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Tough Girl Podcast

The Tough Girl Podcast is all about inspiring and motivating YOU! I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who’ve faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges. Please check out the Tough Girl Challenges website - www.toughgirlchallenges.com and follow on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL
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Now displaying: 2020
Dec 31, 2020
“Road To 50 Miles” chronicles the journey of two women as they train for and run a 50-mile race, an ultramarathon.  Their journey leads them on a discovery to find their true heroes and inspires an entire community to help them get across the finish line. 
 
Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUMZYK0Y_vU
 
Kara Wilson in her own words:
 
As a child I was always one of the fastest in the class. I was tall and skinny and though awkward I was light and could fly confidently quicker than most on the field or the track. Running wasn’t a chore back then.
If I would get a pair of fresh sneakers I would want to see how fast and far they could take me the minute I fastened them to my feet. It wasn’t until I hit puberty that I started to slow down a bit and running soon became a bore. I didn’t need to run to lose weight and I didn’t quite understand why anyone would want to run  longer than once around a track. As time passed by I just grew completely disinterested in it. It wasn’t until I moved to England at 38 that it became a thing. I currently find myself running. Running here and there and everywhere for everyone but most importantly running for myself.
 
Jen McMahon in her own words: 
 
I remember distinctly when I was on the cheer squad in high school, we had to run 1 mile as a warm up everyday before practice.  I would basically do whatever I could to avoid the mile or cut it short or just complain through the whole thing.  It never occurred to me that I could actually do this for fun. 
I’m not really sure where the motivation came from, but when I was about 26 and about to get married, I decided I wanted to run a marathon.  I had NO race experience and I just decided to start training (just barely).  A couple friends of mine and my husband (fiancee at the time) start running all around Huntington Beach to prepare. We ran our first marathon, the Rock ‘n Roll San Diego that June and I have been running in some way or another ever since.  After having kids I stopped doing marathons and half marathons decided to focus more on 5ks, 10ks and sprint triathlons. Then one day, Kara said, “Hey, you wanna run an ultramarathon with me?” It had never occurred to me to run a distance like this before and I didn’t want to let the opportunity pass me by, so here I am!
 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Meeting Kara and Jen
  • The idea to run 50 miles
  • Having the conversation about running 50 miles
  • Panic…
  • Running a lot but not running longer distances
  • Buying the book - 
  • Following a training plan
  • Starting from being able to run a half marathon
  • Not training together 
  • Holding each other accountable
  • Getting the long runs in
  • Getting the idea to film and document the 50 mile journey
  • Dealing with pressure
  • Challenges during training
  • American River 50 Endurance Race 
  • Running together and the race strategy
  • The strengths that each other bring to the team
  • The feelings on the start line
  • The best mile and the worst mile
  • The finish line
  • Would they consider doing a 100 mile race!!
  • What they would improve on
  • Using Kickstarter to fund the movie/documentary
  • Top tips for running an ultra
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Website - https://roadto50miles.wordpress.com
 
Instagram @ultratrainingwheels
 
Dec 29, 2020
Alison Walker is a U.K. based Malaysian ultra runner who started running ultras in 2019. 
 
Alison holds several fastest Malaysian ultra times and has most recently the first person to complete the Smog Graham Round. 
 
Over lockdown, she had also completed 4 other FKTs from 18 miles to 120km.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Alison
  • Growing up in Malaysia and going to school in Singapore 
  • Not being into sports or exercise when she was younger
  • moving over to the UK to attend university
  • Getting into running for the first time 
  • How her running increased 
  • 2015 moving to East London
  • Running with a group called - Run Fast 
  • Starting with a running coach in late 2018
  • Being coached by Peter McHugh 
  • Recovering from an ankle injury 
  • Book - Running Up That Hill: The highs and lows of going that bit further - By Vassos Alexander
  • Wanting to qualify for the 153-mile Spartathlon Race 
  • Wanting to run 100 miles in under 22 hrs
  • The importance of finding the right coach for you
  • Running 100 miles and the importance of breaking down the challenge
  • Being a fan of loop courses and repetition
  • Starting to think more about kit and starting to invest in better quality gear
  • The mental side of running ultras
  • Not running with music
  • What a typical week looks like in training
  • Not having a rest day…
  • Listening to her body
  • Needing a McDonalds after a race!
  • Sleeping, massage and stretching
  • What the Smog Graham Round in London is
  • Starting at her flat in London
  • The challenges of navigation
  • The wildlife in London - cows & horses!
  • Starting off at 5am
  • The biggest challenge on the Smog Graham Round
  • Doing Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
  • The challenges of arranging the logistics of FKTs
  • The plan for running the Spartathlon Race
  • Final words of advice for women who want to get into ultra running
 
Social Media
 
Blog - runandcake.wordpress.com 
 
Instagram - @_alisonwalker_ 
 
 
Dec 24, 2020
Gillian Larson and her equine partners have accomplished numerous long distance solo rides on remote wilderness trails in the U.S. Together they have traveled from Mexico to Canada three times: twice on the Pacific Crest Trail (2014 and 2016) and most recently on the Continental Divide Trail (2018). 
 
Gillian has also completed the Arizona Trail and the Colorado Trail in 2017 and rode from the Grand Canyon across Utah to Wyoming in 2019. 
 
Since embarking on her first thru-ride at age 22, Gillian’s main goal has been to learn how to mitigate the many challenges of wilderness riding through proper planning and preparation, and to share this information to help others safely explore backcountry trails on horseback.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in a horsey family
  • Leaning to ride on a shetland pony
  • Her passion for reptiles
  • Going on her first overnight with the horses
  • Going on the Pacific Crest Trail as her first challenge
  • Why the PCT?
  • Studying biology and going to grad school fro ecology and evolution with a focus on reptiles
  • How to thru-ride with horses
  • The logistics of the challenge
  • Why its so hard to thru-ride the PCT
  • The costs involved 
  • 2 trucks and 2 trailers
  • Having to wait for the snow to melt
  • Figuring out the resupply and keeping your horse well fed
  • Why horses need quantity of food and not just quality
  • To have a dedicated support person who drives the truck and meet you on the trail
  • Why June is such an important month on the thru-ride
  • Dealing with the wildlife on the trail
  • Her horses - Shyla and Dakota 
  • Learning her craft
  • The difference between hiking and riding 
  • Making sure you get the right saddle
  • Relaxing ? 
  • Averaging about 25 miles per day with 2 days off per week for the horses
  • Magical moments on the trail
  • Loving camp life
  • Snuggling with the horses?
  • How horses sleep
  • Earning a living
  • Being an egg donor to fund her lifestyle 
  • Turning 29 and going back to grad school
  • The dream list of thru-riding
  • Final words of advice
 
Social Media
 
Websites 
 
www.gillianlarson.net 
www.pacificcrestquest.org
 
Instagram @thru_rider
Dec 22, 2020
Megan is a runner, writer and adventurer from Manchester, UK. 
 
Megan in her own words:
 
“I’m a relentless optimist who always tries to say yes to living life to the fullest. I was born hearing impaired, I am completely deaf in my left ear and partially hearing impaired in my right ear.
 
In 2018, during one of the hottest heatwaves Britain has ever had, I ran from John O’Groats to Land’s End completely unsupported, becoming the youngest woman to do so. I covered around 1000 miles in 40 days and I’m now writing a book about it. 
 
I believe in being good and kind, I believe in saying yes and I believe in the power of positivity.”
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
*Please note during this episode we do talk about mental health, trauma, & PTSD. 
 
Show notes
  • Moving to the Peak District, UK
  • Growing up in Manchester
  • Not really being that into sports at school
  • Going to University in Wales
  • Falling in love with the outdoors
  • Stepping outside her comfort zone
  • Getting to know new people
  • Getting into running
  • Signing up for the Manchester 10 Km
  • Suffering a bad ankle injury 
  • Going through a difficult break-up
  • Getting back into running after university
  • Signing up to the Chester half marathon and the Manchester Marathon
  • Loving running and deciding to run across the country
  • Enjoying the process of running
  • Deciding to run from John O’Groats to Lands End - the length of the UK
  • The strategy for the run and wanting to camp at the start
  • Figuring out the accommodation for the route
  • Wanting to follow trails and try to avoid the roads as much as possible
  • Feeling excited during the planning stage 
  • When reality for the challenge hit and starting to feel overwhelmed
  • Reaction from friends and family
  • Being hearing impaired and not being able to hear out of her left ear 
  • Fears and concerns before the run
  • Being focused and dedicated to the challenge
  • The start line! The top of the UK at John O’Groats
  • Running with a hearing impairment 
  • The physical, mental and emotional challenges of the run
  • Dealing with her period on the run
  • The challenges of doing it solo and being alone
  • A challenging day down in Cornwall
  • Keeping the motivation going during dark times
  • Letting things go and staying in the present
  • Managing her period during the challenge
  • The financial costs involved 
  • How the run has changed things afterwards
  • Dealing with trauma and an iron deficiency
  • Writing about the challenge and the struggles involved
  • Final words of advice 
 
Dec 17, 2020
Charlotte Fowles - also known as The Executive Adventurer - helps corporate leaders who are frustrated, lost or bored to rediscover their purpose, passion and fun without sacrificing their current success. She is an author and public speaker.
 
Always one to practice what she preaches, she has spent a lot of her life pushing herself way outside her comfort zone in pursuits such as free-diving and scuba diving; marathon running; solo-hiking whilst on chemotherapy; and crossing the Australian outback for months in an ancient 4x4 truck. After enduring over a decade of significant personal trauma, she is an expert in resilience and creating triumph from tragedy and living life in spite of this, and she brings this epic resilience to her coaching. She is passionate about mental wellness and the outdoors and is fascinated by the combinations of these elements that can bring about incredible change.
 
It is this unapologetic energy and relentless pursuit of her clients' complete success that gets results. She knows that as long as you're willing to step outside that comfort zone where you've been feeling so restless, the world that you want to create is all yours.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Charlotte
  • What life was like growing up
  • Getting into the outdoors in her mid to late 20s
  • Moving to Australia
  • Getting into scuba diving and loving it
  • Getting into coaching 
  • Why she’s called the Executive Adventurer 
  • But..
  • What next?
  • Book - Playing Big
  • Wanting to live and work in a different country
  • Exploring the outback in Australia in a 4x4
  • Leaning new skills
  • Magical moments in the outback
  • Falling in love with the outdoors 
  • Getting away from people
  • Wanting to challenge herself 
  • Being inspired by Bex Band - Love Her Wild 
  • Leaning how to camp in the cold
  • Doing her first winter bivvy in the UK
  • Getting into cold water swimming and loving it!!
  • Building resilience for when things are good
  • FREE 'Strategies for Building, Increasing, and Staying Resilient' guide 
  • Dealing with a lot of personal challenges, all at the same time.
  • Wanting to celebrate what our bodies can do
  • Breaking her leg in two places and having to learn how to walk again
  • Going into therapy for depression
  • Diagnosed with Stage 3B skin cancer in 2019
  • Focusing on the CAN
  • Deciding to go on a solo hiking adventure
  • Confidence is a result not a requirement
  • Blistered and bleeding feet
  • Hiking the Trans Catalonia Trail 
  • The Biggest Book of Yes 
  • To keep moving forward 
  • Being a positive person and working on it
  • #RealAdventureSelfies
  • Having to get on with it
  • Not having a choice
  • Dealing with false summits
  • Advice and top tips about taking the first step
 
 
Social Media
 
Website www.charlottefowles.com 
 
Instagram @FOWLES.CHARLOTTE
 
 
Dec 15, 2020
Marinel de Jesus was a former human rights lawyer from Washington, DC.  In 2016, she founded her social enterprise, Peak Explorations, and media site, Brown Gal Trekker. Both entities aim to create equity and inclusion in the outdoor and travel spaces. 
 
In 2019, she launched the nonprofit organization, The Porter Voice Collective, which utilizes media to advocate for the rights of porters in the trekking industries of Peru, Nepal and Tanzania. 
 
Marinel is also a writer who focuses on stories that elevate the voices of women, people of colour and immigrants. 
 
She has recently discovered filmmaking as a means of advocacy for social changes and completed her first film project, We Are Nomads, in Mongolia where she currently stays as a result of the pandemic. 
 
Marinel is an avid trekker and a full-time global mountain nomad.
 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • What Marinel does
  • Being born and raised in the Philippines
  • Getting into hiking due to having a stressful job
  • Joining a meet up group to go hiking
  • Giving hiking a second time
  • Starting to lead treks around the world
  • Speaking to us from Mongolia due to Covid
  • Thinking about making the transition from a lawyer to a hiker
  • How can you make a career out of hiking?
  • Taking a year long sabbatical from work
  • Making the decision to sell her house
  • Becoming a minimalist 
  • Not having the confidence to start her own company 
  • How the website and blog evolved 
  • Losing her mum in 2017 and leaving law 
  • What Peak Exploration is and does
  • Educating people through the blog - Brown Girl Trekker 
  • Becoming a global mountain nomad
  • Being inspired by being in the mountains 
  • Working and running her business from Mongolia
  • Focusing on writing 
  • From a lawyer to a mountain nomad podcast
  • Advice for making the transition from a full time career to digital nomad
  • Having thinking time outdoors
  • Advice for women who want to travel solo
  • The power of taking small steps
  • The preparation and planning for a trip
  • Film project - ‘Don’t date a girl who treks’ and ‘We are Nomads’
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Websites:
www.browngaltrekker.com 
www.peakexplorations.com 
www.theportervoicecollective.org
 
Facebook: @bgtpeakexplorations 
Instagram: @browngaltrekker
 
Dec 10, 2020
As a 4x Winter Olympian, a career high ranking of 8th in the World, 7x British National Overall Champion and the only British female skier to ever win a run in a World Cup, Chemmy Alcott is widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever skiers.
 
In a time where competing at a Winter Olympics was unusual for a British athlete, Chemmy defied the odds and pioneered a skiing movement that has inspired a generation. Resulting in not just skiers, but British Winter Sport athletes as a whole seeing the Winter Olympics as a realistic and achievable goal.
 
Since retiring from competing on the world stage after The Sochi Olympics in 2014, Chemmy has immersed herself in the world of TV & media, where she now presents for the BBC on Ski Sunday and commentates on the World Cup Ski Series for Eurosport amongst being a guest on many other show.
 
Chemmy continues to constantly push her body to the limit, competing in multiple physical challenges including the World’s Toughest Ski Race in Greenland, the 100-mile road race in London and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, raising over £800,000 for charity in the process.
 
Chemmy is committed to inspiring the next generation and educating people from all over the world through sport. Most notably, she created the ‘X-Elle’ scheme, which aims to develop girl’s confidence through sports she helps give them the confidence to create big dreams and do everything humanly possible to achieve them.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Chemmy
  • Growing up in a ski mad family
  • Being inspired by her older brother
  • Starting to ski at 18 months old and doing her first race at 3 yrs
  • The fear of falling over
  • Loving tennis and skiing
  • Going to her first big event at 11 years old and winning
  • Education and skiing
  • Spending the summer months in New Zealand
  • Female role models in skiing
  • Wanting to be a speed skier
  • Meeting and racing against her idol
  • Breaking her neck in a ski accident…
  • Having a fused neck and having to travel with an x-ray
  • Fear of failure and the fear of letting people down
  • Learning to control her mind and finding a way to help herself
  • Only being able to ski at 80%
  • Winning her run in the world cup
  • What’s going through her head at the start of the race
  • Trying to replicate training runs more
  • Learning to stay in the present moment
  • Funding your life as an Olympian
  • Not getting any support from the government
  • Having to back yourself and be confident
  • Recovering from injury 
  • Having tiny daily goals
  • Doing the Words Toughest Ski Race in Greenland
  • Getting into endurance sports
  • Making the brutal decision to retire from professional sport
  • Dreaming of becoming a presenter on ski Sunday
  • Wanting to become a mum
  • How life has changed having 2 children
  • Taking the children out skiing
  • Skiing in a chilled way….
  • Using sport to help improve confidence
  • Keeping fit and active now
  • Quick Fire Questions
 
 
Social Media
 
Website www.chemmyalcott.com 
 
Facebook  @Chemmy-Alcott
 
Instagram @chemmyski 
 
Twitter @chemmyski
 
 
 
Dec 8, 2020
Namira Salim, a Space Diplomat, Future Astronaut, Pioneering Polar Explorer and Artist, is a prominent Pakistani based in the Principality of Monaco since 1997. She is well renowned as the First South Asian and First person from Monaco to go to space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic –the first private space-line of the world.
 
In March 2006, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, personally introduced Namira to the world press as one of the earliest Founders and Future Astronauts of Virgin Galactic. As an example of early consumer confidence, Namira’s membership landed Virgin its biggest investor from Abu Dhabi, worth US$380 million. In August 2006, the Government of Pakistan, officially launched Namira to the nation as the “First Pakistani Astronaut” making her an instant source of inspiration for women and youth. In October 2007, she successfully qualified to go to space after completing her spaceflight training at the worlds largest centrifuge in the United States.
 
Namira became the first Pakistani and first woman from Monaco and Dubai (where her parents moved in 1981), at the North Pole in April 2007 and the South Pole in January 2008, as well as the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over Mount Everest (third pole) in October 2008. At all three poles, she hoisted the Pakistani and a universal peace flag.
 
In November 2015, Namira launched her non-profit organization, Space Trust to promote Space as the New Frontier for Peace. Since then she has engaged ten governments and five former and sitting Heads of State to advocate Space as a sustainable tool for peacemaking on Earth on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in Pakistan 
  • Her dream of going into space
  • Being inspired by NASA
  • Keeping her motivation of going to space
  • Not being the person to pursue science education
  • Falling in love with the stars
  • Moving to the South of France and wanting to live in solitude
  • Writing poetry and spending time being creative
  • Calling Virgin Galactic
  • Paying $200,000 for a seat as a founder Astronaut  
  • Being part of the global press launch
  • Being launched as the first Pakistan Astronaut
  • The importance of dreams
  • Doing astronaut training in 2007
  • Taking sub orbital flights 
  • Why it’s not as challenging on the body
  • Taking on the poles and sky diving over Mt. Everest 
  • The challenges of sky diving over Mt. Everest - October 2008
  • Waiting for the prefect weather window
  • The power of believing in herself
  • The highest drop zone in the world 
  • Free falling during sky diving at 153mph
  • Managing risk
  • Believing in fate, destiny and God.
  • Being a Space Diplomat
  • Space as a new frontier for peace
  • Visiting the North Pole and dealing with the cold
  • Spending 3 weeks in the South Pole
  • Peace Expeditions and inspiring women and youth around the world
  • Space Trust 
  • Space Diplomacy 
  • O G Summit 2030
  • Current project
  • Funding projects and expeditions
  • Why Space can help with climate change
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Websites 
 
Personal - www.namirasalim.com 
Space Trust - www.spacetrust.com
 
Twitter @namirasalim 
 
Instagram @namirasalimofficial 
 
Facebook @namirasalimofficial
 
Dec 3, 2020
Jean Muenchrath's passion for hiking, skiing and exploring wild places began as a child in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 1982 she skied 223 miles along California’s John Muir Trail using skinny Nordic skis without metal edges. Her strength, courage and determination helped her survive a near fatal mountaineering accident on Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, and a five-day epic to self-evacuate.
 
Her love for nature and travel has take her to South America and Asia. Jean has worked as a trekking guide in Nepal and Thailand and as a consultant in Bhutan with the World Wildlife Fund. She was a park ranger with the U.S. National Park Service for over thirty years. 
 
Today she gives inspirational talks about pursuing one's dreams, outdoor adventures and what she’s learned from her tragedy. Through sharing her story, she hopes to give others the strength and courage to transform their own life’s challenges and the moxie to follow their dreams.
 
Her book, If I Live Until Morning, A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation, was a finalist in the 2018 Best Book Awards in the Travel: Guides & Essays Category sponsored by the American Book Fest. 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Jean
  • Becoming an author later on in life
  • Working as a Park ranger for the US National Park Service
  • Spending her 21st birthday in a tree!
  • Growing up in Colorado 
  • Being in love with the mountains from a young age
  • Her dreams as a young girl
  • Going to college and making some changes in her life
  • Spending time alone and living in remote places
  • Starting to take on her own personal challenges
  • The 1982 expedition 
  • The John Muir Trail - 240km/211miles
  • Concerns regards the adventure 
  • Having to delay the trip by 1 month due to avalanches 
  • Background to the ski trip
  • Getting ahead of schedule by 1 week
  • Deciding to climb Mt. Whitney (14,505ft)
  • Reliving the trauma and being able to health 
  • Dealing with an lightening strike
  • Changing plans due to the storm and needing to get down the mountain fast
  • Falling 45/50m down the mountain and having very sever injuries
  • Going unconscious… Breaking a lot of bones…
  • Not having mobile phones or GPS
  • “I’m going to live”
  • Hope and despair
  • Pain and not being able to pee
  • The recovery process
  • Making it to the Himalayas 
  • Lessons learned from the challenges faced
  • The journey of writing the book
  • Wanting to go back to Mt. Whitney 
  • Getting back into the mountains
  • Learning how to process your traumas
  • Wanting to inspire people
 
Social Media
 
Website www.jeanmuenchrath.com
 
Dec 1, 2020
Tazneem is a UKA Run Leader, and works with ASICS Frontrunner. Her aim to inspire more women from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities to run. Tazneem works as full time Pharmacist and is mum to 3 boys.
 
Tazneem in her own words
 
“My name is Tazneem, but most people call me Taz. I live in Buckinghamshire and I'm a pharmacist working in the pharmaceutical industry. I started running in 2017 as a complete beginner and ran my 1st half marathon within 6 months of starting. 
 
I'm a runner who wears hijab and that in itself does mean I dress a bit differently when running, but my hijab has never been a barrier for me at all. 
 
I'm not a super fast runner, but I train hard to achieve the running goals I set myself”
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Taz
  • What her childhood was like
  • Not being that sporty growing up
  • Getting into running at 36
  • Having 3 children
  • Giving running ago while on holiday
  • Wanting to stay active and healthy 
  • Running with a Hijab 
  • Running as a muslim woman
  • Cultural barriers to running
  • Doing her first park run and going along by herself
  • Focusing on running her first 5k
  • Setting a running goal of doing a half marathon
  • Having 6 months to train for the Birmingham Half marathon in October 2017
  • Finding a running plan on line
  • Running early on in the morning
  • Making changes in her life to fit running in
  • The balancing act of being a wife, mother and an employee
  • Feelings of mum guilt
  • Concerns before the Birmingham Half Marathon 
  • Being supported by her new friends from Park Run
  • Feeling emotional at the end of the half marathon
  • Booking her next half marathon
  • Running in Marrakesh, Morocco
  • Deciding to join a running club
  • Becoming a run leader
  • Deciding to run a marathon
  • Turning 40 and wanting to mark the occasion 
  • Deciding on the Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland!
  • The challenges faced during the marathon
  • Starting to struggle at mile 18
  • The mental side of running
  • Running the Virtual 40th London Marathon in October
  • Doing a lap course 
  • Advice for runners who want to run a marathon 
  • Deciding to do Race to the Stones 2021 
 
Social Media
 
Blog - thishijabiruns.wordpress.com 
 
Instagram @thishijabiruns 
 
Twitter @thishijabiruns 
 
To learn more about Muslim Women in Sport  visit - www.mwsf.org.uk
 
Nov 26, 2020
Katie Visco, who has been called a "bubbly and offbeat running, biking, soup-making, people-loving, community-building exclamation mark," started running when she was in middle school, duped into the sport thinking it was some kind of soccer conditioning camp. Oops. She quickly fell in love with running, and then...
 
In 2009, promoting the importance of a bold and passion-driven life, Katie ran solo across America, from Boston to San Diego, and became the 2nd youngest and 13th woman overall to make the crossing. During, and the year after her transAmerican crossing, she raised funds for the charity, Girls on the Run, and also stopped to visit more than two hundred audiences en route to spread her message to young and old alike. Running has been a versatile cornerstone of her wellbeing for years, and she especially loves the trails!
 
Besides trail running, biking, creating delicious food, and traveling, Katie loves her husband and family very much and enjoys getting to hear the stories of others. She's been writing since she was six and hopes to publish a book one day. She's stoked to share her journeys with you in hopes that you will glean something special from them for your own growth and joy. 
 
New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Katie in her own words
  • What she loves in life
  • Growing up in Chicago, USA
  • Being empowered as a young girl
  • Having creative and wild ideas
  • Being supported in her dreams 
  • Deciding to run across America at 23 years old
  • Loving running
  • Wanting to empower young people to follow their passions
  • Figuring out the why and understanding the motivation behind the challenge
  • Figuring out the funding and the logistics
  • The power of breaking down challenges
  • Why it’s ok to ask for support
  • Training the body for big endurance challenges
  • Dealing with stress in life
  • Lessons learned from running across America in 2009
  • Respecting everyone’s story
  • What happened between 2009 and 2019
  • Wanting to put some roots down and starting a company
  • Wanting to run across Australia since 2013
  • Dealing with injury setbacks and having to postpone the Australia run 2x
  • Figuring out the training for for a big ultra run
  • Figuring out the money and taking time off 
  • Being part of a team with her husband
  • Getting to the start line in Australia!
  • Why failure is just feedback
  • The biggest challenge of running across Australia 
  • The mental side of the challenge
  • Giving herself grace on the challenge
  • Mental tips and tricks
  • “Tedious but brief”
  • What a typical day was like
  • Reflecting back on the journey 
  • Adventure blues
  • No more ambitions to run across a country but wanting to do a big cycle around the world
  • Doing a different type of adventure
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Website - www.katievisco.com
 
Instagram - @katievisco
 
Nov 24, 2020
Amazin LêThi was born in Saigon where she was left in an orphanage by her mother. Amazin was then adopted by a white Australian family and became a trans racial adoptee and grew up in Australia. As a young adult, she was homeless for a period of time and it was at this lowest point, contemplating suicide, Amazin realized her passion and love for sport could help her survive. 
 
Amazin got into weightlifting as a young age and through this, she gaining physical and mental strength, which in turn helped her with her confidence. Amazin shares more from her personal journey of homelessness and having to fight against all the odds to overcome enormous barriers to become a leading global rainbow (LGBTQ) sports activist and thought leader. 
 
Amazin is a former competitive natural bodybuilder, TV/Film star, entertainment executive and the first Vietnamese internationally published health and fitness author. Currently focusing on the sport of shooting with her goal of reaching the Olympics in this sport. 
 
Amazin is the first Asian ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit dedicated to champion LGBTQI+ equality, and Stonewall U.K., Europe’s largest LGBTQ charity. Her own Amazin LeThi Foundation uses sports to develop leadership skills for “rainbow youth” and advocates for LGBTQ allyship in the athletic community.
 
Amazin in her own words:
 
Sport has always been part of my life but I never saw myself in sports, let alone as an LGBTQ athlete, which made me feel very alone and isolated. I never felt I could ever be out because I was always bullied as that one Asian person in sport.
 
Sport should be welcoming to everyone and no one should feel they should hide their sexuality or gender identity. Sharing my story and living authentically and unapologetically gives me the freedom to realise that my emotions are real, that how I feel inside matters and that I’m worthy of owning the space that I’m in. 
 
I want my story to provide a positive message for any Asian athlete who wants to be openly out in sports and to remind them they are not alone.
 
New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Amazin
  • How sport has played apart in her life
  • Being bullied from a young age
  • Being a trans racial adoptee 
  • Being brought up in Australia 
  • Not fitting in anywhere and living in limbo
  • Falling into bodybuilding at a young age
  • Being dropped off at the gym
  • The power of sports
  • Wanting to be a competitive body builder
  • Being your authentic self in sports
  • Reconnecting with the Vietnamese language, country and culture
  • Leaving Australia and being homeless for a while
  • Wanting to create an impact but not being sure what or how to do it
  • Why sports helped her to survive 
  • Deciding to pilot a sports program in Vietnam
  • The start of the Amazin Lethi Foundation
  • Plans for the future
  • Training in shooting and hoping to go to the Olympics
  • Wanting another challenge in sports
  • Becoming a global advocate
  • All major sporting events over the next few years being held in Asia
  • Lack of Asian Representation
  • Wanting to make sports welcoming 
  • The role sports media plays 
  • Final words of advice
 
Social Media
 
Website - https://www.amazinlethi.com
 
Facebook @AmazinLethi 
 
Instagram @amazinlethi 
 
Twitter @amazinlethi
 
Nov 19, 2020
Amy is a professional athlete, career-woman, mother and the founder of the One Step Ahead Foundation. 
 
After losing her left leg below the knee due to a motorcycle accident that occurred in 1994, Amy compiled a tremendous portfolio of world records and firsts for a female amputee in marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons. As she attained more and more achievements, she found herself in the position of being a role model, especially for young people with physical disabilities of their own. She soon found herself working extensively with children, introducing them to sports and athletics as a way of helping them overcome their physical limitations. After several years, Amy founded the One Step Ahead Foundation in order to provide even more opportunities for children with physical disabilities.
 
In 2011, Amy became the first female amputee to finish the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trail head to Mount Whitney.
 
In February 2014, Amy completed Ultraman Florida.  This performance during the 6.2 mile swim, 261.4 mile Bike and 52.4 mile run earned her yet another world record for female para-athletes. Later that same year, Amy was the first para-athlete to complete the 2014 Obstacle Racing World Championships, a mandatory obstacle completion format, earning her second place in her age group.
 
As an AGOGE and two time Death Race Finisher,  Summer 2014 and Summer 2018,  Amy continues to push the boundaries of what is perceived as a limit.  Durning the 2018 Death Race,  36 hours into the event after countless miles, task and 3500 burpees, Amy set the longest distance crawled under barbed wire for 12 consecutive hours for both female and para-athletes.  
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Growing up and loving the outdoors
  • Playing outside all day, everyday
  • How running became a big part of her life
  • How running was an equaliser 
  • Not taking anything seriously
  • The next steps after high school
  • Getting a scholarship 
  • Dropping out of college and getting a full time job to support herself
  • Deciding to run a marathon
  • Running her first marathon in 3hrs 24 mins….
  • Qualifying for the Boston Marathon
  • Starting to run longer distances
  • Getting hit by a car and fighting to save her leg for 3 years
  • Being worries about losing her job
  • Having her leg amputated at 21 years old
  • Not being able to afford counselling 
  • 10 years to find the right prosthetic leg for her
  • Running the Chicago Marathon in 2006
  • Being given a second chance
  • A step A head Prosthetics
  • "What do you want to do with your life?”
  • Having a goal to run 100 miles
  • Believe
  • Helping to get someone else through the marathon
  • The journey of getting to run 100 miles
  • Having trouble breathing while running fast miles
  • Running at a slower pace for longer distances
  • Becoming a Mighty Mum and doing her first obstacle race
  • Wanting to run at Western States in California and be the first athlete with an prosthetic to cross the finish line
  • Managing pain and dealing with pain
  • The recovery process after big races
  • Working full time (60-70 hrs per week), with 6 children aged from 9 years old to 18 years old
  • Helping other people to achieve their goals
  • Beta-alanine Supplement
  • Being a single mum to two children 
  • What training looks like 
  • Running on a treadmill versus running on the road
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you
 
Social Media
 
Website www.seeamyrun.com 
 
Facebook @seeamyrun 
 
Instagram @amybkw1 
 
Twitter @runamyrun
Nov 17, 2020
Loretta was one of 9 children, and lived with her single mum and siblings. Loretta was born partially blind and intellectually challenged, she was unable to walk or talk until the age four. Through the support and commitment of her mum, Loretta eventually began to speak, walk and soon started to follow her big brother into running. 
 
After being introduced to the Special Olympics her life started to change. She introduced President Bill Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games has won multiple medals in dozens of its events, and also holds the current women's record in her age group for the 5000 meters at seventeen minutes.
 
Loretta has also crossed the finish line of twenty-six marathons, twice placing among the top one-hundred women in the Boston Marathon. Loretta holds a 4th-degree black belt in karate, communicates in four languages, including American Sign Language, and holds three honorary doctorate degrees from Quinnipiac University, Villanova University, and York College of Pennsylvania, making her the first person with an intellectual disability known to receive such honours, according to Special Olympics Incorporated.    
 
Today, Loretta is a celebrated athlete who was honoured in 1996 with ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Her life story was told in Walt Disney Productions The Loretta Claiborne Story and in the biography, "In Her Stride" published by WorldScapes.
 
Loretta at 67 years young, still runs every day and is very active in her community. Her motto for life is, “God is my strength, Special Olympics is my joy”.
 
Listen to Loretta on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Loretta
  • Growing up in the 1950s
  • Dealing with discrimination all her life
  • Her strong and powerful mother who had big dreams for Loretta
  • Making the transition from school to work
  • Looking after her mother when she got sick
  • Moving into her first apartment 
  • Advice from her mother
  • Finding out about the Special Olympics
  • Not being allowed to quit the Special Olympics
  • Starting going running with her brother
  • Getting into road racing in the late 70s and early 80s
  • Running in the Boston Marathon
  • Being told she was too good to compete in the Special Olympics as a runner
  • Starting martial arts and self training
  • Not being able to go to the gym because of Covid
  • Book - In her Stride
  • Having a film made about her life
  • Dealing with anger
  • Turning her anger into a positive 
  • Learning to control her anger through martial arts
  • Deciding to learn sign language
  • Loving sports
  • 2 mottos that Loretta lives her life by
  • The joy in her life
  • Being the Chief Inspiration Officer for the Special Olympics 
  • Women who have inspired Loretta
  • Having good people in her life
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Website www.lorettaclaiborne.com
 
 
Nov 12, 2020
Tracy was expelled from school at the age of 15 and with no exams or qualifications she left to travel the world. She began working on charter yachts in Greece at the age of 17 and learned how to sail. 
 
Tracy took part in her first Whitbread Round the World Race as cook aboard ‘Atlantic Privateer’ in 1985/86 becoming the first woman to race around the world on a Maxi.
 
Upon completion she decided to enter the first all-female crew in the 1989/90 Whitbread and ‘Maiden’ crossed the start line on 2nd Sept 1989 and sailed into the history books. ‘Maiden’ went on to win two of the legs and came second in class overall. The best result for a British boat since 1977 and the best result for an all-female crew ever. 
 
Tracy was awarded the MBE and became the first woman in its 34 year history to be awarded the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.
 
Tracy founded The Maiden Factor in the process of rescuing her beloved yacht Maiden. In 2016 she decided she wanted to do more than just restore Maiden, she also wanted to make sure she was used for something special. 
 
Tracy is Patron of, fundraises for and supports a number of small but effective charities who facilitate the education of girls around the globe.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Tracy
  • Growing up in Reading and losing her father at 10 years old
  • Being expelled from school at 15
  • How she fell into sailing
  • Saying yes to opportunities
  • Female role models in sailing 
  • Having amazing male mentors
  • Learning how to navigate
  • Fighting for gender equality and against injustice
  • Deciding to race around the world in the 1985/86 Whitbread Race
  • Taking the first steps into sailing as a cook
  • Gaining new skills and learning as much as she could
  • Finding out that she was tough enough
  • Wanting to prove that women could sail around the world
  • Turning the dream into a reality 
  • Dealing with the negative pushback 
  • Struggling to find the money
  • Getting Maiden to the start line!
  • Competition and collaboration 
  • Why women are STRONG TOGETHER
  • The power of women working together
  • Dealing with the pressure of performance
  • Having to prove that women could sail around the world safely
  • Using the fear to motivate 
  • Struggling to deal with stress
  • The Maiden Factor Foundation 
  • Finding Maiden and getting the boat back
  • Starting a 3 year world tour on Maiden in 2018
  • Inspiring the next generation of girls 
  • The impact of Covid on the charity
  • The process of making - Maiden The Movie 
  • “Girls have got to see success in it’s raw form”
  • “Success can be messy”
  • The impact of Covid and having to cancel the American part of the tour
  • Doing a tour of UK and Ireland in April 2021
  • Missing people
  • Final words of advice 
 
Social Media
 
Website https://www.tracyedwards.com 
 
Twitter @TracyEdwardsMBE 
 
The Maiden Factor - The Maiden Factor's mission is to continue Maiden's iconic legacy and inspire the next generation of girls through education
 
Website - https://www.themaidenfactor.org 
 
Twitter @maidenfactor 
 
Facebook @TheMaidenFactor
 
Nov 10, 2020
Susan took up cycling as a hobby about 10 years ago and since then has gone on to spend over 2 and a half years on a cycle tour around the world. 
 
Susan visited 15 countries on four different continents. Meeting amazing people along the way and having fantastic experiences, which she has shared on her blog
 
Since then, Susan has gone on to become a Breeze Champion and she set up Leicester Women’s Velo with a few other Breeze Champions in Leicester. 
 
Susan is also one of Cycling UK’s “100 Women in Cycling 2019”. Susan hopes to inspire you to go on your own adventure!
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Getting back into cycling 10 years ago
  • Coming back from a round the world cycle tour
  • Family life and learning how to ride a bike
  • Wanting to be a ballerina
  • Health and fitness and being the fat kid at school
  • Dislocating her shoulder
  • Going on holiday to NYC
  • The struggle of getting into a routine
  • Leaving her job to become a full time personal trainer
  • How work took over her life
  • Making the transition to becoming a full time personal trainer
  • Getting back into cycling
  • Building up the courage to join a cycling club
  • Sky Ride Locals
  • Being willing to try new things
  • Starting to think about bigger rides
  • Breeze Rides and becoming a breeze champion
  • Getting a group of women to cycle across France 
  • Learning how to cycle tour
  • Gaining new skills
  • Trying to find the right bike 
  • The rush of getting from A to B
  • Where the idea came from to cycle around the world
  • Going back to work to earn money for the trip
  • Starting to tell people about the cycle tour
  • Trying to decide on cycle routes
  • How her journey and plan changed
  • Why New Zealand started to appeal
  • Taking 2 years to plan the adventure 
  • Decluttering the house to rent it out
  • Saving money and the budget for the trip
  • Gaining knowledge regarding bike maintenance
  • Cycling around Taiwan
  • The magical moments from the trip
  • Transitioning back to a normal life
  • Living with her mum
  • Not wanting to come home
  • Thinking about the next cycle adventure
  • A cycle around the coast of Great Britain 
  • Final words of advice 
 
 
Social Media
 
Website pfaffingandcycling.wordpress.com/
 
Instagram @susanlonghaultrucker 
 
Twitter @Susan_Doram
 
 
 
Nov 5, 2020
Kerri Andrews is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Edge Hill University. She writes about literary history, particularly untold or forgotten histories, and has published widely on women’s writing. Her book, Wanderers: A History of Women Walking, published by Reaktion in September 2020. 
 
Tracing the footsteps of ten women walker-writers from eighteenth-century parson’s daughter Elizabeth Carter – who desired nothing more than to be taken for a vagabond in the wilds of southern England – to modern walker-writers such as Nan Shepherd and Cheryl Strayed, Wanderers offers a beguiling, alternative view of the history of walking.
 
Kerri is also one of the leaders of Women In The Hills, an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project aimed at exploring the factors enabling and inhibiting women's access to upland landscapes. The project brings together people from all areas of walking, mountaineering, land access and management, to drive change in women's access and experiences.
 
Kerri is the General Editor of Nan Shepherd’s letters, the first ever edition of Shepherd's, which will be published in 2023 by Edinburgh University Press. She is also a keen hill-walker and a member of Mountaineering Scotland.
 
You can listen to Kerri on the Tough Girl Podcast, NEW episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Getting interested in writing about women and walking
  • Living in Scotland
  • Getting into walking 
  • Heading off to university and doing her PhD
  • Deciding to get down to a healthy weight
  • Starting to play squash
  • Her first trip up Snowdon
  • Connecting with people via Meet Up
  • Co-Leader of Women in the Hills - Research Network. What hinders & enhances women's experiences of the hills? 
  • What the research is showing
  • Wanderers: A History of Women Walking
  • Starting to write the book in 2012
  • Doing the research over the years
  • Focusing on women over the past 300 years
  • Being inspired by; Sarah Stoddart Hazlitt  
  • The power of walking 
  • Having her first child and the struggles of finding child care
  • The power of Cheryl Strayed writing 
  • What it means to be female on the trail
  • Female bodies and how they open up new possibilities
  • Finding the information for the book
  • Why women’s walks don’t get taken notice off
  • Doing other kinds of walking
  • Getting the book published 
  • The Literary Consultancy 
  • Reaktion Books 
  • Being inspired by Nan Shepherd
  • First edition of Nan Shepherd’s correspondence to come out in 2023 
  • Key takeaways from the book
  • The idea of a female tradition
 
Social Media
 
Website www.edgehill.ac.uk/englishhistorycreativewriting/staff/dr-kerri-andrews/ 
 
Twitter @kerriandrewsuk 
 
Book  - Wanderers: A History of Women Walking
 
This is a book about ten women who, over the past three hundred years, have found walking essential to their sense of themselves, as people and as writers.
 
In a series of intimate, incisive portraits, Wanderers traces their footsteps, from eighteenth-century parson's daughter Elizabeth Carter ‐ who desired nothing more than to be taken for a vagabond in the wilds of southern England ‐ to modern walker-writers such as Nan Shepherd and Cheryl Strayed. 
 
For each, walking was integral, whether it was rambling for miles across the Highlands, like Sarah Stoddart Hazlitt, or pacing novels into being, as Virginia Woolf did around Bloomsbury.
 
'With the absorbing voice and attention to detail of a favourite hiking companion, Andrews unearths the forgotten women who have walked for creativity, for independence and self-discovery, to remember, to forget, to escape violence, to find physical and emotional strength.' Rachel Hewitt, historian, trail-runner and author of Map of a Nation
Nov 3, 2020
“I want to change the world, one race at a time” - Khadijah Diggs
 
Khadijah is Mother, Project Manager and a Team USA and Silver IronMan All-World Triathlete. Her mission is to Promote a Positive Image of Muslim Women and Islam in General through Sport.
 
Khadijah is currently ranked in the top 5% of her age group by Ironman Triathlon and is the first African American woman to represent Team USA in Long Course Triathlon and the first Muslim women to represent Team USA in any multi-sport event. The single mother of twins competed in her first triathlon in 2012 at age 43, and now aspires to win a national championship in the Master’s division.
 
Khadijah in her own words:
 
"Training and racing started off as my therapy to recover from a failing marriage and the loss of loved ones to cancer. It has remained that but has also become how I express myself and share who I am as Muslim, a Mother and a Woman." 
 
Her GOAL is to open dialogue and connect women of all backgrounds on a personal level by sharing common experiences, joys and struggles through healthy living, group training and healthy competition. 
 
"I have learned traveling all over the country and the World to race, that at the core, we are more the same than different. The struggles of motherhood and just being female are universal and it binds us as women.”
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Khadijah
  • Loving swimming from a young age
  • Running track in college
  • Getting her first bike for her first triathlon
  • Doing her first triathlon in 2012 at 40 years old
  • Coming 3rd to last, but loving the whole experience
  • Being encouraged and supported at the start of her triathlon journey 
  • Figuring it out at the start
  • Reading books and looking at training plans on-line
  • Figuring out her method for triathlon
  • Increasing from sprint triathlon to a half ironman distance
  • Deciding to take swim lessons
  • The struggle of finding appropriate clothing to wear
  • ASIYA hijabs 
  • Muslim role models in triathlon
  • Becoming a better athlete through making mistakes
  • Realising the importance of nutrition
  • The importance of planning for everything that can go wrong
  • What’s going on mentally during a race
  • Dedicating races to loved ones
  • Using triathlon training as a mental escape
  • Trying to get the balance right 
  • Having all the equipment to train at home including an endless pool
  • Racing in Cuba 
  • Nutrition and changes to diet to help balance blood sugar levels
  • F2C Nutrition 
  • Looking at nutrition in a holistic way 
  • Training during Ramadan
  • Magical moments from races
  • The power of mantra 
  • Being an introvert and preferring the virtual settings
  • Final words of advice for taking on a triathlon 
 
Social Media 
 
Website - www.khadijahtriathlete.com
 
Instagram - @khadijahtriathlete 
 
Facebook - @trigammalete
 
Podcast - https://anchor.fm/khadijah-diggs
 
Oct 29, 2020
When Claire hit 30, far from settling down and considering herself approaching middle age, she discovered a new lease of life and re-engaged with her love of the great outdoors and travel. Claire loves a challenge and likes to set herself something new each year.
 
This has led to a passion for water based and, in true British style, sitting down sports. She started rowing in 2012 and very quickly caught the bug, racing regionally and nationally. She also loves sea kayaking and the freedom and self-sufficiency of being able to kayak and wild camp.  
 
From there Claire has gone on to do the Rickshaw Run in India, as well as being part of a mixed crew to row across the Atlantic Ocean, earning her a World Record!
 
Claire has experience under expedition conditions around the world, and is now keen to see just how far she can push her body and mind. 
 
Claire also shares more about her next challenge to row the Northwest Passage, the Arctic route that links the Atlantic and the Pacific. This will be a true test of human achievement and endeavour. This challenge will be one of the world’s “last great firsts”.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time! Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out!
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Claire
  • What family life was like
  • Getting into walking at 14 years old
  • Her first ever mountain!
  • Not enjoying school and being lonely
  • Female role models in childhood
  • Thinking of the obstacles that stoped her being adventurous 
  • Starting to get into kayaking 
  • Heading to Canada in 2009 to go Kayaking 
  • Kayaking and wild camping in Norway 
  • The challenging of kayaking in Cuba
  • Confidence and self belief 
  • Lacking confidence 
  • Telling people about adventures
  • Cycling Coast 2 Coast (C2C) in a day
  • Being nervous about holding people back
  • The Rickshaw Run Race 
  • Being a woman in India
  • 12 hours of driving every day
  • Deciding to row the Atlantic Ocean
  • How the team evolved
  • Joining the crew in September 2017
  • Rowing the Atlantic Ocean in December 2018
  • Funding the challenge £100K
  • Her role in the team
  • 2hrs on rowing and 2 hrs off
  • What the cabin was like
  • Being the only woman on the boat
  • Dealing with periods 
  • The lessons learned from rowing the Atlantic Ocean
  • Testing her limits
  • The next challenge - Rowing the North West Passage 2021
  • What has to be done between now and the start of the row
  • The challenge of raising the funds
  • The physical training involved 
 
Social Media
 
Next Goal - to row the Northwest Passage 2021, the Arctic route that links the Atlantic and the Pacific
 
- A true test of human achievement and endeavour, a team of Ocean Rowers & Explorers are attempting one of the world’s “last great firsts”
 
Instagram - @nwp2021
Facebook - @nwp2021
 
 
Oct 27, 2020
At 79 years young, Dr. Betty Holston Smith has the fitness level of your average 30-year old and looks at least 20 years younger than she is! 
 
Dr. Betty was previously a 200-pound couch potato who loved junk food and smoking. Dr. Betty shares more about how she transformed her life 50 years ago. This really is a master class told by a phenomenal story teller, who goes into the details.
 
During this podcast episode Dr. Betty shares more about her early life, how she got into running, how she changed her diet, how she trains, and how she copes on 4hrs of sleep a night. At 79 years young Dr. Betty is still running 60 to 100 miles per week! 
 
If you want to learn the secrets of running, health and fitness, this is an episode not to be missed.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Speaking to Dr. Betty Holston Smith
  • Being a smoker and eating junk food
  • Being 200lbs overweight
  • Why she decided to lose weight
  • Trying all of the crazy diets
  • Being inspired by Dr. Mirkin 
  • Why nutrition and movement is so important
  • Advice for movement - Get outside 3x a week for 30 mins
  • Why you need to strengthen your heart
  • Why you need to eat, fruit, vegetables, whole foods, seeds and nuts
  • What Dr. Betty eats on a daily basis
  • Falling in love with running and how it became the core of her life
  • Starting to feel the difference in her life
  • Running ultra marathons and having no need for recovery
  • The good things that have come from her lifestyle
  • Being monitored by John Hopkins Hospital 
  • Thriving on 4hrs of sleep a night
  • Doing relationship based coaching
  • The importance of respecting the body
  • Stretching and doing Tai Chi for 40 years
  • Growing up in virgin woods and falling in love with mother nature
  • Growing up as 1 of 6 children
  • Her favourite shoes - Vivo Barefoot  
  • Running marathons on 6 continents
  • Running a half marathon (22 miles) on the Great Wall of China
  • Running and teaching deep water running
  • Setting up your body for running 
  • The benefits of chia seeds
  • The power of having good posture
  • Lessons from Michael Jackson with his pelvis
  • Needing a strong core to be any kind of runner
  • Why you need to have relaxed shoulders
  • Why running should be moving meditation
  • Writing her book - Lifestyle by Nature: One Woman's Break from the Unhealthy Herd to Roam Forever Healthy in Nature's Lifestyle Change Herd
  • Focusing on what you love and what you are passionate about
  • Wanting to run for the rest of her life
  • Passion and perseverance 
  • Not caring about the finish line
  • The process of changing a lifestyle
  • Going to school during segregation
  • The lifestyle change line
  • On going challenges
  • Running a 901 mile virtual race
  • Looking for more virtual races
  • Not being on social media
  • What her week looks like
 
Social Media
 
Book - Lifestyle by Nature: One Woman's Break from the Unhealthy Herd to Roam Forever Healthy in Nature's Lifestyle Change Herd 
 
More about the book:
 
How are you? If your truest first thoughts in pondering this question are something like "I could be better," this nature-based lifestyle-change book might help. To be healthy, you must take care of all of you because the total you is made up of your entire self, including your body, mind, spirit, soul-your everything. 
 
If one part of you is not up to par in some way or another, it's impossible for your everything else to be totally healthy. You have tried everything your friends, your doctors, and even the advertisement industry recommended for improving your health. But nothing has worked, except to make you a frustrated person. 
 
Close your eyes right now and allow your conscious mind to contemplate your health situation. Be honest. You are not the healthiest that you can or should be. In fact, you are in dire straits according to how you feel and what your medical team says about your health. I know all of this about you because I was you so many years ago. 
 
Like you, for years I followed the same type of diet herd that you have been following. And like you, after trying everything, I had no clue about what to try next. However, I found a clue. Over forty years, I lived the importance of and learned to replicate nature's wisdom on nutrition and movement in my unhealthy lifestyle. Her focus was on naturally changing lifestyles, not on temporary quick fixes. And in the process, she provided me with all types of support to do so. I carefully recorded her step-by-step wisdom and provided the details inside. 
 
Ditch your next quick-fix cosmetic diet, and put your trust in nature's simple but trustworthy lifestyle-change wisdom.
 
Oct 22, 2020
Hetty in her own words:
 
I live for adventure. Being outdoors is more than a hobby to me - I thrive on it, rely on it and couldn’t imagine life without it. When I am not out exploring, I'm usually planning or daydreaming of my next adventure - which could be anything from a weekend running around my local hills to some epic endurance event or obscure challenge further afield.
 
I love pushing myself both physically and mentally to find my limit. I can't explain quite why this is, but I have often found this is when you discover amazing things about yourself. I am not naturally talented or gifted - in fact, at school, I was once told I would never make a long distance runner. I have achieved what I have from having big dreams, being slightly stubborn and working hard! My main inspiration and drive come from loving what I am doing and the environment I am in - whatever the weather. 
 
I want to find adventure. See beautiful places only accessible from sheer human effort. I’d like to climb mountains and at the end of the day sit back with a beer, totally worn out, and watch the stars. I’d love to run, bike and climb all over the world! 
 
I might be a relatively ordinary individual but believe me, I am determined to make an impact in every way I can.
 
*************************************************
 
New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Hetty
  • Growing up in the Peak District, UK
  • Not being good at sports 
  • Her dreams and wanting to ride for Great Britain
  • Struggling to fit everything in
  • Making the transition from riding horses into the outdoors
  • Starting with google
  • Wanting to get into climbing and mountain biking 
  • Loving to push and challenge herself
  • Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 FUN!
  • Her passion for the mountains 
  • Setting up her website and personal blog
  • Wanting to support women in the middle ground of adventure 
  • Female role models in the adventure space
  • Being able to see what other women are doing
  • Wanting to understand more about women in the outdoors by starting - Women in Adventure
  • The first survey from Women in Adventure - Inspiration and Barriers
  • The second survey from Women in Adventure - Mental Well-Being
  • What’s next for Women in Adventure 
  • The Women’s Trad Festival based in the Peak District
  • What Trad climbing is
  • Loving the headspace of climbing
  • Climbers Like Me
  • The values and mission of the festival
  • Less Plastic would be Fantastic
  • The mental health challenges in 2020
  • Why we need the data
  • Being even more passionate 
  • An exciting new project… creating a historic global event to bring people together
  • The One Run Global Challenge - 10th December 2020 - 7pm Local Time 
  • “Love is a human right and no one should be hated for who they are”
  • Not always getting the balance right
  • Being a big fan of the to do list and keeping things simple
  • Next challenge… small and big!
  • All Points North 
  • Final words of advice and top tips
 
Social Media
 
Personal Blog and Website - www.mudchalkandgears.com 
 
Instagram @mudchalkandgears
 
Twitter @HettyKey 
 
Women In Adventure - Women in Adventure aims to narrow the data gap surrounding women and the outdoors. Through research, we want to increase participation, improve diversity and widen the accessibility of the outdoors for women.
 
Website - womeninadventure.com 
 
Instagram @womeninadventure
 
Facebook @womeninadventure 
 
Twitter @women_adventure
 
Women Trad Festival - Women's Trad Festival is a trad climbing festival in the Peak District, bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor climbing. We support, connect and inspire climbers of all abilities, ages and genders.
 
www.womenstradfestival.co.uk
 
Instagram @womenstradfestival 
 
Facebook @womenstradfestival
 
 
Oct 20, 2020
Jools shares more on her award-winning blog, VéloCityGirl, which focuses on different aspects of cycling, including cycle-style, her own adventures on two wheels, and how to widen participation in cycling.
 
Jools’ blog and social media presence have evolved from being her ‘tiny corner of the internet’ (as she still calls it) to inspiring women and young girls around the world to get on the saddle and ride. Leading publication BikeBiz lists her as one of the most influential women in the UK cycling industry. 
 
The well-respected US publication Bicycling Magazine touts her as one of the 107 Cycling Digital Superstars in the world to follow. Instagram named Jools as one of the most influential female storytellers in their #MyStoryUK campaign.
 
Jools now finds herself talking about cycling culture, and what it’s like to be a woman in that domain on platforms as varied as BBC Newsnight, the Design Museum, BBC Radio 4, and Southbank Centre’s WOW Festival.
 
Jools most recent book - Back In The Frame was published in May 2019.
 
About Back In The Frame:
 
Jools Walker re-discovered cycling aged twenty-eight after a ten-year absence from the saddle. When she started blogging about her cycle adventures under the alias Lady Vélo, a whole world was opened up to her. But it’s hard to find space in an industry not traditionally open to women – especially women of colour.
 
Shortly after getting back on two wheels, Jools was diagnosed with depression and then, in her early thirties, hit by a mini-stroke. Yet, through all of these punctures, one constant remained: Jools’ love of cycling.
 
In Back in the Frame Jools talks to the other female trailblazers who are disrupting the cycling narrative as well as telling the story of how she overcame her health problems, learned how to cycle her own path and even found a love of Lycra shorts along the way.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Jools
  • What her passions and interests are
  • Her love for cycling 
  • Being inspired by her older sister and brother
  • Starting with a BMX bike
  • Her dreams as a little girl and wanting to be a barrister
  • Taking a break from cycling for 10 years
  • Not feeling comfortable as a teenager on a bike
  • Not feeling safe or confident on the roads in London
  • Re discovering cycling at 28 
  • Feeling that cycling wasn’t a space for her
  • The lack of diversity in cycling media 
  • Commuting on a bike in London
  • Wanting to make cycling more diverse and welcoming 
  • Working in the cycling industry
  • Starting blogging at Velo City Girl
  • Having a focus on cycling style on the bike
  • Not knowing what to do after university
  • Going to Trinidad with her mum
  • Getting her first bike - through the Cycle to work Scheme 
  • Starting to work in the cycling industry
  • Trying to figure out what to do with the rest of your life in your 20s
  • Earning an income from her passions - cycling and fashion
  • Deciding to write a book
  • Sharing the personal stories from depression to having a mini stroke in her early 30s
  • Talking about the lows and the highs
  • Why you are not alone
  • Sharing stories via VeloMail
  • Bikes and bike names!
  • Final words of advice to encourage you to get into cycling
 
Social Media
 
Website velocitygirl.co.uk 
 
Facebook @LadyVelo 
 
Instagram @LadyVelo 
 
Twitter @LadyVelo 
 
Back in the Frame (How to get back on your bike, whatever life throws at you), was published by Little Brown UK in May 2019. 
 
In Back in the Frame Jools talks to the other female trailblazers who are disrupting the cycling narrative as well as telling the story of how she overcame her health problems, learned how to cycle her own path and even found a love of Lycra shorts along the way.
Oct 15, 2020
Deana Ortega is a badass single mom who has jammed her way around the roller derby circuit for the past 12 years. Having overcome addiction, negotiated difficult relationships, and endured numerous traumatic losses within her family, she has survived against the odds to become a successful derby captain, triathlete, and hairstylist. 
 
Hailing from the vibrant border city of El Paso, Texas, she is the author of Forget Soldadera: A Book of Personal Poetry (Ghostlight Creative, 2018) and My Derby Romance (April, 2020).
 
New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in Texas
  • Having a positive attitude
  • Spending a lot of time alone 
  • Loving being on her roller blades
  • Dreaming for some normality in her life
  • Getting into sports at a young age
  • Not being able to graduate school
  • Feeling very lost at a young age
  • Going back to school to get her GED
  • Finding roller derby in her 30s
  • Forgetting how to enjoy life
  • What is roller derby
  • Derby Names
  • The awesome community at Roller Derby 
  • Getting back into Roller Derby after babies
  • Deciding to stop drinking for good
  • Celebrate Recovery  
  • Working on her self worth issues
  • Being roller derby captain
  • Lessons learned from roller derby
  • Looking within
  • The importance of having balance - “you can’t do life without balance”
  • Her book - Derby Romance 
  • Getting through tough times
  • Balance and harmony
  • Deciding to write her first book
  • Changing her beliefs about herself
  • Figuring out her purpose
  • Changing from the inside out
  • Words of advice for those women who want to give roller derby ago
  • “Nothing is ever as hard as we think it’s going to be”
  • Final words of advice for those going through a tough time
 
 
Social Media
 
Instagram @queenbumble_dee
 
Facebook @deana.l.ortega
 
Oct 13, 2020
Sara Safari is an author, speaker, mountain climber, college professor, Electrical Engineer and advocate for women empowerment. 
 
Sara was born in Iran and moved to the USA in 2002 to continue her education in electrical engineering. While teaching at California State University Fullerton, Sara met the founder of the Empower Nepali Girls foundation. She decided to climb Mt. Everest to raise funds and awareness for the girls who become victims of human trafficking or are forced into early marriage. She is now a board member and director of development of Empower Nepali Girls and she dedicated her book “Follow My Footsteps” to this organisation.
 
Sara will be the first Iranian in history to climb the Seven Summits, the seven highest peaks in each continent.
 
New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Just another Everest climber!
  • Born in Iran and moved to the USA at age 20
  • Living in California
  • Being very grateful to her parents for their sacrifices 
  • Studying electrical engineering 
  • Wanting to raise money for the Empower Nepali Girls foundation
  • Starting from zero
  • Getting outside her comfort zone
  • Being a shy person
  • Asking strangers for money
  • Climbing Everest - April 2015
  • Meeting the girls from Nepal
  • Being on an ice wall during the earthquake at 20,000 ft
  • The turning point in her life
  • Starting to climb the 7 summits
  • Going back to climb Everest again…but ended up breaking her arm
  • Going through a divorce in 2008
  • Getting the idea to cross Greenland
  • Getting excited about the next expedition 
  • Using the time to reflect back on her life
  • The uniqueness of the challenge
  • Advice for women going through a tough situation
  • The patience needed in mountain climbing
  • The team dynamics in Greenland
  • The National Geographic article about the Greenland crossing 
  • Funding challenges and adventures
  • Building mental resilience and determination
  • Being a work in progress
  • Learning new habits and transforming herself
  • The power of saying it out-loud to the world 
  • Training to get fit and building muscle and endurance
  • Living with a heavy pack on 
  • Tips for rest and recovery 
  • Walking in the sun everyday for 20 mins
  • Why you have to START NOW!
 
Social Media
 
Website - http://www.climbyoureverest.org 
 
Instagram @sara.safari.everest 
 
Facebook @sara.roma.90 
 
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9cyPCB97LUKinSh2Fgpsg/videos
Oct 8, 2020
Catherine Dixon (Cat) and Rachael Marsden (Raz) – known as TandemWOW – had an ambition to raise £1 a mile as they cycled around the world on a tandem bicycle. 
 
After 263 days they arrived back in the UK at the end of March 2020, just before lockdown. 
 
After cycling 18,000 miles they raised a massive £37,000 for charity. They also set a new world record, beating the previous men’s record by more than 17 days. 
 
Always with a smile they cycled through storms, monsoon rains, brutal headwinds and fires. They endured emotional and physical hardships, hunger and exhaustion and, through their incredible determination, have shown us all that anything is possible.
 
Listen to Cat and Raz on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
Show notes
  • Who is Cat and what she does
  • Who is Raz and what she does
  • How Raz and Cat met about 3 years
  • Who’s idea was it to cycle around the world!
  • What Raz’s first thoughts were about cycling around the world
  • The planning and the preparation for the challenge
  • The rules for the Guinness World Record 
  • Thinking about and planning the route
  • Working on the bike spec
  • Figuring out the sponsorship and getting kit etc
  • Thank you to Stolen Goat 
  • Getting travel insurance with Saga 
  • The budget for the trip and trying to stick to £50 per day for the 2 of them
  • Camping across Europe to keep costs down
  • Having families and telling them about the challenge
  • Naming the bike ALICE…
  • The magical moments on the bike 
  • Spending 24hrs a day together
  • The challenges of being part of a team 
  • What did they learn about themselves from doing this challenge
  • Getting tested physically and mentally while cycling
  • Luxury items
  • Listening to lots of audio books
  • Raz sharing more about cycling over in America
  • The struggles of getting food in America 
  • To go to McDonalds or not….
  • Flying over to Morocco from America
  • Heading back to Europe for the final ride home back to the UK
  • Having to race against the pandemic to get the ferry back to the UK
  • The final few weeks of the adventure
  • Crossing the border from Spain to France
  • The challenge of riding through France when shops and accommodation was closed
  • Leaving France on the day of the lockdown
  • Finishing the journey and getting to the end of the trip and not being ready to stop cycling
  • Planning to take a month off
  • Starting new jobs
  • Making the transition from cycling everyday to being back in a full time job
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice and top tips
 
Social Media
 
Website www.tandemwow.com 
 
Tandem WoW Facebook Group 
 
Instagram @tandemwow 
 
Twitter @TandemWow
 
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