180km, 15,000m, and a 70% Dropout Rate: What the GR20 Taught Our Founder About Training
Rob Blair, founder of the Commando Temple and a qualified Mountain Leader, recently completed the GR20 in Corsica — widely considered one of the toughest multi-day hikes in Europe. Between 12,000 and 15,000 metres of elevation gain, roughly one and a half times the height of Everest, over 180km of technical, often dangerous terrain. Some analysts put the dropout rate as high as 70%.
Here’s what he took from it, in his own words.
Why do this at all
“As a father to two beautiful children — a 6-year-old girl and an 8-month-old boy — my wife and I discussed me leading this challenge before we even intended to have a second child. He was planned,” Rob says. “The time I spend away from my family has to be ‘worth’ the build-up, the financial outlay, the toll on the body. This seemed to tick a few boxes, so I scratched the itch.”
There’s a harder edge underneath that. “I believe we will return to the earth. Before that happens, I want to explore, test, remodel my ability to endure — to shape out a new understanding of my capacity. Some of this is based on suffering.
Other elements are based around reflecting, developing myself for the future life.”
Less training, better prepared
Ask most people how to get ready for 180km of mountain terrain and they’ll tell you to train harder. Rob did the opposite.
“I learned a major lesson on this trip. Once you have a significant grounding in the basics and move pain-free, you do not need to thrash yourself with endless training protocols. I trained far less for this mini expedition and felt incredibly well prepared — started fresh, no fatigue, focused.”
It’s the same principle behind how the Commando Temple’s military conditioning training is built: not volume for its own sake, but a solid foundation — mobility, strength, movement quality — that lets you perform when it actually counts, without arriving burnt out.
A day on the GR20
“A typical morning: wake between 0430 and 0600, depending on the day’s intensity and weather. Food was a combination of terrible pre-packaged stuff from the local mountain huts — crap bread, a biscuit or two, jam, no butter, a small pot of fruit if you killed the right person.
“Filter water. Drink two litres before walking, carry three litres minimum. Walk for 8 to 14 hours, distance dependent. Arrive at the next location, check with the group what’s fallen off the body, what needs addressing. Eat, drink, sleep, repeat.”
The moment that hit hardest
Not the terrain. Not the fatigue.
“We had reception sporadically throughout the trip — that was expected. Around day 8, my wife texted me, somewhere in the ether of data accessibility, to say she was almost arrested and that she’d tell me about it later. I had no reception to make a call. It highlighted the frail nature of my position to support my loved ones.”
Wanting to go faster, not slower
“At no point did I want to stop or slow down. I wanted to speed up and double some of the days. That was only made possible when we lost one member of our group, which allowed a faster pace. The plan was always to do the event a specific way — once in it, I wanted to accelerate. I could only do that with 100% agreement from the group as a whole.”
Outdoor Photography
Two moments that stayed with him
“A young family was running down the side of Monte Cinto, one of the highest points we reached, a big mountain, technical scree, slippy underfoot. A mum running with her two daughters, around 7 and 9, both tethered together for safety in case one slipped. They looked happy, healthy, loving their time together and the energy it gave them. I had dusty eyes watching them, missing my family — especially my 6-year-old daughter.
“On the same ascent, a very old couple were heading down as we climbed. Late 70s, maybe 80. Amazing balance. Beautiful hair. Faces free from modern living and stress. A couple of unicorn moments I’ll remember for a long time.”
What it means for the Temple
The trip didn’t change what Rob tries to pass on to the people he trains. If anything, it confirmed it. “Live life fully, with an open heart and a strong sense of adventure.”
His view on taking on a challenge like this — whether it’s a Corsican mountain range or your first military conditioning class — is the same:
“Challenges are just that. They should feel slightly intimidating. Feeling a bit of anxiety and trepidation can be an incredible motivational tool. If you choose mediocre challenges, expect mediocre improvement. The version of ourselves we dream of becoming is often a moving target. We have to be satisfied that we’re always growing — grow with purpose.”
Train with purpose. Rob’s approach to the GR20 — solid foundations over endless volume, discipline over comfort — is the same approach behind the Commando Temple’s military conditioning and military fitness training. If you’re ready for a challenge that should feel slightly intimidating, get in touch and find your starting point.
