Interview with Recruit 7 - Lauren

6 May 2021

Lauren

Recruit: 7

Age: 31

Profession: Sport and Fitness Channel Manager

Hometown/Region: St Helens, Cheshire

Background

Lauren was brought up by her mum with the mindset that she should never let anyone put her in a position of feeling fear and that she should control each situation.

Lauren has always been sporty and her childhood and teenage years were dictated by her sporting schedule. She competed nationally and internationally in netball, hockey, golf, rounders, and football. At 16 she was awarded the National Young Sportswoman award. Her Mum lived by the motto – ‘You go to win. If you don’t win, there’s no point going.’ At 17, Lauren came out as gay and at the time felt she had to fit into a mould in order to be gay. For the next five years, she replaced training with partying, socializing and working, causing huge arguments within her family who couldn’t understand why she was “being someone else” as she had so much potential. 

Lauren’s biggest regret was giving up her sporting career because of the potential she had. At 23 she realized that she could be herself and be gay.  She didn’t have to sacrifice one for the other and so she re-ignited her love for sport again and shifted her priorities to what they once were. This is part of her motivation for doing the course – to prove that she truly is one of the fittest women in the UK.

 

Tell me about your experience on SAS: Who Dares Wins? 

It was amazing! It was everything I thought it would be and more. I told myself I had give it everything. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I didn't want to regret anything so I was all in, fully committed to the experience. The series was so authentic and real -  it was definitely an eye-opener to me as a civilian.

 

Did you find it difficult? Was it more difficult than you expected?

The series was very difficult and intense.  The idea I had of the course and the reality of it were two very different things. Everything has a reason, a purpose and a learning curve. The course consumed my brain and my body. It’s strange to think that I actually had to turn off my brain to anything else other than the voice of the Directing Staff and just process every challenge on the series because it took that much energy and focus to complete the tasks.

 

You experienced a chemical warfare attack as part of the series. This is the first time this has happened on SAS: Who Dares Wins.  How did you find that?

The chemical warfare attack was one of the worst experiences I have had in my life. The idea of what might happen during an exposure to the gas compared to the reality of what happens when your body is exposed to the gas was a SHOCK. This was the only task I would happily never want to experience again.

 

Have you ever done anything like this before?

Never

 

What made you sign up?

I enjoy a challenge and wanted to see if my life experience, training and my ability to apply to myself could be shaken. I have always had people behind me telling me I can do anything, so I wanted to see if I could.

 

What training did you do in preparation for this course?

I have trained regularly 5-6 days a week for the past ten years @ CrossFit. Competitively for six years and I felt this type of training prepared me for all scenarios both mentally and physically.

 

Now that you have this experience, would you like to join the real Special Forces?

After being part of this experience, a younger me would have loved to have had the opportunity join the Special Forces.

 

What was the best part of the series for you?

The best part of the series for me was after being screamed at, fatigued, bruised and numb. I was able to complete tasks that I never thought possible because of how the staff taught me to think. In the beginning you think they are just shouting at you. But everything has a meaning and a reason - you start to realise this as you succeed at challenges. That was the best part of the series for me.

 

What is your biggest fear and has this experience helped you get over that fear?

Being terrified of open water and the dark has previously stopped me from completing anything that might involve them. Being on the show allowed me to come face to face with my irrational fears and realise that if i focus my mind and block out all the noise I don’t have the fear, I have the fight.

 

Do you think you found it harder than the male recruits?

I don't think I found it harder than the men. I’ve trained in a male dominated environment for a long time and I expect to be treated the same.  But on the series the women definitely have more to overcome - the DS expect the same from both the men and women. NO EXCEPTIONS. Those bergens got pretty heavy!

 

You had to share all your space with men for the whole time you were there, including sleeping and toilets. How did you find that?

The male/ female recruits sharing rooms, toilets, sleeping didn't even cross my mind… We were all a number not a sex and I enjoyed everyone being treated exactly the same.

 

Would you ever do it again?

I would love to do it again. It was a brilliant experience and I left nothing behind on that show.

 

What do you think you’ve learnt about yourself?

As much as I thrive in life and work, admittedly I would avoid anything that would be out of my control. I enjoy control to the point where it could stop me from being more than I am. But during the series, when I let control go and faced extreme circumstances, I was able to access skills I didn't know I had.

 

Has being on the series changed your life in anyway?

I understand who I am and what I want. The series has given me the best gift - it highlighted skills, allowed me to nurture them and it has given me more skills that I now use to do the best I can in life.