What began as a way to cope with grief became a world record-breaking journey that’s taken Helen Ryvar across the globe — from sunrise runs in North Wales to volcanic trails in Fuerteventura and the ancient deserts of Petra. 

A single mum of three and a self-described non-athlete in her youth, Helen’s transformation into a Guinness World Record holder for running consecutive half marathons is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

In this deeply personal episode, Helen opens up about the heartbreak that sparked her first streak, how running became her therapy, and the mental and physical resilience required to complete 1,000 consecutive half marathons — often starting at 4am. With races lined up from the Chester Ultra to international marathons in Malta and Brighton.

If you’ve ever questioned what you’re capable of, or needed a reminder of the strength that comes from simply showing up — this is the episode for you.

 Tune in to hear Helen’s story of grit, growth, and running with purpose.

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

 Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Helen
• 44 years old
• Single mum to 3 children 
• Living in Wrexham in North Wales
• Getting into fitness before covid
• Starting running and running 111 consecutive half marathons and becoming the GWR holder for the achievement
• Running 1000 half marathons on her 2nd run streak
• Her early years and not being particularly sports and a little overweight
• Being more into languages and art
• Being punished and made to run
• Joining the cross country running team
• Receiving bad news
• Finding out her ex-husband had died
• Telling her children that they would no longer be able to see their daddy
• Being able to exercise and starting to run
• Finding her peace at 2 hrs - 2.15 mins running 
• How the connection with nature saved her
• Finding a new rhythm and a way to clear her head
• Breaking the previous record of 75 half marathons
• Sharon Jesspo - South Africa (101 - half marathons) 
• Submitting data to Guinness World Record for the 1000 half marathons
• Staring her 2nd running streak on the 1st May 2022
• Being challenged to do a 2nd run streak by Mika Shevit 
• Running for MIND Charity and raising £8,000 
• Running routes 
• Running from 4am - 6am most mornings
• Believing in green running and not leaving a carbon footprint
• Getting everything ready the night before
• On and out in 15 mins
• The 4am run club
• How her body has adapted to the daily millage over 3 years
• Knee issues 
• Enjoying the routines and being grateful for getting up every morning
• Losing her dad and father in law
• 50 mile Chester Ultra 
• 50km London Ultra 
• Running with Sean Conway 
• Breaking down the running goals into mini milestones
• Running with other people
• Mental tips and tricks for running
• Sleep, nutrition and routine
• What a typical day looks like 
• Going to bed at 9pm
• The importance of quality sleep
• What happens when the data gets corrupted
• Garmin watch 
• GWR not accepting Strava
• Finishing the running streak on the 24th January 2024
• Missing the running and the adjustment period
• 555 Challenge - Free challenge via Facebook
• Come down from big events
• The adventure blues
• Dealing with the grief through running and feeling much stronger as a person
• Not being treated well by her ex-husband
• Being in an anxious, depressive state
• Having conflicted thoughts and feelings 
• Being left in financial debt 
• Identifying as a mother and not a runner
• Weighting 17 stones and having low self esteem
• Running all over the world and the logistic challenges involved
• Running in the heat and the dark
• Running with @marathonwoman366 
• How to connect with Helen online
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Instagram @helenryvar 

Facebook www.facebook.com/hmryvar53 

Just Giving www.justgiving.com/page/streakwithhelen

Caroline Livesey is an adventurer, extreme triathlete, ultracyclist, elite gravel cyclist and triathlon and life coach. 

Caroline started her journey into triathlon while serving with the Royal Engineers in the British Army. After 10 years service she left as a Major in 2013 and pursued a career as a professional triathlete (while working full time as a geotechnical design consultant), originally in Ironman events. 

In 2019 circumstances conspired to throw her into her first extreme triathlon, Canadaman XTRI. Winning this event was the catalyst for her to work on her mindset and physical adaptations to take on the gruelling climate conditions which are typical for the Extreme Triathlons such as Norseman and Celtman. She has since won numerous extreme events, and has just returned from winning Patagonman in Chile for the second time. 

Caroline is also an elite gravel cyclist, competing for Team GB at the last two World Championships (where she thinks she was the oldest on the start line by some 20 years). She loves single day UCI gravel races but also ultra distance, and has competed at Badlands (3rd), finished Transcordilleras (Colombia), and completed coast-to-coast across Costa Rica in less than two days. She completed the 1000km Transcordilleras, an 8-day stage race, in February this year.

Caroline's husband Mark is a documentary / film maker and they make films about their adventures (YouTube, Amazon Prime - The Brick Session). Their purpose is to provide information and inspiration to others so that they might break down their own false beliefs to take on their own challenges. 

Caroline and Mark have founded Peak Education Nepal - a charity bringing education to the children of poor families in Nepal who cannot afford to go to school. They became involved in this while in Nepal for an event in 2022, and plan to go back this year to develop the charity and do another mountain trail running adventure. 

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

 Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Caroline 
• Scottish but now currently living in Majorca 
• Having a background in endurance sports
• Professional Ironman athlete and now doing extreme triathlons 
• Gravel cycling and endurance cycling 
• Growing up in a sporty family and spending time outside 
• Starting triathlon in her late 20s
• Being a fit person overall 
• Climbing (indoor and outdoor)
• Doing crazy things outdoors 
• Going to Sandhurst and doing her army training 
• Getting into triathlons 
• Meeting her husband while in the army
• The changes in professional triathletes
• Doing her first pro year in 2015
• How the industry has change in the past 10 years 
• Having a full time job and fitting in the training 
• Not being able to make a living from it in
• Canadaman /woman 
• Norseman 
• Patagonman 
• 2017 - having her breakthrough race in Texas 
• Getting attacked while on her bike 
• Breaking her pelvis and dealing with multiple stress fractures
• Not being able to get back to the same level of performance 
• Having her professional career cut short
• Having an opportunity to try other things 
• Having a bad experience with the cold during a race 
• Back to fitness in 2015 and looking at doing Ironman Ireland 
• Deciding to go to Canada and do a warmer race in July
• Winning Canadaman Race and automatically qualifying for Norseman
• Cold weather and cold experiences 
• Just because you are cold adapted doesn’t mean you don’t feel the cold
• Learning different ways to manage the cold
• There has to be a way for me to physically adapt to the cold and getting onboard mentally
• Starting to have cold showers 
• Learning to breathe out as the cold hits you
• Thinking about physically relaxing 
• Learning that it’s ok to be cold 
• Feeling invigorating after cold water swimming 
• Experiencing Norseman (2022) and what it was like
• Film - Norseman - A day of extremes - available on Youtube 
• The logistical challenges of the Norseman Race
• Britta Sorensen (PHD) - research on pain and suffering in female endurance athletes.  
• Race strategy and being self coached 
• Being coached by her husband at the very start
• Not being very coachable 
• Listening to her body and making decisions based on how she feels 
• Taking it to the next level during a race and needing to push harder
• Racing against herself 
• Extreme triathlon - being out front on the swim and the bike
• Winning Canadaman by 12 seconds
• Lyne Bessette 
• Getting to the finish line and knowing she gave it everything she had
• The mental side of racing and why you need to practice it
• The benefits of experience and being able to draw knowledge from it
• How you can watch the films / Documentaries 
• Doing what she loves 
• How to connect with Caroline on social media
• Visiting Nepal in 2022 to do a race (but not being able to race)
• Cost of education in Nepal - USD $350 to educate a child for a year (fees, uniform, books)
• Creating a charity - Peak Education Nepal 
• How the listeners can support the charity and donate 
• Final words of advice for other women who want to take it to the next level 
• Setting your mind to the challenge. What would be the process of getting there if you were going to do it. 
• Build your self-belief and push yourself forward

Social Media

Instagram @caroline.livesey 

Facebook @carolineliveseytriathlete 

Youtube @thebricksession 

Nepal fundraiser - Fundraiser by Mark Livesey : Help fund education for two children in Nepal

Peak Education Nepal 

OSCR registered charity SC054049

Funding education in poor communities in Nepal. Education changes lives.

Charity - https://peakeducationnepal.com/

Instagram - @peakeducationnepal 

In this inspiring episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we set sail with Dr. Sheridan Lathe, aka Dr. Sheddy — a wildlife veterinarian, sailor, YouTuber, and passionate advocate for both animal and human wellness.

After years of working with domestic and exotic animals in Australia and rescuing bears in China, Dr. Sheddy took her expertise to the seas. Now based on her 37ft sailboat Chuffed, she delivers free veterinary care to animals in remote coastal communities across Central America and Mexico — reaching places where traditional care simply doesn’t exist.

She funds her work independently through Patreon and YouTube while living full-time on the water with her partner Jim. In 2024 alone, Vet Tails helped over 450 animals across 13 communities, offering everything from vaccinations to life-saving surgeries.

From sailing storms to working on polar bear rescues, dealing with typhoid, and building a life outside of convention — Dr. Sheddy is redefining what it means to live a life of purpose and impact. If you’ve ever dreamed of combining adventure, service, and personal freedom — this episode is for you.

 Tune in to hear her story, the lessons she’s learned, and how you can support her mission — or maybe even start your own.

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

 Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x

Show notes

• Dr Sheddy
• Veterinarian and living on her sailboat in Mexico
• Delivery veterinary care to remote communities 
• Growing up in a small beach town in rural Australia 
• Having an affinity for animals
• Wanting to be a vet from a young age 
• Vet school in Australia 
• Graduating high school at 17
• Becoming a vet at 23
• Being interested in birds
• Wanting to specialist in the animals that no one else is seeing
• Wanting to focus on exotic animals
• Getting into sailing later on 
• ‘Chuffed’ the boat
• 37ft mono hull, only 8 boats, made in 1990
• Paying for everything
• Patreon and YouTube 
• Funding via social media 
• Animals on the boat
• Working with local veterinarians
• Sailing over the past few years
• Sailing for 8 months of the year
• Doing a major refit of the boat which took 2 years
• Buying the boat in Panama 
• Meeting her partner - Jim
• The covid years
• Working on a Polar Bear! (Mixed with a bit of grizzly - a golden bear!)
• Living and working in China at a bear rescue centre
• Where to next?
• Working with local communities and setting up a longer term solution
• Work life balance 
• Working at a rural town in Australia 
• Starting off as a new vet and the hours worked….
• Superhero culture
• Moral injury
• Giving the best care available 
• Eating animals
• Getting typhoid fever in Mexico
• Not being able to gain the weight back
• Heading to small remote islands
• Wifi and keeping connected 
• VHF Radio for emergency
• Starlink on boats and in remote communities 
• How to support the work Dr Sheddy is doing
• Final words of advice for other women who want to follow their passions and interests
• Wanting to live life on your terms
• Using a Purpose Venn diagram
• The plan for the next few years
• Dreaming big
• Wanting to expand 

Social Media

Website www.vettails.com

Instagram @dr.sheddy_the.sailing.vet

Patreon - www.patreon.com/ChuffedAdventures  

In this episode, we’re joined by the fearless Ann Whatmore, an adventurer who proves that asthma doesn’t have to set limits on what you can achieve. Ann has faced numerous health challenges, but rather than letting them hold her back, she’s embraced adventure in a big way. 

In May 2024, she cycled over 3,000km across the UK on her recumbent e-trike, “Bob,” completing a solo journey from Land’s End to Orkney before speaking at Yestival.

This was no easy feat – Ann had only a sixth of her lung function available and had to rely on determination, resourcefulness, and a supportive community to make the journey possible. In this episode, Ann shares how she turned her dream into reality, navigating the ups and downs of planning such a massive adventure. She talks about the emotional and physical struggles of living with asthma, how she managed her condition on the road, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Whether you’re living with a chronic condition, longing for adventure, or simply looking for inspiration to push through your own barriers, Ann’s story is one you won’t want to miss. 

Tune in to hear how Ann turned her “limitations” into an opportunity for growth and exploration, proving that the only true limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patron! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

 Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Ann 
• Having numerous health issues
• Being based near the Jurassic Coast, UK
• Living by the sea
• Not being able to explore the landscape as much as she would like
• Deciding to get a 3 wheeled e-trike (called Bob)
• Wanting to say yes to adventure 
• Getting asthma problems after the age of 18
• Being able to manage her condition at 19 
• Her early years growing up, being very sporty and outdoorsy 
• Having horses and enjoying riding 
• Getting covid on 21st march 2020 and how it impacted on her lung function
• Not being able to walk up stairs
• Being on high dose steroids and inhalers
• The mental challenges of dealing with health issues
• Grieving for the person she was
• Finding out her lungs have been damaged and developing breathing pattern disorders  
• Joining adventure book clubs and listening to podcasts
• Bringing the adventures to her 
• Finding positivity in other people adventures 
• Looking for glimmers of hope 
• Say Yes More Tribe
• Yestival - Dave Cornwaithe 
• Losing her balance and co-ordination ability 
• Finding out about trikes
• Free trike rehabilitation in Exeter 
• Finding ways to fund her trike
• The price to have independence outside
• Bike to Work Scheme (UK) 
• Having a bike fit check 
• Going for short, local rides on flat ground
• Finding a little route and going out with her partner to gain confidence 
• The plan for the adventure 
• Taking a year to plan and how the journey changed
• BOOK: Britain Best Bike Ride: The ultimate thousand-mile cycling adventure from Land’s End to John o’ Groats - Hannah Reynolds & John Walsh 
• Planning to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats
• Wanting to see Skara Brae in the Orkneys 
• Making herself accountability and standing up on stage at Yestival to announce her challenge
• Deciding to finish the challenge at Yestival 
• Committing to the 2,000 mile adventure! 
• Figuring out how to charge her bike battery
• Not being able to wild camp and always needing to find a plug each day
• The reality of the challenge, compared to what she expected
• Having a supportive and encouraging partner 
• Being able to enjoy it more
• Loving the highlands 
• How her perception changed of what she could do 
• Dealing with the hills…
• The feelings of ‘awe’
• Focusing on the next goal, and breaking down the challenge
• The kindness of strangers when you were at your lowest
• Big Sky Hideaway 
• Adjusting back to normal life - after spending 50 days on the road
• Packing up her e-trike to go home and heading back to work
• Having 121 support 
• The next challenge….
• Chase the Sun - 205 miles in 1 day 
• The lessons learned from the experience 
• Being vulnerable and asking for help when needed
• Fundraising for Asthma + Lung UK 
• Sea Swimming 
• Ice mile swim…
• Social media…
• How to connect with Ann
• Find your community 
• Figure out what you can do 
• Learning how to ask for help
• Saying yes to adventure and finding that support
• Find your tribe, say yes more

Social Media

Website www.wanderingwhatmore.com

In this powerful episode, we meet Aisling Byrne — an international showjumper, successful businesswoman, and an extraordinary example of resilience in the face of life-altering adversity. After a devastating horse riding accident left her with multiple broken bones, internal injuries, and the prognosis that she would never walk again, Aisling refused to accept defeat.

Over the course of a gruelling three-year recovery, she not only walked again — she returned to the international showjumping circuit, proving that mindset, grit, and determination can overcome even the most impossible odds.

In our conversation, Aisling shares her journey from a small-town Irish girl discovering horses for the first time to the elite competitive showjumping stage, and the mindset strategies that carried her through her darkest moments. We also dive into her life as a business owner, how she balances her entrepreneurial ventures with her sporting goals, and her advice for women navigating setbacks of any kind.

Whether you’re facing a personal challenge, working toward a big goal, or simply in need of some serious inspiration, this episode will remind you of what’s possible when you choose to keep moving forward — no matter the obstacle.

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

 Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Aisling
• Born and raised in Ireland 
• Being passionate about showjumping 
• Running a funding company and a travel company 
• Growing up in Ireland
• Having 1 brother and supportive parents 
• Not growing up around horses
• Going to the local equestrian centre
• Riding the neighbours ponies
• Getting her own pony at 11
• Transitioning from riding ponies to horses
• Enjoying the partnership with the horse
• How showjumping works
• Competition time and doing a course walk 
• What does it take to make a great show jumper
• Needing determination and tenacity 
• The ability to work hard and learning from different people 
• Building a partnership with a horse
• Figuring out what makes your horse tick
• Making your horses as happy as possible 
• Having a near death experience 
• Breaking multiple bones and damaging internal organs
• Being in a Portuguese hospital and people not realising the severity of the injury
• Bleeding internally
• Being able to detach herself from the situation 
• Calmness during emergency situations
• Being very practical and level headed
• The recovery journey - 3 years
• Taking a long time to get off crutches
• Staying positive (even if you have to fake it)
• How mindset can speed up your physical recovery
• Practical tips to manage levels of positivity so not to go to a dark place
• Walking for the first time
• Going to a specialist sports physio
• Being told she would never be able to ride a horse again
• First time getting back on a pony after the accident in 2018
• Being lifted onto the pony with a forklift truck
• Getting back into showjumping and competing again
• Not sweating the small stuff
• Not looking for perfection and how everything goes a little bit smoother
• How the travel company works
• Lending money to law firms
• Advice for women who want to get into the world of showjumping 
• Wanting to get back to world ranking jumping 
• No age limit on showjumping
• How to connect on social media 
• Words of advice for women who are dealing with a setback 
• Staying positive for others
• Not having to do things - but getting to do things

Social Media

Instagram: @aislingbyrne1

TikTok: @asheyb1