A First Hand Account of Camp Kaizen - By Olivia Hartley

Interested in learning what life on camp is actually like? Read on to find out as Liv recalls her experience from a 2025 camp.

Being part of the first major Camp Kaizen felt like something properly special, and this was something that I think everyone on the camp felt. There was this amazing energy from everyone, not only because we were in one of the most beautiful places in the UK, but also because of what it meant to all of us to be taking part in such an adventure. The journey up to the lakes was long, but somehow we arrived full of adrenaline, probably a mix of nerves about meeting a bunch of new people, and because we knew we were about to really push ourselves, both physically and mentally. The weekend involved the three core elements of Camp Kaizen; train, hike and recover (cold water swim).

Train

The ice-breaker on day one was a Hyrox style EMOM (every minute on the minute) workout which I'd actually never done in my life. This involved a circuit of ergo, burpees, echo bike and crunches, and I absolutely died. Saying that, it was so much fun and everyone was encouraging each other. We built an instant team spirit, even though we’d only known each other for approximately ten minutes.

After the first workout on day one, we had a quick group photo with our shiny new Kaizen tops, then headed off to the accommodation. The evening was pretty chill, a great BBQ was laid on and everyone was able to load up in preparation for the big day ahead. Night one drew to a close and you could feel the anticipation building for day two.

Day two brought an 8km trail run. The route wound down to Wast Water Lake and up to a ridge where the views were outstanding in all directions. There was something incredibly peaceful about the silence of the lakes on that run, broken only by the sound of trainers hitting the ground and the occasional chatter from my fellow camp mates. We did take a wrong turn and ended up on some slightly muddier paths than anticipated, but we arrived back to camp on such a high.

Swim

The early morning swims were a non-negotiable on camp, and we headed to Wast Water Lake to submerge ourselves in the very cold water for five brutal minutes. If the views from our site weren't dramatic enough, the setting of the swim was absolutely incredible. The lake was vast and it stretched out far off into the distance all the way to the foot of Scafell Pike.

The walks down to the lake gave everyone a chance to get to know other camp members a bit better. Finding out why others had signed up was honestly one of the best parts of the experience. Some were there because of their love for the outdoors, a few were training for competitions or events, and others just lived and breathed fitness.

The journey back to camp after the swims was somewhat less brilliant, as we were all craving some warmth. Getting back to camp after the swim, more food and cups of tea to warm up was the best feeling ever.

The Sunday morning was actually lovely as the weather had broken and we hadn’t rocked up to the lake already soggy. The air was crisp and clear and, despite having pushed ourselves the day before, we were all excited to get up and out. There was a sense of calm about the morning, I don't know if it was the sunrise across the lake, or the atmosphere amongst the camp members, but the energy was high as we got ready for our second cold plunge.

Hike

The afternoon hike on day two was about 10k, and we did not see another soul the entire time. It started with walking straight up a pretty much vertical slope, but the sense of achievement when we reached the top of Middle Fell was unbelievable, stopping for a mandatory group photo of course. The hike was an awesome way to get to know some camp mates you hadn't spoken to, and after the morning's activities we all felt quite bonded, despite having known each other for less than 24 hours.

The evening after the hike arrived with a surprise visit from a pizza van which hit the spot; a fantastic welcome to some very hungry people. Topped off with a pint at the local, we were all ready to hit the hay.

I left this weekend feeling incredibly inspired, exhausted and ready for the next adventure.

OH