Listen to Kaz on the Tough Girl Podcast as she shares her passion for running and helping individuals discover their inner strength. Kaz founded Mettle—a platform dedicated to empowering runners to conquer personal challenges, chase personal records, and train for specific distances. Mettle isn't just about running; it's about equipping runners with coaching plans, mental strategies, and unwavering support to thrive both on the track and in life. Drawing from her extensive academic background—holding a PhD in human behaviour and an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology—Kaz delves into the intricacies of human performance, particularly in the face of adversity.
Driven by a profound belief in the power of self-belief and self-discipline, Kaz shuns shortcuts in favour of cultivating a mindset geared towards achieving one's goals. Her relentless pursuit of excellence extends beyond coaching; it's woven into the fabric of her own running endeavours.
Kaz's trail running journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring. From the rugged trails of Chamonix, France, where she tackled the Mont Blanc Marathon and UTMB races, to epic adventures like the Tahoe 200 (3rd F), Moab 240 (2nd F), and Ouray 100 (1st F), she continually pushes her limits.
Notably, Kaz completed 1 crazy loop at the legendary Barkley Marathon, and recently completed the daunting Last Annual Vol State, a 500K self-supported race across Tennessee.
Through it all, Kaz's message remains clear: When we harness our best selves and embrace the challenges that come our way, extraordinary achievements become possible.
Listen to Kaz share her story on the Tough Girl Podcast.
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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Kaz
- Living in Chamonix, France in 2010
- Studying architecture at University
- Joining the TA - Territorial Army and becoming a Personal Training Instructor (PTI)
- Doing a MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Working full time while studying and running
- Her trail running journey
- Learning about trail races
- Wanting to run the UTMB
- Running the Marathon de Mont Blanc
- Struggling with the UTMB in 2014
- Realising her mental game had let her down
- Wanting to learn/understand more about the mental side of physical challenges
- Losing focus and not being present while training and what you can do about it
- Ending up in a dark place and questioning what you are doing
- Why you need a strong WHY
- Signing up to do Tahoe 200
- The sacrifices and hard work which goes into training
- Suffering with audio and visual hallucinations
- Bears and Pizza!
- Running throughout the year
- Recovery after big races
- Being a plant based athlete
- Food and nutrition
- Using Training Peaks
- Where the name Mettle came from
- Coaching athletes and runners
- “We are stronger, braver and more capable than we realise”
- Being a fan of David Goggins
- Learning how to endure
- How to connect with Kaz
- Tips for self belief
- Our lives are the sum of our choices. The future depends on what we do in the present.
- Think about what you want to be doing and what you can do now to achieve that.
Social Media
Website www.mettlerunning.com
Instagram @mettlerunning
Personal Instagram @mountainkaz
Facebook www.facebook.com/
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Emma Hull, a confidence coach who discovered her true potential in her 40s and embarked on a transformative path towards self-empowerment. From grappling with anxiety and self-doubt to embracing a life of purpose and fulfilment, Emma's story is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination.
Emma's journey to confidence began with a desire for change, fuelled by a reluctance to rely on medication for anxiety and depression indefinitely. With a commitment to self-improvement, she gradually introduced yoga into her routine, finding solace in the safety of a supportive environment that allowed her to embrace vulnerability and authenticity.
Seeking guidance from a life coach, Emma embarked on a healing journey, realising that the power to effect change lay within her own hands. Amidst the tumult of the pandemic, she made the life-altering decision to leave her marriage and relocate to Canada, where she discovered a newfound sense of freedom and independence.
Embracing her newfound autonomy, Emma prioritised self-care and personal growth, establishing a morning routine centred around gratitude and mindfulness. With the support of tools like the Beach Body App and the companionship of her beloved dog, Jonny Cash, she embarked on a transformative road trip through the North of Canada, embracing the thrill of adventure and the freedom of the open road.
As she looks ahead to future adventures, including plans to purchase an RV and explore new horizons, Emma offers invaluable advice for women seeking to define and achieve their goals. From setting clear objectives to taking decisive action and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, Emma's journey exemplifies the transformative power of courage, resilience, and self-belief.
***
Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Emma Hull the confidence coach
- Gaining her confidence in her 40s
- Having a tough time accepting who she was
- Wanting to make a change in her life
- Not liking the feeling associated with being anxious
- Not wanting to take anxiety and depression medication for the rest of her life
- Her journey of making changes in her life
- Why the changes happened gradually over time
- Starting her transformation with yoga
- The power of being in a safe environment
- Being allowed to be herself and to be vulnerable
- Starting her healing journey
- Working with a life coach
- Why it’s within your power to make changes
- Being on the treadmill of life
- The HOW of making a change in your life
- Making the decision to leave her marriage during the pandemic
- Ending up in Canada
- Living in British Columbia
- Starting to dream through journalling
- Re-training as a life coach and setting up her own business
- Creating a life where she puts herself first
- Why living on her own really suits her
- Developing her morning routine and starting her day right
- Doing a morning gratitude practice
- Beach Body App
- Her dog Jonny Cash
- Being inspired to take a road trip
- Driving up to the North of Canada - Tuktoyaktuk
- Taking a month to travel and working while on the road.
- Advice for working while travelling
- Planning to buy an RV for an adventure in October 2025
- The importance of setting a date
- Advice for planning
- Advice for women who need help figuring out what their goals are
- Having a 3 goals per year - a big one, a medium one and a small one
- How can I make this happen?
- Seeing problems as opportunities
- To do lists
- Taking action and how it can lead to confidence
- Reward charts
- Knowing that the right decision had been made
- Connect with Emma
- Why planning is so important
- Taking the time to think about things which can go wrong
Social Media
Website: www.lifeuntethered.
Instagram: @TheLifeUntethered
Facebook: @TheLifeUntethered
Dr. Meera Velankar, a mother of two with a doctorate in life sciences, embarked on a transformative journey over a decade ago. Feeling unfit and discontent, she turned to cycling, becoming a seasoned endurance athlete since.
Her achievements include completing numerous running and cycling events, earning the title of an Ironman 70.3 finisher, and conquering the Super Randonneur norm three times, with a podium finish at the Tour of Nilgiris.
In 2022, Meera made history by setting a Guinness World Record for a self-supported cycling journey from Agra to Umlingla, covering a distance of 1,835 km in 19 days, 7 hours, and 18 minutes. This remarkable feat, accomplished with Utkarsh Verma, traversed five passes with an elevation of 19,000 meters, equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twice.
During this podcast, Meera shares insights into her journey, emphasising the importance of setting goals and pushing boundaries. Drawing inspiration from fellow cyclists, she advocates for spending more time outdoors and pursuing dreams.
Learn more about Meera's adventures and her passion for motivating other mothers by listening to her story on the Tough Girl Podcast.
***
Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Meera
- Getting her doctorate in life sciences at 26
- Having 2 daughters
- Realising that she was obese
- Starting to walk and to get into running
- Setting her first cycling challenge
- Cycling 800km in 8 days with a lot of off roading and climbing in 2011
- Receiving support from the male participants
- Wanting to take her cycling further
- The importance of working towards goals
- Taking part in stage events
- 2012 getting involved in Super Randonneur
- Getting use to cycling on her own
- Taking on new challenges every year
- Wanting to move away from organised events and create her own challenges
- Deciding on challenges/events and the planning and preparation involved.
- Using her research skills from her PhD to plan her routes
- Being inspired by Cat Dixon and Raz Marsden. The women’s tandem around the GWR holders. (You can listen to Cat and Raz on the TGP)
- Meeting Laura from SteLa Tandem - Around the word - mixed pair GWR holder.
- You can listen to Laura Massey-Pugh on the TGP - Her Inspiring Journey Around the World - 180 days on the back of a tandem.
- Book: The Next Everest by Jim Davidson
- Taking on 3 different routes/challenges with different partners, self supported.
- Riding Kanyakumari to Kashmir Route (K2K) 3,800km in 18 days, self supported.
- Riding The Golden Qualdilateral (network of national highways connecting Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai in four directions) 6,000+ km in 41 days
- Riding East to West - known as the "the other k2k" in cycling circuits.
- Having a supportive husband
- Social issues of riding a tandem bike with a male partner who is not her husband.
- The challenges of tandem cycling
- Riding Umling La Pass on a tandem bicycle, which is the highest motorable pass (19,024ft) in the world.
- The many names of the tandem bike
- Having support from the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
- Communication and needing to rely on local people and their local knowledge
- Fitting in cycling around her life and family
- Focusing on high altitude cycling and the lessons she’s learned
- How to connect with Meera
- Final words of advice to encourage you to spend more time in the outdoors and to follow your dreams
- Take the first steps to pursue your dreams
Social Media
Website: www.pedalmummy.com/
Instagram: @meeravelankar
Join us for an exhilarating journey into the world of long-distance hiking with Arlette Laan, affectionately known as "Apple Pie."
In this episode, Arlette shares her awe-inspiring tale of becoming the first woman to hike all 11 National Scenic Trails in the USA, covering over 35,000 miles on foot. From her childhood adventures in Holland to navigating the rugged terrains of America's most iconic trails, Arlette's story is one of perseverance, passion, and the sheer joy of exploration.
Tune in as she delves into the essence of long-distance hiking, the challenges she faced along the way, and the profound lessons she learned from her epic adventures. Whether you're an avid hiker or simply someone who loves a good adventure story, this episode is sure to leave you inspired and itching to hit the trails!
***
Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Arlette?
- Being born in Holland
- Living in Boston, USA
- Getting the trail name ‘Apple Pie’
- Growing up in Holland and having a typical childhood
- Moving over to California after college
- Visiting Switzerland and getting into backpacking
- The hiking culture in the Netherlands
- Starting with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in America in 2003
- Learning more about the long distance trails
- What she loves about long distance hiking
- Being empowered after reaching her goals
- How hiking has changed over the years
- The social aspect of hiking
- Not being an ultra light fast packer
- What a typical day hiking looks like
- Having dinner at 5pm and then carrying on hiking
- Finishing up the 11 National Scenic Trails
- Not giving her body the rest she needed
- Pushing harder while hiking
- Dealing with the heat and humidity and struggling to hit the 25 miles per day needed
- Advice for recovery and why taking time off is a good thing
- Eating well while hiking
- Cooking v cold soaking
- Food chat!
- Wearing dresses while hiking
- Hiking through all seasons
- Tips for winter hiking
- Feet and shoes for hiking
- Road walking with a pack
- Hiking with poles
- Fitting hiking into her life and working as a hiking guide
- Hiking all of the 11 National Scenic Trails in the States
- Putting a plan in place in 2018
- Speaking with ‘Buck 30’ (Brian Tanzman)
- Planning and preparation for the final few hikes
- Dealing with aggressive barking dogs
- North Country Trail (4,600 miles)
- Advice for when it gets tough on a hike
- Making her goals smaller
- Keeping track of expenses while on trail
- Paying for breakfast as it’s a better deal than dinner
- Advice for hiking the Te Araroa (TA), New Zealand
- Skipping the road walks in New Zealand
- Hiking in Nepal
- Hiking in Europe
- Preferring to hike in the wilderness
- Going back to hike the Arizona trail
- Wanting to thru-hikes the trails that she section hiked
- Wanting to ‘redlining’ the White Mountains guide book (1,440.4 miles )
- How to connect with Arlette on social media #ApplePieHikes
- Selling sock dolls (only sold/shipped to the US)
- Redline Guiding
- Final words of advice
Social Media
Website: www.arlettelaan.com
Instagram: @arlette_laan
In this episode, we embark on a journey with Lauren Beihoffer, a trail and ultra-running enthusiast residing in Tennessee, USA. As she prepares for a 100-mile race in the rugged mountains of Virginia, Lauren shares insights into the physical and mental challenges she faces and offers valuable advice for fellow runners, particularly women over the age of 40.
Lauren's love for running runs deep, having discovered it in her 30s and gradually progressing into the world of trail running. Through trial and error, she has gained valuable knowledge, emphasising the importance of self-compassion and honesty in balancing training with life's demands.
With a passion for helping others, Lauren specialises in working with women over 40, offering guidance on improving sleep quality, nutrition, and managing conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). She highlights the significance of metabolic efficiency training and advocates for a balanced approach to nutrition, emphasising the importance of real food over supplements.
As Lauren shares her wisdom, she addresses the common feeling of imposter syndrome when pushing beyond one's comfort zone. Her final words of advice resonate deeply, reminding us that growth often occurs outside our comfort zones, and it's okay to embrace the uncertainty that comes with it.
Listen to Lauren on the Tough Girl Podcast as we navigate the trails of life with her, finding inspiration and guidance for our own journeys along the way
***
Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Lauren
- Living in Tennessee in the USA
- Her love for trail and ultra running
- Tapering for her 100 miles race in the mountains of Virginia
- The uncertainty feeling before a race
- Managing the various mental and physical challenges as they arise
- Dealing with the uncertainty
- Advice and tips for tapering before a race
- Reducing your alcohol consumption
- A glass of wine before bed…. What the sleep studies show
- Working with women over the age of 40
- Advice and tips for improving sleep quality
- Her love and passion for running
- Coming to running in her 30s
- How her running journey progressed
- Getting into trail running
- Gaining new knowledge in running via trial and error
- Getting serious with running 3/4 years ago
- Fitting ultra training in with your life
- Having self compassion and taking an honest look at your life
- Nutrition and why it’s so important
- Dealing with PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Metabolic Efficiency Training - a concept developed by Bob Seebohar in 2003
- Good nutrition occurs on a spectrum
- Practical nutrition for before, during and after the 100 mile race
- Eating real food and taking sports supplements
- Connect with Lauren on the socials
- Final words of advice
- Why it’s normal to feel like an imposter when you are pushing outside your comfort zone
Social Media
Website: www.
Instagram:
Facebook: @LaurenRunsWild