time in cricket where you will have to require
[36:41.520 -> 36:47.160] fitness to be able to last 10 miles if you know what I miles. The furthest I've ever run at once
[36:47.160 -> 36:55.800] is 8km, so I've got to get another 13k more than that. So I've done absolutely no training
[36:55.800 -> 37:02.480] for it, I've got no idea how I'm going to do, but once I set my mind to something I'll
[37:02.480 -> 37:03.480] do it.
[37:03.480 -> 37:06.920] Good luck with that. I was also very jealous of your garage gym set up.
[37:06.920 -> 37:07.760] I think the guys at Red Bull
[37:07.760 -> 37:09.480] might have helped out with that, in fact.
[37:09.480 -> 37:11.560] Obviously, it's pretty easy to keep yourself taking over
[37:11.560 -> 37:13.800] in terms of fitness over these last few weeks.
[37:13.800 -> 37:17.000] How have you been able to stay fresh with the bat and ball?
[37:17.000 -> 37:17.840] Has that been possible?
[37:17.840 -> 37:19.840] Yeah, I mean, Red Bull were brilliant
[37:19.840 -> 37:22.560] in not only just sorting me out,
[37:22.560 -> 37:24.640] but most of the athletes in the UK
[37:24.640 -> 37:25.960] with gym equipment
[37:25.960 -> 37:26.960] that they needed.
[37:26.960 -> 37:30.760] I've got quite a big garage, so I could get quite a lot in.
[37:30.760 -> 37:36.480] I've managed to get a power rack with an Olympic bar and weights, a treadmill, a bike.
[37:36.480 -> 37:40.840] Very thankful to those guys for organizing all that for me to be able to keep on top
[37:40.840 -> 37:43.880] of stuff that I can.
[37:43.880 -> 37:47.640] In terms of the cricket side, nothing. I haven't
[37:47.640 -> 37:54.120] had a bat in six, seven weeks since when this lockdown started. I've just had some Incredibles
[37:54.120 -> 37:58.040] and a set of stumps delivered to the house so I can start getting back into bowling.
[37:58.040 -> 38:01.960] It's obviously not going to be anywhere near match pace or anything like that, but I just
[38:01.960 -> 38:06.220] need to get the body back into remembering
[38:06.220 -> 38:07.220] what it's like to bowl.
[38:07.220 -> 38:11.640] Is that a conscious decision or is that just down to practicalities about how you would
[38:11.640 -> 38:12.640] train?
[38:12.640 -> 38:17.580] I mean, look, this isn't an ideal situation for anybody. Some people are obviously a lot
[38:17.580 -> 38:23.620] worse off than me. I'm moaning about not being able to do my skills that require me to do
[38:23.620 -> 38:25.700] my job. But basically, I'm just trying to give
[38:25.700 -> 38:30.100] myself the best opportunity for whenever that day comes back that we can get back out on
[38:30.100 -> 38:31.100] the field again.
[38:31.100 -> 38:34.900] Obviously a lot of people imagine the life of an international sports star to be a very
[38:34.900 -> 38:38.080] sort of exciting and glamorous one. The reality is obviously that you spend a lot of time
[38:38.080 -> 38:42.920] in hotel rooms, a lot of time in travelling as well. Have the last few weeks been quite
[38:42.920 -> 38:46.720] nice in a way in that you've been able to spend an extended period of time with the family?
[38:46.720 -> 38:53.560] Yeah, I mean, I'm a person who tries to take the positives, you know, from most things.
[38:53.560 -> 38:58.320] And obviously a big positive for me personally for this has been able to spend this time
[38:58.320 -> 39:03.120] at home without having to think about I'm going on tour on this date, so I've only got
[39:03.120 -> 39:07.880] two weeks at home, got to try and get all this stuff in with Claire and the kids, whereas actually, you
[39:07.880 -> 39:11.240] know, this has just been right I'm at home for don't know how long yet, but
[39:11.240 -> 39:16.560] yeah, it's just been nice to to spend that time at home with the kids and with
[39:16.560 -> 39:20.400] Claire and you know, the homeschooling has been a challenge, I haven't been
[39:20.400 -> 39:30.640] doing that to be honest, I've been a PE teacher every now and again for like an hour and Claire and my mother-in-law Jane are both school teachers so they've been
[39:30.640 -> 39:38.960] taking up on that. Claire's mum, she's been living with us since the news of over 70s
[39:38.960 -> 39:42.440] was sort of you know had to stay at home and we didn't want her staying because she lives
[39:42.440 -> 39:46.320] in Somerset which is obviously miles away from where we are. So she's been living with us throughout this
[39:46.320 -> 39:50.240] lockdown for the last six weeks. So those two have been absolutely brilliant in making
[39:50.240 -> 39:54.520] sure that the kids' education is still progressing whilst we're staying at home.
[39:54.520 -> 39:57.480] What are your instincts Ben on whether any international cricket is going to be possible
[39:57.480 -> 40:00.920] this year? I mean travel-wise it's going to be tough isn't it to get teams to come over?
[40:00.920 -> 40:05.520] I mean there's so much speculation and people speaking about what could happen, you know,
[40:05.520 -> 40:11.160] this is the way it should happen. But, you know, I'm, I'm trying not to pay too much
[40:11.160 -> 40:16.000] attention to all of that, because for me, it's, it was a day by day thing, whereas now
[40:16.000 -> 40:19.960] taking it sort of week by week and just see what's what's happening. But until we get
[40:19.960 -> 40:24.440] 100% confirmation about what is going to be happening, then I'm not giving it too much
[40:24.440 -> 40:29.240] attention. You know, obviously, the most important thing right now is everybody's health and safety
[40:29.240 -> 40:35.800] and that needs to be taken into consideration before anything is decided, if you know what
[40:35.800 -> 40:40.800] I mean. If there's a way around cricket being played and everyone isn't going to be in danger
[40:40.800 -> 40:47.400] of becoming ill, then great. But from my point of view, it needs to be crystal
[40:47.400 -> 40:51.880] clear that nobody will be affected by the coronavirus if we get back.
[40:51.880 -> 40:58.440] I guess that's important for so many players as well. The desire to play cricket will be
[40:58.440 -> 41:02.360] very much up there, but also the thing to have in mind about making sure that by doing
[41:02.360 -> 41:08.480] that, that's not going to put anyone at risk? Oh definitely and I think you know everyone involved in making these decisions
[41:09.760 -> 41:16.160] understand that and I think that is their biggest concern is that until that day happens where they
[41:16.160 -> 41:20.320] have complete clarity that things are under control and we can get back into sport then
[41:20.320 -> 41:24.320] that decision won't be made because you know at the end of the day it is just the game,
[41:24.320 -> 41:26.360] it is just sport and people's well-being and welfare. Because at the end of the day, it is just a game, it is just sport.
[41:26.360 -> 41:27.720] People's wellbeing and welfare
[41:27.720 -> 41:29.160] is obviously at the top of the agenda
[41:29.160 -> 41:30.120] for everybody right now.
[41:30.120 -> 41:30.960] Ben, that's excellent.
[41:30.960 -> 41:32.200] Thank you very much indeed, mate.
[41:32.200 -> 41:33.760] Good luck with the half marathon tomorrow.
[41:33.760 -> 41:35.400] Congratulations on the virtual drive.
[41:35.400 -> 41:36.220] Sweet to see you.
[41:36.220 -> 41:37.060] No worries, cheers guys.
[41:37.060 -> 41:38.120] Great to chat to Ben.
[41:38.120 -> 41:39.320] Lastly on the podcast,
[41:39.320 -> 41:42.320] we wanted to get on one of the most inspirational stories
[41:42.320 -> 41:43.760] I've heard in a long time.
[41:43.760 -> 41:49.560] I caught up with ex-rugby pro Ed Jackson to hear about his amazing achievement of climbing the height
[41:49.560 -> 41:54.640] of Everest on his parents' staircase during lockdown. It would be a huge achievement for
[41:54.640 -> 41:57.320] anyone, but Ed's a recovering quadriplegic.
[41:57.320 -> 42:00.880] Ed, welcome to Talking Bull. I've been really looking forward to talking to you because
[42:00.880 -> 42:07.680] your life over the last couple of years has been absolutely extraordinary. And as I say that I realize you've just written off your entire rugby career, so
[42:08.320 -> 42:11.920] apologies for that. Do you want to tell us what happened? It was about this time of year,
[42:11.920 -> 42:18.560] wasn't it? Three years ago? Yeah, so yeah, it was April the 8th, three years ago. Like you said,
[42:18.560 -> 42:26.960] I'd been a professional rugby player for 10 years and I was recovering from a shoulder injury and went home for the weekend back to Bath.
[42:26.960 -> 42:28.440] I was playing down in Cardiff at the time.
[42:28.440 -> 42:32.120] And I went to a family friend's house
[42:32.120 -> 42:32.960] for a swimming pool
[42:32.960 -> 42:35.160] because it was like the first hot day of the year.
[42:35.160 -> 42:37.800] Just a casual barbecue, went down to the pool.
[42:37.800 -> 42:39.160] They had sort of a feature pool
[42:39.160 -> 42:40.720] with a waterfall in one end.
[42:40.720 -> 42:43.560] And I just took my t-shirt off
[42:43.560 -> 42:48.100] and I couldn't see the bottom of the pool because the water was disrupted by the waterfall but I
[42:48.100 -> 42:52.080] assumed it was deep water because there's a waterfall in there and a rock face and so
[42:52.080 -> 42:56.380] I dived in at quite a steep angle and I very quickly hit my head on the bottom
[42:56.380 -> 43:02.100] of the pool. So that was a bit of a shock and actually it was probably the
[43:02.100 -> 43:06.080] hardest I'd hit my head for a long time and considering I've just played I played rugby for 10 years
[43:06.080 -> 43:08.080] You know that was saying something
[43:08.440 -> 43:11.780] so I thought I'd stand up and make sure I wasn't bleeding in their pool and
[43:12.240 -> 43:15.400] It was when I tried to stand up that I realized something was
[43:15.920 -> 43:18.980] Something was wrong because I couldn't move anything from the shoulders down
[43:18.980 -> 43:25.360] So what I'd done the impact was so hard on the top of my head that I dislocated the bottom of my neck
[43:25.640 -> 43:31.720] C6 and C7 vertebrae and the disc in between is exploded and cut my spinal cord in half
[43:31.720 -> 43:36.840] So I was rendered completely paralyzed which obviously when you're in water isn't ideal
[43:36.840 -> 43:41.560] So I was there staring at the surface thinking oh, you know, I could drown here
[43:41.640 -> 43:45.520] Yeah, fortunately, my dad was in the pool and one of my mates was there
[43:45.520 -> 43:46.800] and they noticed what happened.
[43:46.800 -> 43:48.680] So they came over and pulled me to the surface.
[43:48.680 -> 43:49.560] Obviously I didn't drown,
[43:49.560 -> 43:52.220] otherwise I wouldn't be speaking to you right now.
[43:52.220 -> 43:53.600] And they held me on the side of the pool
[43:53.600 -> 43:56.920] and just, and you know, my dad fortunately
[43:56.920 -> 43:58.240] is a retired doctor.
[43:58.240 -> 43:59.600] He knew there must be something wrong
[43:59.600 -> 44:00.680] with my head or neck.
[44:00.680 -> 44:03.360] So he needs to keep me still in the pool.
[44:03.360 -> 44:04.360] So they floated me there
[44:04.360 -> 44:09.080] and waited for the ambulance to come. I didn't really realize how serious the accident was. I mean,
[44:09.080 -> 44:12.560] I knew I was in a bit of trouble because I obviously couldn't move or feel anything,
[44:12.560 -> 44:18.320] which is quite an alien experience. But I think I was in a bit of shock. But my dad
[44:18.320 -> 44:23.780] knew how serious it was because he knew there was a possibility that because your nervous
[44:23.780 -> 44:25.580] system doesn't just control your movement
[44:25.580 -> 44:32.080] It can tell it controls everything your blood pressure, you know, your temperature everything heart rate that my heart could stop at any minute
[44:32.440 -> 44:34.440] Obviously wasn't telling anyone that
[44:34.480 -> 44:39.800] But I was in the ambulance on the way to hospital and what I thought was a 10-minute journey
[44:39.880 -> 44:42.640] Felt like a 10-minute journey to me. I was just sort of drifting in and out
[44:42.640 -> 44:48.160] Not just sort of a bit tired like we'll be there soon I was just thinking like get me to hospital and that sort this out
[44:48.240 -> 44:49.840] My dad told me a year later
[44:49.840 -> 44:54.640] it wasn't till a year later that he sort of plucked up the courage to tell me that journey took two and a half hours because
[44:55.000 -> 44:58.920] They had to pull over to resuscitate me three times. Wow, so
[44:59.480 -> 45:06.740] Yeah, finding that out put a different sort of spin on how lucky I am to be here at all.
[45:06.740 -> 45:13.220] I'm very lucky to be here. Obviously, I'm very lucky to be hobbling around, but I'm
[45:13.220 -> 45:18.100] lucky to even be alive. So yeah, my life since then, as you said, the last sort of few years
[45:18.100 -> 45:21.820] has been a bit of a roller coaster, a bit of a big change from being a professional
[45:21.820 -> 45:25.840] athlete, I suppose, but it's not all been bad, it's not been easy.
[45:25.840 -> 45:27.160] There's a lot of changes in my life
[45:27.160 -> 45:28.840] that are now quite difficult to deal with,
[45:28.840 -> 45:31.060] physical implications, you know, not just movement,
[45:31.060 -> 45:33.280] but the underlying issues that come along
[45:33.280 -> 45:34.800] with a spinal cord injury, you know,
[45:34.800 -> 45:37.320] your bladder and bowel function, things like that.
[45:37.320 -> 45:40.600] But all in all, I think I realize how lucky I am
[45:40.600 -> 45:42.680] to have made any sort of recovery.
[45:42.680 -> 45:45.520] So, you know, just sort of take it as it comes
[45:45.520 -> 45:50.760] and life's moved on in weird and wonderful ways and doors have opened. A lot of doors
[45:50.760 -> 45:54.320] have closed, but a lot of doors have opened as well. So I'm just trying to take advantage
[45:54.320 -> 45:55.320] of that.
[45:55.320 -> 45:59.100] Yeah, I was going to say though, what's amazing to me is not only after the accident did you
[45:59.100 -> 46:06.680] really fight to regain the movement of your body again, you then took on challenges which perhaps might
[46:06.680 -> 46:07.960] have seemed impossible immediately.
[46:07.960 -> 46:12.600] Yeah, I mean I'm still surprised at the kind of... I have to pinch myself sometimes at
[46:12.600 -> 46:17.560] some of the things that I'm doing. I mean, it's now moved on to things that I wouldn't
[46:17.560 -> 46:22.200] have considered doing before my accident. Not saying they're easier now, they're definitely
[46:22.200 -> 46:27.440] not, but I think in my mind it's very much a, you know, life's too short, just sort of go for it.
[46:27.440 -> 46:30.240] And I'm kind of redefining my own limitations in that sense.
[46:30.240 -> 46:35.920] But the first challenge, like how I got into it was when I left hospital, I was doing hours
[46:35.920 -> 46:39.760] and hours of physio every day, you know, and I'm used to it to a certain extent with being
[46:39.760 -> 46:40.760] a rugby player.
[46:40.760 -> 46:44.760] I'd had some long-term injuries before, but you know, you're looking at like six, nine
[46:44.760 -> 46:50.080] months, really bad injuries, 12 months max, and that's pushing it.
[46:50.080 -> 46:56.600] And you've always got a game or a season to aim for, something to get back fit for. But
[46:56.600 -> 47:02.080] with this, it was just endless. It was uncertain how far I would go or where I would end up.
[47:02.080 -> 47:05.400] And I was doing all these hours of physio every day and I needed something to work towards.
[47:05.400 -> 47:08.160] And that was the main reason that I said on the,
[47:08.160 -> 47:10.680] that I was about, been about nine months
[47:10.680 -> 47:11.960] and I was still in a wheelchair.
[47:11.960 -> 47:14.360] I was hobbling around a bit with two sticks,
[47:14.360 -> 47:15.200] a few hundred meters.
[47:15.200 -> 47:18.560] I said to my physios that I wanted to set myself a target
[47:18.560 -> 47:21.640] for the 12 month mark, not just for me to work towards,
[47:21.640 -> 47:23.280] but also for, to set an example
[47:23.280 -> 47:24.840] for all those other people in hospital
[47:24.840 -> 47:28.840] who'd been given a similar negative prognosis. I was told that I wasn't going
[47:28.840 -> 47:33.760] to walk again. I was lucky that that turned out to not be the case, but a lot of people
[47:33.760 -> 47:38.940] are told that and then they believe it. Why wouldn't they believe it? Because that's coming
[47:38.940 -> 47:44.120] from the foremost medical professional they've heard from. I'm lucky I had other people.
[47:44.120 -> 47:47.880] I had a network that would get in touch with me and say, no, that's not necessarily the case. They're going
[47:47.880 -> 47:52.280] to give you worst case scenarios because they don't want to offer false hope. They don't
[47:52.280 -> 47:56.600] want to open themselves up to litigation. I just wanted to do something that, set an
[47:56.600 -> 48:01.200] example for all my mates in hospital and a lot of whom had given up hope and just say,
[48:01.200 -> 48:05.960] right, well, Ed got told that, but then he did this so I thought the 12-month mark was quite a poignant one
[48:05.960 -> 48:10.080] And I thought climbing up a hill was quite poignant because that was the hardest thing for me to do
[48:10.080 -> 48:17.580] So I said I'd climb Mount Snowdon in Wales and obviously it's not it's not massive. You know, it's just a giant hill
[48:17.580 -> 48:20.240] I mean, I've been run I've run up there before when I was a rugby player
[48:20.960 -> 48:22.920] And I couldn't go in at the deep end
[48:22.920 -> 48:26.240] But to me it was big because I'd only walked about a mile
[48:26.240 -> 48:27.480] in one go up to that point,
[48:27.480 -> 48:29.920] and this was gonna be 12 mile round trip.
[48:29.920 -> 48:32.420] Ended up taking nine hours,
[48:32.420 -> 48:34.160] just the most incredible experience.
[48:34.160 -> 48:36.840] Loads of people came along to join me on it,
[48:36.840 -> 48:40.060] fundraising for the charities that supported me
[48:40.060 -> 48:43.000] through my rehab, and then I was hooked.
[48:43.000 -> 48:45.240] I got to the top, I remember looking out
[48:45.240 -> 48:47.800] across North Wales and just thinking,
[48:47.800 -> 48:50.000] wow, I nearly lost all of this.
[48:50.000 -> 48:52.160] I'm so lucky to be able to be stood here
[48:52.160 -> 48:55.360] and taken this view in and be with all these people.
[48:55.360 -> 48:56.920] And yeah, I put my body through hell,
[48:56.920 -> 48:59.040] but I quite enjoyed that.
[48:59.040 -> 49:00.600] I'd missed that for a long time as well
[49:00.600 -> 49:03.280] because I was immobile for so long
[49:03.280 -> 49:07.120] that I couldn't even get myself out of breath and I'm quite a physical person you know I've
[49:07.120 -> 49:11.000] been a sportsman my whole life and that's how I got my endorphins so losing
[49:11.000 -> 49:15.120] that ability losing that sort of identity was very difficult to deal with
[49:15.120 -> 49:19.320] and all of a sudden it was back so then I became hooked on mountains and and I
[49:19.320 -> 49:24.000] kind of have been ever since on that. I'm that weird quadriplegic bloke at the
[49:24.000 -> 49:28.280] top of the hill that gets all the funny looks from the French blokes and the proper mountaineers just thinking, what
[49:28.280 -> 49:30.960] the hell are you doing up here? But yeah, that's me.
[49:30.960 -> 49:34.280] Well, I mean, the mental side of rehabilitation is really interesting though, isn't it? And
[49:34.280 -> 49:37.520] as a former sportsman, you must have, like you're saying, you've had major injuries in
[49:37.520 -> 49:43.200] the past. I know when I've been injured, sometimes actually getting over the mental state is
[49:43.200 -> 49:45.040] as hard as getting over the physical injury.
[49:45.040 -> 49:46.560] Do you think your career beforehand
[49:46.560 -> 49:48.480] helped you mentally get to that point
[49:48.480 -> 49:50.680] where you're able to climb mountains again?
[49:51.680 -> 49:53.440] I think it definitely helped, you know,
[49:53.440 -> 49:54.920] it definitely helped to a certain extent
[49:54.920 -> 49:56.080] with the rehab side of things.
[49:56.080 -> 49:58.440] It wasn't alien for me to spend hours and hours
[49:58.440 -> 49:59.560] in a physio room.
[49:59.560 -> 50:02.320] I think I did realize from the start that,
[50:03.760 -> 50:06.720] I realized from the start that my battle was a mental one, not a physical one.
[50:06.720 -> 50:10.680] Now, I could deal with the physical side of things, but I just had to try and stay positive
[50:10.680 -> 50:16.080] because when you're so uncertain, you're in intensive care, you can't move.
[50:16.080 -> 50:18.080] It took a week before I could move or feel anything.
[50:18.080 -> 50:21.440] Obviously, you're having some dark thoughts at night when your family and friends aren't
[50:21.440 -> 50:26.800] there and there's so much uncertainty about what the future holds.
[50:28.440 -> 50:31.480] Is your wife, can you sustain a relationship?
[50:31.480 -> 50:33.600] Is it fair to ask them to stay with you?
[50:33.600 -> 50:35.360] Are you gonna be a burden on your family?
[50:35.360 -> 50:36.520] Like all of these sorts of things.
[50:36.520 -> 50:38.520] It's not just can you play sport or not anymore.
[50:38.520 -> 50:41.960] I think I knew from the start that was off the table.
[50:41.960 -> 50:44.840] So if you spend your whole time worrying about those things,
[50:44.840 -> 50:47.300] then you're not doing what you can right then and there
[50:47.300 -> 50:48.120] to get better.
[50:48.120 -> 50:49.520] And I very quickly realized that.
[50:49.520 -> 50:53.600] I think out of necessity, I was spending the whole time
[50:53.600 -> 50:55.360] worried about what I could have done differently
[50:55.360 -> 50:57.200] to not dive in the pool,
[50:57.200 -> 50:59.800] or where I was gonna end up in a year's time.
[50:59.800 -> 51:01.360] And actually, that was detracting
[51:01.360 -> 51:03.520] from what I could have done right there and then.
[51:03.520 -> 51:08.560] So I then started setting myself small goals, those incremental gains to try and get big
[51:08.560 -> 51:12.440] changes and I suppose subconsciously that did come from sport.
[51:12.440 -> 51:17.000] You're in the gym every day and you're working towards pushing those extra few kilograms
[51:17.000 -> 51:21.800] or getting that little bit fitter because, and over the course of your career, you become
[51:21.800 -> 51:23.560] a better player for it or whatever.
[51:23.560 -> 51:29.960] I think that's how I ended up having to deal with my injury was breaking it down into, can I move my third
[51:29.960 -> 51:34.280] finger another inch today, rather than am I going to be able to walk because I was never
[51:34.280 -> 51:39.200] going to be able to click my fingers and walk again. But I could get those little wins.
[51:39.200 -> 51:47.120] And that's how I managed to sort of stay positive, stay on task and keep moving towards some sort of recovery.
[51:47.120 -> 51:50.080] And yeah, you're right, I think that probably did come from a sporting background in some
[51:50.080 -> 51:51.080] respects.
[51:51.080 -> 51:54.160] You're a Wings for Life ambassador, right?
[51:54.160 -> 51:58.040] What is Wings for Life and how does that work with your injury?
[51:58.040 -> 52:04.560] Yeah, so Wings for Life are Red Bull's spinal cord injury charity and they fund cutting
[52:04.560 -> 52:05.820] edge research into spinal cord injury charity and they fund cutting edge research
[52:05.820 -> 52:07.220] into spinal cord injuries.
[52:08.180 -> 52:11.280] Red Bull back them, which means that 100% of the money
[52:11.280 -> 52:14.220] they raise goes straight into spinal cord injury research.
[52:14.220 -> 52:16.660] So obviously I've got an invested interest there.
[52:16.660 -> 52:19.800] Not so much personal because a lot of the research
[52:19.800 -> 52:21.380] they're doing is trying to find a cure
[52:21.380 -> 52:22.440] for spinal cord injuries.
[52:22.440 -> 52:25.600] Now, I know a lot of people now with spinal cord injuries,
[52:25.600 -> 52:27.440] naturally living in that world.
[52:27.440 -> 52:30.320] I didn't before, but there's some amazing people out there
[52:30.320 -> 52:32.320] and a lot of them I can call friends
[52:32.320 -> 52:34.480] and some of them have complete spinal cord injuries
[52:35.040 -> 52:37.680] and there is no scope for recovery for them
[52:37.680 -> 52:39.760] other than a medical breakthrough.
[52:39.760 -> 52:41.920] And that is what Wings for Life are looking for.
[52:41.920 -> 52:43.520] They do some amazing other research
[52:43.520 -> 52:47.600] into like early preventative care and getting the best out
[52:47.600 -> 52:52.440] of injuries, but actually the golden chalice is the cure for spinal cord injury.
[52:52.440 -> 52:57.040] And a lot of my mates who are in that position, they are holding out for that.
[52:57.040 -> 53:00.040] And their bodies are so on the brink.
[53:00.040 -> 53:04.320] One of my friends, Matt Hampson, he's a C1 and he's got a permanent ventilator.
[53:04.320 -> 53:07.120] They give you less than a year's life expectancy.
[53:07.120 -> 53:08.480] He's been going for 10 years now
[53:08.480 -> 53:09.640] because he's got that hope.
[53:09.640 -> 53:12.000] He's got that hope that one day there'll be a cure
[53:12.000 -> 53:13.480] and that's what Wings for Life are doing
[53:13.480 -> 53:14.560] and that's what they're looking for.
[53:14.560 -> 53:16.640] And actually we're a lot closer,
[53:16.640 -> 53:20.800] I say we, the scientists, but I look into the research,
[53:20.800 -> 53:23.800] a lot closer than people think.
[53:23.800 -> 53:27.580] I think it will happen within the next decade.
[53:27.580 -> 53:31.720] So, you know, those people have that hope offered to them
[53:31.720 -> 53:33.460] by the Research Wings for Life of funding
[53:33.460 -> 53:35.380] and that's keeping them alive, that's keeping them going
[53:35.380 -> 53:36.280] because if they didn't have that,
[53:36.280 -> 53:38.900] if they gave up mentally, their body would follow.
[53:38.900 -> 53:43.260] So it's incredibly important, it's a personal mission,
[53:43.260 -> 53:45.040] it's an absolute privilege to be an ambassador
[53:45.040 -> 53:51.200] for them because of the amazing work they do. And to be fair, for me personally, I think
[53:51.200 -> 53:55.640] a lot of the research that's going on, it wouldn't directly benefit me. It might do
[53:55.640 -> 53:59.320] actually some of the stuff they're doing around bladder research, but it's more to do with
[53:59.320 -> 54:05.000] the people I know and I know how much impact that funding is making.
[54:05.680 -> 54:07.960] So I'm happy to help out where I can.
[54:07.960 -> 54:10.020] Isolation comes along, coronavirus,
[54:10.020 -> 54:12.580] and we're all locked up inside our houses.
[54:12.580 -> 54:14.200] For a man who likes to climb mountains,
[54:14.200 -> 54:16.820] that's gonna be problematic.
[54:16.820 -> 54:18.740] What have you been up to over the last couple of weeks?
[54:18.740 -> 54:20.740] Because this is extraordinary.
[54:20.740 -> 54:24.240] Yeah, so actually it came about because obviously
[54:24.240 -> 54:26.560] the World Run had to be cancelled in Cambridge
[54:26.560 -> 54:31.800] in the UK. So that was Wings for Life's flagship event. And that's going to leave a hole in
[54:31.800 -> 54:34.920] fundraising. Now they raised millions of pounds in the world run, so I'm never going to be
[54:34.920 -> 54:38.680] able to do that. You know, I'm not Captain Tom, but I thought I might as well pull my
[54:38.680 -> 54:42.440] finger out and try and do something myself to bridge a bit of that gap in fundraising.
[54:42.440 -> 54:50.240] I also wanted to raise a bit of money for the NHS as well. So I decided because my thing's climbing, I would turn the stairs into a mountain.
[54:50.240 -> 54:54.680] And the original plan was to turn it into Mount Snowdon, so the first mountain I climbed
[54:54.680 -> 54:59.160] after a year. That would have taken six or seven hours, I think, maybe a bit less. But
[54:59.160 -> 55:03.680] the way my brain works, I went in, going to do Mount Snowdon. An hour later, I was climbing
[55:03.680 -> 55:07.220] Everest on a four-day expedition whilst camping at the bottom of the stairs and
[55:07.460 -> 55:12.000] that for 12 climbing for 12 hours a day. So I mean, I'm not stupid
[55:12.000 -> 55:17.180] I did it on my parents stairs. So I wrecked that, you know, I wasn't gonna do it to my own staircase, but it was
[55:17.780 -> 55:22.600] It's the camping seems like an unnecessary step. I've got to be honest. Well, do you know what?
[55:22.600 -> 55:26.560] I was I was just I wanted to have a bit
[55:26.560 -> 55:31.440] Of fun with it. I think there's so much bad news around at the moment, you know in such a serious time
[55:31.440 -> 55:36.900] I think we need a bit of humor and just a bit of light and so I sort of made it interactive
[55:36.900 -> 55:40.560] Tried to get people involved at home went sort of live on Instagram every morning and evening
[55:40.640 -> 55:44.960] And and just had a real laugh like messing around in the house
[55:47.120 -> 55:52.920] like in with camping equipment and pitched a tent in the kitchen, which my dad wasn't too happy about, and threatened
[55:52.920 -> 55:55.560] to wear crampons on the final day up their staircase.
[55:55.560 -> 55:59.960] And all of these sorts of things just made it a bit more entertaining and just wanted
[55:59.960 -> 56:03.480] to give people, as well as raise money for charity, just wanted to give people a bit
[56:03.480 -> 56:06.200] of a laugh before the six o'clock news
[56:06.200 -> 56:07.960] and it all gets depressing again.
[56:07.960 -> 56:09.200] So what are the numbers on that?
[56:09.200 -> 56:11.280] How many stairs, how many flights,
[56:11.280 -> 56:13.880] how many days did this challenge take to complete?
[56:13.880 -> 56:16.600] So every 8,848 meters,
[56:16.600 -> 56:19.260] so I was going from the equivalent of sea level
[56:19.260 -> 56:20.560] to the top and back again.
[56:20.560 -> 56:27.920] So that was 2,783 flights of stairs up and then the same again down so five and
[56:27.920 -> 56:34.200] a half thousand something. And I ended up walking for about 45 hours in total on the
[56:34.200 -> 56:42.560] stairs that took four days and it was over 89,000 steps. So yeah, it was a lot and it
[56:42.560 -> 56:44.360] was bloody boring.
[56:44.360 -> 56:45.080] But it was it was the same counting must have bloody boring, but it was, it was-
[56:45.080 -> 56:47.420] Because I was saying, counting must have been hard as well.
[56:47.420 -> 56:49.840] I mean, I struggled to count at the best of times.
[56:49.840 -> 56:50.680] Yeah, so I didn't just-
[56:50.680 -> 56:51.800] The boredom and the counting.
[56:51.800 -> 56:53.120] I didn't try and do it all in my head.
[56:53.120 -> 56:55.080] Like I actually started off trying to count in tens
[56:55.080 -> 56:56.760] and had a whiteboard at the bottom of the table
[56:56.760 -> 56:59.720] where I put a dash on every 10 I went through.
[56:59.720 -> 57:01.400] I very quickly was losing count.
[57:01.400 -> 57:02.720] And then because of my OCD
[57:02.720 -> 57:04.440] and I didn't want to miss anything,
[57:04.440 -> 57:09.580] I'd just go back to the last number I remembered. And then halfway through day one, I recorded
[57:09.580 -> 57:15.440] an hour's worth of climbing just to see how far out I was. And I did 124 reps when I thought
[57:15.440 -> 57:20.120] I'd done 100. So I can't carry on like this, otherwise I'm going to be here all year.
[57:20.120 -> 57:21.120] It's not helping.
[57:21.120 -> 57:25.000] But I managed to solve that by taping a clicker to the bottom of the stairs
[57:25.000 -> 57:29.320] And then I was just recording it on a dash and a whiteboard every 10 10 reps
[57:29.500 -> 57:33.000] Yeah, I mean I still missed quite a few but I mean, okay
[57:33.000 -> 57:38.320] Yeah, there's no way I could count up to two thousand seven hundred eighty three in my head, especially when I was so tired
[57:38.320 -> 57:42.960] So, I mean actually this is better than climbing Everest, isn't it? Like you went higher. I covered more distance
[57:42.960 -> 57:48.880] Yeah, because I mean I suppose from base camp you go from 5,500 meters to the summit and back, but it's quite funny. I've
[57:48.880 -> 57:54.480] got asked a few times by... I've been asked a few times since, does that mean you've got
[57:54.480 -> 57:58.840] the confidence now to go for the real thing? Unfortunately, I know enough about mountaineering.
[57:58.840 -> 58:04.160] I'm not a mountaineer. I've been 6,500 meters, which is pretty high, and it's high enough
[58:04.160 -> 58:05.000] to know that there is
[58:05.000 -> 58:12.060] absolutely no comparison between climbing your staircase and climbing Mount Everest.
[58:12.060 -> 58:17.660] Although it was a lot higher in vertical meters, I definitely didn't have to deal with altitude
[58:17.660 -> 58:21.760] or minus 30 temperatures or lack of food and dehydration.
[58:21.760 -> 58:26.040] In fact, the stairs ended at my parents' fridge, so I think I actually
[58:26.040 -> 58:27.960] put on weight whilst I was climbing.
[58:27.960 -> 58:31.800] Absolutely perfect. I mean, you must have got to know those stairs pretty well. Is there
[58:31.800 -> 58:34.240] a favourite step or is there one that's particularly creaky?
[58:34.240 -> 58:39.840] No, I hate them all to be honest now. The first step is a little bit higher than the
[58:39.840 -> 58:46.960] rest, so every now and again it would catch me out. yeah no I don't fancy going up and down
[58:46.960 -> 58:49.800] that staircase very much more in my life to be honest.
[58:49.800 -> 58:53.840] What was the reaction during the challenge? You had calls I think from DC and from Alex
[58:53.840 -> 58:55.680] Albon amongst others didn't you?
[58:55.680 -> 59:06.160] Yeah it was amazing obviously Wings for Life being Red Bull's charity and I actually met them last summer at a fundraiser, a clay day.
[59:06.160 -> 59:11.600] And Alex was, all the four drivers were there, the Tour Us drivers and the Red Bull drivers.
[59:11.600 -> 59:18.440] And it was actually just before Alex switched over, but he was driving our team car.
[59:18.440 -> 59:20.040] And so, and I was in his team.
[59:20.040 -> 59:22.680] So we got on really well, we had a laugh.
[59:22.680 -> 59:25.800] And actually there was one point I remember when we went the wrong way
[59:25.800 -> 59:28.120] and he couldn't work out how to reverse,
[59:28.120 -> 59:31.360] and we were just all absolutely ripping into him.
[59:31.360 -> 59:32.720] He was like, well, we don't have to reverse
[59:32.720 -> 59:34.000] in Formula One cars, and you forget
[59:34.000 -> 59:36.240] how young these guys are, and how little time
[59:36.240 -> 59:38.000] they actually spend on real roads.
[59:38.000 -> 59:39.440] So I nearly had to take over,
[59:39.440 -> 59:41.280] he nearly had to let the disabled guy
[59:41.280 -> 59:42.860] take over from a Formula One driver
[59:42.860 -> 59:44.660] to reverse the car out of the bush.
[59:45.640 -> 59:50.120] So we kind of stayed in touch ever since then and DC was there emceeing the event. Obviously
[59:50.120 -> 59:54.360] we all know how good he is at that and it was very nice for them to get in touch last
[59:54.360 -> 59:59.840] week. I've always been a big Formula One fan so pretty surreal. And Alex even climbed a
[59:59.840 -> 01:00:05.120] few sets of stairs with me which was pretty cool. He's trying to keep fit during his isolation
[01:00:05.120 -> 01:00:09.520] up in Milton Keynes so he thought he might as well jump in and get involved for a few reps.
[01:00:09.520 -> 01:00:13.680] It must have been amazing having an idea to do a DARF challenge like that but then seeing it taking
[01:00:13.680 -> 01:00:17.920] on a life of its own and then stars like that getting involved as well and offering their
[01:00:17.920 -> 01:00:26.400] support. Yeah it was incredible. I mean I literally was hoping to raise two grand at the start, you know, I thought that was quite ambitious.
[01:00:26.400 -> 01:00:28.540] We've ended up raising over 50 grand.
[01:00:29.360 -> 01:00:31.400] The people who, I mean, you know,
[01:00:31.400 -> 01:00:33.320] DC and Alex obviously getting in touch,
[01:00:33.320 -> 01:00:35.680] Christian Horner was giving me good luck messages
[01:00:35.680 -> 01:00:38.440] before I went, but you know, whilst I was going,
[01:00:38.440 -> 01:00:40.240] I was doing an Instagram Live on the last day
[01:00:40.240 -> 01:00:42.320] and all of a sudden the body coach is like
[01:00:42.320 -> 01:00:43.840] requesting to go live next,
[01:00:43.840 -> 01:00:48.500] and you know, I'm talking to Joe Witt, so I was like, what is going on? I was just going to walk up my parents
[01:00:48.500 -> 01:00:54.180] staircase a few times, but it was so nice. And it was just having that support, even
[01:00:54.180 -> 01:00:58.000] from a distance from all the people who were getting involved at home, makes such a big
[01:00:58.000 -> 01:01:03.420] difference actually, because I felt it before once when I was going through my accident,
[01:01:03.420 -> 01:01:05.960] and people were wishing me luck from a distance.
[01:01:05.960 -> 01:01:09.540] They think that those little messages might just go by the wayside, and they're doing
[01:01:09.540 -> 01:01:13.760] them, they're sort of token gestures, but they make so much difference.
[01:01:13.760 -> 01:01:18.120] It doesn't feel like it's just you back then trying to get better from a life-changing
[01:01:18.120 -> 01:01:19.120] accident.
[01:01:19.120 -> 01:01:21.040] It felt like there was a load of you, and you were doing it for them.
[01:01:21.040 -> 01:01:27.620] That was the same on the stairs, because they would see me for an hour in the morning, an hour in the evening, but there was another seven or eight hours
[01:01:27.620 -> 01:01:31.840] during the day, which I was just by myself trudging up and down. And I would regularly
[01:01:31.840 -> 01:01:35.320] look at the fundraising total, read a few of the messages that were coming in, and that
[01:01:35.320 -> 01:01:39.360] would spur me on to keep going. So it wasn't just the stars coming on, even though that
[01:01:39.360 -> 01:01:43.560] is incredible and I'll never forget that. It was also just everyone who sent messages
[01:01:43.560 -> 01:01:45.600] and got involved and donated.
[01:01:45.600 -> 01:01:46.720] It made a big difference
[01:01:46.720 -> 01:01:49.320] because it was a pretty monotonous task
[01:01:49.320 -> 01:01:50.840] to take on by yourself.
[01:01:50.840 -> 01:01:52.680] How's the body, recovered from that?
[01:01:52.680 -> 01:01:53.560] You feeling okay?
[01:01:53.560 -> 01:01:54.480] I'm actually doing all right now.
[01:01:54.480 -> 01:01:56.560] I've been in the gym a couple of times this week.
[01:01:56.560 -> 01:02:00.280] I was in pieces for a couple of days.
[01:02:01.400 -> 01:02:03.240] Because of my injury, I had to climb,
[01:02:03.240 -> 01:02:05.480] I did the whole thing with one leg pretty much.
[01:02:05.480 -> 01:02:07.400] So I was just doing single leg step ups,
[01:02:07.400 -> 01:02:10.280] which meant that side took a bit of a battering.
[01:02:10.280 -> 01:02:13.580] However, I've got no pain sensation left on that side
[01:02:13.580 -> 01:02:15.660] because of the accident, which is actually quite useful,
[01:02:15.660 -> 01:02:17.880] but I could tell it all seized up.
[01:02:17.880 -> 01:02:22.300] Now, not too bad, to be honest, just got to keep moving.
[01:02:22.300 -> 01:02:23.900] And now I'm just waiting to see
[01:02:23.900 -> 01:02:27.040] if any improvements come neurologically,
[01:02:27.040 -> 01:02:31.380] because these challenges as well, they have another purpose. It's been three years since
[01:02:31.380 -> 01:02:36.440] my accident and since after a spinal cord injury, they say you've got about a year to
[01:02:36.440 -> 01:02:40.240] recover, which I know is not true. You keep recovering for years and years, and there's
[01:02:40.240 -> 01:02:44.280] a lot of people who are 10 years down the line telling me they're still seeing changes.
[01:02:44.280 -> 01:02:46.980] But it does slow down. and actually when I see changes
[01:02:46.980 -> 01:02:49.140] is after I go and shock my neurology a bit
[01:02:49.140 -> 01:02:50.100] and put it through the mill,
[01:02:50.100 -> 01:02:52.380] and I've seen it off the back of climbs,
[01:02:52.380 -> 01:02:53.940] and hopefully I'll see it off the back of this.
[01:02:53.940 -> 01:02:56.500] My body's starting to feel good again now.
[01:02:56.500 -> 01:02:58.080] There'll be that period of recovery
[01:02:58.080 -> 01:02:59.340] where it's like, leave me alone,
[01:02:59.340 -> 01:03:00.740] let's just lie down for a week.
[01:03:00.740 -> 01:03:02.560] But now hopefully we'll see some changes,
[01:03:02.560 -> 01:03:08.280] but I have to monitor that over the next week or two. What's the next challenge going to be
[01:03:08.280 -> 01:03:13.160] as soon as we're allowed our houses? So actually the next challenge is another
[01:03:13.160 -> 01:03:17.680] one for Wings for Life. I've now got my own charity as well called the Millimeters
[01:03:17.680 -> 01:03:21.960] to Mountains Foundation. We've just had that confirmed which will be taking
[01:03:21.960 -> 01:03:30.120] disadvantaged people to the mountains. People are in sort of a transition in their life, but I'm still going to be working because it's helped me
[01:03:30.120 -> 01:03:35.340] physically and mentally so much since my accident. And it's great to go and raise money for these
[01:03:35.340 -> 01:03:39.800] people by going to the mountains, but I think the real benefit is being there, doing it.
[01:03:39.800 -> 01:03:43.500] So that's why I've started that foundation. But obviously, I'm going to carry on raising
[01:03:43.500 -> 01:03:45.620] money for Wings for Life and being an ambassador for them
[01:03:45.620 -> 01:03:48.240] because they cover off that space
[01:03:48.240 -> 01:03:50.440] that I feel so important in the research.
[01:03:50.440 -> 01:03:52.400] So I'm gonna walk the Pennine Way,
[01:03:52.400 -> 01:03:55.760] which is the longest footpath in England, 268 miles.
[01:03:55.760 -> 01:03:56.960] From the border of Scotland,
[01:03:56.960 -> 01:03:58.280] I'm gonna walk it north to south
[01:03:58.280 -> 01:04:00.320] and it ends up in the Peak District
[01:04:00.320 -> 01:04:02.760] just between Sheffield and Manchester.
[01:04:02.760 -> 01:04:04.160] And I'm gonna do that over two weeks.
[01:04:04.160 -> 01:04:05.320] And again, we're going to do it
[01:04:05.320 -> 01:04:07.040] like a big mass participation event,
[01:04:07.040 -> 01:04:09.000] which the Everest thing turned into,
[01:04:09.000 -> 01:04:10.080] obviously from a distance.
[01:04:10.080 -> 01:04:12.560] But I'm going to encourage people to come and walk with me
[01:04:12.560 -> 01:04:14.080] or get involved at home.
[01:04:14.080 -> 01:04:15.880] And I'm going to be raising money for Wings for Life.
[01:04:15.880 -> 01:04:17.160] It's called Walk the Spine
[01:04:17.160 -> 01:04:18.400] because it's called the spine of England.
[01:04:18.400 -> 01:04:20.000] So it all fits in quite nicely.
[01:04:20.000 -> 01:04:25.000] And yeah, hopefully actually get to put a few names to faces
[01:04:25.380 -> 01:04:26.960] that people have been getting in touch
[01:04:26.960 -> 01:04:28.720] and climbing from home over the last week.
[01:04:28.720 -> 01:04:30.240] Hopefully some of them will come and join in
[01:04:30.240 -> 01:04:31.280] and I'll meet them for real.
[01:04:31.280 -> 01:04:32.120] Ed, that's amazing.
[01:04:32.120 -> 01:04:33.200] Thanks for talking to us.
[01:04:33.200 -> 01:04:34.080] Oh, my pleasure.
[01:04:34.080 -> 01:04:36.360] Wow, pretty powerful stuff there from Ed.
[01:04:36.360 -> 01:04:38.040] What a pleasure to chat to him.
[01:04:38.040 -> 01:04:40.600] That's it from this stay at home special edition
[01:04:40.600 -> 01:04:41.720] of Talking Bull.
[01:04:41.720 -> 01:04:44.320] We finish with an exclusive Red Bull Records tune,
[01:04:44.320 -> 01:04:50.480] I Think You'll Love. This is Came to Bull by Pineapple City. We'll be back soon with more exclusive chat from
[01:04:50.480 -> 01:05:05.100] the team and the world of Red Bull. Until then, take care of yourself. I came in with the drip, you didn't She know I ball like Pippen She wanna fuck with me
[01:05:05.100 -> 01:05:06.200] Cause she know I'm winning
[01:05:06.200 -> 01:05:08.100] I gotta get my digits, ayy
[01:05:08.100 -> 01:05:09.500] She wanna fuss and trip
[01:05:09.500 -> 01:05:10.800] I'll be thinking, so bro
[01:05:10.800 -> 01:05:12.200] I be snapping like a photo
[01:05:12.200 -> 01:05:14.100] Then record it on a GoPro
[01:05:14.100 -> 01:05:16.000] Thinking I be tripping when that really ain't a low blow
[01:05:16.000 -> 01:05:18.000] Show your mom the film, then I play that slow mo
[01:05:18.000 -> 01:05:19.000] I don't need to go low
[01:05:19.000 -> 01:05:20.000] Welcome to the show, bro
[01:05:20.000 -> 01:05:21.900] Burger Man ain't got it, well I guess I gotta show, bro
[01:05:21.900 -> 01:05:22.900] Pull up in a stolo
[01:05:22.900 -> 01:05:23.800] Staying like a polo
[01:05:23.800 -> 01:05:24.800] Haley get rojo
[01:05:24.800 -> 01:05:26.000] Bounce like a pogo
[01:05:26.000 -> 01:05:28.000] Gotta watch for the po-po
[01:05:28.000 -> 01:05:30.000] Can't f***in' actin' but it really gon' fo' though
[01:05:30.000 -> 01:05:32.000] And I be d*** if I let the logs get me in the gym
[01:05:32.000 -> 01:05:34.000] Watchin' n****s hit a fo' fo'
[01:05:34.000 -> 01:05:36.000] Fence hopper, n***a
[01:05:36.000 -> 01:05:38.000] Boo can really keep that penis on the low though
[01:05:38.000 -> 01:05:40.000] Why you really tryna act like my bro-bro
[01:05:40.000 -> 01:05:42.000] Let a n***a be by his dolo and be easy
[01:05:42.000 -> 01:05:44.000] I came to ball like Pippen
[01:05:44.000 -> 01:05:45.200] I came to get my check, I'm dippin'
[01:05:45.200 -> 01:05:49.200] Can't take a f*** who's trippin' I came in with the drip, you didn't
[01:05:49.200 -> 01:05:53.200] She know I ball like Pippen She wanna f*** with me, cause she know I'm winnin'
[01:05:53.200 -> 01:05:57.200] I gotta get my digits, ayy She wanna f*** and trip, I b***h
[01:05:57.200 -> 01:06:01.200] With Bird like it's Five Guys Tell you NSYNC, ask bye-bye, uh
[01:06:01.200 -> 01:06:04.400] Might flex like I'm Popeye Pop out with the shot, touch like a dry bite
[01:06:04.400 -> 01:06:06.000] Why would I lie? I don't hide from a bitch
[01:06:05.000 -> 01:06:08.000] only round cause he tryna try and fuck with the clique
[01:06:07.000 -> 01:06:10.000] B-Colite, bird, cause it came from the six
[01:06:09.000 -> 01:06:12.000] Ain't nothin' change on me but the change in the whip
[01:06:11.000 -> 01:06:14.000] Yeah, lit like a f***in' candlestick
[01:06:13.000 -> 01:06:16.000] Smokin' on some cannabis, uh, I'm hammin'
[01:06:15.000 -> 01:06:18.000] Too legit to quit, yeah, I'm on some hammers
[01:06:17.000 -> 01:06:20.000] Got so many bars, yeah, I'm on some summin'
[01:06:19.000 -> 01:06:22.000] I feel like a god, took my time and channeled it
[01:06:21.000 -> 01:06:24.000] I been off the drink, yeah, I get the remnant
[01:06:23.000 -> 01:06:27.560] Bird got a ho, so I told him, let him in Or the late night on some date, but let him
[01:06:27.560 -> 01:06:28.560] in, yeah, yeah
[01:06:28.560 -> 01:06:32.200] I came to bar like Pippin' I came to get my check, I'm dippin'
[01:06:32.200 -> 01:06:36.080] Can't take a who's trippin' I came in with the drip, you didn't
[01:06:36.080 -> 01:06:39.520] She know I bar like Pippin' She wanna fuck with me, cause she know I'm
[01:06:39.520 -> 01:06:41.960] winning I gotta get my digits, ayy
[01:06:41.960 -> 01:06:43.840] She wanna fuss and trip, I be
[01:06:43.840 -> 01:06:47.560] Same lil' but the chain lil' bigger Got her bad b**** on God like Jigga
[01:06:47.560 -> 01:06:51.560] Ain't pay like Jigga, Burger Man, that n***a why they shorty be trippin', tryna blame my Twitter
[01:06:51.560 -> 01:06:55.360] Got a lil' thang with a nice lil' figure Came for the check, nothing less, say figures
[01:06:55.360 -> 01:06:59.360] If I can't hang with you, it's the damn same n***a But I peeped your girl and I'm tryna skate with her
[01:06:59.360 -> 01:07:03.360] I came to ball like Pippen I came to get my check, I'm dippin'
[01:07:03.360 -> 01:07:07.280] Can't take a f*** who's trippin' I came in with the drip, you didn't
[01:07:06.080 -> 01:07:08.680] She know I ball like Pippen
[01:07:07.680 -> 01:07:11.080] She wanna **** with me, cause she know I'm winnin'
[01:07:10.000 -> 01:07:13.000] I gotta get my digits, ayy
[01:07:12.000 -> 01:07:15.000] She wanna fuss and trip, I ******
[01:07:15.670 -> 01:07:17.730] you