EXCLUSIVE: Spencer Matthews has just completed his latest endurance challenge as he climbed Mount Snowdon six times within 24 hours and has major personal news as his wife is expecting 4th child
Spencer Matthews has just completed on a “really dangerous” challenge that saw him climb and descend Mount Snowdon six times within 24 hours. He has become known for taking on incredible endurance challenges and currently holds three Guinness World Records, but the star says there is one challenge he wouldn’t undertake.
“I think with three kids and the fourth on the way, whenever I undertake a challenge, I’d like to control everything that we possibly can in terms of risk and danger, and you immediately lose your ability to do that when you look at something like an Everest.
“That’s not to say that I would love to stand at the top of the highest peak in the world, my nature would suggest that I would enjoy something like that, but I think it might be a difficult time for my family, were I to choose to do something as selfish as that,” he told The Mirror.
Spencer’s brother Michael became the youngest person to climb Everest in 1999 at the age of 22, but tragically never made it home from the climb.
“I would see climbing Everest in my position as being somewhat selfish, just because of the anxiety and stress that it would cause, you know, my parents, in particular, and my brother, and you know, just because of what our family has gone through already with regard to that mountain.”
He clarified: “I think that challenges generally are wonderful, exciting, and excellent things to put yourself through. I don’t see challenges themselves as selfish.”
Spencer emphasised that he has never felt there was a “real chance of death” in any of his challenges, and would never want to put his family in that position, admitting that there have been times in South Africa and on his 30 marathon desert challenge when he came close to real danger.
“Obviously I think about my kids when things get really difficult, you know, I haven’t felt like there was a real chance of death in any of them,” he said. “I have been very close to the edge many times, but I wouldn’t do something like that on my own given that I now have the responsibility of children, my wife, my best friend, obviously not approaching new challenges in any kind of way, where I would obviously be keen come home.”
The former Made In Chelsea star added that he believes he is a “better husband” to his wife Vogue Williams, because of his various endurance challenges: “It makes me a better husband, a better father, keeps me on track, and eliminates kind of darker, more toxic sides of my life that I spent many years in.
“So I cannot advise – I think everybody should test themselves. Everyone should push themselves. Everyone should enjoy the challenge and undertake a goal I don’t see that as selfish at all. In fact, I think it makes people better.”
When it comes to some of the criticism aimed at men who partake in lengthy endurance challenges such as marathons, Spencer argued that the charitable support that comes with the endeavour creates a “net positive”.
“I think there’s many different ways of looking at it. You could look at it and say, ‘well, you know, you’re not around your kids’, my kids are in school, Vogue works full time, does her own stuff, I think it’s to their own, really. But the net of these challenges is positive.”
Among his endurance challenges, the star is also attempting to run a marathon in 2hours and 45 minutes. He claims this challenge has now helped him to be in the best shape of his life.
“It’s a way of living a better life for me, but I work well with goals in business and in my personal life, and with running now, every every run serves a purpose. It’s all part of a bigger plan, and it’s kind of…I’m feeling fit too, probably fitter than I’ve ever felt in my home in my life.”
He added that he may adjust the time goal, but for now feels amazing: “I’m obsessed with it. I just love it. You know, this pursuit of just getting better is what I’m loving more than the potential result.”
Spencer took on his latest challenge at Snowdon with assistance from O2 satellite, the UK’s first and only satellite-to-mobile service which means that people can stay connected even in very remote parts of the world.
Spencer said that this collaboration added extra safety to the challenge: “Attempting something like this without a connection, despite it maybe seeming fine because you know the team was rotating, you’re always with someone, but you never know at the end of the day. 20-four hour challenges, of course, go through the night, and it just gave us the extra confidence to be able to safely appreciate the challenge.”
“I think lack of connectivity is inherently dangerous,” he added. “We undertook this together with a bit of a team. I got to spend time with the project 730 and 30 boys, so perhaps not the most dangerous undertaking that we have faced, but a lot of people love exploring, and you hear stories of people exploring and going missing, don’t you? Throughout the year, unfortunately, these things happen.
“Parts of Snowden are quite technical and very steep and slippery, and you know, I think at the end of the day, having a strong connection, getting able to communicate with people at the base, or back at home, or, you know, an emergency service, is it? is, is something that everyone should have. I would expect now that this service is in play, that perhaps more people might go for those longer, more adventurous walks, challenges, however you like to see it.”
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