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One
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  • Back to the team

Melissa Smith

37 YO
Captain
Santa Cruz, CA
Merits
→ Thru Hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, 2,663 miles (4285km) from Mexico to Canada
→ Bicycled 6,000 miles (9,650km) down the continent of South America
→ Bicycled 2,100 miles (3,380km) from Seattle to Alaska
→ Paddled the Arctic fjords of Norway
→ 3rd place age group finisher American River 50 mile endurance run
→ Lake Tahoe 2013 Full Ironman
Merits
→ Thru Hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, 2,663 miles (4285km) from Mexico to Canada
→ Bicycled 6,000 miles (9,650km) down the continent of South America
→ Bicycled 2,100 miles (3,380km) from Seattle to Alaska
→ Paddled the Arctic fjords of Norway
→ 3rd place age group finisher American River 50 mile endurance run
→ Lake Tahoe 2013 Full Ironman

Q&A

– Why do you want to participate in One Water Race?

My husband (Justin Smith) and I have competed in endurance challenges for over ten years together before having our child, Meru. After a five-day labor that ended in an abrupt emergency c-section, where both my life and my daughter's life were at risk, I deeply struggled with postpartum depression and an overwhelming sense of failure. In 2019, I was left to solo parent our daughter in Fiji while my husband competed in EcoChallenge World's Toughest Race, a race I was supposed to be a part of but had to step down from the team due to pregnancy. Without seeing it at the time, this was the biggest endurance challenge of my career yet, overcoming the physical hardships and mental battles of postpartum life while reconnecting with myself in the midst of being a mother. I watched my husband continue to live the life we shared prior to a child while I battled to just get through day to day life. When my husband let me know about One Water Race, he said that the team needed a navigator & captain and he didn't know anyone more perfect for the job than me. Orienteering is a strong passion of mine - If anything I know I'm not ever physically lost with a keen sense of direction. I took the leap and decided to re-enter into the endurance world and I am so excited to be back. This role also intrigues me from the technical side of it. In many endurance races, I have just had to ignore the mind, and go into a state of rhythmic movement, constantly expanding what I know to be possible physically. In this case, I will be pushing myself to stay present even on the brink of exhaustion while also constantly being proactive to support this epic team of individuals to get to that lighthouse.

– Have you taken a similar challenge before?

I have been in many endurance challenges before but none like this one where water is constantly entered/exited & I am the support crew position.

– What are your strengths?

My mental toughness is my greatest strength. Quitting is never an option. I can exit the monkey mind and just get.it.done. when it's go-time.

– What are your weaknesses?

My greatest weakness is second guessing my strength and abilities. I call them gremlins in your mind that tell you that you are not enough.

– What will be your biggest challenge?

I have concerns about sea sickness on the boat - especially when I lose the horizon at night. The other challenge will be keeping my teammates warm and fueled in this challenging colder environment.

– Have you been to the Stockholm archipelago?

I only explored a little bit of Stockholm as we prepared to sea kayak in Norway.

– What do you know/think about the terrain?

I love it! A playground for adults.

– What are you most looking forward to?

Watching Team 7 hug that lighthouse as well as kissing my incredible husband at the finish line. He is such an inspiration that anything is possible.

Follow us on Instagram

Happy to give you a proper introduction to TEAM 1 Happy to give you a proper introduction to TEAM 1 - SWEDEN 🇸🇪

👉 View the full video on https://onewaterrace.com/teams/team-1-sweden/

Unknown terrain. Unplanned obstacles. Unexpected tests of will. Our teams will face them all in the #ultimateproofofhumancapacity

#onewaterrace #onewaterfoundation #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #headswimming #extremesports #extremeathletes #endurance #race2023 #OWR23 #teams #swimming #running #navigation #nonstop
"Shit" #glimpses #OWR22 #ultimateproofofhumancapa "Shit"
#glimpses #OWR22

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #extremesports #extremeatlethes
👥 OWR Crew 👋 Meet Patrik 👉 Head of Logis 👥 OWR Crew

👋 Meet Patrik
👉 Head of Logistics

This is Patrik, head of logistics, from our partner Safety and Navigationsgruppen, who made the impossible logistic out it the archipelago, possible and surprisingly smooth! He oversaw the logistics and rotations for our safety boat skippers. Making sure they got out to the right place, with the right equipment, at the right time. Since the skippers need rest to maintain safety, each team's designated safety boat was crewed by two skippers working back-to-back in shifts, and Patrik made sure to maintain the crucial crew rotations around the clock. In between rotations, he resolved logistics around our media runners, photographers, and anything else that needed to be solved at short notice.

“I have spent many hours boating in the dark, but seeing the Landsort lighthouse illuminated in blue is something neither I nor anyone else has seen before, it was powerful to see. I can only imagine the competitors who, from far away, could suddenly see the finish line as they were swimming through the pitch-black August night.” 

Read more about Patrik on: https://onewaterrace.com/meet-patrik-head-of-logistics/

Interested to join our crew? Just send us a DM.

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #racecrew #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #race2023 #extremesports
👥 OWR Crew 👋 Meet Nina 👉 Safety & Media 👥 OWR Crew

👋 Meet Nina
👉 Safety & Media Runner

Meet Nina – one of our nine impressive runners, assigned to run with the teams and film their adventure. With only a couple of small breaks she was running with the teams for over 60 hours, all the way to the finish line at Landsort. With a GoPro camera at the ready she filmed the assigned team’s conversations, injuries and anything else that could be interesting. She also had constant contact with the race HQ to communicate in advance how the team was doing, where they were heading, if there was any safety issues and their general status to progress in the competition.

“It was incredibly memorable to take part in 60 hours of adventure and see all the work behind it. And to be a part of the team's experience, which is everything from arguments, laughter, high to low conversations, hugs, encouragement and sometimes the misery of injuries, extreme tiredness, and abandonment... You got to experience so much just by running with a camera and filming, which I will always take with me”

Interested to join our crew? Just send us a DM.

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #racecrew #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #race2023 #extremesports
"Obviously, it's pretty cold" #glimpses #OWR22 #u "Obviously, it's pretty cold"
#glimpses #OWR22

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #extremesports #extremeatlethes
👥 OWR Crew 👋 Meet Lollo 👉 Team Leader of 👥 OWR Crew

👋 Meet Lollo
👉 Team Leader of the Communication Center

Lollo – The sunshine below deck onboard the OWR HQ, the ship Briggen Tre Kronor! Always with a smile on her face, she tackled the most challenging situations as the team leader for the communication center, where they coordinated all communications between the different crew teams and race management during the competition, day and night, using radio and GPs tracking systems.

“Our most difficult challenge in the Communications Center was remembering to eat and take breaks. Since the race was non-stop, there was always something to coordinate and prepare. As the race management would hand out new maps at each new stage, it became untenable in the end as the leading team was many miles ahead of the slowest team. I made the decision to go out to a checkpoint myself to hand out maps to some of the teams during my planned break. It was fantastic to get out on the race track for real! The excitement of waiting for these outstanding athletes and then watching their tactics as the new stages was planned. Unbelievable!”

Read the full article about Lollo here https://onewaterrace.com/meet-lollo-team-leader-communication-center/

Interested to join our crew? Just send us a DM.

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #racecrew #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #race2023 #extremesports
"I feel fantastic!" #glimpses #OWR22 #ultimatepro "I feel fantastic!"
#glimpses #OWR22

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #extremesports #extremeatlethes
👥 OWR Crew 👋 Meet Pehr 👉 Head of Safety 👥 OWR Crew

👋 Meet Pehr
👉 Head of Safety

This is Pehr, our Head of Safety. During the race he will lead the safety organization from the race headquarters, Briggen Tre kronor, where he will monitor the progress of the participating teams and the approx. 80 pax strong organization to make sure they all feel safe during the event. As a senior project manager and with many years of experience in organizing and participating in various races, he knows that the biggest part of his work, is to be able to solve situations that arise in the moment. Weather and wind and other external factors that quickly change the situation are the biggest challenges. The passion for the competition, the people, the collaboration, and the beautiful unforgettable moments is the reason why he returns year after year. We are very happy that he does and look forward to a new – safe – adventure together with Pehr in August!

Read the full article about our incredibly committed, Head of Safety-Pehr on https://onewaterrace.com/meet-pehr-head-of-safety/

Interested to join our crew? Just send us a DM.

#ultimateproofofhumancapacity #onewater #onewaterrace #racecrew #onewaterfoundation #running #swimming #fortheoceans #stockholmarchipelago #endurance #race2023 #extremesportsturkey
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