About
Outside: Our Way is an online space for disabled and chronically ill people to shape their own narratives of the outdoor experience. Outdoor disability campaigner Ani Patas will be meeting individuals from across the outdoor sector and disability landscape to share their stories in a series of interviews.
You can find out more here.
For more content follow @Outside_Our_Way on Instagram. Feel free to send me a message if you have a story you’d like to share.
Outside: Our Way is kindly hosted by All The Elements C.I.C
The Practicalities - Dawn’s Way
So my approach is to mix it up by planning a few options for routes and then choosing the one I’m going to do based on how I’m feeling beforehand. In a similar way that I mentioned in my last post that the level and type of training is based on symptoms and what I’m able to do on a given training day, I also am adaptable on where I go.
Training plan - Dawn’s Way
The training for the event can be a bigger challenge when you have a disability than the event itself because it requires a certain level of consistency. I’ve seen plans where they are a week by week run up to the event with the full itinerary of what, when, how far, how long, pace etc. all mapped out.
I need to be more flexible than this. Having a fluctuating condition where I have no idea which weeks will be good or bad means that level of planning only becomes stressful and disappointing.
Outside Dawn’s Way
I’m Dawn and I will be writing a short series of blogs documenting my journey as a disabled adventurer aiming to complete an outdoor challenge; walking across Wales within 24 hours.
Adventure and challenge isn’t something I’m new to, but, it is the first one since being diagnosed with a vestibular condition.
Outside Thea’s Way
Thea is a Dutch Canadian who has found their way to Scotland and has lived in the UK for most of the last eight years. But unlike others I have written about, Thea is undiagnosed. She often goes wild swimming, and enjoys climbing, walking and wild camping.
Outside Frans’ Way
Francesca Turauskis (she/her) is a freelance Podcast Producer and writer for Pod Bible magazine. She enjoys the outdoors through hiking and trail running. In 2015 Fran was diagnosed with epilepsy and has since been an advocate for doing outdoor sport with epilepsy.
Outside: Firris’ Way
Firri is a Muslim outdoor enthusiast with Endometriosis. She is a teacher in Ashton and also works with the Lindley Educational Trust helping young people from Aston enjoy the outdoors. Most recently she was a leader in the Lindley Trusts Winter Skills Course in Scotland.
Turas Alba
36 year old hand cyclist, Neil Russell, will embark on a trip for 36 days where he will ride through the Scottish islands. His only goals are to enjoy himself, and to inspire other adaptive riders to have their own adventures.
Outside: Yasmins Way Pt.2
Yasmin is a 27 year old Paraclimber. She is diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This is part two of her story.
Outside: Yasmins’ way
Yasmin is a 27 year old Paraclimber. She is diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Her symptoms consist of hypermobility leading to injuries, poor propioception leading to injuries, fatigue and more.
Boundaries
I’ve been beating myself up for not keeping top of the social media or posting an interview I finished writing weeks ago. I felt like I’d not done the goal of this page justice and fallen at the first hurdle. I was worried people who had spent time and effort supporting me would think it was all for nothing.
United We Climb
I went outdoor bouldering with United We Climb. United We Climb is a group aiming to create new experiences and opportunities designed specifically for, and with, people currently underrepresented and under-served in climbing and the outdoors
Outside Ani’s way
My name is Ani Patas. I am chronically ill and have a hidden disability. My diagnoses are Lupus, Fibromyalgia and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. My outdoor experience started at a young age and was always something my Mum encouraged. I’m fortunate enough to have a parent who wanted me to enjoy the outdoors and sports.
About Outside: Our Way
My name is Ani. I have multiple chronic illnesses and I am disabled. That probably brings an image to your mind of what it means to be ‘disabled’, But when you look up the definition of ‘disability’ you’ll find various ways you can categorise it - as well as plenty of opinions about what it means to be disabled.