Leah was born in Canada, conceived in Israel, and raised in Vancouver, B.C. by new immigrant parents.
Growing up in Richmond, B.C., daughter of a boxer. Leah became involved in martial arts, Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing. After being told she should never fight again because she had herniated disks in her back, Leah won the Bantamweight World Kickboxing Championship at age 17, against a 25 year old fighter a foot taller than she was!
Leah felt a deep desire to serve her time in the Israeli Army, (a mandatory 2 years for women and 3 years for men).
Leah knew that she wouldn’t be satisfied just being a soldier, she wanted to become the first woman ever to be an Elite Commando. She didn't just become an elite commando, she became a Krav Maga specialist, and became the first female Elite Commando Instructor.
After leaving the Army, Leah pursued a career as a professional cyclist in Europe and North America. After a serious accident in 2005, Leah spend 2.5 months in the hospital where she was informed by doctors that she would never race again, let alone walk without a cane.
Leah proved them all wrong, and came back stronger than ever before, she went on to win the Women’s Solo Division of Race Across America (RAAM) - the Ultra Endurance, 3000 Mile, 12 day, single stage race in 2011, and coming in second in the women’s division and fifth overall in 2019. She came back again in 2021 and at 52 years old made history by becoming the 1st female ever to WIN the overall SOLO division of RAAM.
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Show notes
- Her background in athleticism
- Joining the IDF - Israel Defence Force
- Discovering the bike
- Wanting to become a pro racer at 30
- Discovering ultra endurance racing
- Her childhood and growing up
- Dealing with bullies
- Her dreams for the future
- Being one of the only female instructors
- Training the elite soldiers/commandoes
- Krav maga as a martial art
- Learning how to defend yourself
- How you can train your mind
- Making the transition from the military to a different way of life
- Deciding to become a pro racer and taking 8 years to get to her goal
- Wanting to stay and keep physically active
- Being a professional cyclist and living out of her bag
- The pressure to perform and to reach the podium
- Her love and passion for cycling
- Using cycling as therapy
- Race Across America (RAAM)
- Needing to qualify for RAAM
- Why it’s a one year process and why you need a good crew
- The planning and preparation for the race
- Why your crew is the most important thing
- Replicating the race in her training
- Working with trainer - John Howard
- Why you have to cross the finish line
- Learning lessons from her first experience of RAAM in 2011
- Recovery from training and keeping her body injury free
- Keeping fit and active and doing things for fun
- Not smoking, not drinking and being plant based
- Focusing on core work and strength work
- The key of being consistent
- The challenging condition of RAAM in 2021
- Dealing with extreme heat
- Limits and suffering
- Being 52 and dealing with menopause
- The mental side of challenges and mental resilience
- Learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable
- Being prepared for the worst in every scenario
- Being mentally ready for the challenge
- Staying focused and looking at the positive things
- Working with her crew
- Nutrition and bodily functions
- Needing to feel comfortable on the bike
- Suffering from Shermer's Neck
- Dealing with failure and going after it again
- Doing the things she has a passion for
- Not wanting to live a life of regret
- Writing her book No Limits
- Quick Fire Questions
- Connect with Leah
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