so I want to start off with a question for all of you put up your hand if
for all of you put up your hand if
for all of you put up your hand if there’s something big in your life that
there’s something big in your life that
there’s something big in your life that you’ve been wanting to do but for some
you’ve been wanting to do but for some
you’ve been wanting to do but for some reason you haven’t done it yet come on
reason you haven’t done it yet come on
reason you haven’t done it yet come on now keep your hand up that people have
now keep your hand up that people have
now keep your hand up that people have told you that your idea is crazy and
told you that your idea is crazy and
told you that your idea is crazy and impossible I’m asking you this today
impossible I’m asking you this today
impossible I’m asking you this today because I want to challenge your
because I want to challenge your
because I want to challenge your definition of what’s crazy and
definition of what’s crazy and
definition of what’s crazy and impossible my name is Stephanie case and
impossible my name is Stephanie case and
impossible my name is Stephanie case and I’m a lawyer I specialize in human
I’m a lawyer I specialize in human
I’m a lawyer I specialize in human rights and humanitarian emergencies
rights and humanitarian emergencies
rights and humanitarian emergencies which has taken me to some of the most
which has taken me to some of the most
which has taken me to some of the most difficult places on earth but outside of
difficult places on earth but outside of
difficult places on earth but outside of my professional life I am an ultra
my professional life I am an ultra
my professional life I am an ultra runner which means that I like to run
runner which means that I like to run
runner which means that I like to run distances longer than a marathon whether
distances longer than a marathon whether
distances longer than a marathon whether in the jungle or in the snow or the
in the jungle or in the snow or the
in the jungle or in the snow or the desert the longer and the tougher the
desert the longer and the tougher the
desert the longer and the tougher the trail the better a couple of years ago I
trail the better a couple of years ago I
trail the better a couple of years ago I combine these two passions to create a
combine these two passions to create a
combine these two passions to create a charity called free to run which is an
charity called free to run which is an
charity called free to run which is an organization that provides sports
organization that provides sports
organization that provides sports opportunities for women and girls who’ve
opportunities for women and girls who’ve
opportunities for women and girls who’ve been affected by conflict in places like
been affected by conflict in places like
been affected by conflict in places like Afghanistan now the things that I’m most
Afghanistan now the things that I’m most
Afghanistan now the things that I’m most proud about in life have started out as
proud about in life have started out as
proud about in life have started out as crazy and impossible ideas and I want to
crazy and impossible ideas and I want to
crazy and impossible ideas and I want to tell you about two of those experiences
tell you about two of those experiences
tell you about two of those experiences today – unlikely success stories about
today – unlikely success stories about
today – unlikely success stories about some of the toughest ultra marathons in
some of the toughest ultra marathons in
some of the toughest ultra marathons in the world the first is about nila ferns
the world the first is about nila ferns
the world the first is about nila ferns aina there are two women from
aina there are two women from
aina there are two women from Afghanistan who wanted to become the
Afghanistan who wanted to become the
Afghanistan who wanted to become the first people from their country to
first people from their country to
first people from their country to finish an ultra marathon they signed up
finish an ultra marathon they signed up
finish an ultra marathon they signed up for the 4 deserts Gobi March which is a
for the 4 deserts Gobi March which is a
for the 4 deserts Gobi March which is a 250 kilometer ultra marathon through the
250 kilometer ultra marathon through the
250 kilometer ultra marathon through the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert it goes over six stages so you do about
it goes over six stages so you do about
it goes over six stages so you do about a marathon a day and then a double on
a marathon a day and then a double on
a marathon a day and then a double on day five
and it gets worse you carry about 20
and it gets worse you carry about 20 pounds of gear on your back so you’re
pounds of gear on your back so you’re
pounds of gear on your back so you’re carrying your food your clothes your
carrying your food your clothes your
carrying your food your clothes your sleeping bag everything you need now
sleeping bag everything you need now
sleeping bag everything you need now these women they hadn’t run more than a
these women they hadn’t run more than a
these women they hadn’t run more than a couple of kilometers before outside let
couple of kilometers before outside let
couple of kilometers before outside let alone a marathon or an ultra marathon so
alone a marathon or an ultra marathon so
alone a marathon or an ultra marathon so that’s where free to run came in to
that’s where free to run came in to
that’s where free to run came in to train for this kind of a race in any
train for this kind of a race in any
train for this kind of a race in any country is difficult but to train as
country is difficult but to train as
country is difficult but to train as women in Afghanistan it’s near
women in Afghanistan it’s near
women in Afghanistan it’s near impossible in order to train they had to
impossible in order to train they had to
impossible in order to train they had to get permission from the police to be
get permission from the police to be
get permission from the police to be able to train in a local park they
able to train in a local park they
able to train in a local park they needed male chaperones to be able to go
needed male chaperones to be able to go
needed male chaperones to be able to go out in the mountains on the weekend and
out in the mountains on the weekend and
out in the mountains on the weekend and they had to have private transport to
they had to have private transport to
they had to have private transport to get to and from their training because
get to and from their training because
get to and from their training because if they went on the street they would be
if they went on the street they would be
if they went on the street they would be harassed and sometimes people would
harassed and sometimes people would
harassed and sometimes people would throw stones at them I don’t think
throw stones at them I don’t think
throw stones at them I don’t think anyone actually thought they were going
anyone actually thought they were going
anyone actually thought they were going to make it to the race let alone finish
to make it to the race let alone finish
to make it to the race let alone finish the race they had just six months to get
the race they had just six months to get
the race they had just six months to get ready it’s not that anyone doubted their
ready it’s not that anyone doubted their
ready it’s not that anyone doubted their intentions but what they were trying to
intentions but what they were trying to
intentions but what they were trying to do really did seem impossible well they
do really did seem impossible well they
do really did seem impossible well they showed up on the start line and they
showed up on the start line and they
showed up on the start line and they were convinced they were not only going
were convinced they were not only going
were convinced they were not only going to finish they were going to win it’s
to finish they were going to win it’s
to finish they were going to win it’s called managing expectations
called managing expectations
called managing expectations but you know it didn’t take long before
but you know it didn’t take long before
but you know it didn’t take long before a reality set in the pain the fatigue
a reality set in the pain the fatigue
a reality set in the pain the fatigue the blisters and the weather didn’t help
the blisters and the weather didn’t help
the blisters and the weather didn’t help on the second day we got hit by a
on the second day we got hit by a
on the second day we got hit by a snowstorm
snowstorm
snowstorm which is not something anyone’s
which is not something anyone’s
which is not something anyone’s expecting in the desert and no matter
expecting in the desert and no matter
expecting in the desert and no matter how tough the conditions were though
how tough the conditions were though
how tough the conditions were though they stopped to pray five times a day
they stopped to pray five times a day
they stopped to pray five times a day Shia and Sunni side-by-side let me tell
Shia and Sunni side-by-side let me tell
Shia and Sunni side-by-side let me tell you by the fifth day even I was praying
you by the fifth day even I was praying
you by the fifth day even I was praying it was the long stage the 80 kilometers
it was the long stage the 80 kilometers
it was the long stage the 80 kilometers stage and we were walking at a pace of
stage and we were walking at a pace of
stage and we were walking at a pace of three kilometers an hour which meant
three kilometers an hour which meant
three kilometers an hour which meant that it was going to take us 24 hours to
that it was going to take us 24 hours to
that it was going to take us 24 hours to finish this was my face when Neil Farr
finish this was my face when Neil Farr
finish this was my face when Neil Farr decided she was going to stop drinking
decided she was going to stop drinking
decided she was going to stop drinking water it was fifty degrees Celsius and
water it was fifty degrees Celsius and
water it was fifty degrees Celsius and dehydration was a massive concern we
dehydration was a massive concern we
dehydration was a massive concern we walked all day and into the night and
walked all day and into the night and
walked all day and into the night and when we finally got to the 220 kilometer
when we finally got to the 220 kilometer
when we finally got to the 220 kilometer mark of the whole race Zana decides
mark of the whole race Zana decides
mark of the whole race Zana decides she’s gonna quit she sat down at the
she’s gonna quit she sat down at the
she’s gonna quit she sat down at the checkpoint and took off her running
checkpoint and took off her running
checkpoint and took off her running shoes we couldn’t believe it and nothing
shoes we couldn’t believe it and nothing
shoes we couldn’t believe it and nothing we said could make her get going again
we said could make her get going again
we said could make her get going again and you know at that point I thought
and you know at that point I thought
and you know at that point I thought this was crazy and impossible I think I
this was crazy and impossible I think I
this was crazy and impossible I think I don’t think she’s gonna make it and I
don’t think she’s gonna make it and I
don’t think she’s gonna make it and I gave up on her but no sooner had I given
gave up on her but no sooner had I given
gave up on her but no sooner had I given up did she put her running shoes back on
up did she put her running shoes back on
up did she put her running shoes back on she got up and she walked out of the
she got up and she walked out of the
she got up and she walked out of the tent into the night we walked straight
tent into the night we walked straight
tent into the night we walked straight through until sunrise and this was the
through until sunrise and this was the
through until sunrise and this was the moment when Zainab could see the end and
moment when Zainab could see the end and
moment when Zainab could see the end and she knew that she was going to finish
she knew that she was going to finish
she knew that she was going to finish nila ferns a nod made history as the
nila ferns a nod made history as the
nila ferns a nod made history as the first team from Afghanistan to complete
first team from Afghanistan to complete
first team from Afghanistan to complete an ultra marathon it truly yeah
it really was incredible and it taught
it really was incredible and it taught me that even I wasn’t dreaming big
me that even I wasn’t dreaming big
me that even I wasn’t dreaming big enough that maybe there was more that
enough that maybe there was more that
enough that maybe there was more that was possible out there so I took that
was possible out there so I took that
was possible out there so I took that experience into the biggest challenge of
experience into the biggest challenge of
experience into the biggest challenge of my own life which happened just a few
my own life which happened just a few
my own life which happened just a few weeks ago torta Jeon it gets worse this
weeks ago torta Jeon it gets worse this
weeks ago torta Jeon it gets worse this is a 338 kilometer non-stop race through
is a 338 kilometer non-stop race through
is a 338 kilometer non-stop race through aosta valley in italy competitors have a
aosta valley in italy competitors have a
aosta valley in italy competitors have a hundred and fifty hours to finish which
hundred and fifty hours to finish which
hundred and fifty hours to finish which seems like a lot but not when you
seems like a lot but not when you
seems like a lot but not when you consider the amount of climbing you have
consider the amount of climbing you have
consider the amount of climbing you have to do you have to do twenty four
to do you have to do twenty four
to do you have to do twenty four thousand meters of climbing which is the
thousand meters of climbing which is the
thousand meters of climbing which is the equivalent of going from sea level to
equivalent of going from sea level to
equivalent of going from sea level to the top of Everest and back down two and
the top of Everest and back down two and
the top of Everest and back down two and a half times yeah training for this kind
a half times yeah training for this kind
a half times yeah training for this kind of a race takes years not months and in
of a race takes years not months and in
of a race takes years not months and in the years leading up to the race I’d
the years leading up to the race I’d
the years leading up to the race I’d been living in areas of active conflict
been living in areas of active conflict
been living in areas of active conflict in 2012 I was living in a armed compound
in 2012 I was living in a armed compound
in 2012 I was living in a armed compound in Afghanistan where I would do loops
in Afghanistan where I would do loops
in Afghanistan where I would do loops around the compound walking let alone
around the compound walking let alone
around the compound walking let alone running outside was strictly forbidden
running outside was strictly forbidden
running outside was strictly forbidden and as I was doing my loops I could hear
and as I was doing my loops I could hear
and as I was doing my loops I could hear gunfire sometimes explosions outside in
gunfire sometimes explosions outside in
gunfire sometimes explosions outside in 2014 I was living in a tent in South
2014 I was living in a tent in South
2014 I was living in a tent in South Sudan in a site for internally displaced
Sudan in a site for internally displaced
Sudan in a site for internally displaced people and the physical and mental
people and the physical and mental
people and the physical and mental stresses were so extreme that I
stresses were so extreme that I
stresses were so extreme that I struggled to even get outside of my tent
struggled to even get outside of my tent
struggled to even get outside of my tent in the morning to have a bucket shower
in the morning to have a bucket shower
in the morning to have a bucket shower let alone run 50 kilometers through the
let alone run 50 kilometers through the
let alone run 50 kilometers through the bush and in the two years leading up to
bush and in the two years leading up to
bush and in the two years leading up to the race I was living in Gaza where
the race I was living in Gaza where
the race I was living in Gaza where again I wasn’t allowed to go outside I
again I wasn’t allowed to go outside I
again I wasn’t allowed to go outside I have one advantage in Gaza though over
have one advantage in Gaza though over
have one advantage in Gaza though over the other two places and that was a
the other two places and that was a
the other two places and that was a really amazing training partner Tyrone
really amazing training partner Tyrone
really amazing training partner Tyrone this is Tyrone the tire
and we would do lubes together inside
and we would do lubes together inside the parking lot of the UN compound for
the parking lot of the UN compound for
the parking lot of the UN compound for hours yeah and when when Tyrone got
hours yeah and when when Tyrone got
hours yeah and when when Tyrone got tired I would go inside on the treadmill
tired I would go inside on the treadmill
tired I would go inside on the treadmill where often I would impale myself on the
where often I would impale myself on the
where often I would impale myself on the front of the console when the
front of the console when the
front of the console when the electricity frequently cut out so
electricity frequently cut out so
electricity frequently cut out so needless to say my training was abysmal
needless to say my training was abysmal
needless to say my training was abysmal I really had no business being on that
I really had no business being on that
I really had no business being on that starting line I got to the race and I
starting line I got to the race and I
starting line I got to the race and I had no idea how it was gonna turn out I
had no idea how it was gonna turn out I
had no idea how it was gonna turn out I didn’t know if I was going to finish I
didn’t know if I was going to finish I
didn’t know if I was going to finish I didn’t even know what day I was gonna
didn’t even know what day I was gonna
didn’t even know what day I was gonna finish on but I knew that I was going to
finish on but I knew that I was going to
finish on but I knew that I was going to leave everything out on the trail well I
leave everything out on the trail well I
leave everything out on the trail well I ended up leaving a lot more on the trail
ended up leaving a lot more on the trail
ended up leaving a lot more on the trail than I was expecting because I was
than I was expecting because I was
than I was expecting because I was throwing up for the first 30 kilometers
throwing up for the first 30 kilometers
throwing up for the first 30 kilometers I couldn’t keep anything down if I had
I couldn’t keep anything down if I had
I couldn’t keep anything down if I had to chew anything I would immediately
to chew anything I would immediately
to chew anything I would immediately start dry heaving so in order to get the
start dry heaving so in order to get the
start dry heaving so in order to get the calories in I ended up drinking cups of
calories in I ended up drinking cups of
calories in I ended up drinking cups of olive oil and eating whipped cream yeah
olive oil and eating whipped cream yeah
olive oil and eating whipped cream yeah it’s not as fun as it sounds and beyond
it’s not as fun as it sounds and beyond
it’s not as fun as it sounds and beyond the nausea was the sleep deprivation I
the nausea was the sleep deprivation I
the nausea was the sleep deprivation I was pushing myself so hard that I just
was pushing myself so hard that I just
was pushing myself so hard that I just didn’t want to waste any time sleeping
didn’t want to waste any time sleeping
didn’t want to waste any time sleeping so I went the first hundred and
so I went the first hundred and
so I went the first hundred and seventy-five kilometers without taking a
seventy-five kilometers without taking a
seventy-five kilometers without taking a nap and even at that point I only slept
nap and even at that point I only slept
nap and even at that point I only slept for 80 minutes this is what I like to
for 80 minutes this is what I like to
for 80 minutes this is what I like to call my tour face I did everything to
call my tour face I did everything to
call my tour face I did everything to try to get through I dealt with
try to get through I dealt with
try to get through I dealt with hallucinations I dreamt up imaginary
hallucinations I dreamt up imaginary
hallucinations I dreamt up imaginary friends I sang songs I took song
friends I sang songs I took song
friends I sang songs I took song requests from the animals I mean I was a
requests from the animals I mean I was a
requests from the animals I mean I was a I was a completeness there was one
I was a completeness there was one
I was a completeness there was one moment I was standing in a valley in the
moment I was standing in a valley in the
moment I was standing in a valley in the middle of the night and I had no idea
middle of the night and I had no idea
middle of the night and I had no idea which mountain I just want come down but
which mountain I just want come down but
which mountain I just want come down but I made it to the final ascent something
I made it to the final ascent something
I made it to the final ascent something I’d been thinking about for days and I
I’d been thinking about for days and I
I’d been thinking about for days and I thought I was home free until it started
thought I was home free until it started
thought I was home free until it started snowing and as the ice built up on my
snowing and as the ice built up on my
snowing and as the ice built up on my shoulders I knew that if I stopped even
shoulders I knew that if I stopped even
shoulders I knew that if I stopped even for more than a few seconds I could fall
for more than a few seconds I could fall
for more than a few seconds I could fall asleep and fall off the mountain so I
asleep and fall off the mountain so I
asleep and fall off the mountain so I ended up peeing myself as I was doing
ended up peeing myself as I was doing
ended up peeing myself as I was doing that last ascent it wasn’t really the
that last ascent it wasn’t really the
that last ascent it wasn’t really the glorious finish moment I
but in the end I finished and you know I
but in the end I finished and you know I not only finished I finished in second
not only finished I finished in second
not only finished I finished in second place female
place female
place female [Applause]
I was second place female in 14th
I was second place female in 14th overall out of 750 starters I ran for
I ran for 98 hours and 15 minutes
I ran for 98 hours and 15 minutes straight with just two and a half hours
straight with just two and a half hours
straight with just two and a half hours of sleep it was insane I actually still
of sleep it was insane I actually still
of sleep it was insane I actually still don’t know how it happened nothing about
don’t know how it happened nothing about
don’t know how it happened nothing about it really made sense but you know it
it really made sense but you know it
it really made sense but you know it taught me that we actually have no idea
taught me that we actually have no idea
taught me that we actually have no idea what we are capable of until we try and
what we are capable of until we try and
what we are capable of until we try and these barriers these limitations that we
these barriers these limitations that we
these barriers these limitations that we put on ourselves they’re really in our
put on ourselves they’re really in our
put on ourselves they’re really in our mind
mind
mind once we rican sexualize this notion of
once we rican sexualize this notion of
once we rican sexualize this notion of crazy and impossible then the
crazy and impossible then the
crazy and impossible then the opportunities are really limitless so I
opportunities are really limitless so I
opportunities are really limitless so I want to bring you back to that question
want to bring you back to that question
want to bring you back to that question that I asked you at the beginning that
that I asked you at the beginning that
that I asked you at the beginning that big thing that you want to do well maybe
big thing that you want to do well maybe
big thing that you want to do well maybe it’s time for you maybe it’s time for
it’s time for you maybe it’s time for
it’s time for you maybe it’s time for you to redefine what’s possible in your
you to redefine what’s possible in your
you to redefine what’s possible in your own life and dare to be a bit crazy
own life and dare to be a bit crazy
own life and dare to be a bit crazy maybe it’s time for you to do that big
maybe it’s time for you to do that big
maybe it’s time for you to do that big thing and follow the illogical path to
thing and follow the illogical path to
thing and follow the illogical path to success thank you
”
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