In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Julie Weiss — also known as The Marathon Goddess. Julie’s story is one of resilience, healing, and purpose. After losing her father to pancreatic cancer, she set out on an extraordinary mission: to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research along the way.

Her journey captured hearts around the world — from the Today Show and O Magazine to countless finish lines across the US. But behind the medals and media attention is a woman who found strength, joy, and hope through running.

Now in her fifties, Julie has completed over 118 marathons, raised more than $1 million for research, and continues to inspire others with her message that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, honour your loved ones, and find purpose in every step.

In this conversation, Julie opens up about:

 How running helped her heal from grief and depression
 The challenges and triumphs of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks
 What it takes to stay motivated and injury-free through massive goals
 Her empowering “7 C’s to Defy Your Limits” — Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, and Courage

Julie’s story is a beautiful reminder that transformation begins with one small step — and that every mile can make a difference.

 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 Julie
• Living in Santa Monica,  California, USA
• Being known as the Marathon Goddess - Running 52 marathon in 52 weeks
• Raising over $1 million for charity 
• Being excited to share the wisdom she has leaned from running marathons
• Her childhood and early years 
• Being tall with long legs
• Starting running at 37 years
• Not being at athlete at school
• Taking a different path
• Becoming a mother at 18 
• Not doing a lot of exercise in her younger years 
• Feeling at a very low point in her life
• Going for that first run on the beach 
• Wanting to feel good
• Keeping on running 
• Coming off anti-depressants 
• Fitting running into her life and making it work for her
• Joining a running group LA Road Runners
• Connecting with other people 
• Training for a triathlon first 
• Running her first marathon in March 2008
• How running makes her feel 
• Her relationship with her dad
• Raising funds for Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
• Taking 10 years to raise the funds 
• Project Purple
• Deciding to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
• The Marathon Guy
• Being determined 
• Feeling overwhelmed at the start of the goal
• The start and the different steps involved
• Reaching out to charities, speaking to her boss
• The power of having purpose 
• The physicality of the challenge
• Protein, stretching, foam rolling, strength training, rest, compression tights, physio 
• The standout marathons from the challenge 
• The Leadville Marathon and the challenges of running at altitude  
• The Lake Tahoe Marathon
• The New York Marathon in 2012 - being cancelled  
• Marathon proposal!
• Being coached by her husband
• Qualifying for the Boston Marathon
• Losing her dad
• 19th attempt of getting into Boston Marathon
• Making the decision to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
• Not giving up 
• The mental side of the challenge
• The importance of creating a goal that is important to you
• The 7Cs - Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, Courage 
• Enjoying what you’ve accomplished
• Writing her book 
• BOOK: The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess: 52 Weeks, 52 Marathons
• Advice for deciding what to do?
• The importance of fun
• Chasing speed and wanting to quality for Boston again
• Running during peri-menopause and menopause
• Struggling with the lack of sleep and dealing with a lack of iron
• Compassion
• Reaching her 100th Marathon at the LA Marathon 
• Needing to keep on going 
• Being supported by her friends
• The importance of enjoying the journey and finding the joy
• How to connect with Julie 
• Words by ― CS Lewis “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.”

Social Media

Website: www.julie-weiss.com 

Instagram: @marathongoddess 

Facebook: @Julie-WeissMarathonGoddess

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Susan Norman — a former National and World Champion in whitewater kayaking and rafting, hydrologist, coach, and now author of RISK: A Life Saved by the River.

Susan’s story is one of courage, flow, and resilience. From the roaring rapids of international whitewater competition to the quiet, uncertain waters of parenting her young nephew, she’s navigated life’s toughest challenges with the same instinct, grit, and grace that made her a world-class paddler.

Now retired from her career with the U.S. Forest Service and living in Lake Tahoe, California, Susan reflects on how rivers shaped her identity — not just as an athlete, but as a woman learning to make her own risk assessments, trust her judgement, and face fear head-on.

In this conversation, Susan opens up about:

• Finding belonging and strength in the early days of women’s paddling
• The lessons whitewater taught her about resilience and decision-making
• Her journey into writing and how storytelling became an extension of adventure
• What it really means to take good risks — on the river and in life

Get ready for a deeply thoughtful episode about flow, fear, and finding freedom through the wild power of water.

***

 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 Susan Norman
• Living in Lake Tahoe, California
• Working for the US Forest Service
• Being retired for 7 years 
• Starting her journey and learning new creative writing skills
• Book: RISK: A Life Saved by the River 
• Her childhood (with her twin brother) and early years 
• Her interest in rivers and how her father inspired her 
• Her transition from teenager to adult 
• White water paddling as an amateur sport 
• Competing as a teenager 
• Jamie McEwan 
• Wanting to increase her skill set
• Going to high school in the early 1970s 
• Not having many older female role models 
• Dads and daughters on the river 
• Forming a tribe and connecting with the other girls during her teenage years 
• The relationship with her mum who was diagnosed with MS 
• Being raised by a single father 
• Replacing family with the paddling community 
• Being part of the first wave of women getting into a high level of paddling
• Paddling amongst the best paddlers in the world 
• Analysing and making decisions based on her own risk assessments 
• Learning to trust her own judgement
• A life saved by the river 
• Working with a writing coach 
• Telling her story, while raising her nephew
• Taking her nephew on river trips 
• Taking 6 years to write the book 
• Trying to figure out how to raise a child 
• Facing hard things and not being able to see a path through 
• Not knowing how things will turn out and taking it one day at a time
• Taking challenging in small steps
• Giving an ultimatum to her partner 
• Going through the teenage years
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• Adventuring with children and why you should go as soon as you can 
• The power of outdoor adventure sports
• Managing fear while on adventure and parenting 
• River boarding and learning about the flow of the river water
• How to connect with Susan 
• Final words of advice with regards to risk and making tough decisions
• Find the good risk 

Social Media

Website www.susannormanauthor.com 

Facebook: Susan Norman 

In this candid and raw Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we reconnect with the unstoppable Vedangi Kulkarni — the youngest woman to have cycled around the world, who’s recently returned from doing it again.

Now based in Inverness, Scotland, Vedangi opens up about her second attempt at cycling around the globe — this time not just for the journey, but in pursuit of a Guinness World Record.

From racing Lael Wilcox to navigating border delays, funding pressures, and the relentless physical and mental toll of riding across five continents, Vedangi doesn’t hold back. 

This conversation is about pushing limits, embracing failures, and finding strength when things don’t go to plan.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Breaking a record in the Himalayas (Manali–Leh Highway) in 2023
• Preparing to cycle the world again in 2024 — and finding sponsorship, gear, and coaching
• Struggles of travelling on an Indian passport and the challenge of visa logistics
• Being delayed at borders, detained, and ultimately forced to return to the UK mid-ride due to visa expiry
• Restarting in 2025, finishing the ride under the blazing Indian summer sun
• Dealing with the post-expedition blues and finding her footing again

Vedangi’s story is one of resilience, honesty, and fierce determination. Despite knowing she wouldn’t get the world record, she kept going — driven by passion, grit, and the belief that stories worth telling are born from adversity.

Now, she’s looking ahead to her next expedition, ramping up her YouTube and Substack presence, and continuing to speak openly about the realities of life as a woman of colour in adventure sport.

 Heads-up: This episode includes some strong language.

 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 Vedangi
• From India but currently based in Inverness, Scotland 
• The Adventure Shed 
• Coming back from her 2nd ride around the world 
• Speaking to Vedangi in Sep 22, 2020 - Vedangi Kulkarni - The youngest woman to have circumnavigated the world on bicycle. 
• Tough Girl Extra Oct 27, 2022 - Vedangi Kulkarni - Adventurer and endurance athlete moving into mountain biking and crossing Svalbard. 
• The focus of this episode - what Vedangi has been up to over the past couple of years
• Deciding to cycle around the world again
• 2023 - visiting the Himalayas and going after a point to point record. GWR for being the fastest women to cycle the Manali-leh Highway 
• Getting her win 
• June 2023 - starting to be vocal about her goals in 2024
• Getting the sponsorship and funding in place 
• Needing £20k 
• Working with Canyon Bikes 
• Speaking to the bike experts 
• Getting a gravel bike and specking it like a road bike
• Being an Ambassador for RAB 
• Working with Tailfin - and having custom build gear 
• 3D printed mounts 
• Struggling to get sponsorship from Indian companies
• Getting only 1 Indian Sponsor at the last moment
• Training and working with Jon Fearne from E3 Coaching  
• Following a training plan and putting in the best effort with it
• Applying for visas and planning the route with an Indian passport  
• The challenges of getting to the start line
• Racing against Lael Wilcox (who was attempting the same record at the same time)
• “Why do I think I can do this? I don’t stand a chance” 
• Mental blocks and challenges
• The challenges of travelling on a weaker passport 
• Having no room for errors - everything needs to go to plan
• Why it wasn’t a level playing field 
• Speaking with Lael before heading off - women supporting women
• Knowing that she wasn’t going to get the record and keeping on going
• Having a good story to tell
• Dealing with setbacks and failures and keeping on going 
• The route and how it was slightly different to the first time
• Starting on the East Coast of India
• Riding across Mongolia and then on to Australia 
• Challenges with border crossings and getting detained and delayed 
• Needing to fly back to the UK on Christmas Eve due to UK visa regulations 
• Needing to stay in the UK for 2 months 
• Getting back to India in March 2025 to finish the ride 
• The challenges of the heat - going from Scottish winter to an Indian Summer
• Feeling satisfied once the ride was finally done. 
• Adventure blues after the ride
• Planning her next record attempt and expedition. 
• Wanting to push her limits further
• Why health isn’t guaranteed 
• One precious life and you’ve got to get out there and live it
• Balancing everything that’s going on 
• How to connect with Vedangi on social media 
• Kickstarting her YouTube again
• Getting more active on Substack 
• Final words of advice for women who want to push on through their barriers
• Embracing failure and not letting it dim your light - it’s not always going to go to plan 
• Be motivated to try your best
• The journalling process and how it can help mentally with self-esteem 

Social Media

Website: vedangi.info 

Instagram: @thisisvedangi

LinkedIn: Vedangi Kulkarni 

Twitter: @thisisvedangi

Facebook: @wheelsandwords 

YouTube: @thisisvedangi

Link to donate me a small amount: [Buy Me A Coffee] 

In this Tough Girl EXTRA episode, we catch up with Tiphaine Muller, the intrepid French adventurer who continues to push her boundaries through long-distance cycling and remote, high-altitude trekking.

Now 31 and based in Chamonix, France, Tiphaine has spent the last decade traveling the world by bike, exploring five continents. Her latest journey saw her pedaling from the Alps to the Himalayas before tackling one of the toughest and most remote treks on earth: The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) in Nepal.

This conversation picks up from where we left off in her first Tough Girl Podcast interview (November 2021) — where she shared her early adventures and passion for slow travel. This time, we dive deep into her 2024 journey:

 Cycling from France to Nepal through the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and the Himalayas — all while managing extreme heat, border crossings, and a strict budget of €10/day.

 Hiking the Great Himalaya Trail solo (West to East), over 80 days, through towering 5,000m+ passes, remote villages, and ever-changing terrain — while battling physical exhaustion, route-finding issues, and high-altitude nutrition struggles.

Tiphaine candidly shares:

• The logistics and challenges of arranging permits for restricted zones without a guide
• Her coping strategies for trekking alone in high mountains
• Cultural highlights from cycling through Turkey and Iran
• How she funds her travels and balances life back home as a social worker
• Her future goals — including film-making and another epic cycle across South America

This episode is a deep, honest reflection on the highs and lows of big adventures and what it takes — mentally, physically, and emotionally — to keep moving forward when things don’t go to plan.

 Don’t miss this inspiring update from a woman who truly lives the spirit of adventure, one pedal stroke and step at a time.

 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 Tiphaine
• 31 years old
• Living in Chamonix, France 
• Travelling on and off for the past 10 years 
• Going on 3 big bicycle trips
• 1st Tough Girl Podcast episode - November 18th 2021
• 2nd Big Cycle Trip - Cycling from Mexico to Alaska
• This episode focusing on cycling from France to Nepal and hiking the Great Himalaya Trail 
• Thinking about the next challenge
• Hiking the High Route of the Pyrenees solo 
• Joking about the Great Himalaya Trail 
• Figuring out the visa and trying to plan for the trail 
• Planning for 6 months and working out how to make it work with the seasons
• Starting in March 2024
• The Route - Cycling Europe really fast in 1 month
• Going through the Balkan Countries, Greece then the ferry over to Turkey
• Across Georgia, Armenia, Iran and the Stan countries 
• Highlights and magical moments from the cycle ride 
• Why Turkey is one of her favourite countries 
• Why Iran was really demanding 
• The bike and gear setup for 6 months 
• Dealing with extreme heat and needing to ride during the night to escape the heat 
• Funding the trip and living off savings
• Living off a daily budget of 10 euro per person per day (while cycling)
• Earning money working as a social worker 
• Day to day rhythm while riding on the bike 
• Having a rest day every 10 days 
• The Great Himalaya Trail and wanting to walk West to East 
• Needing to go to Katmandu first to sort out all the permits 
• Taking a rest in Katmandu for 10 days
• Busing to the start of the trail 
• Having 80 days to walk the trail 
• Why the first 2 weeks were super hard 
• Getting lost of the trail; no signs, no gps on the phone, incorrect maps, not knowing which track was the correct one
• Struggling to stick to the schedule, due to the permits 
• Not having a guide 
• Dealing with problem after problem 
• Walking in the high mountains 
• Needing to have guides while walking in Nepal….
• Going through a trekking agency - who will allow you to get the trekking permits without a guide 
• The restricted areas close to the borders 
• Mixing the high routes and the low routes
• Finding resupply and food on the trail
• The challenges of cooking at altitude
• Struggling to get the calories in and needing to focus more on food
• Needing to eat, even when not hungry 
• Paying for food - and taking cash for 80 days…
• Coping with the altitude and the high passes over 5,000m
• Hiking without a guide 
• Connecting with other hikers and Nepalese people 
• What’s app group for GHT preparation! 
• Hiking or cycling?!
• Reaching the end of the hike in December
• Deciding to continue cycling for another 2 months and visiting China and Malaysia 
• Writing another book?
• Focusing on film and making 2 videos - a bike film and a hike film! 
• Plans for the future?
• Wanting to visit South America on the next big bike and cycle trip
• How to connect with Tiphaine on social media
• Final words of advice 
• To do something big you need to start with something little 
• Trust yourself 

Social Media

Instagram @littlemisspedals

Jenn is a long-distance walker, community leader, and passionate advocate for women’s wellbeing in the outdoors — especially during menopause. From battling endometriosis, PCOS, and the trauma of an early medical menopause in her 20s, she was once told she couldn’t live the active, adventurous life she craved. She’s spent the last few years since proving otherwise — one footstep at a time.

What began as a personal outlet for healing has evolved into something much bigger: being able to connect women to their strength through hiking, movement, and community. Whether she’s leading local walks, multi-day hikes, backpacking or pushing her own limits, she walks with the intention that creating space for people to feel heard, safe and be around nature is of the upmost importance.

A qualified lowland leader, speaker, and founder of a thriving women’s walking community in Kent, she brings insight, humour, and unflinching honesty to conversations about menopause, mental health, leadership, and what it means to feel powerful in your body again — especially when the world told you not to try.

Through her trail stories — from ultra hikes to quiet woodland days — she shows that adventure isn’t about speed or summits. It’s simply about showing up.

🎙️ 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 Jenn and running MJ Outdoor Adventures 
• Her aim to get everyone outdoors, regardless of what stage of life people are at 
• Her early years and not being sporty or outdoorsy 
• Getting into fitness in her mid to late 20s
• Going through an early menopause in her early 20s
• Gaining weight very quickly 
• Feeling very uncomfortable in her own body
• Starting walking and moving into swimming and yoga
• Getting into hiking and how her passion came alive 
• Currently 39 years old
• Talking about perimenopause and menopause 
• Reflecting back on what happened 20 years ago 
• Only hearing from doctors, not hearing other voices or having other support available. 
• Not having a clue what was happening 
• Discovering hiking and her hiking journey 
• Shifting the weight and starting to get more energy once she started walking 
• Signing up for ultra challenges 
• Adapting gear to make it work for her
• Lowland Leaders 
• Taking a leap of faith and quitting her day job 
• 3 months into the adventure 
• Working in retail and making the transition 
• Setting up her first walking group
• Women’s Wellness Walks 
• The power of women sharing their stories 
• Peri-menopause - and how it’s starting earlier and earlier 
• 51 symptoms of menopause… 
• Vitamin D and bone density loss
• What can women do, to manage the symptoms of peri-menopause 
• Strong not skinny and the importance of keeping mobile 
• Mental health and balancing hormones
• How the outdoors have helped
• Solo hiking and the power of spending time alone in the Highlands of Scotland 
• Isle of Wright Ultra - 100km 
• Wanting to prove to everyone that she could do it
• Achieving 75km and not hitting the 100km
• Having to shift her mindset 
• Learning grace for herself 
• Practicing mindfulness on the trail 
• Saxon Shore Way, Kent
• The power of nature
• Walking as part of a group 
• Community and friendships 
• Learning how to be in the outdoors 
• How it helps to build confidence 
• Meeting Mike!
• The W trail in Patagonia (Feb 2026) 
• The Greensand Way 
• Working as an Ordnance Survey Champion 
• North Down’s Way Ambassadors 
• The challenges of wailing in February in the UK
• Fast packing and going from hotel to hotel, or from B&B to B&B
• Doing what works for you
• The stats from the North Down’s Way (National Trail UK) 
• Being a woman in the outdoors industry 
• How to connect with Jenn and sign up for her walks 
• Final words of advice for other women who want to get outside more 
• Finding your tribe and the right footwear!! 

Social Media

Website: www.mjoutdooradventures.co.uk

Instagram: @mjoutdooradventures 

At age 55, Belgian runner Hilde Dosogne set out to break boundaries — and did just that. 

In 2024, she ran 366 marathons in 366 days, earning her the title of Guinness World Record holder for most consecutive marathons in a year. 

What makes Hilde’s journey so extraordinary is not just the distance she covered, but the relentless dedication she showed while working part-time and managing her daily life with laser-focused discipline.

Known as Marathon Woman 366, Hilde didn’t grow up in a sporty family. In fact, she didn’t seriously take up running until her 40s. But once she did, she never looked back — moving from her first marathon with her husband in 2013 to ultra events like the Marathon des Sables and the legendary Spartathlon in Greece.

Inspired by endurance runner Candice Burt, who ran an ultra a day, Hilde set a goal that was bold yet (just) manageable alongside her career — a marathon every single day for an entire year. 

From battling injuries and illness, to running through Belgian storms and even dislocating a finger mid-run, Hilde’s story is one of mental toughness, resilience, and unwavering self-belief.

In this episode, Hilde shares:

• Why she decided to take on this incredible challenge
• How she structured her days and managed recovery
• The highs and lows of running every single day
• The mental strategies that helped her keep going
• Her thoughts on aging, performance, and redefining what's possible at 55
• The deep sense of joy and freedom she finds in running

Hilde’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to start something extraordinary — and that the only limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

 New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM UK time. Subscribe and be inspired by stories of women pushing their physical and mental limits across adventure, endurance, and exploration.

 Support the mission to increase the visibility of female role models in adventure and sport: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast

Show notes

• Who is Hilde
• Living in Belgium
• 55 years old
• Married with 4 children aged between 18 and 26 years old
• Working in a chemical company and being passionate about running
• Being known as Marathon Woman 366
• Not growing up in a sporty family and not being encouraged to do sports when she was younger
• Getting into running after her children were growing up 
• Being focused on building up her career and raising her children 
• Reaching 40 years old and wanting to lose some weight and deciding to run a marathon with her husband in 2013
• How her running progressed and wanting to run more marathons and then wanting to run faster and then further
• Getting a lot of satisfaction from achieving her goals and pushing her limits
• Deciding to run the coastline of Belgium - 74km
• Wanting to know what else she could do 
• Deciding to run the Marathon des Sables in Morocco 
• Struggling with sleep in the open tent, and dealing with the sandstorm and the noisy people in the tent
• Running Spartathlon Ultra Race 
• Running from Athens to Sparta - having 36 hrs to complete the race 
• Needing to qualify for the Spartathlon
• Running 170km in 24 hrs in 2022
• Running the race again in 2023 and running 1 hr faster than the year before
• Being inspired by Candice Burt running an ultra marathon everyday 
• Realising that running an ultra marathon a day would take up too much time everyday
• Deciding to run a marathon everyday and break a world record 
• Feeling that running a marathon everyday would be achievable while working at the same time
• Starting to plan for the event in summer 2024 - wanting to run with other people 
• Applying to Guinness World Records and figuring out the logistics for evidence 
• The time commitment involved and trying to run with other people 
• Being commitment to the hours she was running 
• The hard days, especially when she was feeling sick 
• Dealing with stomach pain and covid. 
• Falling while running and dislocating her finger 
• Dealing with bad weather especially at the start of the year 
• Struggling with her sleep and feeling too excited from the running both physically and emotionally 
• Sleeping during her lunch break
• Needing to have her days very strictly scheduled 
• The time commitment of running, social media and the info for Guinness World Records
• The mindset of taking on a daily challenge like this
• Her resilience coming from having a strict childhood and being very disciplined
• Seeing her running as a job 
• Feeling gratitude for while she was running 
• Raising funds for breast cancer patients 
• Being supported by the people who ran with her and also supported via social media 
• Daily recovery strategies - having a recovery shake, baths, stretching and a massage 1x per week
• Being supported by her husband in the house 
• Getting to the end of 366 marathons
• Running the last week in pain, due to a hamstring injury 
• Preparing an event for the last day
• Her body was telling her to stop running 
• Stopping running on the 1st January 2025 
• Feeling very happy that it was over!
• Getting back into running/walking 10 days later 
• Wanting to do the Spartathlon for the 3rd time
• Becoming the 24hrs running Belgium Champion 
• Listening to podcasts and music to pass the time
• Not experiencing many affects from perimenopause and menopause 
• Nutrition and fuelling while running a marathon everyday 
• Which is harder running a fast 5k or running a longer distance?
• Stretching, foam rolling, core stability exercises and bike riding
• The biggest lessons learned from taking on this challenge
• Why the human body can do much more than what we think
• Doing this challenge at 55 years old
• Running an average time of 4hrs 5 mins for each marathon
• Why you can start running at any age
• Training for the Spartathlon 2025 with a running coach 
• Running coach Benny Fisher  
• How to connect with Hilde on line
• Words of advice for runners
• The mind is stronger than the body
• If you think you can’t anymore, you have to think you can do it. Even if you are at a low point in a race. You need to know that it can get better.
• Why the only reason to stop is if you have a serious injury.
• Believe that it can get better
• Think about how you will feel when you give up 
• Think about the people that support you and they will be very happy that you finish and disappointed if you don’t
• Do it for a charity, so you know you are not only doing it for yourself. 
• You have to be strong psychically and mentally
• Prepare yourself for the difficult moments in the race and think through all the different scenarios that could happen

Social Media

Website: www.hildedosogne.be/en 

Instagram: @marathonwoman366/ 

Facebook: @marathonwoman.2024 

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/51029211

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we journey into the heart of the Amazon and the mind of a remarkable woman pushing the boundaries of science, culture, and conservation—Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza.

Rosa is a Peruvian chemical biologist, National Geographic Explorer, UN Harmony with Nature Scientist, and the founder of Amazon Research Internacional. 

Splitting her time between Bath, England, and the Peruvian rainforest, Rosa blends cutting-edge research with ancestral knowledge to protect biodiversity and uplift indigenous communities.

Her journey—from a curious child growing up in Peru to leading expeditions in the Amazon, researching the legendary Boiling River, studying stingless bees, and authoring The Spirit of the Rainforest—is nothing short of extraordinary. Rosa shares how she learned expedition skills later in life, why documenting indigenous science is crucial, and what it means to be a female scientist navigating international platforms like the UN and COP16.

This conversation is packed with insight into climate resilience, overcoming self-doubt, and the healing power of nature, science, and community. Rosa’s message is a powerful call to action for women everywhere: follow the questions that stay in your head—you never know where they may lead.

 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 Dr Rosa
• Currently living in Bath
• Being based between England and Peru 
• Working as a Peruvian scientistic
• National Geographic Explorer 
• Leading science and conservation efforts in the Amazon Rainforest 
• Having a deep connection to her indigenous roots 
• Her early years living in Peru and relationship with her grandmother
• Spending time in the city and the mountains
• Being fascinated by the things she couldn’t understand 
• Loving space and wanted to know everything about the planet
• Having a fascination for science
• Wanting to dedicate her life to the Amazon 
• Getting her PhD in Chemical Biology from Michigan University 
• Taking a year off to get more work experience and reconsidering her whole life
• Being able to study traditional Chineses medicine in Beijing in her last year of undergrad
• The Amazon Boiling River
• Ted Talk - Andrés Ruzo 
• Book: The Boiling River (TED) by Andrés Ruzo  
• Discovering new microbes in the river
• Boiling mud 
• Book: The Spirit of the Rainforest: How indigenous wisdom and scientific curiosity reconnects us to the natural world 
• What you can expect from the book
• Learning expeditions skills later on in life
• Leading her first expedition
• Chapter 4 - Stingless Bees - the oldest bees on the planet 
• Capacity building 
• Partnerships with different indigenous groups
• Climate challenges
• Climate Anxiety
• The importance of indigenous science and making sure that it is documented 
• Being motivated to write the book 
• COP16 in October 2024 in Colombia 
• Dealing with self doubt and why the work is not easy
• Being a voice with the international press
• Creating space for female indigenous members
• Being a good team member
• The importance of community 
• Current expeditions and plans for heading back to the field
• Funding expeditions 
• Extreme climate explorers
• BBC - Documenting their work on stingless bees
• How to find stingless bees
• Smelling fish in the jungle….
• Medicinial Honey?!
• Comparison to Manuka honey?
• Her Ayahuasca experience
• The ego death experience 
• Chapter 11 - becoming a black jaguar 
• How to connect with Dr Rosa
• Final word of advice for women who want to explore more and get into science and exploration
• Follow the questions that stay in your head
• You never know where they may lead.

Social Media

Website: www.rosavespinoza.com 

Instagram: @rosavespinoza

Facebook: @rosavespinoza9 

TikTok: @rosavespinoza 

YouTube: @rosavespinoza

In this deeply moving and inspiring episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Sophie Pierce, a 32-year-old social worker from Pembrokeshire, West Wales, who made history in March 2025 as the first person with Cystic Fibrosis to row an ocean.

Diagnosed at just 3 months old, Sophie has lived with the challenges of a genetic condition that affects her lungs and digestive system and once carried a life expectancy of under 30 years. But Sophie’s story is not defined by limitation—it's a bold testament to resilience, courage, and the power of hope.

From working in fostering services to hiking the Welsh coast with her dogs, swimming in cold water, and sleeping in her campervan—Sophie has never shied away from living life on her terms. 

In this episode, she opens up about the life-changing impact of the Kaftrio drug trial, how she overcame mental health struggles, and what it truly meant to embrace life beyond the horizon by rowing across the Atlantic.

She shares the highs and lows of the row: the months of preparation, team dynamics, magical moments at sea, and how it feels to return to "normal life" after an extraordinary adventure. Sophie's message is powerful and universal—you are capable of so much more than you think.

If you're looking for inspiration, perspective, and an honest exploration of living—and thriving—with a life-limiting condition, this episode is not to be missed.

 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 Sophie
• 32 years old
• Living in Pembrokeshire, West Wales 
• Working as a social worker in fostering service
• Living with a genetic health condition - Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
• March 2025 - becoming the first person with CF to row an ocean
• What is CF
• Being born with it and getting diagnosed at 3 months old  
• Having a shorter lifespan 
• How CF affects her lungs and digestive system 
• Living with reduced lung function 
• Her younger years and how she was treated 
• Why exercise and being out in the fresh air is actively encouraged
• Not liking exercise as a child
• Growing up knowing she had CF and why it was normal
• Being empowered with CF and how her parents encouraged her
• Her mum reminding her to stay as well as she could for as long as she could, so she could benefit from treatments in the future. 
• Learning about her shorter life expectancy and managing those feelings 
• Adopting a positive attitude - being determined to live her life and not letting CF hold her back 
• Wanting to make the most of her time 
• Understanding that time is precious 
• Not needing a pension, savings or need to put down roots 
• The help and support available to help manage the mental and emotional challenges
• Experiencing panic attacks while her health was declining 
• Working with a psychologist 
• Using tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Feeling frightened of letting the big feelings of sadness in
• Feeling so sad about living with CF  
• The drug trial - 5 years ago 
• Taking the Kaftrio drug 
• The challenges of winter for CF patients 
• ‘The Purge’ - coughing for 24 hrs
• How her life and lungs has changed 
• Trustee for CF Trust 
• Being asked to row an ocean 
• Forming a crew of 4
• Stumbling blocks and being told no - by the World’s Toughest Row
• Atlantic Dash 
• Securing the finances and managing the stress of getting to the start line
• Her biggest fear and worrying about staying well enough to do the row 
• Getting out on to the ocean.
• Having electrical issues with the boat 
• Name of the boat - The Spirit of Bluestone 
• Magical moments on the Atlantic Ocean 
• Day 46 coming to the end of the row 
• Rowing schedule and needing to get extra sleep during the night 
• The challenges of team dynamics
• Finding their roles within the group
• Being the social secretary and bringing fun to the boat
• The biggest lesson from rowing the ocean
• You can do so much more than you think you can 
• Being supported by the right people around you
• Dealing with the adventure blues
• How life in weird after rowing an ocean
• Being in a really exciting place
• Future challenges?!
• Words of advice from the CF perspective 
• Learning to life with CF
• How to connect with Sophie
• You are capable of so much more than you think you are
• Learn to reframe the negative voices in your head

Social Media

Instagram

@sophiefpierce 

@cruisingfree2025 

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we welcome Emma Wilkinson—a freelance health journalist, ultra runner, mother of three, and co-author of the empowering book Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport. 

Emma’s journey into ultra running didn’t begin until her 40s, but once she discovered the joy of going long and slow, there was no turning back.

In this honest and motivating conversation, Emma shares how she went from half marathons and road running to self-created 100K adventures in the mountains of Snowdonia. Alongside fellow runner and friend Lily Canter, she set out to research and write Ultra Women, a book that celebrates female endurance athletes and dives into the science, stories, and social constructs around women in ultra sport.

Emma talks openly about what inspired the book, how she balanced full-time work, parenting, and running while writing it, and what she learned about the unique strengths women bring to endurance challenges—especially around fatigue resistance, pain management, and mental toughness.

If you’ve ever doubted your capabilities, struggled with self-identifying as a “runner,” or wondered if your body was made for ultras—this episode is for you. Emma’s message is simple and powerful: don’t put limits on yourself—just give it a go.

 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 Emma
• Journalist and runner
• Co-Author of a new book - Ultra Women
• Book: Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport 
• What Emma was like as little girl
• Growing up in Bradford and not being massively sporty when she was younger
• Getting into running in her later teens
• Being far more active now than she was as a child
• In her early 20s watching the London Marathon and wanting to give it ago 
• Getting into half marathons
• Running the Sheffield Half Marathon and being sick at the end  
• Starting to run faster and joining a running club to make new friends
• Doing her first marathon just before she had children, just before turning 30
• Why she enjoyed running 
• 2019 - meeting Lilly (co-author on the Ultra women book)
• Singing up for a 100k - 2 day event
• Falling in love with ultra running - the slower, longer, adventure
• Her friendship with Lilly, doing their journalism MA together, 20 years ago
• Teaching Journalism at Sheffield University  
• How the book came about
• Walking the hills 
• What do you need to do, to get to the end. 
• Needing to be able to tune into your body
• Creating their own 100K 2 days event - on the Snowdonia Slate Trail 
• Surprising herself with what she was capable of 
• Writing the book at the same time of doing full time work as a journalist while also looking after children and running 
• Why are women so good at ultra endurance distances 
• Coming from a science background and why the research was so interesting 
• How women have more fatigue resistant muscles
• Not feeling in competition with other women 
• Book: Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men 
• The lack of research into sports science for women
• Hopefully the research is starting to turn a corner
• Why ultra running training plans are based on men 
• Women have been deemed as to complicated to include in studies 
• Fatigue resistant muscles research 
• Wanting to learn more about recovery and how that applies to women specifically 
• Training for ultras
• Women having to use a process of trial and error to figure out what works best for them
• Periods and cycle tracking and feeling different at different times of the month and why the data can be confusing 
• Learning more about oestrogen and how it affects endurance
• How the book came about
• Getting the book published
• Are women faster the longer they go?
• Freelancing for Journalists 
• Lael Wilcox going after the mens’s around the world bike record in 2026 
• The motherhood perspective on running
• Sophie Power
• She Races 
• Not running in pregnancy and chaining to walking
• Dealing with separated stomach muscles 
• Needing to get back to running and needing time for herself
• Having a chapter on pregnancy in the book and why it’s not the same for everyone
• Pain and women, and pain management
• Sexism
• Creating a manifesto and calling for action
• Do you call yourself a runner?
• Confidence - women - running
• Say yes for signing up for that ultra
• How to connect with Emma
• Final words of advice 
• Don’t put limits on yourself, if you want to do something, have ago.
• Women who just wanted to see if they could and they did
• Why not give it ago!

Social Media

Website: emmawilkinson.net 

Instagram: @emmawjourno/

BlueSky: @emmajourno.bsky.social‬

Book: Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Lily Canter—an ultra runner, women’s running coach, journalist, and passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. As co-author of the groundbreaking book Ultra Women, Lily is helping to challenge outdated narratives and spotlight the women redefining endurance running.

Lily didn’t grow up considering herself sporty, but after joining a triathlon club in her 30s, she discovered a love for running that quickly evolved into a passion for ultras. What began as a spontaneous 30-mile run turned into a deeper journey into the ultra world—culminating in a 250km multi-day race across Tanzania and a growing commitment to empowering more women through education, coaching, and research.

In this episode, Lily opens up about the gaps she saw in female-specific training information, how she and co-author Emma Wilkinson tackled the research for their book, and why visibility, representation, and equity matter—on the trails and in the media. From coaching to kit, sports bras to science, Lily shares what still needs to change and how she’s pushing those boundaries herself.

Whether you’re curious about tackling your first ultra or passionate about equity in endurance sports, this episode offers practical insight and powerful inspiration.

 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 Lilly
• Journalist who specialises in running and fitness
• A female running coach 
• Ultra runner
• Lecturer at university 
• Running an organisation with Emma called; Freelancing for Journalists 
• Her early years…
• Not coming from a sporty family 
• Growing up in Guilford, Surrey
• Playing netball consistently for most of her life 
• Moving to Liverpool as a teenager
• Getting into running in her 30s
• Joining a triathlon club in her mid to late 30s
• Being inspired by an amazing running coach 
• Running consistently for the past 7/8 years
• Being busy… and how her career has changed a lot 
• Getting bored very easily 
• Going freelance 8 years ago and it giving her the freedom to do more things and pursue her different passions 
• Getting better at running and starting to enjoy it more 
• Varying the types of runs and where she ran 
• Building her running confidence 
• Trying different races
• Starting to really enjoy running
• Her first ultra which was an accident!
• Running 30 miles on a looped course
• The relaxed, chilled, approach to ultra running
• Speaking with Emma about doing an ultra together
• The lack of information and resources especially women centric information 
• Signing up to a multi-stage 100k race in Romania 
• Having to figure out her training plan for herself 
• Thinking about writing a book about running 
• How the book came about and getting the book published 
• Being inspired by the women winning races outright 
• Wanting to understand why so few women were participating in ultra races 
• Dividing up the research and why it was quite straightforward 
• Being surprised by the records held by women in the swimming world.
• The mental side and the lessons that could be applied to her running
• What does the scientific evidence say with regards to men and women
• The social construct of difference between men and women
• The importance of being prepared and having confidence in what you know works for you
• Running 250km across Tanzania 2023 
• Why it was her favourite race 
• Being more aware of the setup of races and how female friendly they are
• Images of women in marketing material, website etc 
• The manifesto - call to action - wanting to drive change 
• Focused on 6 key areas 
• The importance of female specific sports research
• What are women capable of?
• The importance of female specific training guides 
• Kit which has been designed for women 
• Sports bra testing
• Media coverage and commentary of women
• Equal prize money and sponsorship
• Why races should use the - She Races Guidelines 
• Training for 2025/2026
• Wanting to test their limits 
• Signing up for Equinox 24 - wanting to run further than they have run before (goals 65 miles +) 
• She Trails race in the Peak District - August 2025 
• Heading oversees to race a 5 day race in the heat… depending on recovery 
• Training programs and making running work for you 
• Having a coach for the past 18 months and the difference it has made 
• Being more competitive in races 
• How to connect with Lily on social media
• Final words of advice for other women who want to be a trail blazer
• Why you need to believe in yourself 
• Push your boundaries and try hard things 
• Don’t be scared of challenging yourself 

Social Media

Website www.lilycanter.co.uk 

Instagram: @lilycanter

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lilycanter

X: x.com/lilycanter 

Book: Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Tania Carmona—a trailblazing ultrarunner, endurance coach, entrepreneur, and the first Mexican athlete to complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam. From swimming as a national-level athlete in Mexico to conquering some of the toughest environments on Earth, Tania’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity.

Based in Dubai and previously living in Scotland and the U.S., Tania shares her path into ultrarunning—from a reluctant marathon finisher to tackling self-supported races across the Gobi, Atacama, Namib, and Antarctica. We dive into her experience navigating extreme heat, physical stress, and the emotional highs and lows of ultra-endurance.

Tania also opens up about the physiological toll of training, dealing with cortisol imbalances, the decision to undergo back surgery, and why she and her husband launched the Ultra Happy Podcast to bring more real, relatable stories to the running world.

Whether you're chasing your own desert dreams or looking for inspiration to keep putting one foot in front of the other, this episode is packed with heart, humour, and hard-earned wisdom.

 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 Tania
• Ultrarunner, coach and podcast host
• Being based in Dubai, born in Mexico and previously living in Glasgow, Scotland 
• Growing up in Mexico City in a small family 
• Being into swimming when she was little
• Being a national swimmer 
• Deciding to stop swimming at 15 
• Moving to Chicago to do her Masters
• Getting into running in Chicago after being inspired by the Chicago Marathon 
• Starting running with a free group 3x a week
• Finishing her first marathon and deciding to never run again at 20
• Needing to make new friends after moving back to Mexico
• Deciding to give running another go
• A spartan race…. 2016
• Finding trail running!
• Hiring a coach 
• Signing up for a 50k
• Meeting her Scottish husband, Andy
• Moving from Mexico City to Scotland!
• Deciding to sign up for longer, harder races and how her lifestyle started to change
• The 5 Desert Grand Slam 
• Wanting to do Cocodona 250km race 
• The 5 different, self supported races
• Dealing with the heat
• Gobi Desert in Mongolia - more trails and more hard packed terrain - very similar to Scotland
• Running with really old shoes
• Running in Antartica over 5 days - living on an expedition boat 
• Atacama Desert in Chile and why it was one of her most favourite races
• Reducing those feelings of overwhelm
• Focusing on the first step first
• Taking a year off to focus on running 
• Working with a running coach 
• Recovery runs and resting 
• Dealing with gut issues and periods problems
• The impact on her body with spikes of cortisol 
• Developing a cortisol hump on her back
• Not sleeping well
• The evening routines and life admin after a race 
• Having surgery on her cortisol hump (7 cm by 1.5 cm deep) on her back
• Dealing with more stress, by moving to Dubai
• Ultra Happy Podcast 
• Co-hosting with her husband Andy
• Documenting the journey 
• How to connect with Tania
• Mini films from each dessert available to watch on YouTube 
• Final words of advice
• Live your life with curiosity 
• Don’t do it for the likes 
• Think about what else you could do 

Social Media

Website: taniacarmona.komi.io 

Instagram: @taniaruns_theworld

TikTok: @taniaruns_theworld 

Youtube: @Tania_Carmona

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sarah Ruggins—a high-achieving investment professional, academic powerhouse, and now a record-breaking ultra-endurance cyclist. From her early days as a national-level track athlete in Canada to surviving complex PTSD and rebuilding her life, Sarah’s journey is one of transformation, resilience, and radical self-belief.

In 2023, Sarah competed in the Transcontinental Bike Race, and in 2025, she took on her most audacious challenge yet: cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back again—2,715 km in just 5 days, 11 hours, and 14 minutes, setting a new outright record.

This conversation dives deep into the planning, training, and mindset behind the ride—from strength work and 3:30 AM mornings to battling hallucinations, sleep deprivation, and pain barriers. Sarah shares her three-part mantra—Focus, Discipline, Gratitude—and unpacks how elite performance is built in the margins: with structure, strategy, and sacrifice.

Whether you're chasing a personal goal or looking for motivation to push your own limits, this is an episode that will fuel your fire.

 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 Dr Sarah Ruggins
• Working as an investment professional for the past 10 years 
• Growing up in Canada 
• Being part of a very active family
• Doing a lot of running and focusing on track and field 
• Working with the best coaches
• Holding national records in middle distances 
• Preparing for junior olympics at 14/15
• Wanting to represent her country at the highest level
• Her teenage years
• Needing a routine surgery on her feet
• Developing a disease of her nervous system 
• The impact on her life
• Developing complex PTSD 
• Getting back to a ‘normal life’
• Starting to focus more on academics 
• Getting 4 degrees in 4 different subjects
• Competing in the trans continental bike race in 2023
• Wanting to understand what her limits were
• John O’Groats to Lands End and back again
• Being supported by a crew
• Working with Rob Lee from RLP Coaching 
• What training looked like from Sept/October 2024 to May 2025
• What a typical week looked like
• Working with a strength coach to compliment what she was doing on the bike
• Increasing the volume of training on both the bike and in the gym
• Squats increasing from 45kg to - 4 sets of 5 reps at 110kg
• While working a full time job in finance 
• Having her whole life scheduled from 3.30am - 10pm 
• Figuring out life admin
• Setting big goals in your life - you need to be prepared to make sacrifices in pursuit of those goals 
• Planning, schedules and logistics 
• Coming back to the WHY was integral 
• Building the team and pulling everyone together
• Reaching out to sponsors
• Wanting to make a history making ride
• Probability, chance and luck
• Going to maximise our probabilities of success 
• Being on the start line being 100% confident
• Being forced to be brave and tough - but coming from a place of power
• Wanting to demonstrate to herself her own resilience and wanting to inspire others
• Starting the challenge and wanting to ride to her capabilities
• Working in blocks of 4 hours and focusing on the power. 
• Managing her process and focusing on what’s on the road ahead
• Riding 4 hours and then off the bike for 10 mins - the ‘Pitt stops’
• What goes on in those 10 mins 
• Eating and nutrition and eating constantly while on the bike
• How her body responded to the challenge 
• 3 phases while doing endurance work:  phase 1, the first 36 hours - feeling great, phase 2 hitting a pain wall which you need to push through, phase 3 -  where you feel like you can go forever, your body has accepted this is just what you do now
• Going though the pain wall and pain gate 
• The mind body connection and what was happening mentally
• Developing a 3 part mantra: focus, discipline and gratitude 
• The biggest challenge while on the bike 
• Not being able to tolerate solid foods on day 3
• Moving to liquid food - Supported by Huel 
• Dealing with the sleep deprivation - confusion and falling asleep while on her bike
• Crashing into a nettle bush and going into hyperglycemic shock 
• Using blue light to wake her up
• Being ahead of the record by about 7 hours and 175km - stick to the process
• Reaching the end 
• The feelings of relief 
• Keeping your emotions locked in for 5 days 
• Being able to relax!
• 2715 km in 5 days 11 hours 14 minutes. NEW OUTRIGHT RECORD HOLDER
• Her limits….
• Taking the learning and applying it to new projects
• Recovery after the challenge
• Getting back on the bike and back in the gym
• Raising funds for 2 charities 
• The Bike Project 
• Bikes for Refugees 
• How you can connect with Sarah
• Working on a feature documentary about the challenge - due in early 2026
• Final words of advice from Sarah
• Understand what is most important to you, and curate an objective around that 
• Demonstrate aggressive patience in pursuit of your goals 
• Focus on the small wins everyday.

Social Media

Instagram @sarah_ruggins 

In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode we catch up with adventurer and outdoor writer Nicola Hardy—also known for becoming Munroist #6,765 after summiting all 282 of Scotland’s Munros.

Nicola left behind a decade-long career in IT to pursue a life filled with mountains, maps, and meaningful adventure. Since our first conversation in March 2022, Nicola has continued to embrace the outdoor life with passion—working part-time to support her adventures and dedicating the rest of her week to exploring the hills and trails she loves.

In this episode, Nicola shares what she’s been up to over the last few years, including writing her first guidebook: Peak Bagging Munros: Volume 1. We talk about the process of creating the book, linking routes efficiently across the Highlands, and her experiences hiking internationally—from Switzerland's Alpine Passes Trail to her first solo trip abroad on the Coronallacs route in Andorra.

Nicola is honest about the practicalities of outdoor life—from parking anxiety and budget travel to the importance of finding community in the outdoors. With future dreams like hiking New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, her journey is far from over.

If you’re passionate about mountains, guidebooks, or building a life around what you love—this episode is for you.

TGP March 31st 2022 -  Nicola Hardy - Adventurer and outdoor writer -Climbing all 282 of Scotland's Munros 

 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 Nicola 
• Living in Cockermouth, Cumbria
• Being a peak bagger and long distance walker
• Preferring land over the water
• Writing a peak bagging guidebook 
• Previously speaking with Nicola in March 31st 2022 
• What we chatting about on the first Tough Girl Podcast episode 
• Catching up with what’s been happening since 2022
• Ending up here after doing the things that filled her life with joy
• Trying to fill her time with as much adventure as possible 
• Finding the balance of adventuring while also bringing in money as well
• Working 2 days a week part time (flipping the standard working week, upside down) and having 5 days off
• Getting to the start of challenges using public transport
• Parking anxiety and how it can introduce negative thinking before an adventure 
• Peak Bagging Munro’s - the book and how it came about 
• Sir Hugh Munro
• Munro Bagging and what it is 
• 64 routes which are designed to link up these iconic mountains 
• Adventure Books by Vertebrate Publishing 
• What makes this guide book different 
• Including good maps, and efficient routes linking Munros together 
• Separating into 10 highland hubs
• A walker, a trekker, a fast packer and a runner 
• Rest day suggestions 
• The gathering of the information 
• Building spreadsheets
• Following your passion and working on the guidebook 
• Volume 1 of 2
• Who the book is for
• Heading to Switzerland and hiking the Alpine Passes Trail 
• Camping 20 nights out of 31
• Being mountain fit
• Park runs 
• Doing her first solo trip abroad
• Hiking The Coronallacs 
• Being able to switch off and spend time in nature
• Wanting to go on more solo walks
• The South West Coast Path 
• Future plans and dreams to hike the Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand 
• Zoleo 
• How to connect with Nic
• Trying to keep the website updated
• Final words of advice 
• Getting out there and finding your community 
• Try lots of things in the outdoor space
• Find what you love and dive in headfirst, you never know where it might lead

Social Media

Link for listeners to purchase the book - https://bit.ly/3REAjVU

Website - adventurernic.com

Facebook - @adventurer.nic.official 

Instagram - @adventurer.nic 

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Ebaide Joy Udoh, a bold Nigerian adventurer and storyteller on a mission to make history. Ebaide is currently undertaking a solo motorcycle journey across Africa, aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Journey by Motorcycle in Africa (Female). The current record to beat is 30,000 kilometers (19,000 miles)—and by the time she completes the final leg of her trip, Ebaide expects to reach an incredible 35,000 km (22,000 miles).

But Ebaide’s story isn’t just about distance—it’s about determination, vision, and fearlessly carving a new path. From learning how to ride a motorcycle from scratch, to building a DIY camper van, to navigating complex visa issues with a Nigerian passport, her journey is anything but ordinary.

In this episode, Ebaide shares the realities of solo travel across Africa—the beauty, the bureaucracy, the culture, and the challenges—and what fuels her unstoppable spirit. We dive into her creative approach to funding her travels, her charity work empowering girls in Nigeria, and her passion for storytelling through content creation.

Get ready to be inspired by this fiercely independent woman who reminds us all:

“You own your life. Don’t let fear cripple you—go for it.”

 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 Ebaide Joy
• Adventure cyclist who has been riding around Africa 
• Being in Lagos, Nigeria 
• Currently in-between trips
• Not growing up around motorcycles
• Having a desire to travel
• Building a camper van in 2022/2023 to go travelling 
• Moving to a tuk - tuk 
• Building a camper van from scratch in 3 months 
• Travelling for 7 years - initially via backpacking 
• Heading back to East Africa after the pandemic
• Funding her travelling adventures 
• Having 2,000 followers on IG last year 
• Working at midnight for a company in the Netherlands 
• Being able to make funds from content creation, brand deals and gifted goods. 
• Learning how to ride a bike
• Going to bike school to learn how to ride
• Building up her skills and becoming a fantastic rider
• What her adventure travels look like 
• Moving from hotel to hotel 
• Living a nocturnal lifestyle 
• Travelling with a Nigerian passport and how it works with visas’s
• Languages and being able to communicate on her travels
• Speaking/getting by in Swahili, French and English 
• Applying for a Guinness World Record and what happened initially 
• Longest Solo Motorcycle Ride Across Africa by a Woman.
• Needing to break 30,000 km and go through 7 countries at least 
• Planning or going with the flow
• Connecting with the locals
• Sharing the journey, the road, the food, the people, the police, the issues and the highlights
• Exploring as a road bike traveller
• The issues with visa’s, borders and money 
• Not playing the game
• Fighting and having nothing to lose
• Magical countries 
• Never going back to Cameroon 
• Solo traveller
• Having a full life
• Being busy at all the time
• Introverted but present as an extrovert
• Not having the time 
• Being bored by people easily 
• Raising money for charity - Ebaide Foundation 
• Giving the girls training in tailoring, hair making, and catering
• 3-month residential program focused on training, support, and purpose
• Planning the next adventure 
• Naming her bike Aurora - light in darkness
• How to connect with Ebaide online
• Follow your dreams, life is short, life does’t wait for you, time doesn’t wait for you. 
• You own your life, you should control it, you should define it, you should make the most of it. 
• Don’t let fear cripple you. 
• You should go for it. 

Social Media

Instagram: @go_ebaide 

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/GoEbaide 

TikTok: @go__ebaide

Twitter: twitter.com/official_ebaide

Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/goebaide

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Christine Reed—an American long-distance backpacker and award-winning author—whose life changed when she took her first steps on the Appalachian Trail in 2015. With no prior backpacking experience, Christine dove headfirst into the unknown, seeking healing, purpose, and a sense of identity.

Since then, Christine has hiked thousands of miles, lived out of a van, and carved a creative path through storytelling. Her debut memoir, Alone in Wonderland, captured her raw and powerful journey of self-discovery, while her latest anthology Blood Sweat Tears amplifies the voices of women+ on trail—sharing unfiltered stories about periods, pain, perseverance, and everything in between.

We talk about grief, growth, writing through discomfort, and the courage it takes to follow your passions even when they feel far outside your comfort zone. Christine’s story reminds us that you don’t have to be outdoorsy, athletic, or fearless to start—you just have to begin.

***

 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 Christine
• Thru-hike and trail runners
• Being based in New Mexico, America
• Her early years and not growing up outdoorsy 
• Reading blogs about the Appalachian Trail in the fall of 2013
• Graduating from college and working in health insurance 
• Being pretty unhappy and not knowing what to do with her life
• Why the Appalachian Trail (AT) was so appealing 
• Taking the first step and commitment to the hike
• Everyone on the trail being in a phase of transition 
• Being possible for her to leave her life
• Taking a year to plan and research the trail 
• Planning to hike the AT  in 2015 
• The importance of finding something that you are excited about 
• Never backpacking before and just going on a few day hikes
• Not being a fit or athletic person
• Doing her research - whiteblaze.net - an old school pin board forum 
• Doing zero physical preparation 
• The feelings at the start of the Appalachian Trail
• Riding greyhound buses to the start (16+ hours)
• The steps up to  Amicalola Falls
• First night camping at a shelter
• Personal goals - find herself?
• 24 and turning 25 on the trail
• Doing hard things
• HIking pre social media
• Lessons and learning from thru-hiking
• Losing her mum just after starting the trail 
• Spending time at home and deciding to get back on the trail
• Grieving while on the trail
• Feeling her feeling and talking about them
• Having wonderful encounters with other hikers and being able to share 
• 650 miles feeling ready to leave the trail
• Having a closer relationship with her dad
• Moving to Denver, Colorado
• Struggling to reengage with the capitalist system
• Living in a van, travelling around and living a more adventurous lifestyle
• Thru-hikers making great van lifers 
• Feeling lonely while on the road
• The community aspect of the trail experience 
• Finding her way
• Being in a new phase of transition
• Moving into a little house in New Mexico
• Being an author from 2018 - mostly as a full time worker
• 1st book came out in 2021 - Alone in Wonderland 
• Trying to write a 2nd memoir, but struggling to write and feeling frustrated
• Wanting to write a collection of stories about women
• Putting out a call for pitches/submissions - women’s relationships to our bodies, using the trail as a link
• Wanting to put out 15 stories
• Receiving over 200 submissions
• Book: Blood, Sweat Tears
• The importance of sharing women’s stories that haven’t been shared
• Narrowing down the selection of stories 
• The editing process 
• Can I work with this writer to get this story where it needs to be?
• Talking about blood, periods and menstruation 
• Being in women only spaces 
• Speaking about periods 
• Jolly Gear Hiking Dress
• Anna McNuff
• Hygiene and menstral cups 
• Tampons and pads - everything has it’s plus and minus 
• Everybody is different 
• Taking the pill?
• Wanting to celebrate our bodies and not be manipulating it
• Allowing our bodies to go through natural cycles 
• What’s next for Christine 
• Publishing a memoir with Bethany Adams 
• FKT 
• Gardening, art and being more creative 
• How to connect with Christine online 
• Final words of advice 
• Advice for following your creative passions which are outside your comfort zone 
• Don’t get stuck in the ideas of who we are and what we are suppose to be doing

Social Media

Instagram: @ruggedoutdoorswoman 

Book: Blood Sweat Tears 

Blood Sweat Tears is a short story collection from 26 women+ hikers and runners about the experience of being in a female body on trail. This group of intrepid and vulnerable athletes/writers talk periods, boob sweat, and ugly crying. The trail is a place for healing, and can show us what we are made of---but it's always us doing the hard work.

Book: Alone in Wonderland

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by Beth, a 22-year-old veterinary student and elite dragon boat paddler based in Nottingham. Beth shares how a simple home workout routine during the COVID lockdown sparked a journey into endurance sport—from running the Robin Hood Half Marathon to discovering dragon boating at university.

Since then, Beth has gone from novice paddler to competing on the world stage, representing Great Britain at the 2023 Dragon Boat World Championships in Thailand. 

Now a coach, helm, and passionate advocate for women in sport, she talks about training, teamwork, and the power of inclusive communities. 

Beth’s story is one of grit, growth, and finding joy in pushing physical and mental limits.

 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 Beth
• 22 year old Vet Student 
• Final year of vet school, working on a placement year
• Working with small animals and horses
• Having a passion and love for animals 
• Deciding to be a vet
• Studying; Biology, chemistry and maths at A’Level
• Hating sports at school 
• Starting university in 2021
• Soaring Dragons, based in Loughborough 
• Starting to train with the team
• What Dragon Boat racing is
• The set up of the boat
• Getting started in Dragon Boat Racing 
• The impact of covid on the Dragon Boat Club
• Learning the skills needed 
• Being put into the boat straight away
• Training as much as she can
• The challenges of training while being on work placements and rotations 
• Why its a good sport for involving everyone 
• The stroke pair - being in charge of setting the rate
• Getting qualified as a helm 
• Getting into race helming 
• Competing at Nationals
• Great Britain Premier Squad 
• The different categories
• BNTS Sessions - taster sessions where anyone from any club can try out the trainers and see what improvements can be made to their paddling 
• Being a new paddler in 2021
• Going away and doing her own training in 2022 
• Wanting to take it more seriously and getting into the squad in 2023
• Committing to training weekend across the country 
• Doing paddling and strength training 
• Being part of the what’s app group and sharing training plans and sessions 
• Team Dynamics of the crew
• Being very competitive with herself 
• Wanting to be the best she could be 
• Heading to the World Championships in Thailand in 2023
• Racing in the 2k event
• Race strategy and how the race unfolded 
• Taking a peek at the other boat!
• Dealing with an injury and not being able to paddle
• Drumming for another team - Three River Serpents
• Racing plans for 2025
• Transporting the boat to different competitions
• Enjoying the 500m distance 
• How to connect on social media
• Contact your local club and give it a go 
• Racing as part of the women’s crew 
• Commit to it - what you want

Social Media

Notts Anaconda - www.nottsanaconda.co.uk 

Instagram - @nottsanaconda 

THE BDA - the national governing body for Dragon Boat Racing throughout Great Britain. www.dragonboat.org.uk 

Facebook - www.facebook.com/britishdragonboatracing 

@gbpremierdragonboatteam 

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Kristy and Annette—two inspiring women who completely transformed their lives after retirement. In 2015, they sold everything they owned, bought an RV, and set out to live life on their own terms. What began as a “retirement gift” hike on the Colorado Trail quickly evolved into a bold new chapter of full-time adventure.

Since then, Kristy and Annette have completed the Triple Crown of Hiking—the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail—and spend each year splitting their time between life on the road and life on foot.

Together, they share their journey of choosing freedom, rejecting fear, and expanding the limits of what life after 50 can look like. This episode is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to chase your dreams, explore the unknown, and live life unapologetically.

If you’ve ever felt the urge to change direction, embrace the outdoors, or reclaim your time and energy for what truly lights you up—this conversation is for you.

 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

• Annette - working as a teacher and school Librarian 
• Deciding to retire in 2015 
• Doing a lot of backpacking trips before retirement 
• Giving themselves the trip to do the Colorado Trail as a retirement present
• Getting hooked on long hikes
• Travelling and hiking full time since them
• Growing up in California and being outdoorsy, but not getting into travelling and hiking until moving to Colorado as a senior in high school 
• Loving the South West of America
• Hiking the Appalachian Trail and having a blast!
• Meeting Kristy, born in Washington, USA before moving to Colorado at 8 years old
• Growing up adventuring and spending time in the mountains and woods
• Going to college on a basketball scholarship
• Always being active 
• Really enjoying the backpacking and spending long periods of time in nature as she’s gotten older
• Working as a mental health therapist and working with children who had early trauma
• Making a change in 2015 and deciding to end that chapter 
• Thinking that life is a gift and it goes by really fast and wanting to live it up while they can
• Wanting to do all of the hard things
• Wanting to write a new chapter and try new things
• Selling everything they owned and buying an RV
• Deciding to walk more long distance trails
• Wanting to hike the triple crown 
• How Kristy and Annette met at a sweat lodge (sauna) in 2003
• Meeting for a coffee and saying ‘wanting to walk the earth’
• Starting to go on weekend trips 
• Wanting to stay out in nature for longer
• Seeing a financial planner 
• Starting to think differently 
• Figuring out how to live the cheapest way and to do the things they love
• Starting adventuring 10 years ago full time at 51 and 57
• Having a 5 year plan
• Completing the plan in 4 years
• Not caring about stuff and not being materialistic 
• Loving this lifestyle 
• Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019
• How demanding it was (aged 62)
• Starting slow and building and seeing how their bodies held up for the long haul
• Having to change plans due to covid
• Starting the continental divide trail 
• The amazing people met along the way
• The simplicity of life on the trail
• Sharing their dreams with family and friends
• Other people’s fears
• The dream verses the reality of this life
• Wanting to create her life how she wants it
• Planning for the year ahead
• Wanting to expand the confines of their life until they die 
• Claiming space in the world and making it exactly how you want it
• Handling disagreements 
• How plans evolve overtime
• Having low expectations and why it can be a key for happiness
• Planning a trip to South America 
• Booking the hiking part of the trip and keeping the rest free
• Working within a framework 
• Annettee doing the researching 
• Creating the grand plans!
• Training and doing a marathon while selling the house!
• Getting into pack rafts 
• Leaving the RV while hiking 
• Making this life work
• The triple hike and the differences between the big three hikes
• Water carries, desert, hiking at elevation, sun levels, resupply
• Why the Appalachian Trail is a good beginner trail for newbies 
• Watch the videos on YouTube 
• Wanting to inspire people to get outside especially older people
• Words of advice for women listening 
• Starting small and find what you love
• Building success into it 
• Figure out what works for you
• Setting yourself up for big success 
• Why life is a huge gift
• Don’t let it (life) go to waste
• Be in your power

Social Media

Instagram @wanderwomen_kristy_annette 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RVsters/ 

Youtube: @wanderwomenkristyannette5021 

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Rebecca Devereux — a dedicated mum, a vet, and a passionate trail and ultra runner. Rebecca shares her journey into endurance running, her training highs and lows, and what it took to place third in one of Britain’s most brutal races — the Montane Winter Spine Sprint, a 46-mile challenge across the rugged Pennine Way in the depths of winter.

We dive into Rebecca’s approach to training and mindset, how she balances family life with her love for the trails, and her growing involvement with Black Trail Runners, a community breaking down barriers in the outdoors. 

From road marathons to alpine trails, Rebecca’s story is one of resilience, preparation, and quiet determination — whether she’s running through snowstorms in spikes, racing in the Swiss Alps, or supporting others in their running journeys.

If you’re looking for inspiration to start your own trail running adventure — or just want to hear how someone juggles it all and still finds joy in the challenge — this episode is for you.

 Tune in now and get ready to be inspired by Rebecca’s grit, humour, and heart.

We first spoke with Rebecca December 28th 2023 - Listen to this episode here - Rebecca Devereux - Active member of Black Trail Runners (BTR)

 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 Rebecca
• Mum, vet, and an ultra runner
• 3rd place in the Montane Spine Race (Winter Race) 
• Speaking with Rebecca on the TGP - December 28th 2023 
• The beginning of 2024
• Training for the London Marathon 
• Her first road race
• UTMB Eiger  
• The difference between training for a road race compared to a trail race
• Black Trail Runners (BTR) 
• What race day like
• Running to Heart Rate
• Craving salt 30k in
• Wearing a running vest?
• Magical moments and the stand out bits
• Recovery after the marathon 
• Racing in Switzerland and wanting to be back in the mountains again
• Race strategy for UTMB Eiger and dealing with the killer climbs
• Taking a nasty fall and hurting her ankle   
• Losing her confidence on the downhill sections
• Heart rate and effort
• Wanting to involve her family in the racing
• Being a beacon runner
• BTR and having a 35% increase in members
• Hosting taste days and working with different partners 
• The Spine Race….
• Could I do this?
• Getting on the waiting list…
• Being encouraged by Sabrina Pace-Humpreys 
• Winter Spine Sprint - 46 miles along the Pennine Way
• Peak Divide ONEr - 75 miles - during the day, a social run. 
• Running in the bad weather
• Running better in the wet and cold compared to running in the heat
• Planning race strategy and training with her coach - Sam Village 
• Living on the course and being able to do recce runs
• Planning and preparing for all eventualities 
• Being a prepper to help deal with anxiousness 
• Hill sprints and hill repeats 
• Snow….
• Haworth Hobble Race 
• Anything else that could have been done to prepare for the race
• Shorts in winter….
• Needing to believe in herself and her choices 
• Silence the noise - silence anything that is going to affect you in a negative way 
• Wearing spikes for running in the snow
• Yaktrax 
• Kahtoola Spikes 
• Having a goal of finishing the race
• Having the right mindset for when the racing is going slow due to the slow
• Having the aim of keeping moving forward and not getting frustrated with the speed of the race
• Being confidence on navigation 
• Catching up with the main group
• Getting into flow and everything feeling right
• Ambassador for TORQ Fitness UK 
• Having a caffeine hour 
• How the conditions helped her
• Making the right decisions and grinding it out
• The full Montane Spine Race (268 miles) 
• Challenger South - 110 Miles… 
• Having a massive respect for the race and not feeling ready to take on the full spine race
• Plans for racing in 2025
• UTMB - OCC
• Running with 7 women from Black Trail Runners 
• How to connect with Rebecca and Black Trail Runners
• Final words of advice for other women who are on their trail running journey 
• “Turn up, do the sessions, and if you are consistent you will make progress”
• The importance of preparation. 

Social Media

Instagram: @rebecca_runs_wild

Black Trail Runners - Campaigning charity promoting inclusion, participation & representation of people of Black heritage and people of colour in trail running

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/273210547440261 

Instagram: @blacktrailrunners

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