Warren Mauger and Philip Smith: Five things we'd change about Guernsey

Friday 06 July 2018

Warren Mauger and Philip Smith joined forces a few years ago to run seven marathons in seven days as part of their first 'epic challenge', since then they've inspired hundreds of other people to challenge themselves for personal fulfilment and to raise money for charity.

Currently on day five of their second annual 'My Epic Week' the pair are supporting others in their own challenges having put themselves to the test 12 months ago with their efforts to complete seven ironman triathlons in seven days.

Pictured l-r: Philip Smith and Warren Mauger during their seven ironman triathlons in seven days challenge in July 2017

Previously they've also run on treadmills for 48 hours and have individually completed half marathons, marathons and ultra marathons.

Their real passion however, is encouraging others to challenge themselves, while raising money for charities including the one launched by Philip's wife's family, This Is Epic, which supports families in developing countries by enabling them to set up village saving schemes.

Despite the pair of them being epic-ly busy this week, they found the time to share with us the five things they'd change about Guernsey:

1) A greater ambition 

Sometimes Guernsey can lack ambition, we sometimes see that settling for average is safe and the achievable option. The one problem is where you set low goals no one will complain if they are not met. What we have learnt over the last four years is that putting stretch goals in place, challenges that do come with a chance of failure, will drive you forward to achieve more than you ever thought you could.

Safe is sometimes needed, but we regularly see the fear of failure cripple us as an island. We're a small community which unfortunately means failures are often visible, but we need to get better at celebrating trying and ambition, rather than knocking down people for failing. 

Pictured: Some of the people the Epic Challenges pair have inspired to set new ambitions completed the Epic Moonlight Marathon earlier this year 

2) A new system of government 

The current model for government isn't exactly ideal breeding ground for progress, positivity and change. We need a system of government where people are empowered to implement change properly. At the moment public service feels more about personal agendas and bickering than it does a representation to deliver the best for the Guernsey community. 

3) Promote the island as a destination for sports and activity 

Sports tourism is the fastest growing area of the tourism industry and whilst we may not have world leading sports stadiums we do have beautiful natural resources/facilities that we can make more of. The same is true of our island's cultural events, that provide a draw for the island and send visitors away saying what a great place it is.

We believe this should be a critical part of the promotion of the island.

Pictured: The Super League Triathlon is being held in Jersey again, helping to promote the island through sports tourism

4) To lead the way with health and wellbeing 

Obesity in adults and children is a time bomb.

We have an opportunity as an island to get people more active and healthier, to use physical activity in schools, in the workplace and in our healthcare system as a tool and process for improving the physical and mental health of everyone in our community.

Guernsey could be a global leader in this and the long term benefits for saving the healthcare system huge sums and improving everyones health and productivity make it a no brainer. well for us at least.

Pictured: File image

5) Be kind to ourselves 

Individually we all need to be nicer to ourselves and celebrate what we are good at not focus on what we don't do so well.

We often talk to children in schools and businesses about ignoring the negative voices, those are external and internal, we need to avoid people who have a negative influence on us and stop them reinforcing the voices in our heads telling us we are not good enough. 

Pictured: Warren Mauger and Philip Smith at Castel Primary School

To follow the Epic Challenges team head to their Facebook page or website.