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Simon Donato            

Adventurer, Geologist, Writer & Co-Host of "Boundless" on Esquire Network

Simon Donato PhD, is a geologist, entrepreneur, television host, adventurer and ultra-endurance athlete. He's the creator and host of "Boundless," a television program dedicated to adventure and endurance sports on the Esquire Network and Amazon Prime. Over three seasons, Donato and long-time friend Paul Trebilcock travelled across the globe competing in some of the toughest ultra-endurance events in the world, ranging from racing 220 km on a stand-up paddle board to running 250 km across the Sahara desert, or cross country skiing 100 miles in Greenland.

When not testing the limits of his body, he also runs his oatmeal company, Stoked Oats, and Adventure Science. Stoked Oats fills the need for a healthy, gluten-free oatmeal option in grocery stores that is sugar, salt, and preservative free, but still delivers a high amount of nutrients and protein per serving. Stoked Oats hit the market in June 2012. Today, his citizen science organization Adventure Science collaborates with industry, governments and researchers to conduct discovery expeditions, map uncharted territory and contribute to search-and-rescue missions around the world. Donato is a Fellow International of the Explorers Club and past chair of the Canadian Chapter. He is also a member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society College of Fellows. Donato has authored a number of academic papers on topics ranging from tsunamis, paleontology, education and scientific literacy, archaeology and exercise physiology. In 2017, he wrote an autobiography called "The Boundless Life," which detailed the life lessons learned through his numerous expeditions, adventures and the major races that he's had the privilege of participating in.

For his education, Donato completed an undergraduate degree in anthropology and biology and obtained an MSc in paleontology at Western University. He received his PhD in geology from McMaster University in 2008, during which time he founded and ran the Canadian Adventure Racing Association, which is still in existence today, and provides insurance, safety and environmental guidelines to Canadian race directors.

News


Why are elite athletes able to speed up when they see the finish line?
After five days and almost 250 kilometres of running through the shifting sands and hair-dryer heat of the Sahara Desert, Simon Donato had reached the limits of his physical endurance. The 37-year-old from Canmore, Alta., who travels the world competing in the most gruelling ultra-endurance races as co-host of the TV adventure series Boundless, knew he had to cover another 30 km to reach the finish line, but he could barely put one foot in front of the other.
Extreme athlete Simon Donato - Calgary Eyeopener - CBC Player
Calgary-based adventurer and ultra-marathoner Simon Donato has just returned from a series of eight endurance races around the world - he joins us to talk ...
Meet Boundless' Simon Donato and Paul "Turbo" Trebilcock ...
For Boundless, Simon Donato and Paul "Turbo" Trebilcock are doing the unthinkable: tackling eight of the world's toughest endurance races in a row. So what ...

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