Colin O’Brady is known for moving fast and far over the most harrowing terrain on the planet. As an explorer and endurance athlete he has set ten world records, including becoming the first person to cross Antarctica solo and unassisted. Which is why his new book, The 12-Hour Walk, might come as a surprising change of pace. The man who holds the speed record for summiting the highest point in all 50 US states is advocating for the life-changing power of a very long stroll?
O’Brady, a longtime meditator, knows full well how meaningful it can be to engage in contemplative action. After all, the balance required to stay calm when navigating a perilous river crossing, the resilience we call upon when one more step—let alone one more mile—feels impossible, and the embodied presence we discover when waiting out an afternoon thunderstorm in the wild, can all be cultivated on the meditation cushion. Mindfulness and nature have a mutually informative relationship that can enrich and embolden our engagement with the outdoors.
In order to find out more about how an intentional commitment to such an endeavor can challenge and inspire the explorer in all of us, we caught up with O’Brady to find out more.