South Wales Firefighters Prepare for Seven-Day Marathon Challenge

Georgina Gilbert and Rebecca Openshaw-Rowe, both full-time firefighters from south Wales, are preparing for an extraordinary challenge: running seven marathons over seven consecutive days. For these two individuals, the demanding feat is intensified by their intention to complete each race while wearing full fire kit. This endeavor follows their return just 11 months prior from an expedition where they pioneered a new route across the South Pole. That journey involved a strenuous 53-day ski across the Antarctic, stretching from the Union Glacier to Constellation Inlet. During their Antarctic journey, the duo encountered numerous difficulties, including Gilbert contending with an injury. Despite these challenges, they were driven by their stated mission to “change the narrative of what it means to be a girl,” successfully concluding the expedition in January 2024. Openshaw-Rowe, an ex-Wales rugby international, shared with BBC Sport Wales, “We’re just real normal women and yes, we’re doing all these crazy things, but we’re just trying to be great role models for women and girls.” She added, “It’s amazing how far you can push your body when you’ve got this big ultimate goal to go, and I think the mind is so strong.” Gilbert commented, “I actually scare myself sometimes, how much I am willing to put myself through. We risked our lives to prove our point.” One might expect the pair to rest after their previous ordeal. Openshaw-Rowe lightheartedly remarked, “After we got back from Antarctica we said we are never doing anything like this again, we are just going to chill out on the sofa.” However, only three weeks later, The Great World race was advertised on social media, prompting their decision to enter. Following their South Pole expedition, Gilbert and Openshaw-Rowe were seen flying the Welsh flag. This upcoming adventure will diverge from their previous one, as the women will not be competing together but from separate locations, though their core message remains consistent. Openshaw-Rowe, despite never having completed a full marathon previously, will undertake her races globally, commencing in Antarctica, then proceeding to Cape Town, Perth, Istanbul, Cartagena, and concluding in Miami. Gilbert will cover the equivalent distances within the UK, beginning at Carmarthen velodrome, followed by Porthcawl, Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester, and Oxford, before her final segment in Southampton. The choice to compete individually was attributed to fundraising challenges, with Gilbert stating, “We have got enough for one, but not enough for two.” Openshaw-Rowe commented, “It has been a little bit of a mindset change for me… going on my own around the world, because obviously we always thought we’d be going together.” Gilbert and Openshaw-Rowe serve as Ambassadors for 2Wish, UK Fire Cadets, and Girl Guiding. The women have been preparing for their extensive 183.5-mile run, which they will undertake in full fire kit. Openshaw-Rowe mentioned receiving considerable support in Porthcawl, humorously adding, “People have looked at me going, ‘where’s the fire?’,” Possessing over 30 years of combined experience in the fire service, the pair are familiar with the challenges faced by women in predominantly male professions. Explaining the rationale behind running the marathons in full kit, Gilbert stated, “It was never about making it harder, it was purely about the visibility. It’s to raise the profile of female firefighters and challenge stereotypes.” Openshaw-Rowe expressed her hope to connect with firefighters in Miami prior to her final race, aiming for their support at the finish line. Their seven marathons are scheduled to commence on Friday, 15 November.