Meet Chloe Firestone - Wild Earth Ambassador, ultra runner, adventurer and Super Mum!

 

Where did adventure begin in your life? – were you born into an adventurous life or was there a pivotal choice?

Every long weekend and school holidays as a kid my parents always took us camping/ 4x4wd holiday. But I've always been very independent, taking myself on all day bush walks, bike rides, kayak trips since about 8yrs old, I just loved being out in nature by myself. When I was a teenager I loved the quote "why not make life one big daring adventure!" and I was very determined and inspired to do things different from the ordinary; taking off on my first overseas trip to Canada for 3 months as soon as I finished school at 17.

 

What is your process for planning and executing an adventure? Spontaneous or Methodical?

Spontaneous, unless it involves saving, gear planning or logistics planning with other people.

 

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt in the wild?

Trust your gut. I've never been in serious trouble but I've always been strong about trusting my gut feelings. There's been times when I've gone out feeling a bit uneasy about the conditions and it's always sucked!

 

What is your favourite/happy place to explore and adventure?

I love being in the bush, but there's something absolutely incredible about the grandness of the big mountains in America and Europe. It's so worldly different to anything we have here.

 

 

How do you balance adventure and family? Is it a challenge?

Yes, I've had a huge lifestyle change with family life. Among other things I take a-lot less risks now.

 

What is your must-have piece of gear?

Well that could vary a-lot depending on the adventure... Some things that I would mostly always have with me be it on a long run, biking, kayaking or camping would be; a nice little pocket knife, small dry bag, merino thermal top, strapping tape and my osprey hydration pack.

 

What would you say was one of the scariest or influential moments in your adventure career?

There could be a few but I'll tell this one- I guess it didn't end up too badly but probably could have, and I think it's funny; I was cycling around parts of Europe, this day I was in France somewhere and it was getting late, probably about 10pm and I hadn't found a camp place yet and was a bit lost. There was a big hill covered in bushland off to the side of the road so I thought I'd just crash in there for the night. I dragged my bike under the fence and hiked up a rough rocky steep hill to set up camp in a flatter clearing on the plateau at the top. Before dawn, I lit the stove to cook breakfast. As the sun started to rise I began to hear lots of gunfire, I thought I could make out some figures near the bottom of the hill. I packed up my tent and strapped it on the bike in a frenzy. I put on my helmet hoping it would provide some  protection and turned on my headlight! I scrambled down the hill having to walk my bike, all the while gun shots going off. As I got to the perimeter fence I saw the sign in daylight which I must have missed in the dark. It was in French but I would assume it said as much as "Danger, live firing. Hunting area" Hahah!

 

How do you train for your races/competitions/adventures?

If I enter something I become stressed about training for it and then grow to hate it so I never end up training. I do way more when I do it just because I love it and don't feel obliged to meet a training plan. So if I enter something in the future it will have to be last minute if I feel a whim to do it.

 

 

Obviously, injury and recovery is a constant battle in your sport. How do you deal with these?

Probably I don't deal with this very smartly. I'm always tired and injured lol! My partner Claud dose a fantastic massage and really helps though.

 

What advice would you give to someone just starting in ultrarunning/adventuring?

Plan nutrition a hydration carefully, for me it makes a big difference for endurance.

 

What is your favourite motto or quote? Why?

It's very cliché but it would be something like "if you can dream it, you can do it"

 

What is the next goal or objective your working on?

There's a big list -

• An America camping road trip with our 4 kids
• Fight a professional Muai Thai Fight
• Taraweera 100km trail run
• UTA 100km trail run
• The Gold Coast Enduro MTB series
• Trail Motorbike trip through the NT
• Get the kids climbing at Kangaroo point