Elise Downing
The First Woman to Run Self-supported
around The Coast Of Britain
Elise Downing is an ultra runner, bestselling author and experienced keynote speaker. She is best known for is being the first woman to run self-supported around the coast of Britain. Running over 5,000 miles spanning the course of ten months, she covered up to 40 miles per day carrying all her kit on her back.
It's almost impossible to overstate just how unqualified Elise was for this adventure but by dreaming big, starting slowly and accepting the support of the hundreds of strangers she met along the way,
Elise was successful against the odds. Since then, she has clocked up thousands more miles on foot in challenging environments. And it's these experiences that she uses to illustrate the key concepts contained in her talks.
Elise's best-selling book, Coasting, was published in 2021 and named by The Times as one of The Best Sports Books of the year. The highly relatable account of her adventure aims to show that you don't have to be the most talented person to succeed - you just have to be the one who dares to have a go.
Elise is a long-term ambassador of The North Face UK with an engaged online following.
Whether you're looking for an entertaining after dinner speaker or somebody to inspire the audience at your next corporate event then Elise Downing is the perfect choice for you. Known for the understated, humorous and down to earth way in which she tells her story, Elise will bring to life ideas around growth mindset, resilience and high performance using stories from her endurance sport adventures, whilst also drawing on the expertise she has gained from delivering leadership training to businesses all over the world.
Delegates will walk away both entertained and motivated, armed with practical techniques to achieve more themselves. Past clients have included KPMG, Modern Synthesis, Pfizer, HelloFresh, Kendal Mountain Festival and the National Running Show alongside countless more adventure festivals, schools and businesses.
Elise's audiences range from intimate workshop attendees to large auditoriums filled with more than 1,000 people. Elise will tailor her talk to your organisation's specific needs and ensures every brief is met with her meticulous pre-event planning. Sample topics Growth mindset and dreaming big Whether it's running an ultramarathon or striving towards an ambitious business goal, the first step is daring to believe that it might be possible.
In Elise's own words 'There are thousands of better runners than me out there - the only reason I managed to be the first woman to run around the coast of Britain is because I dreamed big enough to make it to the start line'. Using real-life examples, Elise will share practical tips for developing a growth mindset and believing in your own potential.
