The Explorers’ Grand Slam is the ultimate adventure challenge that involves climbing the world’s highest peaks on each of the seven continents as well as trekking to the geographic North and South poles.
Masha began her Explorers' Grand Slam challenge in October 2015 she has now scaled the world’s highest peaks on each of the seven continents – Everest (Asia), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Aconcagua (South America), Carstensz Pyramid (Australasia), Mt. Elbrus (Europe) and Denali (North America) as well as trekked to the geographic North and South poles.
The extraordinary demands of the challenge mean she's been pushed to the edge of her physical endurance and mental resilience. She's spent over a 100 days in a tent and spent three weeks trekking on skis to the North and South Poles in -40C weather and exposed herself to the “death zone” – the high altitude above 8,000 where there is not enough oxygen for humans to breathe.
Only two other people have completed the Explorers' Grand Slam challenge (including the two poles) in under a year and just 45 in total. The previous female world record title holder was Vanessa O’Brien who completed the record in 11 months. Masha did it in 8 months!
Show notes
- Early years and growing up and not being athletic!
- Falling in love with the mountains and getting that sense of achievement from adventure
- What the Explorers’ Grand Slam is and how it came about
- Negotiating time with the family to make time for the challenge
- Remembering back to taking the first step of the challenge
- The importance of having a sounding board
- What aspect of the challenge worried her the most and why
- Getting fit and building up her endurance
- Starting the Explorers Grand Slam with climbing Kilimanjaro in 24 hours
- Everest and attempting the summit
- Dealing with fragility and how it became a story about grit
- Teaming up with Lydia Bradey and deciding to climb or not with the potential for 50 mph winds on the way
- What they had to do, to remain safe on the mountain.
- Knowing your limits and why you need to put things into perspective
- Getting off Everest and why that can be the riskiest part
- Grit & Rock the charity, how it came about and why its so important for young women
- What Masha learned most about herself throughout this experience.
- What her children thought about her adventure and how its changed her children
Check out the Grit & Rock Website for more info!
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Love running? Do you want to take it to the next level? Fancy doing an ultra marathon?
Listen to Ellie as she shares her running journey from PE lessons in Dundee, her first half marathon, before moving over to Canada and starting to run to meet new people.
She’s gone on to win some of the most famous ultra races in the world, some of her race highlight include:-
-Comrades Marathon (89km) 1st place, South Africa. (2014, 6:18:15, downhill course)
-Western States 100 mile Endurance Run Course Record, California, USA. (2012, 16:47:19)
-Comrades 89km 2nd place, South Africa. (2012, 6:08:24, downhill course)
-IAU World 100km Champion, Gibraltar (2010, 7:29:05) and Doha, Qatar (2014, 7:30:48)
Show notes
- Learning more about her childhood and being sporty at a young age.
- Where it all started with the Great North Run at 21 years old
- The journey of how she made a career out of running
- Getting her first sponsorship in 2008 and how that helped with accountability
- Joining a more competitive running club.
- Making the transition from running the marathon to her first 50K
- Why having fun is so important while running
- Her running goals and how they impact on her races and her race strategy going forward
- Representing Great Britain and wanting to be the best she can be
- Her physical preparation and training back in 2010 and how it has changed over the years
- How ultra racing has changed and become more popular over the past few years
- Learning more about Comrades Marathon held in South Africa each year and why its such a special race.
- Her first Western States and it being her first 100 mile race
- Racing 950km in 2012 and being on a total roll with regards to wining races all over the world.
- Dealing with injury
- Her mental preparation for Comrades when she went back in 2014
- Why having a running coach is a good idea
- Her top tips for taking those first steps into running an ultra
You can learn more about Ellie by visiting her website or following her on Facebook.
Anna is based in London and back in the day she represented Great Britain at rowing, but after ‘retiring’ in her mid twenties, she started a “normal" job but the desire for adventure never left her.
In 2013 she set out to cycle 11,000 miles through each and every state of the USA, and most recently she became the first person to run the whole length of New Zealand. Along the Te Araroa trail. She ran it solo and unsupported, stopping off to speak to over 4,000 school children on the way.
Show notes
-Anna share more about her background and what it was like growing up in the McNuff Family!
-What it was like being the daughter of two Olympians
-Why she wanted to be an Olympian
-Representing Great Britain in rowing and making the decision to stop.
-Losing her sense of identity and deciding who she was and what she wanted to do next
-Entering the corporate world & being excited by it!
-Trying to fit adventures in around her work
-2013 - The urge for adventure became too much and she decided to scratch the itch!!
-Why you always have a choice!
-Making sacrifices to make her dream happen
-The highlights from cycling America - from Alaska, to the National Parks
-The challenges she faced during her cycle and how she overcame them.
-Coping with her emotions - The Snowball, The Doubtress, The Dream Dumpers
-The post adventure blues & how to deal with them
-Running the full length of New Zealand and how the challenge came about
-Her mental and physical preparation for the challenge - Making herself ‘bomb proof’!
-What she learnt most about her brain while out running
-#AnnaRuns
-Her “cheerleaders” only day!!!
-Why it was important for her to speak to children along the way to share her story with the goals of getting them excited about the planet.
-Advice around failure and why it’s about perception and perspective.
-Anna shares her mission for kids & adults
-Her future challenge - An exclusive on the Tough Girl Podcast!!!
Anna is 100% passionate about the positive impact adventure and sports can have on the lives of young people. Anna uses her human powered journeys as a platform to inspire and motivate children, to get outside, and get exploring the world they live in.
To learn more about Anna visit her website www.annamcnuff.com. Anna is also on twitter @AnnaMcNuff - Give her a shout out once you’ve listened to this episode!
A massive thank you to everyone who has become a patron! You too can support the Tough Girl Podcast from as little as $2 to $5 per month! CLICK HERE!
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
This episode has been sponsored by Four Athletics - for a 20% discount use the promo code ToughGirl20!
Jules is currently based in the UAE, she was the first female to start an adventure & travel company in the Middle East. After climbing her first mountain when she was 40, she decided to create Mountain High. For the past 13 years, she has been leading expeditions around the world, writing books, and giving motivational talks.
During this podcast Jules talks about the following:-
- Jules introduces herself and tells us how Mountain High came about
- Climbing her first mountain when she turned 40 and how it changed the direction of her life.
- Why age is a lifestyle and not just a number
- Her 40th birthday and the importance of “Zero Limit Birthdays”
- Why climbing mountains can be a great metaphor for life
- The “mountain high” moment and how it took her a year to gain the courage to start her company
- Trekking to base camp at Everest
- Advice and tips around courage and why courage is like a muscle you need to exercise and use on a regular basis.
- Why you have to know your - WHY!!
- Her first Arctic Expedition with 18 other women and what she learnt about her place in the world.
- Training a team of breast cancer survivors for a dragon boat race
- Visiting Tibet and being at high altitude.
- The success factor and the psychology of success
- The way of the Warrior!
- Tips & advice for starting off in meditation.
- Jules shares more about her daily routine and her rituals to help her achieve her goals.
- The Power of Three - Her mind, body & spirit.
- Dealing with FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real - What are your fears?
- Writing her first book - Moving Mountains Discover the Mountain in You
To learn more about Jules - Please visit her personal website or her company website.
Jules is also on twitter @mountainhighme
A massive thank you to everyone who has become a patron! You too can support the Tough Girl Podcast from as little as $2 to $5 per month! CLICK HERE!
You can listen to the Tough Girl Podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud & Stitcher!
Thank you to Four Athletics for their sponsorship!
