Luke Grenfell-Shaw: Running beyond cancer

It's a busy season for you, with a film tour in the UK coming up. What can you tell us about A Life in Tandem?
“A Life In Tandem is an epic cycle adventure mixed with family drama. In a way, it’s the story of what prepared me to become an ultrarunner. It follows my 20,000 mile expedition on a tandem bike across the world, where I’m joined by some incredible people, from a Ukrainian bishop to an Indian schoolboy hacker. Alongside this, the film tells the story of my family: how I got diagnosed with “incurable” stage 4 cancer, the death of my brother and what happened in the aftermath, in particular, how I built a stronger relationship with my mum. There are some weighty themes but ultimately, it’s a very positive and uplifting film. Mike Rumsey, the director of the documentary, and I have worked incredibly hard over seven years to distil this period into a powerful, immersive story. We always hoped it would inspire people to make changes big or small to make the most of the short time we have on this planet.”

A Life In Tandem will be touring UK cinemas this September - tickets are available here, and each screening includes a chance to win a pair of Cascadia 19’s!

With the screenings so far, has there been a reaction that has stayed with you, and has sharing the film face to face helped you see your own story differently?
“At our premiere in London, we got a full standing ovation, and I wasn’t able to leave the room for an hour as so many people wanted to tell me how the film had resonated for them. Mike and I wanted to create an inspiring and compelling film that moved people, so to see this was incredible. The events of the film happened several years ago and I’ve had time to come to terms with what happened to me, but when we share the film I get to see the impact the story has, which makes all the hard work and time we put in feel very rewarding.”

In your film you have said a key theme is finding an identity beyond cancer. What does that mean to you now?
“For a long time, my cancer diagnosis was a huge part of my life. I expected it to kill me (I feel so fortunate to still be in remission seven years on!) and it defined my cycle expedition to China: it was the last thing I hoped to complete before I died. I’ve had more time than I ever expected and now want to fill my life with new experiences, adventures and challenges and let the cancer part of my identity take more of a backseat. What matters to me now is looking ahead. What do I decide to fill my life with now? Who am I moving forward?”

Has there been a moment recently where you have felt that shift, where you have been able to see yourself without that label?

“Honestly, probably not. But I’m also not sure I want to completely renounce my past experience with cancer. It’s made me who I am today and given me a perspective that has allowed me to pursue things I’m passionate about, even if the chances of success were low. I think perhaps it’s more about acknowledging there can be a small place for my cancer, but it becomes more and more of a footnote as I fill my life with new things.”

Do you feel that trail racing and training give you the space to define yourself in new ways?
“After completing the Bristol2Beijing expedition, I felt a bit lost as my huge sense of purpose was gone. I ended up doing the Ecotrail Wicklow 80km race with a friend and running it was such a joyeous experience. I realised being immersed in nature, without distractions, was a very precious way for me to spend a day. After that, I decided I wanted to do more races. Gradually, being a trail runner became a stronger part of my identity, especially after I turned pro with Brooks. That said, I’m always looking to keep my identity multifaceted: runner, filmmaker, writer, mentor, adventurer, latte art enthusiast.”

What is it like to have cameras around you for the highs and lows?
“I think cameras can be really off-putting if you start to pay too much attention to them and do things differently. But I don’t feel like I have anything to hide, so I don’t worry about it too much. During filming for A Life In Tandem, I got quite used to having cameras around. Plus the director of both documentaries, Mike, has become a close friend. So in many ways, it feels like having a mate join me!”

Both documentaries… Tell us more about your upcoming film!
“The new film will be a short, punchy, documentary, full of beautiful mountains, epic trail races and me looking completely knackered! We want to show that races - like life - rarely go according to plan and what’s most important is how you respond to the upsets and try to have fun along the way!”

What do you hope it shows about where you are in life now?
“With all my films, I try to put honesty front and centre. In it, we see some races that don’t go well and others that go better. At its heart, my attitude is that I’m not scared to take big shots and for them to go wrong: I’m not scared to lose. I’d rather go for big goals and not succeed, instead of not trying. It’s a mindset I learned from my cancer, I guess the film is about how I’m trying to continually apply that mindset in new situations and particularly to trail running.”

Has there been a point this season where an unexpected challenge on the trails taught you something about yourself?
“It might be surprising to hear coming from a pro athlete, but stretching! In the past I’ve never stretched and to be honest, it’s worked for me. For the first part of this season, I kept on getting little niggles in my hamstrings, hip flexors, lower back. Then, four days before UTMB Snowdonia 50K, I pulled my right hamstring. I managed to finish the race and even come 2nd, but from that point I realised I wanted to get on top of this. Nathan, my amazing physio, has worked closely with me to find a way of adding strength and mobility. I’m hardly a yoga bunny now but some targeted mobility has made a big difference!”