SNIPPET #136

Setting a world record for endurance kayaking is a big accomplishment. For most people it would be enough. But Robyn Benincasa is not most people, and she set that world record after a medical diagnosis signaled the end to 17 years of adventure racing. She’s also finished 10 Ironmans, was part of America’s first full time all female firefighting team, was named CNN Hero of the Year, and now applies her extensive athletic and team building experience to help corporations and individuals achieve their own massive goals – and those are just the highlights of her extraordinary story.

Robyn Benincasa was at the height of her game- literally- when her life changed.

It was Day 3 in Scotland, and Robyn was competing with her team in the world championships of adventure racing. They were climbing Ben Nevis. At 4413 ft above sea level, Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the British Isles. 

Suddenly, Robyn’s left leg went dead. From one stride to the next, her leg completely stopped working. More frustrated than fearful, Robyn focused on doing whatever she had to do to finish that race. 

Her team was counting on her. 

Robyn’s team means everything to her. Whether she is fighting a fire, climbing a mountain, or leading others through their challenges, the team beside her is her priority. 

Her adventure racing team had been to the ends of the earth with Robyn – literally. From high points in Tibet to Borneo jungles to that mountain peak in Scotland, they’d developed a bond and cohesiveness that made them hard to beat.

While other teams designed their strategies around supporting a teammate who is slower in one area than another, Robyn’s team rejected that strategy. Instead they decided, “Let’s not wait for our slowest person. Let’s just not have a slowest person!”

This meant when one team member struggled – be it swimming, climbing, running, whatever – the rest of the 4-5 member team would do whatever necessary to lighten that struggle and help that team member maintain the pace.

Whoever was feeling the strongest at the moment another was feeling the weakest would carry an extra pack. A tow line made from retractable dog leashes was used to literally pull a struggling team mate along.  

No matter what, their team moved as one. If one team member quit the entire team would be disqualified. Neither Robyn nor any of her teammates would ever let themself be the reason their team failed. No matter what, they finished every race.

The key was treating all their strengths collectively, says Robyn. It’s one of the strategies she teaches teams around the country when she speaks at events or is brought in to coach. She also teaches hard-learned lessons on resilience, including how to move beyond devastating events to find a new future.

Robyn Benincasa didn’t know it at the time, but as her teammates practically carried her to the finish line of the race in Scotland, her adventure racing days were ending.