In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we dive into the incredible journey of Fadeelah Kenny, an endurance runner, cyclist, and hiker. Fadeelah, a hijabi woman, shares her inspiring story of becoming a mother and the challenges she faced along the way.
Fadeelah opens up about her experience as a late starter, having her baby at the age of 38. She candidly discusses the struggles she encountered in adjusting to motherhood and her battle with severe postpartum depression. Despite these obstacles, Fadeelah's determination shines through as she shares her story of recovery and resilience.
As an endurance runner, Fadeelah has completed several ultra marathons, including the renowned Comrades Marathon three times. She reflects on her running journey, from discovering her endurance capabilities to pushing herself in longer distances. Fadeelah recounts the mental challenges of running, emphasising the importance of a positive mindset and self-belief.
The conversation delves into Fadeelah's experience of running the Comrades Marathon, an 89-kilometre race that changes direction every year. She shares the mental and physical obstacles she faced during the race, including the last few kilometres where she needed to dig deep to finish with only minutes to spare.
Fadeelah also discusses her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, highlighting the importance of seeking support and opening up about one's struggles. She shares her desire to help others by sharing her own journey and offering advice to women facing similar challenges.
Don't miss this empowering episode filled with insights on endurance running, motherhood, and the strength of the human spirit.
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Show notes
- Who is Fadeelah
- Working as an electrical engineer while having a love for endurance running
- Having a new baby 14 months ago age 38
- Her early years growing up in South Africa
- Her older sister Rogeema Kenny (who has also shared her story on the Tough Girl Podcast - 4th August 2023)
- Not enjoying athletics when she was younger as she wasn’t good at it
- Learning she had a little bit of endurance while running 1,500m at school
- Only been competitive with herself
- Starting running 13 years ago and why she prefers the longer distances
- How her running journey progressed and what that looked like
- Being asked to run a 5k race on National Women's Day in South Africa (9th August)
- Getting the bug for running and starting to enter more races
- Needing a running licence - through the Athletics Association South Africa
- Deciding to join a running club and meeting so many like minded people
- Signing up for longer and longer races
- Running Comrades Marathon 3x (89 km)
- Two Oceans Ultra Marathon
- Why it’s a mental challenge running longer distances
- Keep on running - don’t stop, even if you think you aren’t going to make the cut off
- How the Comrades Marathon changes direction every year
- Needing to convince herself that she could finish the race
- The importance of having a positive mindset and having belief in herself
- Needing to understand WHY she was running and WHY she was doing this race
- Dealing with the physical pain during the race
- Running with a pacer and not being able to keep up for the final few kms
- Being encouraged to keep on running by supporters
- Completing the race with 2mins to spare!
- Sharing more about motherhood and running
- Suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety
- Not knowing where to turn
- Talking about her struggles and wanting to help others
- Starting to feel more like herself
- How to connect with Fadeelah
- Final words of advice for women listening
Social Media
Instagram: @fadeelahk
Twitter: @fadeelahk
Facebook: Fadeelah Kenny
LinkedIn: Fadeelah Kenny