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Tough Girl Podcast

The Tough Girl Podcast is all about inspiring and motivating YOU! I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who’ve faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges. Please check out the Tough Girl Challenges website - www.toughgirlchallenges.com and follow on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL
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Now displaying: 2019
Dec 31, 2019

Yolanda Holder is a professional Ultra Marathon Walker.

In 2019 at the Six Days in the Dome in Milwaukee she set a World & American Age Group Record 413 Miles (60-64).  Also, in 2019, Yolanda is the first African American Woman and second African American to earn a US Race Walk Centurion #94 and the oldest person (61 years young) to race walk 100 miles in under 24 hours (23:52:17).  

Yolanda’s a 2-time Guinness World Record holder for “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year”, finishing a staggering 106 marathons/ultras in 2010 and breaking her own record in 2012 finishing 120 marathons/ultras.  Yolanda is the first American Woman and African American to Run or Walk over 100 marathons in a calendar year and the first woman in the world to ever do it twice.

Yolanda’s accomplishments are amazing, at the 2017 Sri Chinmony Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race she set a World Record first Pedestrian (walker) finishing in 51 Days, 17 hours and 13 seconds and at the 2014 Ultra Marathon USA & World Championship in Anchorage Alaska met her goal of power walking 400 miles in the Six Day event placing 3rd female and 10th overall. Yolanda is a finisher of six, Six Day Races podium on all six and the American Woman Record holder 10 Day Race with 622 Miles. She has power walker over 540 lifetime marathons/ultras. 

Yolanda is a Masters/Senior Athlete at her athletic peak setting and breaking World and American records with no plans on stopping. 

Yolanda is also a wife, mother of two grown children, inspirational speaker and author.  

Show notes

  • Yolander introduces herself
  • Running her first marathon at 40 in 1998
  • New challenges at 50 - 50 marathons in 50 weeks…
  • Growing up doing dancing but never being an athlete 
  • Over 540 marathon ultras!
  • Dealing with the backlash of being a walker in a runners world 
  • Getting her first Guinness World Record in 2010 
  • Getting depressed in 2011 from the negative feedback
  • How she got the name - the walking Diva 
  • The Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race
  • The logistics of the race
  • The reasons why she wanted to do this one of a kind race
  • Crossing the finish line and transitioning back to normal life 
  • Getting the nutrition right
  • Top tips and advice for you
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you 

Social Media

Website - https://www.yolandaholder.com  

Twitter- @WalkingDiva365  

Instagram - @yolandaholder 

Facebook  -  @yolanda.holder  

The Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race is the world's longest certified footrace. In 1996 Sri Chinmoy created this event as a 2,700-mile race. At the award ceremony that year he declared that the 1997 edition would be extended to 3,100 miles.

Dec 26, 2019

On 1st July 2019 Shona left the comfort and safety of her life in the UK to fly to Seattle. After a busy couple of days sorting out food supplies, Shona started her Pacific Crest Trail hike on the 4th of July.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a 2,650 mile long distance walking trail in the U.S.A. Shona hiked south bound, starting at the Canadian Border – walking through the States of Washington, Oregon and California – until she reached the Mexican Border.

Shona carried all of her kit and camping gear, she passed through towns about once a week to pick up a food resupply, shower, charge her phone etc. It took Shona just under 5 months to completed and she finished in late November 2019.

Why this challenge? 

Four years ago, Shona approached her 40th birthday, and admitted to herself that she wasn’t living the life she wanted and she wasn’t doing the adventures she’d dreamed off. She’d been waiting for her circumstances to change but changing they were not.

Shona decided it was time to stop putting her life on hold and take action. Shona hiked the PCT knowing it would be hard. So hard that she’d want to quit many times. But she also knew that she’d love it and be changed by it.

During this podcast episode Shona shares more about her PCT journey and answers questions from the Tough Girl Tribe. Shona also provides top tips and advice to help you make sure you are living the life of your dreams.

Show notes

  • Catching up with Shona
  • Brief introduction 
  • Heading out to America to start the trail
  • Getting food boxes sorted at the start
  • Heading out to the monument 
  • Starting the trail on the 4th July 2019
  • How easy was it to do the food boxes in advance
  • Having a plan for the start 
  • The first night….
  • Walking 30 miles to reach the start line!
  • Why it was so busy SOBO 
  • What it was like….and why it was a relief 
  • Being nervous at the start and wanting to make big miles
  • Being worries about not being fast enough
  • Dealing with the wet and cold 
  • The time pressure of going SOBO
  • The first 500 miles of Washington State
  • Having rules on the trail
  • Intentionally walking alone and being present 
  • The challenging moments on the trail 
  • Documenting the journey 
  • Thinking the journey was going to be over 
  • Asking for help when it was needed
  • Learning that you don’t have to do everything on your own 
  • Understanding why people do quit the trail 
  • Trail name - My Sherona….
  • The Sierra Mountains and the fear of the snow
  • Hating the cold 
  • Trail Family 
  • River crossings…
  • Getting to the finish
  • Being 20 miles from the border 
  • Human kindness 
  • Shoes…. 
  • Funding for a thru hike
  • Raising funds for charity - Mikey’s Line 
  • Is there going to be a book??
  • Life changing? 
  • Advice and tips for you to achieve your own personal dreams 

Listen to the first episode with Shona - Taking on new challenges at 40 & her preparation for thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail - SOBO in 2019!

July 9, 2019 - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/Shona-Macpherson 

Social Media 

Website - www.shonafitness.co.uk

Facebook -  @shonamacphersoncoaching   

Instagram - @walkwildcoach

Dec 24, 2019

London-based management consultant who likes to ride her bike far and fast. Previously mostly focused on speed and results, now in search of more adventurous challenges.

Flatlander who loves a good headwind battle, not afraid of a bit of rain, but struggles in the heat, scared of gravel and goes backwards on hills. But… what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so embarked on a number of very hilly cycling challenges in summer 2019, clocking up more elevation in a month than she previously did in a year.

Winner of various TT titles, including Best British All-Rounder (2014), National 12hr TT champion (2015) and both National and World 24hr TT champion (2017). Multiple 24 hour solo circuit wins: Le Mans (2013), Revolve (2017) and Zandvoort (2017) where she also placed in the top 3 overall. 

Zwift distance record breaker (2017). Two failed LEJOG record attempts. 

Audax UK member since 2015 with Super Randonneur awards (200km, 300km, 400km and 600km) 4 years in a row. First female finisher and top 10 overall London-Edinburgh-London (2017). Third fastest female at Paris-Brest-Paris (2019). First woman and top 10 overall at the 1000km BikingMan Oman unsupported race (2019). 

Unfinished business with 1890km Race Around the Netherlands (so returning in 2020). 

Also eyeing up some off-road cycling fun and a longer unsupported race for 2020... Currently enjoying giving back to cycling, women’s cycling in particular, by helping others with skills and fitness based training sessions and guiding rides.

Show notes

  • Who is Jasmijn
  • Her main passion and love for cycling
  • Cycling in the Netherlands…
  • Moving over to London in 2007
  • Growing up on a farm in the Netherlands
  • Trying to decide between dance and sports
  • Losing her passion for dance
  • Deciding to go travelling for 5 months….
  • Working as a Scuba Diving Instructor 
  • Having to make a decision about university at 25
  • Doing a Masters degree in the UK
  • Getting into rowing
  • Her first 100 mile cycle ride and how it came about 
  • Starting to do more Sportive events 
  • Joining a local cycling club…
  • Being born with built in endurance
  • Doing her first 24hr race
  • Deciding to see how far she could push it physically on the bike
  • Starting to work with a coach in 2014
  • Winning Best British All Rounder (BBAR) in time trials 
  • Having an intense year of riding in 2015
  • How her body copes with the challenges of riding
  • The Challenge of riding the length of Great Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG)
  • Dealing with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in 2016
  • Her history with the record for LEJOG
  • Riding on the A roads in GB
  • Working a full time job while training and preparing for the LEJOG record
  • Picking the right date to start
  • Dealing with illness and sickness and not being able to continue
  • How her big dream of breaking the record for LEJOG changed to becoming a burden
  • Fixing her nutrition, taking time off work for the 2018 LEJOG record attempt
  • How the UK weather impacted on the 2018 LEJOG record attempt
  • Dealing with a speed wobble
  • Dealing with the emotional aftermath of letting go of the LEJOG record
  • Having some time out from cycling
  • Being a peace with her decision
  • Saddle sores….
  • Podcast from the - on saddle sores “flipping flash mash” The Wheel Suckers Podcast
  • Having fun in 2019!
  • Selling all her cycling gear
  • Wanting to do more unsupported challenges
  • Spending time with family
  • Learning new skills and facing her fear of hills!
  • Joining a women only cycling club
  • Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website   - https://duracellbunnyonabike.com

Dec 19, 2019

Melissa has completed the Epic 5 in Hawaii, 3 Ultraman triathlons, and is now the 1st female to have ever completed the UberMan, which she did in October - she also broke the swim record and smashed the previous course record by approximately 31 hours!

During this episode we learn more about the details from the challenge, the high points, the low points, the support of crew members, what the finish was like and how she is getting back to ‘normal life’. 

We have been following Melissa’s journey since February 2019, when Melissa did a Facebook Live for the Tough Girl Tribe - this was then turned into a Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode. 

More about UberMan….

UberMan is the world's most challenging Ultra Triathlon.  The 556 mile course goes from the Mists of Avalon to the Snows of Mount Whitney.  Starting on Catalina Island, participants swim 21 miles in the open Pacific Ocean to the shores of Palos Verdes. The 400 mile bike route leaves the city of Angels and climbs 20,000 vertical feet before descending to Badwater basin, at 200 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America. From Badwater, athletes run 135 miles  through Death Valley before ascending 13,000 feet to the trailhead @ Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the Continental United States.

Show notes

  • Back in Australia
  • Who is Melissa
  • More information about her background
  • What Uberman is and why she wanted to do it
  • Wanting to be the first female to complete the race
  • Wanting  a different challenge
  • 8 months to train
  • Wanting to focus on running 
  • Doing 5, 50K runs
  • Doing a 60K run and a 100k run in training
  • Overloading on one discipline a week
  • Building fatigue 
  • Why this training was so hard mentally 
  • Needing to take a break 
  • Dealing with the fatigue and starting to get sick
  • The lead up to the race 
  • The work that goes on behind the scenes
  • The start line…
  • Never thinking about the event as one big thing
  • Swimming at night for the first time
  • Starting to feel the cold
  • Being sick during the swim and not being able to pee
  • The hardest part of the swim
  • The importance of having a good support team
  • Splitting the support team into a day shift and a night shift 
  • The first transition from the swim to the bike
  • Riding on the roads and the Pacific Coast Highway!!
  • Feeling angry and being aware of her emotions
  • Sleeping for 2 hours was the sweet spot
  • Planning on 5/6 days for the event
  • Running through Death Valley
  • Trying to figure out the approach for running over 200K
  • Having your muscles seize up 
  • Mount Whitney!
  • Wanting to finish during the day!
  • Having a few emotional moments towards the end
  • Reaching the finish!
  • Not being able to process the achievement!
  • The documentary! 
  • Adventure blues and transitioning back to normal life
  • Post race recovery time
  • What Melissa has learned over the years 
  • A book?!!!
  • The recovery 
  • Final words of advice and top tips 

 

Social Media

Website - https://rangamel.wordpress.com 

Instagram @rangamel 

Facebook Melissa Urie 

Twitter @rangamel 

Read the race report here - RACE REPORT 

 

 

Dec 17, 2019

Emily is a writer, adventurer, climber, and comfort zone smasher. Put on her first international flight at 3 weeks old, she's been addicted to adventure ever since. From wandering the forests of Sweden alone at age nine, to solo trekking in the Himalayas of India, to joining the circus as a professional aerialist, Emily is a big fan of the "just get out there and do it" mentality. She loves inspiring others to go outside, travel, and get curious about everything. As John Muir so aptly put it, "going out is really going in.”

Emily works as a freelance journalist based out of Los Angeles and has written for Outside Magazine, Backpacker Magazine, Mountain Life Magazine, Outdoor Project, Modern Hiker, Territory Supply, The Outbound, Women Who Explore, and many others.

Some of her notable outdoor accomplishments include: hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, backpacking the High Sierra Trail in California and finishing atop Mt. Whitney, trekking the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland, summiting Illiniza Norte in Ecuador, summiting Vinicunca in Peru, hiking the Inca Trail with her mom, solo-trekking the Backbone Trail, climbing Cactus to Clouds in the winter, trail running Yosemite Rim to Rim, and dozens of other high-altitude peaks in the Sierra Nevada and California.

Show notes

  • Her alter ego when hiking
  • Where the Brazen backpacker idea came from
  • Being brazen and wild
  • Moving to LA at 17
  • Being inspired by her mother
  • Leaving Texas behind
  • How the outdoors became part of her life
  • The mental barrier to access to the outdoors
  • Her first backpacking trip at 28
  • The challenges of altitude
  • Her hiking journey 
  • Her passions for getting more women out hiking
  • Her relationship with her mum
  • Hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
  • Dealing with periods and tiredness on the trail
  • The basics of backpacking
  • Steep and Cheap - https://www.steepandcheap.com ONLY in the US - for Europe - alpinetrek.co.uk 
  • The magic of face wipes
  • The best problem to have!
  • Heading to Iceland for adventure
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • I am loving awareness 

Social Media 

Find out more about Emily’s writing and photography here: https://brazenbackpacker.com/

and follow on Instagram @brazenbackpacker  

 

Dec 12, 2019

Sarah Outen is an adventurer by land and sea, bestselling author and motivational speaker. Keen to encourage people outside and enable young people to access adventure, she is a proud ambassador and patron of a number of charities. 

Candid about her own mental health struggles and journey, Sarah is keen to encourage others to seek help and share their vulnerabilities. 

In November 2015 Sarah completed her London2London:Via the World expedition, a mammoth attempt to row, cycle and kayak 25, 000 miles around the Northern Hemisphere. The journey took 4.5 years and was all the richer for not turning out exactly as planned.

'Home', the feature film of that journey releases across the UK in October 2019.

 

*Please be aware that during this podcast we discuss, grief, trauma, and going to dark places.  Before you listen to this episode please just make sure that you are in a good space.

Show notes

  • Who is Sarah
  • Starting on big expeditions after university
  • Rowing across the Indian Ocean 
  • Loving the outdoors 
  • What we covered in the first episode 
  • What happened in 2016 
  • Why it’s been a messy few years
  • Coming back from solitude 
  • Agreeing to write a book in 3 months….
  • Having a breakdown in 2016
  • Getting married to Lucy
  • Why it’s taken a long time to feel at home 
  • How Sarah got through 2016
  • Losing confidence in herself 
  • Coming back with huge amounts of debt
  • Having dark thoughts 
  • Dealing with un-resolved trauma 
  • Finding the right therapies and support 
  • Being reunited with her boat after many years
  • Becoming paranoid and not able to trust many people 
  • EMDR Therapy 
  • Working with her body and releasing it from her body
  • Taking care of herself and leaning to rest 
  • Why the movie is called ‘Home’
  • Having clear boundaries about what she talks about 
  • Why she no longer watches her film
  • Making the film
  • Filming the challenge
  • Wanting to find the right film maker for the project
  • Wanting to create a brave film 
  • Connecting with Jen Randall 
  • The sheer volume of footage!!!
  • Raising money via a Kickstarter campaign! 
  • Spending £90K on the film
  • 18 months spend on the film and why it was a difficult process
  • Winning award for the film!
  • The creative process of making a film 
  • Money and making money!
  • Training as a child psychotherapist part time in London
  • Wanting to write children books
  • Doing smaller challenges and having balance in her life
  • Quick Fire Questions 

Social Media

Book - Dare to Do: Taking on the planet by bike and boat 

Website - http://www.sarahouten.com

Film -  https://www.sarahoutenhome.com/film-screenings 

Instagram @sarah_outen_home  

Facebook  @sarahoutenhome 

Twitter @SarahOuten  

 

Dec 10, 2019

Rachel, a 49 year old full time gypsy adventurer, a citizen of the world, meditator, cyclist, trekker, chef, scuba diver, yogi, mother, blogger and vlogger.

Her passion is the journey to self discovery through meditation and adventure. Three years ago she gave away nearly all of her belongings (except a bicycle and two small boxes) to live a nomadic lifestyle.

Rachel has just finished the first part of a world bicycle tour that originated in Bangkok, going through Myanmar, southern Thailand, and onto Malaysia and Indonesia. Currently Rachel is cycling through Indonesia.

Three times a year Rachel goes travelling with her 12 year old son—Wexler, they have been on a reforestation project in Haiti, cycling in Denmark, learnt Spanish in Guatemala and gone scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands. In June 2019 Wexler and Rachel hiked the entire Oregon Coast Trail, 400 miles.

Rachel is now a full time adventurer with no address or home. Through blogs, vlogs, and public speaking, Rachel hope to motivate, inspire, and possibly assist others to pursue their own adventures.

Show notes

  • Who is Rachel
  • Where she is at the moment
  • Being all about the journey and getting off the beaten path
  • Growing up in a typical suburban household in the 1970’s
  • Heading to Israel at age 20 for a year out studying during university
  • Meeting her future husband
  • The desire to go on longer adventures
  • Deciding to walk the Camino de Santiago
  • Taking 5 weeks to get clarity in her professional life
  • Meeting the people who changed her life
  • Having a lot of different careers
  • Needed to go on an adventure
  • Heading off solo 
  • What happened on the Camino and making big changes
  • Making the hard decisions
  • Looking for something new
  • The practicalities of making a change
  • The Danish Man 
  • Wanting to be a traveller 
  • Falling in love
  • Making the unpopular decision 
  • 3 years of being on the road
  • The route - station in Bangkok
  • The daily routine while out on the road
  • Blogging and vlogging while on the road
  • Being inspired while being on the move
  • Final words of advice 

Social Media

Dec 5, 2019

Paula in her own words…

Combining business, adventure and positive psychology expertise - and being the world’s first Adventure Psychologist - I’ve created a tried-and-tested model to develop the wisdom, resilience and growth you need to thrive in these uncertain times.

I am a trainer, facilitator and coach as well as a speaker, author and adventurer. Perhaps best described as a “Performance Catalyst”, my best self at work is when I am empowering and inspiring others – from primary school children to blue-chip leadership teams. In the non-organisational world, I have been described as “a female Bear Grylls only smoother”. 

I have done 116 things on my ‘Living Life to the Full’ list and counting, including sailing around the world and skiing to the South Pole. I have written four books and speak internationally at conferences, schools and for charities.

With 20+ years’ experience as a leader, consultant and coach, I believe in humanising business; making work enjoyable, energising and engaging for all involved. Having completed a Master’s Degree (MSc) in Positive Psychology and Coaching, I understand first-hand the power of a positive approach to life.

We are all more capable than we think and more amazing than we realise.

My passion in life is surfacing this in all of us.

Accomplishments

  • Skied full distance from Messner to South Pole: One of only 13 women in the world to do this
  • Paddled 300 miles in dugout canoe: Srepok & Mekong rivers, Cambodia
  • Sailed around the world: 35000 miles, the wrong way
  • Cycled length of UK, Poland, Malta, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Show notes

  • Paula introduces herself
  • Her living life to the full list
  • Reflecting back on the past few years
  • Getting married and going back to University
  • New challenge - 50 Good Turns
  • Part time - Applied MSc - Positive Psychology and Coaching
  • Supporting her husband’s around the world sailing challenge
  • 12 countries done so far
  • The challenges of doing a good turn 
  • Having people come and join her on the way
  • Unique Cycling Buddies (UCBs)
  • Why its been a challenging 2019
  • Supporting her partner Alex with his round the world challenge
  • Dealing with stress and worry 
  • Her coping strategy of just getting on with it
  • Changing her view on adventures
  • Doing her Masters!
  • Getting her dissertation published in an academic journal
  • Working while studying and trying to get headspace to think
  • Starting a new business - The Adventure Psychologist
  • Why adventure psychology should exist alongside sports psychology
  • What adventure means…
  • Practical advice 
  • The concept of curiosity
  • Meditation and mindfulness
  • Having an active body and active mind
  • Different forms of meditation 
  • What else has been going on in 2019
  • Living with each decision for as long as possible
  • Quick Fire Questions!
  • Adventure Mind Conference
  • Getting access to the Journal Article - Exploring the psychology of extended-period expeditionary adventurers: Going knowingly into the unknown

 

Social Media

Website  - www.paulareid.com

Twitter @ThePaulaReid  

Instagram @ThePaulaReid 

 

 

Article title: Exploring the psychology of extended-period expeditionary adventurers: Going knowingly into the unknown

Article reference: PSYSPO_101608

Journal title: Psychology of Sport & Exercise

Article Number: 101608

Corresponding author: Mrs. Paula Reid

First author: Mrs Paula Reid

First published version available online: 22-OCT-2019

 

 

Dec 3, 2019

Véronique is a French-Canadian ultra-runner living in Singapore. Since her debut in ultra-running races, Véronique love to keep on pushing herself to go farther and beyond what she thinks is possible.

In the summer 2015, she ran 3,010km in 72 days, self-supported across Japan. This is the equivalent of 1 full marathon a day for 72 days! Véronique has raced in Japan (Sakura Michi, 250km), UAE (Salomon Wadi Bih Run, 72 Km ) and in Germany (100 Meilen Berlin).

In November 2017, Véronique came first overall at the 'Melaka Ultra 100' mile race in Malaysia in a time of 21h 24 mins!

Her next big goal is to run the Africa continent from North to South. Approximately 14,000km in 1 year 3 months. Véronique is registered for the "Guinness World Record” and by completing this goal, this will make her the first female to accomplish it!

Show notes

  • Growing up in Canada
  • Coming from a single parent family and being bullied when she was younger
  • Doing marital arts from 12 years old
  • Having a bad experience at 14 years old
  • Thinking about death
  • Her first big lesson in life and quitting 
  • Being grateful for the challenging experiences
  • Having an out of body experience at a young age
  • Getting rid of her fear of water
  • Getting into running
  • Getting a treadmill in the house
  • Not feeling confident to run outside
  • Buying her first pair of running shoes
  • Following a running program to run a marathon 
  • Deciding to run across Japan! Where the idea came from 
  • The difference between the plan and the reality 
  • The kindness of strangers
  • How her body coped with the demands of the run
  • The mental side of the challenge
  • The relationship with her daughter 
  • Completing the challenge and dealing with the adventure blues
  • Deciding to run the length of Africa and how it came about 
  • Heading out to run the length of South Korea for training
  • Dealing with the challenges of the heat
  • Finishing the adventure by bike instead of running
  • Advice and tips for women who want to get into running

Social Media 

Website  - www.veroniquerun.com

Instagram - @veroniquerun  

Facebook - @veroniquerun  

Youtube - Veronique Run  

Nov 28, 2019

Anna Blackwell is an adventurer, writer, photographer and speaker with a love of the outdoors and pushing her limits. This has led her to pursue numerous adventures, from kayaking across Europe, spending five weeks trekking across the wilderness of Arctic Sweden alone, to walking 1,000 miles solo across France and Spain, and even hitch-hiking to Morocco.

In Anna’s words

This July I set off on a 1,000km solo trek across Arctic and Northern Scandinavia. I started at the Treriksröset (the cairn signifying where Sweden, Norway and Finland meet) and made my way south, following the length of the mountains on the Swedish-Norwegian border. 

The expedition was self-supported, solo, and crossed some of Europe's greatest wilderness areas. I carried everything I needed (weighing in at around 25kg) and wild camped most nights. Travelling through such remote areas, I was often going up to four or five days without seeing any other people.

Throughout this expedition I aimed to minimise my environmental footprint to the greatest extent possible, by working with with sustainability-focused organisations, choosing locally sourced food where possible, reducing my plastic waste and leaving no trace in the wilderness. I also opted to travel to my start point using trains and buses rather than taking an internal short-haul flight.

Show notes

  • Who Anna is and what she does
  • What the Green Ribbon Expedition is and how it came about
  • Creating her own route
  • Committing to the challenge in May 2019
  • Learning more about the planning
  • Buying a big map of the area
  • Route planning and why it was so time consuming
  • Figuring out resupply while out on the trail 
  • Posting packages ahead of time
  • Taking a few luxury items…
  • Doing very little physical preparation
  • The challenges of the weather
  • Dealing with the midnight sun, mosquitos and very cold weather
  • Being green on the expedition
  • Spending 50 hrs on buses and trains
  • Only working with specific companies who are trying to reduce their environmental footprint
  • The biggest challenges she would have to face
  • Why the first 10 days were going to be the toughest
  • Being stung by a hornet….
  • Having to call an ambulance 
  • Dealing with a lot of rain over the final 3 weeks
  • Not knowing what to do
  • Daily routine while walking
  • Going with the flow 
  • Getting up at 6am
  • How busy was it on the route
  • Navigation and making a few detours!
  • Problems with the bugs
  • Day dreaming!
  • The process of absorption 
  • Getting through the final 3 weeks
  • Focusing on the small things
  • The biggest lesson learned from 
  • Heading back to university to do a Masters in Environment and Human Health 
  • Future plans 
  • Committing to be in Falmouth for the next year 
  • Final words of advice and wisdom

Social Media

Website - https://annablackwell.co.uk 

Instagram @annablackwell  

Facebook @annablackwelladventurer  

Twitter @_annablackwell  

 

Nov 26, 2019

Scottish ultra-endurance adventurer Jenny Graham has smashed her way into the Guinness world records by becoming the fastest woman to cycle around the planet. Last summer her ride took her 18,000 miles, over 4 continents, through 16 countries, completing the trip solo and unsupported in just 124days.

To prepare for that challenge Jenny raced some bike packing routes including the Arizona Trail 750, Highland Trail 550, the Cairngorm Loop and the Yorkshire dales 300 and completed a winter LEJOG in four days!

Show notes

  • Jenny introduces herself
  • Growing up in the Highlands of Scotland
  • Being adventurous from a young age 
  • Getting into cycling and mountain biking
  • Lack of female role models growing up
  • Loving the challenge of mountain biking
  • Cycling to Bothies in Scotland and staying overnight
  • Doing an outdoor course and getting to go skiing
  • Getting work experience 
  • Funding her life with a young child
  • How her cycling developed
  • The Highland Trail 550 and quitting the race 8 days in!!! 
  • Wanting to go back and finish the race
  • Getting a road bike and how it was a game changer in terms of the miles she could do
  • Going on an Adventure Syndicate training camp
  • Meeting her coach John Hammond and getting a year of free coaching
  • Racing in Arizona 
  • Round the world record….
  • Working through her internal fears
  • The big questions - turning the dream into reality
  • 1 Year of preparation and why it was the hardest year
  • Sponsorship….and getting money
  • Coming out on social media and telling the world what she wanted to achieve
  • The rules and requirements for cycling around the world
  • Deciding on the route
  • Life on the road - what a typical day was like
  • Aiming to ride 15 hrs per day
  • Staying focused day after day 
  • Having to be kind to yourself
  • The WHY
  • The saddle saga
  • Dealing with the extremes in temperature
  • Not having a day off and trying to rest on planes
  • The struggle of organisation before and during the challenge
  • Breaking the world record and going back to that day 
  • Getting the adventure blues after the ride and adjusting back to normal life
  • Why Jenny thinks someone will beat her record next year
  • The biggest learning from cycling around the world
  • Not seeing barrier anymore
  • What the Adventure Syndicate is
  • The Adventure Syndicate Podcast
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice 
  • The next challenge
  • Film!
  • Book!

Social Media 

Website: jennygrahamis.wordpress.com

Twitter: @jennygrahamis  

Instagram: @jennygrahamis_ 

 

Nov 21, 2019

In Lindsey’s words…

 

I’ve just finished cycling around Britain, connecting with wild swimmers.

 

Since mermaiding the Thames I have absolutely fallen in love with wild swimming. It makes me feel magically alive and I’ve never known such a welcoming, heart warming community quite like it. I received messages from all over the UK inviting me to swim with them. So, of course I made a plan.

 

In February, I cycled from Devon to the inaugural Scottish Winter Swimming Championship in Taymouth Marina and connected with wild swimmers en route. It was only meant to be for two weeks, but I was so high on adrenalin for that fortnight that I decided to carry on. And six months later, I finally hung up my dipping cossie and parked my bike

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

— MARK TWAIN

Show notes

  • Catching up with Lindsey
  • Being based in Bristol for now
  • Who is Lindsey!
  • Being nomadic and loving the journey of life
  • Having issues with commitment 
  • Being an Urban Mermaid
  • Deciding to swim the length of the Thames 
  • Planning and preparation….
  • Plastic pollution….
  • Going to San Fransisco and deciding to swim from Alcatraz from to SF Bay
  • Earning money and the types of jobs she does
  • Being flown out to SF by Uber
  • Living in Spain
  • Deciding to swim the River Thames in November…..
  • Being sick and not being able to keep food down
  • How she acclimatised for the swim…
  • 22 days to swim the Thames
  • How the accommodation side of things worked
  • Working with a small budget!
  • The mental side of the challenge
  • Why movement is so important
  • Rescuing a cow in the River Thames
  • Swimming with the Mermaid Tail
  • Having no plans for after the swim
  • Trying to put down routes
  • How the idea for the next challenges came about 
  • UK Cold Water Swimming Championships
  • Deciding to cycle to Scotland
  • Swimming twice a day on the 2 week journey unto Scotland
  • How 2 weeks turned into 6 months
  • Swimming with over 1000 people!!
  • What it was like being out on the road
  • The kindness of strangers
  • The challenges of being on the rode and being so free
  • Having some chill time in the bath
  • Teaching English on-line
  • Unleashing who she really is in writing
  • Living with ADHD
  • How she manages her ADHD
  • Settling down??
  • Where in the world would you most like to go?
  • Why she picked Bristol….
  • Meeting a boy….
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • A book on swimming….

Social Media

Website - https://www.lindseycole.co.uk 

Instagram - @stompycole

 

Nov 19, 2019

Sian Lewis is an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist and blogger who writes for titles including The Independent, Evening Standard, BBC Countryfile and Coast. She is also the editor of Active Traveller and Snow magazines. Her work as an adventurous writer has taken her around the world in the name of a good story and she also edits award-winning blog The Girl Outdoors, www.thegirloutdoors.co.uk, which encourages women to get outside and get adventuring. Her first book, The Girl Outdoors, was published by Bloomsbury in 2018.    

Show notes

  • Who is Sian
  • What life was like growing up
  • Being encouraged to follow her passions from a young age
  • Studying Italian at University 
  • Doing a Masters in Journalism
  • Starting up her blog - The Girl Outdoors
  • Being a Pioneer in the women’s adventure space
  • How her blog was also her CV
  • Getting her 2nd job in journalism
  • Editing for Active Traveller Magazine
  • Turning the blog into a full time blog or not?
  • Balance 
  • The type of content Sian likes to write
  • Adventures that fit into her life
  • Living in Bristol
  • Her struggle with big mountains and altitude
  • Doing volunteering with British Exploring Society 
  • Qualifications….
  • Wilderness First Aid
  • The Book - The Girl Outdoors: The Wild Girl's Guide to Adventure, Travel and Wellbeing
  • Advice for women who are lacking confidence in the outdoors
  • Wild swimming and being inspired by her grandmother 
  • Swimming in Arctic, Scandinavian waters!
  • Cycling 
  • Gym life?
  • Needing to work out most days
  • How to keep fit while travelling
  • Coming back from a month of travelling
  • Spending time at home
  • 2 weeks in Alaska
  • Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website www.thegirloutdoors.co.uk 

Instagram @sianannalewis   

Facebook @thegirloutdoors  

Twitter @sianannalewis  

 

 

Nov 14, 2019

Jo in her own words…

My job title is now an Outdoor Instructor and Expedition Leader and since going self-employed I have led 30 expeditions on Kilimanjaro along with numerous other expeditions on foot, 2 wheels and horseback, most at high altitude, all around the world with both charity and private clients.  

In the UK I teach and assess the expedition element of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award from Bronze through to Gold as well as leading many a challenge on bike and foot in the UK and Europe. I also help to deliver corporate team building events and expedition training weekends as well as public speaking about my experiences before I discovered the outdoors, Everest, the earthquake and beyond to corporates, schools and groups.

To be honest I never thought I would summit Snowdon even once so becoming the 3rd British woman to reach the true summit of Manaslu, the world’s 8th highest mountain standing at 8163m in September 2013 and then being the 36th British woman to reach the summit of Everest in May 2016 have been huge and unexpected achievements.

I have gone from having severe vertigo and a great ability to say no way too often to facing my fears, saying yes more and turning my life around. I am now on route to complete the 7 summits and continue to raise funds and awareness for children’s mental health charity Place2Be.

*Please note during this episode we do talk about grief and mental health. Please ensure you are in a good place before you listen to this episode. 

 

Show notes

  • Catching up with Jo
  • How has it been 3 years!
  • Who is Jo
  • What does she do
  • Coming to terms with climbing Mount Everest
  • Getting back from Everest and going back to normal life
  • Dealing with the expedition come down
  • Sleeping for 10 days
  • Dealing with the void after expeditions
  • Being sponsored 
  • What’s next?!
  • Coming up with a plan to complete the 7 Summits (4 done - 3 to do!)
  • Heading off to Alaska to climb Mount Denali - June 2017 
  • Dealing with the death of her father at the end of 2017
  • Taking a break from the 7 summits in 2018 and focusing on mental health and work
  • Going on a cruise with her mum 
  • 25th Anniversary of Place2Be
  • Carstensz Pyramid closed and the trip being cancelled
  • Hoping the unrest in Chile doesn’t cancel the next summit attempt 
  • How she has changed since the earthquake in Nepal
  • Why there is no Plan B or second chance
  • The amazing sponsor!!! 
  • Taking students to Everest Base Camp
  • Finding a way to make it work
  • Getting into debt
  • How Jo approached climbing Denali 
  • Why she wanted to climb Denali 
  • Getting at fit as possible and wanting to be on top form
  • Training with Dave the tyre!
  • What the weather was like on Denali
  • The 24hr walk out
  • Coping mechanisms and practical pieces of advice
  • “it’s just another day on the hill”
  • Positive Polly & Negative Nelly
  • Carry shit….
  • Reading - Rebecca Stephens Book - On Top Of The World 
  • Reflecting back on 2018 
  • Blog post - Mission Self-Destruct: successfully aborted
  • Starting to drink too often
  • Being proud of her mum
  • Why there is no time frame on grief
  • Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website  - https://www.jobradshaw.co.uk

Facebook -   @jobradshawadventurer 

Instagram - @_jobradshaw  

Twitter - @_jobradsha 

Support PLACE2BE - HERE 

 

Nov 12, 2019

In October 2018 Laura Marshall became the FIRST solo Australian woman to complete one of the world’s toughest ultra endurance triathlons - the Enduroman Arch to Arc! 

In doing so she also broke the world record for fastest woman, non wetsuit, in a time of 81 hours and 28 minutes. This made her the 35th solo person to ever do the event and the 9th woman. She was also the 4th ever person to do the swim leg of the event without a wetsuit.

​This gruelling event involves a 140km run from Marble Arch in London to the coast of Dover, a 33km+ swim across the English Channel and a 292km cycle from Calais, France to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. 

If completing all 3 legs of the event under your own steam wasn’t enough, Laura has also elected to take the traditional approach to swimming across the English Channel in just a swimsuit and swim cap, something that within the realms of this particular event is relatively rare, as most competitors choose to swim in a full length wetsuit for added warmth and buoyancy. 

As part of this event Laura is raising awareness and funds for beyondblue, an Australian organisation that helps people affected by anxiety, depression and suicide.

Laura is a former Outward Bound Australia staff member (2004 to 2012). Laura lives in Canberra, ACT, where she works as a secondary school teacher.

Show notes

  • Who is Laura
  • Growing up and getting into the outdoors
  • Where it all started
  • Working for Outward Bound in Scotland and then moving to Australia in 2004
  • The Enduroman Arch to Arc
  • Applying for it in 2013
  • Loving the challenge of ultra races
  • The application process for the race
  • What’s involved in the race!
  • Having to postpone for a few years due to uni work 
  • Taking a year to train for the event
  • Working with a coach and a nutritionist
  • Joining a local swimming club
  • Going part time to get the training in and the rest 
  • The benefits of it being a supported race
  • Why swimming was her weak point
  • Wanting to be a professional athlete
  • What a typical day was like
  • Getting the nutrition right and doing fluids test and how that helped figure out her specific needs
  • The mental side of the challenge, the high points and the low points
  • Is it selfish to do challenges?
  • Deciding to raise money for charity
  • Sharing more about mental health
  • Suffering from bi-polar
  • The build up to the race
  • Having a 10 day slot for the race
  • Power naps and coffee!
  • The sleeping arrangements
  • Waiting for 12 hrs in Dover
  • Why the swim was the big worry
  • Dealing with the tides and currents of the English Channel
  • Deciding to just swim in a costume and not a wetsuit
  • Starting the bike ride in France
  • Being good at day dreaming
  • Being able to zone out while running or swimming
  • Seeing the Arc de Triumph 
  • Achieving her dream and celebrating!!
  • What she learned from the whole experience
  • Being persistent and consistent
  • Adventure blues and getting past the challenge
  • Why it’s ok to do adventures 
  • Quitting her job!
  • Plans for 2020 - a triathlon of New Zealand
  • Self funding her challenges
  • Living a simple life
  • Quick Fire Questions.
  • Final words of advice for women and girls who want to live a more adventurous life

Social Media

Instagram: @laura.marshall.a2a 

Facebook: @LauraMarshallA2A 

Nov 9, 2019

More about Kat in her own words…

While studying at university, I took an internship in Tokyo and climbed Mt. Fuji for the first time. ‘A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji, a fool climbs it twice’ is a popular Japanese saying… so I climbed it 7 times. From Tokyo to Toronto to London where I’m now based, I’m searching for many of life’s answers, and hoping to find them somewhere along a trail.

Since quitting an office job in 2013, I’ve walked over 12,000km, this has included the Pacific Crest Trail in America (2,700 miles), multiple Camino’s throughout France, Spain and Portugal, as well as walking the Kumano Kodo trail, and completing the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan. Earlier this year in May I cycled 4,529km, the total  length of Japan!

Show notes

  • Where is all began
  • How walking the camino in 2013 helped change her life
  • Developing a love for walking and long distance hiking
  • The beginning of 2017 - after coming back from the PCT
  • Starting writing a guide book on the Camino Portuguese 
  • Having an ankle reconstruction surgery in 2016 and being out of action for 6 months  
  • Spending time out in Japan in 2017 for a new guidebook
  • Highlights from the Camino Portuguese  - the people, the food!
  • Where do you start with writing a guidebook
  • Thoughts about the Camino 
  • The community spirit 
  • Camino del Norte
  • Planning and getting to the start line!
  • Why is wasn’t just another walk
  • The first week on the trail
  • Daily routine on the camino and why she tries not to have a plan and to go with the flow!
  • Not setting an alarm in the morning
  • Taking it easy on the trail
  • Thinking about what’s the worst case scenario 
  • The Camino Provides
  • The Kumano Kodo in Japan 
  • How the Camino and Kumano Kodo trail are linked
  • Becoming a Dual Pilgrim 
  • A traditional day on the Kumano Kodo
  • Speaking Japanese 
  • Why Spring and Autumn is the best time of year to be walking
  • Needing to pre book your accommodation 
  • Deciding to cycle the length of Japan!
  • Who inspired her to ride……(me!!!)
  • The different bike trips she though about doing (NZ, Euro Velo 6)
  • Not having a bike…
  • Having 1 month to plan and prepare
  • Building her own bike…
  • What cycling in Japan was like
  • Keeping track of what she spend and blogging the trip 
  • Wanting to camp to keep costs down
  • Joining warm shower and staying with hosts
  • The highlight from the trip 
  • Believe you can and you will 
  • Making friends on the road
  • Hiking or biking???
  • Next challenge!!
  • Why the Lycian Way….
  • The challenges…
  • The vision for the end of the walk!!!

Social Media

Website https://followingthearrows.com 

Instagram  @followingthearrows @katdavisphotography

Guidebooks

The Camino Portuguese

Japan’s Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage

Nov 5, 2019

Rosie Swale Pope - (MBE) is a legendary global adventurer, author and motivational speaker.

Throughout her life, Rosie has completed numerous marathons in some of the world’s most challenging terrains and has embarked upon many adventures including riding across Chile on horseback and sailing across the globe in a small boat.

In 2003, aged 57, she began a five-year run-around-the-world, travelling 20,000 miles to raise awareness for the early diagnosis of cancer. Rosie is the only person in the world to have completed this solo challenge unsupported, carrying all her belongings in her cart behind her. 

Now, at the age of 73, Rosie has taken on an exciting, new challenge: a run of 6,000 miles from Brighton, UK all the way to Kathmandu in Nepal in support of the charity PHASE Worldwide and their work in remote areas of the Himalayas.

Show notes

  • Where Rosie is in the world
  • Rosie is running from Brighton to Kathmandu for Phase Worldwide
  • Growing up and being looked after by her grandmother
  • Why she decided to work with Phase Worldwide
  • Running around the world the first time!
  • Falling and breaking her hip in Brighton, 2017
  • Ice Chick!
  • Having a book launch in Germany
  • Running to Berlin and getting stronger and stronger!
  • Wanting to re-visit some of the places she’d been before
  • March, 2019 giving a talk for Phase Worldwide
  • Saying yes to the future and saying yes to running to Katmandu! 
  • Her running route
  • Why real life is the biggest adventure 
  • Where her passion for running came from
  • Fighting darkness with light
  • Deciding to run a marathon!
  • Losing the love of her life
  • Why you should start everyday being grateful
  • What days on the road are like
  • Not being able to get her stove to work
  • Favourite food on the road
  • Saving water while on the road and washing socks!
  • The power of taking 3 or 4 minutes to do nothing
  • Working while on the road
  • Three teaspoons on the road!
  • Going through tough times on the road and where her determination comes from
  • 73 on the 2nd October
  • Loving her life and what she does
  • Losing her dad at a young age
  • Why you don’t have to be defined by your past
  • What her friends and family think about her next adventure
  • Not being afraid
  • Still running around the world at 100!
  • What has changed in the world of adventure over the years
  • The value of freedom for women
  • How can we support Rosie
  • Raising money for charity 
  • When she plans to arrive in Katmandu
  • Do you need Rosie as a speaker? 
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you

To follow Rosie’s epic journey and support her campaign visit www.rosieruns.co.uk

 

Oct 29, 2019

Dr. Stacy T. Sims, is a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Waikato.

She is an applied researcher, innovator and entrepreneur in human performance, specifically sex differences in training, nutrition, and environmental conditions.  She served as an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist at Stanford University from 2007 to 2012, where she specialized in sex differences of environmental and nutritional considerations for recovery and performance.

Specializing in women's health and performance. She had the opportunity to translate earlier research into consumer products and a science-based layperson's book written to explain sex differences in training and nutrition across the lifespan. Both the consumer product companies and the book challenged the existing dogma for women in exercise, nutrition, and health outcomes.

Her contributions to the international research environment and the sports nutrition industry has established a new niche in sports nutrition; and established her reputation as the expert in sex differences in training, nutrition, and health. 

As a direct result, she has been named as one of the to 50 visionaries of the running industry (2015), one of the top 40 women changing the paradigm of her field (2017), one of the top four visionaries in the outdoor sport industry (2017), and one of the top four individuals changing the landscape in triathlon nutrition (2017). 

Stacy is the author of ROAR - How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life.

Stacy resides in Mount Maunganui with her husband and young daughter. 

Show notes

  • Living in New Zealand
  • How Stacy would introduce herself
  • Growing up in an army family
  • Being sporty and loving the outdoors
  • Getting into running and dancing
  • Being an athlete and an academic
  • Why do women need to train differently 
  • Starting to ask the questions
  • Why women are too hard to study!!
  • WHAT ABOUT WOMEN!!!!!
  • What do we need to know about the menstrual cycle
  • Day 1 - first day of bleeding
  • Day 12  - Ovulation and upsurge of oestrogen
  • Low hormone phase - First 10 days, hormones are low and we are more like men - hit the power hard, do intensity hard, sleep well and recovery well, core temp is lower
  • High hormone phase - ovulation - very individual  - e.g. having flat days  - be kind to yourself or feeling bullet proof - go and hit it hard
  • 5 days before your period starts - this is when we are most different from men.
  • Tracking periods for over 20 years
  • Being a pilot subject in all her studies
  • The mental impact of not understanding your body
  • Pushing against the dogma
  • Dealing with the set backs and push backs
  • Being inspire to write the book  - ROAR
  • Why the book is starting to gain tracking now - 3 years later
  • Keto for women and why it might not be the best thing 
  • The biggest mistakes that women are making
  • Why you need to track your period
  • What women need to do to help with recovery
  • Get your protein in 30 mins after eating
  • Training, pregnancy, trail running and doing local races
  • Having a really hard pregnancy
  • Big changes after having her daughter
  • What she’s studying at the moment
  • How she’s balances everything in her life
  • Needing to be on the go all the time
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • The next book!

Social Media

Facebook @drstacysims  

Instagram @drstacysims   

Take a Listen to Stacy on Sparta Chicks Radio - #99 Dr Stacy Sims on How to Work With Your Body, Not Fight Against It

 

 

Oct 24, 2019

Pip has two world first endurance records, she is the winner of multiple international yacht races and has over twenty years of experience ocean racing!

We first spoke with Pip in 2017, when she shared more about her early years, growing up, getting into sailing as well as her passion for the sport. She also shared more about doing the 3 Peaks Yacht Race as part of an all female team and winning the race in 2016. 

We pick up with Pip where we left off. Pip shares more about going back to do the 3 Peaks Yacht Race in 2017, but this time as a pair, making the challenge even more extreme! 

Pip explains more about the Vendee Ocean Race and why this has been a dream of her’s which has been 10 years in the making. Pip goes into detail about her preparation and training as well as answering quick fire questions at the end. I am so exited to be following Pip as she chases her dream of breaking the women’s record while sailing solo around the world in the ultimate 3 month solo ocean race -  The Vendee Ocean Race 2020.

Show notes

  • Catching up with Pip
  • 45 years old
  • 3 Peaks Yacht Race
  • 2 year count down to the The Vendee Ocean Race 2020 
  • Sailing and running!
  • Doing the 3 peaks Yacht Race double handed!!
  • Sleep deprivation and the mental side of the challenge
  • Sleeping in 20 min bursts 
  • Splitting up the roles and responsibilities 
  • Not knowing if it was going to be possible at the start line
  • The biggest challenge from the race
  • Not being able to eat anymore
  • Where her determination comes from and why she’s doesn’t give up
  • Why you can’t give up when solo sailing
  • Suffering with injury
  • Deciding what was next
  • Not being able to run 
  • Breathing
  • Deciding to enter the Vendee Ocean Race
  • Stats and information about the race
  • A 3 month challenge!
  • Planning for a race and challenge like this!
  • 10 years of work
  • The ultimate solo sailor race
  • Building skills and building confidence
  • Getting hold of a boat and raising funds to do the challenge
  • Launching her Vendee Campaign in November 2018
  • £1.2 Million
  • Having a 2 year build up
  • Getting her hands on the boat!
  • Fast tracking learning the boat
  • Making mistakes quickly 
  • Starting powerlifting 
  • Sailing with Paul Larson 
  • Getting the boat prepared for its first trans atlantic crossing from France to Brazil 
  • Getting it done and trying to have balance 
  • Having to make it happen
  • Learning to ask for help
  • Doing all the critical stuff first and then moving onto the nice to have 
  • Dealing with the preparation workload and stress 
  • Doing a 3 month refit of the boat 
  • Heading out to South Africa in the New Year
  • Plans for 2020
  • How to follow Pip while she races
  • Quick Fire Questions 
  • How we can support Pip with her challenge 
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you

 

Social Media

Website - https://www.piphareoceanracing.com 

Instagram - @piphareoceanracing  

Facebook - @PipHareOceanRacing  

Donate - https://www.gofundme.com/f/pip-hare-ocean-racing-vendee-globe-campaign 

 

Oct 22, 2019

Alice Morrison, is a Scottish Adventurer, currently based in Morocco. After a childhood spent running around the African Bush, she was sent to boarding school in Edinburgh where she learned Latin but no decorum. She studied Arabic and Turkish at University which has led to a long love affair with the Middle East. 

Adventuring had been something she had always done part time until in her mid-forties destiny in the shape of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, intervened. His cuts made her redundant and she gleefully burned her briefcase, and headed off for a life in the unknown. She has plunged through a number adventures including the Tour D’Afrique when she raced from Cairo to Cape Town on a bike; Atlas to Atlantic, a world first trek from the highest point of North Africa straight across the Atlas mountains to the sea; and the Marathon Des Sables, the toughest footrace on earth, six marathons across the Sahara desert in six days. 

“If I can do it, anyone can,” she says, “You just have to set your sights firmly on your goal and then pursue it with demonic persistence ignoring pain, humiliation and despair along the way. It is always worth it!”

Show notes

  • Who is Alice, her background and how she got into adventure
  • What her childhood was like growing up in Africa
  • The hazards of speaking a foreign language
  • Her career path and following a normal path
  • Building a company and being a CEO
  • Dealing with the company going under and having to make changes in her life
  • The Tour D'Afrique is the longest bike race on earth (12,000 kilometres from Cairo to Cape Town)
  • Training and preparation for the bike race…
  • Cycling in a big group and struggling at the start
  • Day to day life on the road and how the tour worked
  • Dodging Elephants…..
  • Going through a life changing experience and making decisions about her life
  • Dealing with the adventure blues
  • Trying to find a normal job again…
  • Deciding to do the Marathon des Sables even though she’d never run a marathon before!
  • Moving to Morocco to train and deciding to become a professional adventurer
  • Learning languages 
  • Doing her first - World First - the Atlas Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean - 350km
  • Why it was so much harder than she though it was going to be
  • How she coped with the mental pressure of challenging times and why staying in the moment was so important
  • The cultural challenges of being a woman in Morocco
  • Loss of status and income and friends and family reaction to becoming an adventurer
  • Money and making it work financially
  • Corporate sponsors - Craghopper and NTT Data UK
  • Not having a typical day or week at work
  • What’s been happening since November 2018
  • Deciding on a new challenge  - The Everest Trail Race 
  • The magical moments on the race
  • Not having much of a break before heading of on another adventure
  • Walking the length of the River Darr in Morocco (1,200km from the start to the sea at Tan Tan)
  • Her new book! My 1001 Nights
  • What’s next?!
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice 

Social Media

New Book just out! My 1001 Nights

 

Website : www.alicemorrison.co.uk  

Twitter: @aliceoutthere1

Instagram: @aliceoutthere1                           

Facebook: @AliceHunterMorrisonAdventures

Oct 15, 2019

A wife and mother whose life was going downhill when she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis - an inflammatory bowel disease. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of every public toilet, bush or tree to dive behind, and after numerous extreme dietary regimes, Caroline elected to have her large intestine removed, and to live with a permanent ileostomy. 

The decision she made then, and those she’s made since, have brought her face-to-face with some tough obstacles and hard decisions to make. No-one truly realises their own resilience until they are put in difficult situations. Motivated to learn to swim by her children, her enthusiasm for triathlon was lit after meeting Ironman world champion, Chrissie Wellington.

Caroline has turned her life around from being a self-confessed ‘couch potato’ to a tough ‘can do’ individual who competes in– Ironman triathlons. 

Show notes

  • What her childhood was like
  • Hating running and hating sports at school
  • Deciding to get fit 
  • Becoming ill with Ulcerative Colitis
  • The challenges of getting diagnosed while pregnant
  • Making life changing decisions 
  • Trying all the different lifestyle options and various diets
  • The mental challenge of deciding to do the surgery
  • The next steps after surgery
  • Signing up to cycle London to Paris in 24hrs
  • Why reaching Paris was a major milestone
  • Falling back to her old couch potato ways
  • Needing a new challenge 
  • Deciding to face her fear of water and learning how to swim in 2014
  • Deciding to join her local tri club - North Devon Triathletes
  • Swimming with a ileostomy
  • Putting off the running
  • Getting involved in park run
  • Fuelling nutrition needs without a large intestine
  • Making her own food bars
  • The challenges of hydration
  • Working with a coach to help with triathlons 
  • Following a 6 day a week training program
  • Her dream of being an ironman
  • Getting cut on the bike 
  • Learning from failure
  • Blogging and social media
  • Quick Fire Questions

 

Social Media

Website www.ironostomy.co.uk

Facebook -@Ironostomy 

Twitter - @carolinebramwel  

You can also listen to Chrissie on the Tough Girl Podcast - HERE 

 

Oct 8, 2019

Jasmin Paris is a mother, long distance fell runner, small animal vet and research scientist, who was launched into the media spotlight in January this year when she won the 268-mile Montane Spine race outright, breaking the overall record by 12 hours, and beating her nearest rival by 15 hours. 

Jasmin was born in Manchester in 1983, and brought up between the Peak District, UK, and Šumava, Czech Republic. She studied veterinary science at Liverpool University (2002-2008).

Although very active outdoors throughout childhood, it was not until 2008, whilst working for a year as a small animal vet in Glossop that she started fell running.  In 2015, Jasmin finished first lady and second overall at the infamous Dragon’s Back race, and the same year she won the British Fellrunning Championship for the first time. 

In 2016, she gained international recognition by winning the Skyrunning Extreme Series, and the same year she broke records for the three classic UK 24-hour hill challenges. In 2017, Jasmin gave birth to her daughter Rowan. She returned to racing by winning the British Fellrunning Championship in 2018, and thereafter the Spine in 2019. 

Between 2015 and 2019, Jasmin completed a PhD studying the role of the RNA-methylation reader protein YTHDF2 in acute myeloid leukaemia. She is currently working as a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. 

Show notes

  • Growing up in the Peak District and spending time in the Czech Republic
  • When she started to get into running
  • Doing her first fell race
  • Falling in love with running and spending time outdoors
  • Starting to enter more and more races
  • Losing her mentor - John Hewitt 
  • The mental side of races
  • Her background in hill walking/endurance hiking
  • The Dragon’s Back race in Wales
  • Rest and recovery and what she does during stage races
  • Nutrition and food during races
  • Winning the British Championships in 2015
  • Having a full on 2015 and racing every weekend apart from 2!
  • Cross training, swimming, hiking and strength work
  • What’s going through her head when racing
  • The challenges of the Paddy Buckley Round
  • Running while pregnant and the transition to motherhood
  • The Spine Race in 2019!
  • The challenges of sleep deprivation
  • Going massive on social media
  • Focusing on family and completing her PHD
  • Why running has to be fun!
  • Advice and top tips to motivate and inspire you
  • Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Blog - http://jasminfellrunner.blogspot.com 

Twitter - @JasminKParis 

 

Oct 1, 2019

Sharon is a member of North York Moors AC and became a serious runner in 1994 when she completed her first 100km and 24 hour race, winning gold in the National Championships at both events, she is still the only person to take both titles in the same year. 

Sharon has represented Great Britain for 18 years, on 27 occasions, winning several medals as well as further National Championship titles.

Towards the end of her international career Sharon progressed to longer and more extreme races. In 2011 she was ranked World Number 1 for 6 days on the road with her British Record of 750km, a race she won outright as the first person. 

In the same year Sharon broke the  Guinness World Record for the furthest distance run on a treadmill in 7 days. Her distance of 833km added over 100 miles (160km) to the existing female record and nearly 50 miles (80km) to the men’s record. It is rare that a female world record is better than the male world record in athletics!

In October 2016, Sharon had run 186 ultras, 114 marathons and 119 off-road races of near marathon distance, some 419 events of 24 miles or further. 

Sharon has raced across deserts such as the Libyan Challenge, Ocean Floor Race and Badwater Ultra-marathon. She has done multi stage races such as Marathon des Sables, Grand to Grand Ultra, Fire and Ice 250km, Trans-Alpine from Germany to Austria, Switzerland and Italy, Verdon Canyon, Al-Andalus Ultra Trail and Trans-Slovenia (winter edition). 

During this podcast, Sharon shares more about her early life, how she got into running, and how running has changed her life. She shares more about the planning and preparation that goes into a World Record challenge like JOGLE. Sharon is super down to earth and full of top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you! 

Show notes

  • Being a runner for over 30 years
  • Representing GB for 18 years
  • Not being sporty or outdoorsy when she was growing up
  • How running the London Marathon changed her life
  • Leaving school at 16 and going straight to work
  • Going to University at 30 to get a degree in Sports Science 
  • Going on to to her Masters
  • What she loves about running ultra races
  • Her favourite distance? 6 days!! 
  • Milage per week and being self coached
  • Doing strength and conditioning as well
  • Race strategy and structure for running 822 miles!
  • The power of 3hr blocks and 30 min breaks
  • Training for 2 years for the WR
  • The importance of the team
  • What’s going through her head during each block
  • The 30 min routine
  • Let’s talk about feet!!
  • Managing the mental pain!
  • Handling the frustration of getting lost 
  • How to handle sleep deprivation
  • The magical moment on the record run
  • Nutrition during ultra challenges
  • What keeps Sharon motivated
  • How her sports science background has helped her with running
  • How running ultra’s races has changed over the past 30 years
  • The bucket list races!
  • Injuries and injury prevention
  • Never being a sponsored athlete
  • Paying for everything herself
  • How to recover from big challenges
  • Publicity for the challenge 
  • Has it sunk in yet?
  • Getting the running blues after doing a big race
  • Celebrating the success of the challenge
  • Advice and tips for women and girls who want to get into running
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • New World Record Chat!!!

Social Media

Website - http://www.sharongayter.com/index.htm 

Book “The Clock Keeps Ticking” - buy here

Connected Episodes to listen to Mimi Anderson - Endurance Runner & Multiple Guinness World Record Holder! December 22, 2015

Amy Hughes - Running 521 Miles on a treadmill in a week! November 3, 2016

Sep 24, 2019

Josephine is a a French-born ex oilfield engineer turned sports and fitness industry professional. Josephine started getting into longer distance challenges while she was in her final year of university, when she took on the Marathon des Sables desert ultra-marathon in 2012. Since then she has cycled down the US West Coast from Seattle to Santa Barbara, ran and hiked, 3,000km across New Zealand, followed by cycling across Sardinia and Taiwan! 

Josephine has a passion for ultra running, outdoor adventuring and travelling. She enjoys spending her free time hiking through the hills, running on dirt trails and swimming in the ocean – the closer she is to nature the happier she feels. She currently lives in Indonesia where she is starting a new business,  Outventure Hub which is a platform full of resources to help passion-driven outdoor sports entrepreneurs grow successful, long-lasting businesses. At the same time, she continues to explore the world through long human-powered journeys - which she shares on her blog -Spark of Adventure! 

Show notes

  • Running her first marathon at 16 years old
  • Falling in love with running
  • Going to university to study Engineering in England
  • Deciding to do the Marathon des Sables in her final year of university (2012)
  • Getting into trail running
  • Breaking up with her boyfriend and wanting to prove him wrong
  • Training for the race while studying for finals
  • How she paid for the Marathon des Sables
  • What she learned from doing the Marathon des Sables
  • The biggest challenge!
  • Deciding to cycle the West Coast of America with her then boyfriend (now husband)
  • Cycling across Sardinia (2017)
  • What she loves about islands and why she loves, running, hiking and cycling across them!
  • Advice and tips for women who want to get into cycle touring
  • Being a minimalist
  • Deciding to run/hike the Te Aurora Trail in New Zealand
  • Knowing she wanted to leave her job and go on a big adventure
  • Being inspired by Anna McNuff
  • What she did to make her dream a reality 
  • Wanting to do the trail in 100 days
  • The challenges of the terrain and dealing with injury
  • The mental side of the challenge
  • Starting her blog - Sparks of Adventure
  • Her new business  - Outventure Hub – a platform full of resources to help passion-driven outdoor sports entrepreneurs grow successful, long-lasting businesses.
  • Advice and tips for other women who want to get more adventure in their life
  • Cycling with her husband in Taiwan
  • Why you need to stick to the East coast in Taiwan
  • Heading to Mongolia Desert Run as a volunteer
  • Feeling tired and needing a break from racing
  • Future plans
  • Quick fire questions

Social Media

Blog - www.sparksofadventure.com 

Instagram- @josephineanselin

Website: www.outventurehub.com 

Twitter : @outventurehub  

Facebook: @outventurehub  

 

Sep 19, 2019

We first spoke with Kiko on the 1st May 2018, where she shared more about her solo and unsupported row, 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Kiko tells more about her life, the challenges she faced and overcame, from being diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and having brain surgery only months before the Atlantic row. Kiko achieved the impossible, she broke the women's record by 5 days and crossed the ocean in 49 days, 10 hours and 13 seconds. Kiko had never rowed before deciding on this challenge!

In this Tough Girl Extra podcast episode, we catch up with Kiko to find out what’s she’s been up to, how she decided on her next challenge - Kik Plastic, how she funds her life, what motivates her and what the future looks like. 

Kiko does not hold back and shares all the details, she’s authentic and as real as they come! Enjoy this episode! 

Show notes

  • Kiko shares more about her backstory
  • Deciding what to do next after her Atlantic row
  • Doing a beach clean in Portugal 
  • Cycling around the world and doing beach cleans…
  • Deciding to keep it local 
  • The logistical challenge
  • Getting a team together to help with the planning
  • Fundraising and needing help
  • Biking experience!
  • Starting the challenge on 5th May 2019
  • Getting into her rhythm and getting fitter 
  • The importance of having a purpose
  • The stand out moments from the tour
  • Giving up hope
  • Showing up and doing what needs to be done
  • What the learning from Kik Plastic was
  • The fishing industry
  • Getting use to the hills 
  • Talking money
  • The power of networking 
  • Knowing your why and building a community 
  • The cost of Kik Plastic 
  • The Wadi Rum Ultra 
  • Hating running!
  • Team Like a Girl - set up by Lauren Morton 
  • Doing 70k in a day
  • Shuffle running
  • Why it was so hard walking 
  • Comparison between the row, the run and the ride
  • Quick Fire Questions 
  • Final words of advice

Social Media

Website:  www.kikomatthews.co.uk 

Twitter:  @Kikomatthews

Instagram:  @kikomatthews 

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