In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Rachel Durchslag, an avid hiker and healing professional who has spent the last five years trekking some of the world’s most magnificent mountain ranges. Rachel shares her transformative experiences and the profound lessons she's learned along the way.
Rachel’s story begins in downtown Chicago, where she grew up and later founded the nonprofit Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation. As the executive director, she dedicated herself to ending the abuse of sex trafficking and sexual assault. However, after years of self-sacrifice and battling burnout and empathy fatigue, Rachel realised she needed a significant change.
In her 30s, Rachel decided to leave her career and the bustling life of Chicago behind, moving to the serene landscapes of Asheville, North Carolina. Here, she embraced a new life focused on healing, both for herself and others. Her healing work involves providing alternative therapies to help people recover from trauma and create more room for joy in their lives.
Rachel’s adventures in solo travel began with a life-changing trip to Iceland, where she learned to embrace loneliness, freedom, and self-fulfilment. From walking the Camino de Santiago to hiking in Nepal and reaching the base of Everest, Rachel's treks have taught her invaluable lessons about resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of a fulfilling relationship with oneself.
Throughout the episode, Rachel offers advice for solo female hikers and travellers, discusses the challenges and rewards of being vegan while hiking, and shares her daily hiking routines. She also reflects on the concept of RFS - Return Flight Syndrome - and how it affects her post-travel mindset.
Join us as we explore Rachel’s incredible adventures, her healing practices, and the wisdom she's gained from her journeys. Discover why Rachel believes we are all pilgrims on our own unique paths and the importance of creating time for yourself.
***
Don't miss the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 AM UK time! 
Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women. 
This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear. 
Use code TOUGHGIRL15 to get your 15% discount. 
Click here: https://www.
***
Show notes
- Who is Rachel
- Working in the healing profession
- Supporting people in the non-profit world
- Moving away from self sacrifice and harm
- Growing up in downtown Chicago
- Travelling and being inspired by her dad
- What changed in her 30s
- Dealing with burnout and empathy fatigue
- Realising that she needed to leave her career and Chicago
- Moving to North Carolina
- Wanting to explore travelling by herself
- Her first solo trip to Iceland
- Having a date with loneliness
- Feeling freedom and opportunity
- Having a fulfilling relationship with yourself
- Walking the Camino de Santiago - the way of St James
- The lessons learned from her first experience
- Arriving into Santiago de Compostela
- Suffering from RFS - Return Flight Syndrome
- Reflection on the return
- Why we are always pilgrims on journeys
- Getting a tattoo on her wrist
- 21 dots…
- Choosing the next adventure
- Hiking in Nepal and to the base of Everest
- Advice for solo female hikers and travellers
- Anticipate that there will be lonely times
- How other people can put their fear narrative on you
- Being vegan while hiking
- Walking to Petra in Jordan
- Daily hiking routines
- Tour de Mount Blanc (TMB)
- How fitness helps with mental health
- Healing practices
- Hiking in Romania
- Hiking in Wales
- How to connect with Rachel
- Words of advice
- The importance of creating time for yourself
Social Media
Website: www.whileiwalk.com
Instagram: @whileiwalkbook
Facebook: @whileiwalkbook
In this episode, we sit down with Audrey Payne, a long-distance backpacker, acclaimed writer, and nature enthusiast who calls Boulder, Colorado, her home. Audrey's incredible journey from overcoming a debilitating back injury to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) forms the heart of our conversation. Raised in Upstate New York and inspired by her transformative experiences abroad in New Zealand and Madagascar, Audrey has always had a deep love for the outdoors. Her passion led her to pursue environmental science and journalism, but the pressures of her studies and early career eventually led to burnout and a severe back injury. Undeterred, she found inspiration in Bill Bryson’s "A Walk in the Woods" and set her sights on the AT, a journey she chronicles in her newly published memoir.
Throughout our chat, Audrey shares the highs and lows of her trail life, from the supportive community she found to the physical and mental challenges she faced. We explore her trail name ‘Glowstick,’ her trail family dynamics, and the lessons learned from her trek. Audrey also opens up about the post-trail depression she experienced and how writing her memoir helped her process the journey. As she plans future hikes, including the possibility of tackling the Pacific Crest Trail, Audrey’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the joy of embracing life’s adventures. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and gain insights into the life of a dedicated thru-hiker and nature lover.
***
Don't miss the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 AM UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear.
Use code TOUGHGIRL15 to get your 15% discount. Click here: https://www.
***
Show notes
- Who is Audrey
- Being a hiking and backpacking enthusiast
- Living in Boulder Colorado, USA
- Growing up in Upstate New York
- Her early years and her passion for the outdoors
- Spending a summer abroad in New Zealand at 16
- How it changed her life
- Spending time in Madagascar for a semester abroad during college
- Staying environmental science and journalist with a minor in anthropology
- Dealing with burnout and how it happened.
- Moving to Washing DC to study for a Masters Degree in Public Relations.
- Working for an entertainment communications firm
- Dealing with a back injury while having to work all the time
- Starting to think about the Appalachian Trail (AT)
- Getting inspired by Bill Bryson and his book; Walk in the Woods
- Making the decision to start taking the first steps towards achieving her goal of walking the AT
- Getting to the start line
- Landing her dream job at World Wildlife Fund
- Connecting with an old friend from college who also wanted to hike the trail
- Having a good boss
- 1 month before the start!
- On the start line of the Appalachian Trail in 2018
- Loving every moment and feeling so happy and grateful
- Getting her trail name, ‘Glowstick’
- Day to day life on the trail and being part of a trail family
- Food and nutrition on the trail and eating on a budget
- Craving and what it’s telling your body
- The ice cream challenge…
- Key lessons learned from taking on this challenge
- Dealing with conflict on the trail and the break up of the trail family
- Being anaemic
- Wear and tear on your body on a thru-hike
- Writing her book 5 years after the hike
- Post Trail Depression/Post Trail Blues
- Getting the urge to write and writing non stop
- Hiking on a regular basis and making it apart of her life
- Future hiking dreams and planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the future
- Hiking the John Muir Trail and why the PCT might be the wrong trail for her
- Taking the time to figure out which trail to walk in the future
- How you can connect with Audrey and follow along with her future journeys
- Why you should keep an open mind
- Grab the opportunities when they arrive
Social Media
Website: sunstrucksite.
Instagram: @audipayne
Facebook: @audipayne
YouTube: @AudreyAdventures
Book: Where the Rhododendrons Bloom: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on the Appalachian Trail
Mirelle in her own words:
“My name is Mireille and I’m a certified run coach, autoimmune athlete, and podcast host based in Los Angeles, California.
I have been an athlete all my life but I found myself in distance running while in college.
As an exercise science major, I was immersed in the world of bio-mechanics, physical performance, and health.
However it was also in college where I was diagnosed with Lupus; an autoimmune disorder that left me sidelined from physical activity for 1.5 years.
Luckily after treatment, I was able to use running to gain back my health and then some!
Over the last ten years, I have experienced so much of what running can bring; determination, fun, discipline, adventure, and confidence."
Some accomplishments include:
- Completed 12 marathons (& counting)
- First Black women to run from Boston to NYC (200 miles in 11 days as part of the FALKE team)
- Completed a relay from Santa Monica to Las Vegas. (The Speed Project 2023 - with Unlimited Women)
***
This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, the pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear.
Learn more about INOV8 and get your 15% discount. Click Here.
***
Show notes
- Who is Mireille
- Living in LA, California, but originally from Cameroon, West Africa
- Growing up in Cameroon before moving over to America at 6 years old
- Wanting to finish school and to go on to college
- Being inspired by her dad who was active and loved to ride bikes
- Playing basketball, and enjoying being active
- Having ambitious dreams and a love for learning
- Wanting to have a safe profession
- Being interested in science and wanting to pursue college
- Studying exercise science for her undergraduate degree
- Running track in high school and being curious about distance running at college
- Wanting to pursue physical therapy and the challenges of trying to progress in the career
- Enjoying running and feeling healthier while doing it
- Dealing with stress while at college
- Being diagnosed with Lupus an auto immune disease and the impact it had on her life
- The impacts of Lupus on her body
- Making changes and how Lupus impacted on her life
- Needing to pivot and make a change in her life
- Having a year left in school and needing to make some key decisions about her future
- Doing what she thought was best
- Needing to take a semester off from school/college
- Working as a PT assistant and getting back into running
- Balancing health and fitness while having Lupus
- Turning to vegetarianism to help manage her Lupus
- Training for her first marathon
- Magical moments while running
- Running in the Speed Project (2023) - running from LA to Las Vegas over a weekend
- Unlimited women - a team of 10 women, bringing diversity and awareness into the running sphere
- Dealing with challenges on the Speed Project
- Mental tips and tricks for when it gets tough
- Race strategy and how the race worked
- Starting to eat meat again and dabbling in veganism
- Nutrition while running and racing and making it easy.
- Running from Boston to NYC and becoming the first Black woman to be involved in the project with FALKE
- Working with FALKE
- Running the Berlin Marathon
- Entering the lottery for the London Marathon
- The Los Angeles Marathon
- Working as a running coach and her coaching philosophy and values
- Coaching road, trail and autoimmune athletes
- Education, communication, commitment and joy.
- Why it’s more than just a training plan
- Making the training adaptable to your life
- Hosting the “Running in Public” Podcast - combining messages about running and public health.
- How to connect with Mireille on social media
- Final words of advice for other women who want to get into running
- Speaking up and the power of advocating for yourself
- The importance of making it fun!
Social Media
Website: www.coachedbymireille.
Instagram: @heycoachmireille
Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/
After many years of adventure Carly found work as a Tour Leader in the Middle East for a couple of years and Syria became her home, immersing herself in to the community and culture she lived in Aleppo, Syria until March 2012.
Adventure, solitude, nature, and love for the deserts draw her back to the Middle East again and again. Gaining further knowledge and experience she worked as a freelance guide and led horse riding tours in Jordan and Georgia, and hiking and adventure tours in Sudan, Pakistan, Algeria, Oman, aswell as guiding in the ‘No go’ areas of Southern Iraq and finally back into Syria.
Over 10 years experience as a Tour Leader in the Middle East she is Qualified HEFAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) and Wilderness First Aid trained, an experienced horse rider and Paraglide licence holder.
***
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 Carly
- Living a unique lifestyle
- Working as a freelance guide in the Middle East and Central Asia
- Wanting to simplify her life so that she can live it
- Her love for adventure and travel
- Moving every 2 years due to her dad being in the Army
- Turning 18
- Deciding not to go down the university route and wanting to travel instead
- Feeling liberating
- Being a scared child
- Deciding to face her fears
- Going on lots of solo adventures and being inspired to do even more
- Figuring it out as she went travelling around the world
- Facing the fear by doing it
- Changing in a shared dorm
- 42 years young!
- Wanting to explore the world and keep on travelling
- Henry David Thoreau quote
- Age 27 and having another pivotal trip in Namibia
- Being inspired by other people living as guides
- Working as a tour leader in the middle east
- Living on the brink of the unknown
- Wanting to experience and feel communities
- Going with her feelings
- Falling in love with the middle east
- Knowing there was more than her 9 to 5 life
- Living in Syria before the conflict (2010)
- Why it’s all about the people
- Making friends and building a community
- Working as a tour leader
- Living in different communities in Canada, Switzerland and Florida
- Why time is more important than money
- Her love for running in the mountains, sleeping in a bivvy bag
- Wanting to live a life, where she is able to do all the things that are really important to her
- Learning how to paraglide
- Saying yes to lots of things
- Living a frugal life
- Riding horses and taking a horse riding tour to Mongolia
- Women and safety while travelling in the middle east
- The importance of having respect
- Setting up downtoearthtravel.co.uk with Kara Cheshire
- Can you travel too much?
- Feeling travel burnout
- When travel lost its purpose
- Advice for women who want to make a change
- Letting go of attachments
- Starting to doubt her life choices during covid
- Training to run around Mount Blanc
- The covid years
- Having a routine and taking a big rest from the world
- Feeling scared and anxious before travelling again
- Getting older and dealing with the future
- Building a tiny home in an orchard
- Doing mini adventures and finding the sweet spot
- Guiding in Mongolia
- Getting serious with her running and building up time on feet
- Ultimate Direction - Fast Packing Pack
- Advice for women who want to be more adventurous and travel more
- How plans can change and evolve and why you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start.
Social Media
Website: www.downtoearthtravel.
Instagram: @carly_fillis
Carol Devine embodies a diverse array of roles, seamlessly intertwining her work as a researcher, writer, artist, climate activist, humanitarian professional, and explorer. Her pursuits range from spearheading groundbreaking ecological expeditions to championing causes such as combating plastic pollution and empowering women in adventure sports.
She spearheaded the first civilian volunteer ecological expedition in Antarctica, collaborating with the Russian Antarctic Expedition. Additionally, Carol has actively participated in and documented environmental initiatives, such as Clean Up Svalbard, near the North Pole.
Despite limited sailing experience, Carol eagerly embraced the opportunity to learn alongside seasoned sailors and fellow advocates combating plastic pollution. She recently embarked on an all-female expedition with eXXpedition, circumnavigating Scotland to conduct research and raise awareness about the global plastic crisis while championing women's presence in adventure sports.
Carol's dedication to environmental and social causes is further evidenced by her membership in prestigious organizations such as The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group and The Explorer's Club.
***
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 Carol
- Her early years
- Growing up in Canada
- Going to university to study English Literature
- Wanting to visit Antarctica, but going with a purpose
- Being inspired by people around her
- Taking the opportunity when it came available
- Wanting to help clean up Antarctica
- The Antarctic Treaty
- Collaboration and working with others
- Working with Wendy Trusler https://www.wendytrusler.ca/
- Book: Ode To Antarctica - Antarctic cultural history book based on a civilian ecological cleanup expedition 42 recipes, pix, journals. HarperDesign.
- Crossing the Drake Passage
- How the experience changed her
- Applying to Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
- How art fits into the work
- Telling the story of their Antarctica expedition through food and imagery while discussing serious issues
- Heading to Svalbard, to do a clean up operation
- Using art to talk about serious stories
- Getting involved with eXXpedition (a non-profit organisation that runs pioneering all-female sailing research expeditions at sea and virtual voyages on land to investigate the causes of and solutions to ocean plastic pollution)
- Emily Penn - Tough Girl Podcast (Jul 12, 2016)
- Emily Penn - Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA (Jan 9, 2020)
- Wanting to learn how to sail
- The challenges of sailing and dealing with sea sickness
- The lessons learned and the takeaways from the experience
- Having an international scope but working locally
- Presenting their finding to the Scottish Parliament
- TEDxMontrealWomen: Ocean Love: Cleaning Up Our Plastic Mess
- Advice for people regarding plastic pollution
- #OceanOptimism
- The little things/small actions you can do to make a difference
- Project: Hello/Goodbye Glaciers
- Learning about glaciers in Iceland, Canada, Switzerland, Alaska and Argentina
- Code Red for Humanity
- The impacts of the glaciers receding
- Future projects
- See Change Initiative
- How to connect with Carol
- Final words of advice for other women and girls
- Taking the opportunities when they come
- Making a commitment and seeing it through
- Risk, discomfort and challenge
- LEAP!!!
Social Media
Website: www.caroldevine.info
Instagram: @antarcticcookandclean
Gráinne Moss is arguably Irelands most accomplished female open water swimmer.
At 16 she was the first female to represent Ireland in open water swimming at the World Championships.
At 17 she became the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel. She has continued to achieve many firsts including the first Irish woman to swim Cook Strait (2001) Foveaux (2022), Lake Taupō (2021) and the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (2023).
Gráinne holds three Triple Crowns of Open Water Swimming (awarded when a swimmer has completed three of the toughest swims in any nation) - including appropriately the Irish and New Zealand Triple Crowns given she was born in Ireland and moved to New Zealand in 1998.
Since 2022 Gráinne has teamed up with Kenzie's Gift to use her swims as an opportunity to raise vital funds for this important charity which cares for children and young people who have experienced serious loss and grief.
Her next adventure is in May this year when she will swim the famous straits of Gibraltar crossing from Africa to Spain.
***
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 Gráinne
- Being born in Ireland
- Emigrating to New Zealand at the end of the 90s
- Living in Wellington, New Zealand
- Representing Ireland and the first Open Water Swimming Championships (1986)
- Her early years and memories of water
- Being spotted as talented at swimming at 6 years old
- Wanting to better herself and try new things
- Swimming for Bangor Swim Club
- Making the transition to open water swimming
- Meeting people from around the world who loved open water swimming
- The pressure of swimming competitively and wanting to swim well
- Getting married and having 4 children
- Swimming through out the years
- Getting back into big swims in 2021
- Lessons learning from the big swims
- Making an emotional commitment to the swim
- Keeping motivated while waiting to compete the big swims
- Having her family involved in the big swims
- What the journey of a swim looks like
- Swimming the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (43km)
- Having anxiety and neves before the swim and feeling full of doubt
- Taking medication for sea sickness
- Swimming for charity - Kenzie’s Gift
- Training and maintaining swim fitness
- Working with a swim coach (Phillip Rush) and the importance of stretching
- The importance of recovery
- Handing changes in her body over the years
- Being aware of her body
- Not using a watch or GPS
- Learning how to train smart
- Nutrition while swimming and getting the fuel needed to complete the big swims
- Homemade leek and potato swims for the cold swims
- PURE Sports Nutrition
- The importance of feeding fast
- Digging deep and getting through the dark/tough moments
- Taking it one stroke at a time
- The next swim challenge in May
- Swimming from Spain to Morocco - The Straits of Gibraltar
- How to connect with Gráinne
- Final words of advice for new swimmers and swimmers who want to take it to the next level
- The power of finding your community
Social Media
Website: grainnemoss.com
Instagram: @swimirishkiwi
Charity: Kenzie’s Gift supports the mental health of tamariki (children) and mātātahi (young people) affected by serious illness or grief.
Link to Fundraising: winter-swim-challenge-2024.raiselysite.com/grainne-moss
In this episode of Tough Girl Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Fatima, from her early years in Afghanistan to her pursuit of education, independence, and empowerment in Italy.
Fatima's childhood was marked by challenges, but her curiosity and determination to learn led her to secretly educate herself. As Afghanistan's first female tour guide, she defied expectations and empowered herself economically.
Threatened by the Taliban, Fatima made the courageous decision to flee to Italy, where she faced new obstacles but persisted in pursuing higher education. Now, as a refugee with a passion for sharing her experiences, she continues to inspire others as a unique tour guide.
Fatima's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the unwavering spirit of women. Tune in to Tough Girl Podcast to hear her journey firsthand.
***
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 Fatima
- Studying in Italy and working as a tour guide
- Her early years in Afghanistan
- Having 4 older brothers and 2 older sisters
- Working with the sheep as a shepherdess at age 7
- Not having school and not being able to study
- Being inspired by hearing people on the radio
- How her curiosity grew and her desire to learn more
- Starting to learn secretly
- Practicing her reading and writing in the sand
- Being able to go to school and study
- Thinking about her own future
- Witnessing the suffering of women in Afghanistan
- Wanting to live for herself
- Wanting to be independent and the person of her choice
- Becoming Afghanistan’s first female tour guide
- Graduating high school and wanting to go to University to become a journalist
- Convincing her mother first
- Researching the history of Afghanistan
- Making a Facebook account and connecting with people who travel and how that connection led to her tourist work
- Untamed Borders - an adventure travel company providing unparalleled access to some of the world’s most interesting and inaccessible places.
- Being able to earn more than her brothers and help to support her family
- Wanting to encourage more women to enter the tourist industry in Afghanistan
- Sharing her story on CNN
- Her journey to Italy
- Receiving warning that she was a target of the Taliban
- Not being able to say a proper goodbye to her family
- The challenges of getting into the airport to get on the plane
- Moving to Italy and building a new life
- Feeling mentally and physically lost and struggling to sleep
- Dealing with the aftermath and reliving the trauma
- Deciding to make changes in her life; getting a job, sorting out a university place, reading books and focusing on improving herself
- Her passion for continuing her education and getting accepted with a fully funded scholarship to study at University in Milan (BA in International Politics and Government)
- Being a refugee and having travel documents which allows her travel in Europe
- Visiting Iran and meeting up with her family
- Continuing to be a tour guide in a unique way
- How to connect with Fatima
- Her reason for wanting to travel to every country in the world.
- Final words of advice
- “You are powerful as a woman, don’t underestimate your power.”
Social Media
Instagram: @fatima.haidari786
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.
***
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
Shirin made history as Iran's first female triathlete to compete in a world championship.
On 15 September 2013, Shirin represented Iran at the triathlon championship in London, wearing full Islamic dress.
Growing up, Shirin discovered her love for movement through activities like yoga, swimming, and running. Her passion for sports blossomed further during her university years when she decided to pursue triathlon. Despite initial fears, she pushed through, embracing the challenge with determination.
After graduating from Durham University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Shirin embarked on an internship with the United Nations. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she explored the complex interplay between human nature, societal expectations, and the realities of life.
Shirin's participation in the 2013 Triathlon World Championship in London garnered attention worldwide. Donning full Islamic dress, she defied stereotypes and inspired women everywhere to pursue their athletic dreams, regardless of cultural or societal barriers.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Shirin remains passionate about advocating for inclusivity and challenging societal norms. She actively engages in discussions about privilege, gender equality, and the importance of representation in sports.
Join us as we delve into Shirin's remarkable journey, exploring the intersections of athleticism, philosophy, and social change. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of sport in transcending boundaries and fostering empowerment.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to hear Shirin's final words of advice, as she shares her insights on resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one's passions.
***
New 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 Shiz
- Being based in London
- Not considering herself a tough girl
- Being born in Iran and moving around a lot in her early years
- Being introduced to yoga and the mountains
- Getting into running and swimming at school
- Getting into triathlon at university
- The pros and cons of moving so much when she was younger
- Being in the right environment to do sports
- The power of movement and nature
- How she defines being competitive
- Being involved with many societies at university
- Studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Durham University
- Rowing at college
- College chat!
- Deciding it was now or never and getting into triathlon
- Feeling scared and pushing on through
- Graduating from Durham and doing an internship with the United Nations (UN)
- Wanting to ride a rickshaw in London
- Exploring what is human nature in her dissertation
- Being told it wasn’t a safe environment for girls
- How theory is different from reality
- Competing in a triathlon world championship in London 2013
- The connection between your body and mind
- Don’t take your privilege for granted
- Flying to Iran to speak with the Iranian
- Needing to dress modestly
- What should women wear?
- Being patronised while racing
- Paris Olympics and the restriction on French women wearing a hijab
- Being passionate about moving
- Stepping back from social media
- Final words of advice
Social Media
Instagram: @shiringeramitri
Beth is a traveler first and foremost. With 35 years of travel experience, each year she spends three to four months abroad, combining her love of adventure with vacation and business.
For 15 years she has been running WanderTours, focusing on women-only tours, where she encourages and inspires women to dive deep into cultures and to challenge themselves by getting out of their comfort zone.
She recently discovered running and, at age 50, ran her first marathon. She then discovered ultra-running and has been using these as an excuse to explore remote destinations around the globe that few people ever see.
Most recently she completed the Grand Slam Plus with Racing the Planet. This consisted of running five 250K stage races across four deserts: the Gobi in Mongolia, the Atacama in Chile, the Namib in Namibia, Antarctica and, the one non-desert race, a run across the country of Georgia.
While many people have completed these races, she is part of a small group of competitors (only seven women!) who have completed them in a year's time (OK, slightly longer due to Covid).
***
We first spoke with Beth - Feb 11th 2020 - Running her 1st Marathon at 50, completing the Snowman Trek in Bhutan.
***
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 Beth Whitman and what she does
- Speaking with Beth at the end of 2019 where she shared more about running her first marathon and completing the Snowman Trek in Bhutan.
- Going back to the start of 2020
- 4 desert races - with Racing the Planet
- Wanting to run these 4races in 1 year (Namib Race (Namibia), Gobi March (Mongolia), Atacama Crossing (Chile) and The Last Desert (Antarctica))
- Continuing to run and train, even when races and borders were getting closed
- Not knowing what was going on, and continuing to hope that the race would go on.
- Running every street in your city/neighbourhood
- Having a purpose to get up every day and go running
- The rules of the ‘running every street’
- The mental side of always being ‘on’ while running
- The challenges of running a tour company during covid
- Dealing with uncertainty
- Her first race - running Georgia (country) in 2021
- Dealing with stress
- Using mediation and becoming more aware of her thoughts
- Needing to know what was happening and starting to doom scroll
- Becoming more aware of her habits
- Cutting back on caffeine and sugar
- Moving on quickly from each trip/race
- Needing to spend more time in reflection and appreciation for what’s been achieved
- Revenge travel
- Having 7 weeks between the Georgia race and the next ultra in Namibia
- Fuelling ultra marathons being a mostly vegan
- Magical moments and highlights from running
- Running in Antarctica and the challenges with the terrain and weather
- The mental struggle and thinking that she wasn’t going to be able to carry on while running in the desert
- What kept her going during the tough times
- How to find out more about Beth and her tours
- Being most active on Facebook
- Final words of advice
- Having something to look forward to
- The power of making a plan
- Why you are capable of so much more than you think
Social Media
Website:
Instagram:
Facebook: @bethwhitwa
Hey Hey, it's Sarah Williams from the Tough Girl Podcast, and I'm thrilled to share with you my latest solo episode reflecting on my unforgettable journey hiking the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.
Sponsored by Zoleo #ChallengeWithZOLEO, this episode dives deep into the highs, lows, and everything in between of my epic adventure.
Join me as I address questions from listeners about a wide range of topics, including solo hiking as a woman, hitchhiking, hygiene, nutrition, and more. I share it all.
I'll take you on a journey through the stunning landscapes of both the North and South Islands, highlighting memorable moments like canoeing adventures and breathtaking views on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or dreaming of your first big adventure, this episode offers inspiration, practical advice, and a glimpse into the transformative power of outdoor exploration.
Listen now and be inspired to take on your next personal challenge or adventure.
***
Show notes
- Intro
- Sponsored by Zoleo #ChallengeWithZOLEO
- Who am I?
- The challenge - to hike 3,000km on the Te Araroa Trail
- Planning & Preparation episode 2nd November 2023
- Why it’s not your typical wilderness thru hike
- North Island Stats
- Questions from listeners, tribe members etc
- Safety for a solo women - men on the trail, wild camping, hitching
- Hitching
- Purist and EFK (Every F***king Km)
- Inov8 trainers - get a 15% discount here
- Trail Angels V Trail Entrepreneurs
- Koha V Donations
- Enjoyment of the North Island
- Canoeing
- Highlights - Timber Trail, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Colonial Knob Walkway
- Costs from the North Island
- Reaching Wellington and having a Christmas break
- South Island 1st January 2024 - 6th March 2024
- Planning…. Verses being spontaneous
- Breaking down the challenging days
- Rivers in New Zealand
- Hiking in Wales, Tryfan and Welsh 3000s
- TA - Navigation and GPS
- Whittakers Creamy Caramel Chocolate
- Food, resupply, bounce boxes, being gluten free
- Wildlife encounters, sandflies
- Hygiene - Pee, Poo Periods
- Equipment - loves and hates
- Department of Conservation (DOC) Hut pass
- Highlights from the trail
- Advice for hiking the trail
- TA Resources page on the Tough Girl Website
- Final stats
- Regrets
- Learnings
- What’s next
Social Media
Instagram: @toughgirlchallenges
Facebook: @ToughGirlChallenges
Youtube: @ToughGirlChallenges
In this episode, we explore Sophie Power's incredible journey from self-professed anti-runner to ultra-runner and advocate for women in racing. Despite her initial reluctance towards running, Sophie discovered a passion for it at 26, leading her to tackle challenges like the Marathon des Sables (MDS) with only nine months of training.
Her journey wasn't without hurdles, especially as a mother of three. Yet, Sophie's dedication to running while pregnant sparked global attention, inspiring women everywhere.
Fuelled by her experiences, she founded SheRACES, aiming to make racing more accessible for women, advocating for pregnancy deferrals, and breaking barriers.
Sophie's resilience shines through, overcoming setbacks like a coma and memory loss. Her story embodies the power of belief and perseverance. Listen to Sophie now to learn more about her remarkable journey.
***
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 Sophie
- Being an anti-runner
- Not being sporty
- Discovering running at 26
- Being a good hiker and doing kick-boxing
- Ready to take on a new challenge
- Having 9 months to train
- Going from zero to ultra
- The planning and preparation for Marathon des Sables (MDS) in 2010
- Doing her own research and putting previous experience in planning and logistics to use.
- Enjoying running and why she does ultras
- Looking to find herself again
- Starting to travel and do adventures at the same time
- Working long hours and running 20 miles max per week
- Running while pregnant and why it was different every time
- The photo that went viral
- UTMB
- Not wanting to let her 3 year old down
- Not wanting other women to be in her position
- How She Races came about
- Why races should have pregnancy deferrals
- Wanting to reduce the barriers for women to encourage more women to race
- Surveying over 2,000 women about their barriers and wanting to understand what events can change
- Coming up with guidelines for races
- Not having any free time
- How people can support the work that She Races is doing
- Also focusing on cycling and triathlon
- Why women and girls deserve better
- Running for Team GB and her ultra runner journey
- Finding herself on the start line of the European championships in 24hr running
- Taking running more seriously after turning 40 and having 3 kids
- Training for a 24hr race
- The mental side of the challenge
- Recovery after races
- Nutrition and fuelling herself during races and recovery
- Being in a coma for 36 hrs
- Dealing with short term memory loss
- Going back to work too soon
- Running with a prolapse
- Mummy MOT
- Emma Brockwell - “why did no one tell me”
- How to connect with Sophie
- Final words of advice
- “Believe that you deserve it”
Social Media
Website:
Instagram:
AN ADVENTURE STORY – WITH A DIFFERENCE
Jessica Hepburn is an unlikely athlete. She hates exercise and believes the only reason to do it is for food, booze and box-sets on the sofa.
However, in her forties, following a succession of hard life experiences, she started to try and exercise her way out of heartbreak. She has now become one of the world’s most extraordinary endurance athletes.
The first and only woman on the planet to have completed the “Sea, Street, Summit Challenge” – which is to swim the English Channel, run the London Marathon and climb Mount Everest. And possibly the only woman to have listened to eighty years and over 3,000 episodes of her favourite radio programme – Desert Island Discs.
Jessica joins us for the 3rd time on the Tough Girl Podcast, to share more about her new book. “Save me from the Waves”. Which shares more about her inspirational story of physical and mental endurance which starts on the streets of London and culminates in a life-threatening event on top of the world. During the podcast, Jessica share more about the challenges on the mountain, the lesson learns and provides advice and tips to encourage you to live big and bravely especially when life doesn’t go to plan.
Previous TGP episodes with Jessica.
2nd October 2018 - Author of 21 Miles and The Pursuit of Motherhood. Swimming the English Channel.
8th February 2022 - Adventure Activist - Her journey to climbing Mt. Everest.
***
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/
Show notes
- Who is Jessica
- Being an author
- Working in the arts
- Going through multiple rounds of IVF
- Experiencing multiple miscarriages
- Describing herself as an adventure activist
- Swimming the English Channel
- Her journey climbing Mount Everest
- Completing final training for Mount Everest
- Climbing Kilimanjaro immediately after the channel swim
- Realising the importance of mental and physical strength
- Realising she's not fit and fast enough
- Climbing massive mountains in her 50s is a significant challenge
- Discussing pushback when climbing Everest and feeling defensive
- Recounting a conversation with a stranger
- Limited window for climbing Mount Everest due to weather conditions
- Climbing to the top of the world while listening to her favorite radio program
- The reason why she writes her books
- Why she wouldn't change anything even after everything that has happened to her
- Feeling stronger and more confident on her second attempt to climb Everest
- Finding the Khumbu Icefall challenging
- Finding the summiting experience to be terrifying
- Not feeling the expected emotions on the summit
- Feeling exhausted and sick during the summit
- Having endurance and mental strength on the mountain
- Getting hit by a free-falling oxygen bottle, breaking her leg
- Sharing the details of what happened to her in her book
- Sharing her experiences with IVF and climbing Everest, hoping to provide solidarity and a survival guide for others
- What helped her process her thoughts and emotions during her fertility journey
- Creating playlists for various occasions and people in her life
- Composing a playlist for the child she never had
- Final words of advice
Website: www.jessicahepburn.
Instagram: @jessica_hepburn_
Twitter: @JessicaPursuit
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Celeste's love for hiking began in Maui, Hawaii, following a difficult breakup. The Lahaina Trail hike was transformative and made her feel empowered.
She quickly progressed in her hiking journey and decided to share her experiences on social media. To her surprise, she inspired other plus-sized individuals to explore the outdoors.
In 2022, Celeste embarked on a mission to hike in every US state. Her dedication to this goal, despite being a non-planner, is truly inspiring. She encourages others to find gear that fits their body types and shares her inspiration from Fat Girls Hiking.
Celeste's story is a celebration of confidence and happiness found in nature.
Listen in to learn about her magical moments while hiking and her valuable advice for women seeking joy in the outdoors.
Please be aware: In this episode, there is a single use of strong language at the end.
***
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/
***
Show notes
- Who is Celeste
- Moving to Las Vegas in 2021 from California
- Why did she move to Vegas!
- Being born in El Salvador, Central America
- Her love for travel and living in different places
- Her early years
- When her hiking journey started as an adult
- Working at the airport in Maui, Hawaii
- Coming out of a long relationship and feeling lonely and heart broken in 2013
- Wanting to give hiking ago and deciding to hike the Lahaina Trail
- Never seeing other plus sized people out hiking or represented in the media
- Not having the right gear and running out of water
- The challenges of descending in the dark
- Why that hike changed her life
- Feeling empowered
- Progressing in her hiking journey
- Being connected in nature and feeling happy
- Hiking for fun
- Wanting to move to the US mainland to pursue her passion for hiking
- Wanting to share more of her journey on social media (2017) to document her journey for her
- Realising that by shaken her story on social media it was encouraging more plus sized people who looked like her to get outside and give hiking ago
- Wanting to hike in every state in the USA and starting in 2022
- Having a new mindset and making her hiking goal a priority
- Not being the best planner and wanting to change that
- Finding gear to fit her body type
- Being inspired by Summer from Fat Girls Hiking
- Her first time going camping as an adult
- Why you deserve to be there (in the outdoors)
- How you can connect with and follow along with Celeste
- Magical moments from hiking and spending time in the outdoors
- Connecting with herself while hiking
- Final words of advice for other women who want to experience joy in the outdoors
- Find out what makes you confident
- Why you deserve to be happy
Social Media
Instagram: @Fatgirlforthefitsoul
Meet Jacky Hunt-Broersma, a remarkable individual who's shattered expectations as an amputee ultramarathoner, endurance coach, dedicated mom, and cancer survivor. Recognised as the RRCA Road Runner of the Year, WRAL Athlete of the Year, and featured in Strong Fitness Magazine's Women to Watch in 2021, her journey is nothing short of inspirational.
In 2016, Jacky embarked on her extraordinary running odyssey. Her path to greatness was marked by a profound personal challenge—losing her leg to Ewing Sarcoma. However, she didn't let this setback define her. Instead, she set out to build an impressive portfolio of "firsts" for female amputees in trail and ultra running, even securing several world records. She's on a mission to prove the naysayers wrong and carve a path for other adaptive athletes, especially women, in the world of trail running and ultramarathons.
Among her numerous achievements, Jacky's incredible feat of running 104 marathons in 104 days stands out, raising an astounding $194,000 for Amputee Blade Runners. She's also set a new world record as the first amputee to complete a 100-mile run on a treadmill, doing so in under 24 hours (23 hours and 38 minutes).
Jacky Hunt-Broersma's remarkable journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and achieve the extraordinary. She's not only a trailblazer but a beacon of hope and inspiration for adaptive athletes worldwide.
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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/
***
Show notes
- Who is Jacky
- Living in sunny Arizona, USA for the past two years
- Growing up in South Africa
- Moving to the Netherlands in her early 20s
- Being very sports orientated and spending a lot of time outdoors
- How things have changed in South Africa
- Leaving South Africa with two suitcases and living in a new country
- Struggling to learn dutch when in the Netherlands
- Being diagnosed with cancer when living in Holland
- From diagnosis to the amputation of her leg
- Hearing the news
- Figuring out the next steps and finding out what was going to happen
- Saying goodbye to her leg
- Getting to a place of acceptance
- Wishing she had taken up running sooner
- How running helped her to accept her body how it was
- Going through denial
- Having a pity party and feeling that life was unfair
- Wanting to be normal and not wanting any pity
- Dealing with anger
- Why it’s a process
- Becoming more open about her journey and her struggles
- Taking up running and why it changed her life
- Wanting to encourage more amputees to run
- The expensive cost of a running blade ($10,000)
- Fighting the system to get funding for running blades
- Wanting to make a difference and encourage more amputees to get out and active
- Being surprised at how far she could push her body
- Wanting to push boundaries and distances in running
- Running 104 marathons in 104 days in April 2022
- Being inspired by Alyssa Clark running 95 marathons in 95 days (2021)
- Wanting to see if she could do it and not knowing how her prosthetic would hold up
- The metal side of the challenges
- Dealing with chin splits at the start of the journey
- Getting through the tough days and taking the time to celebrate the milestones and live in the moment
- Having 3 different routes to choose from
- The paperwork needed for the Guinness World Record
- Being strict about recovery and following a routine
- Running 104 marathons and raising funds for Amputee Blade Runners
- Running Boston Marathon - Para elite division
- How to follow along with Jacky on social media
- Future running plans for 2024
- Running a half marathon a day for Cancer Research (for 250 days)
- Planning to run Comrades in South Africa
- Final words of advice to inspire to you in your next challenge
Social Media
Website: www.ncrunnerjacky.com
Instagram: @ncrunnerjacky
Twitter: @ncrunnerjacky
Melissa in her own words:
“After connecting with my now husband on match.com 20 years ago, we realized we had one key difference: he wanted a partner to ‘Sail around the world’. I, on the other hand, wasn't an adventurer. I was a professional woman with a degree in Psychology, dedicated to non-profit work and healthcare.
But my husband ignited a desire in me to embrace life's adventures while we were still healthy. The turning point came when he asked, ‘When are you going to quit your job and sail around the world with me?’
Despite my initial fears and attachments, I couldn't ignore the call to live life to the fullest. We set sail across the Pacific Ocean, and it changed me profoundly.
We continued our adventures by buying an RV and exploring the US, Canada, and Alaska, much to the surprise of our family.
These experiences made me resilient and fearless.
Returning from a sailing journey and hiking the John Muir Trail at age 62, I realized that the world was full of opportunities.
I see people looking at me differently now, sensing my quiet confidence. My adventure started late, but it's proof that life-changing decisions can happen at any age. The question remains: “Do it now or not?””
*Content Warning: This episode contains an instance of strong/abusive language that some listeners may find offensive.
***
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/
***
Show notes
- Who is Melissa
- Living is San Diego, California
- Not being born into an adventurous family
- Her early years and feeling connected to her dad (who died when she was 4)
- Meeting her husband on match.com about 18 years ago
- Blending 2 families together
- After 10 years of marriage starting to discuss the sailing adventure
- Being a career girl and not focused on adventure
- Not having passion in her life
- Doing little adventures but not committing to the big adventure of sailing around the world
- Waiting for the kids to go to college
- Making the commitment and putting a plan in place
- Getting the boat and needing to learn new skills
- Having a 5 year plan and changing everything about their life
- Not spending more that $25 unless speaking to another person
- Working as a team in a partnership
- Having garage sales, saving money and making it happen
- Starting to change and starting to get excited about the future adventure
- Being called ‘Captain B*tch Slap’
- Being a forgiving person
- Proving people wrong
- Noticing her confidence changing
- Dealing with tangled anchors while a storm is rolling in
- Stats from the trip - the boat (Island Packet 37)
- Starting in San Diego and sailing down to Mexico
- Stopping to take a 1,000 mile car tour throughout Mexico
- Pacific Puddle Jump from America’s to French Polynesia
- Feeling done with sailing after 11 months and wanting to go home
- The challenges of getting the boat back from Hawaii to San Diego
- The dream vs reality
- Magical moments while out sailing and the challenges while being out on the water
- Spending time on remote beautiful islands - the instagram moments
- When the autopilot stopped working and having to steer the boat in 2 hour shifts for 24/7.
- Deciding what to do next and wanting to sell the boat, take the money and buy an RV and travel around the US, up through Canada and head up to the wilds of Alaska
- The challenges of RV Life and wanting to do ‘Boondocking’
- Feeling numb after traveling and feeling lost
- Having therapy and starting to feel again
- Getting into voice overs and having a way to start earning an income again
- Learning to appreciate the little moments and the free moments
- Being done with the corporate world and being a different person
- Choosing to live a simple life and having more money than before, even though they’re earning less
- Renting out the RV
- Deciding to hike the John Muir Trail (211 miles)
- Planning and testing out all the gear
- Why it was one of the toughest things she’s ever done
- Climbing Mt Whitney and the challenges with the elevation gain and loss
- Trying to get equipment and gear to fit her height at 4′ 11″ / 150 cm
- Ending up with an Osprey EJA 58
- Trying to find trainers and shoes to fit
- Watch the videos from the Pacific Ocean on YouTube
- Final words of advice
- Why you need to take an honest look at yourself and where you are in your life
- Why you need to make a plan and get into the details
- Give yourself little mini milestones to work towards
- Start by putting your plan down on paper
Social Media
Websites:
Instagram: @theadventuretravelers
Youtube: @theadventuretravelers
Join us today as we have a conversation with Dr. Katie Myint, an eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Her journey takes us from her Midlands upbringing to becoming a doctor and the role running and exercise played in promoting mental well-being.
Katie candidly shares her battle with depression during her second year as a doctor, shedding light on how exercise and medication became transformative tools for enhancing her mental health. As we explore her running journey and marathon experiences, one theme remains constant: the pure joy of movement.
Throughout the episode, Katie discusses her marathon adventures, from running alongside her husband to using races as a gateway to explore the world. She passionately underscores the importance of running as a cherished hobby, never allowing it to encroach upon her daily life.
Katie offers advice on motivation and self-compassion and encourages women to embrace exercise with the conviction that it can be an enjoyable endeavour.
***
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/
***
Show notes
- Working as an eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London
- Her early years growing up in the Midlands
- Being focused on academics
- Learning how to swim with her dad
- Enjoying school and wanting to do well
- Finding her way into sports and exercise as an adult
- Not enjoying sports at school
- Dealing with depression in her 2nd year of being a doctor
- Feeling alone
- Using exercise to improve mental well-being
- Taking the first step to going out and doing exercise
- Not recognising in herself that she had depression
- Going to see her GP and being recommended exercise and medication
- Going on her first run in winter in the rain and the dark
- Her running journey and what that looked like
- Being a solo runner for a long time
- Running to help process her thoughts
- Not having any running goals and using running to improve her mental well-being
- Working her way up to a half-marathon and marathon
- Why it wasn’t about times or PBs but rather the joy of moving
- Running with her husband and using a marathon race as an excuse to go on holiday abroad
- Fitting in running around her job and life
- Not following a structured running program
- Wanting to keep running as a hobby
- Doing 2 or 3 shorter runs throughout the week with one long run at the weekend
- Not letting running get in the way of life
- Magical moments while running
- Running the Barcelona Marathon, Spain
- Marathon du Medoc, Bordeau, France
- Managing the tough times in a race and how to mange that
- The race is just the final victory lap and the journey is in all the runs you’ve done before it.
- Why it can be tricky between mile 16 and 18
- Loving Park Run and starting Saturdays with a run followed by brunch
- Getting involved in triathlon
- Getting her first bike
- Training solo or with her husband
- Doing her first triathlon and why it was a total wash out
- Taking the race at your own pace and not comparing yourself to others
- Being an Ambassador for ON
- Advice for when you don’t want to go out running
- Remembering why you are doing it, but also being kind to yourself
- Stretching….
- Race plans for 2024
- Where Katie is most active on social media
- Final words of advice to encourage more women to get exercise in their life
- Encouraging you to run for the love of it and that exercise can be fun!
Social Media
Instagram: @katietriestorun
Nicky is a self-confessed adventurer, loves a challenge, delights in cold shenanigans and is ready to embrace the next stage of her adventure life. Her super powers are making things happen and connecting people and she is the Queen of pushing herself out of her comfort zone.
Nicky lives in Brighton with her husband, 2 teenage boys and Daisy the camper van.
At 52 her adventure journey has changed many times over the years, from a 20-year-old canoeing and sailing instructor, to a Mum with young children teaching them to embrace the outdoors through camping, building dens and cooking on open fires. Her boys are now in their late teens now and are slowly flying the nest, it is here she finds herself, ready to embrace the next stage of her adventure journey.
Her adventures have included; fire walks, abseiling down castles, coast steering, a cross country ski marathon in the Arctic Circle, a wing walk and running a half marathon in Greenland which included training in an Environmental Cold Chamber at the University of Sussex at minus 20!
***
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/
***
Show notes
- Her love of adventure
- How her adventure journey has changed as she’s gotten older
- Where her adventurous spirit came from
- Being inspired by her dad
- Why you can have adventures on your doorstep
- What does adventure mean to Nicky
- Why adventure is so many things
- Why you can fit adventure around your life
- Why adventure is there for the taking, but you may have to be creative.
- Her first job working in a water sports centre
- Working for World Challenge
- Having children and going camping with 2 young children
- Making adventure part of family life
- Having to put solo adventures on hold with having a young family
- Parrot hunting on the Amazon (finding and taking photos)
- Going to the Artic Circle to do a cross -country ski marathon
- Doing a big challenge every year from 40 - 50 to raise money for charity
- Being drawn to the cold
- Needing to do the training to enjoy the experience
- Planning future challenges
- Running her own business for 18 years
- Deciding to go wing walking!
- Doing a fire walk
- Feeling empowered after doing challenges and stepping outside her comfort zone
- Doing a half marathon in Greenland at 50 (a big, bold, cold, challenge)
- Deciding to step down from her business
- Liking a spreadsheet and being organised with her training
- Working with a specialist performance coach
- Working with the Environmental Extremes Lab at Sussex University
- Getting to experience minus 20 and the impact on her body
- Being set up for success and learning how to manage herself in extreme conditions
- Going to Greenland and why it was outside her comfort zone
- Learning how to deal with panic on the start line
- Turning panic into power
- Wanting to run a happy race and take it all in
- Dealing with the adventure blues
- Completing a 5k sea swim
- Working with Genny Brown and helping her with her social media
- Looking at the North Pole Marathon
- Svalbard?
- Daisy
- #pinknicky
- How to connect with Nicky on the socials
- Working with Outside & Active
- Doing an International Women’s Day Sea Swim with Land & Wave in 2024
- Wanting to elevate women
- Final words of advice for other women
- Make an Adventure Action List
- Find people who inspire you
- Take mini steps
Social Media
Instagram: @daisyvw1
Facebook: @nicky.chisholm
Nicky runs an annual event in Brighton to celebrate International Women's Day (8th March), she organises a mega sea swim for over 500 "mermaids" supporting surfers against sewage.
Land and Wave are an Official Event Partner. Join her Saturday March 9th 2024
Christine Yu is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of sports science and women athletes. Her writing has appeared in Outside, The Washington Post, Time, Runner’s World, and other publications. She’s a lifelong athlete and yoga teacher who loves running, surfing, and skiing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
About the book:
“In the past half-century, women have achieved remarkable progress in the realm of athletics. More women are participating in sports and maintaining an active lifestyle throughout their lives. Whether they're elite athletes striving for excellence or passionate amateurs enjoying their athletic pursuits, women deserve a sports culture that empowers them.
This culture should offer training programs and equipment specifically designed to support their unique physiologies, along with nutrition and injury prevention guidelines grounded in scientific research and tailored to their individual experiences.
Unfortunately, women have often received guidance based on research that fails to consider their distinct experiences and physical characteristics. Much of what we've accepted as the standard in exercise and sports science is rooted solely in studies conducted on men.
But the landscape is changing for the better. Researchers are now conducting more inclusive studies to close the gender data gap. They're investigating how women can enhance their athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and maintain good health.
In 'Up to Speed,' sports and health journalist Christine Yu unravels myths and dissects gender bias in light of real science. She advocates for new approaches that empower female athletes to excel at every life stage, from adolescence through adulthood, encompassing pregnancy, menopause, and beyond.
Christine delves into the latest research findings and shines a light on the researchers, athletes, and advocates challenging the status quo. They are pioneering innovative solutions to enhance the active and athletic lives of women and girls, ushering in a new era of gender equality in sports science and performance.”
***
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO
ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.
Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.
Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.
***
Show notes
- Who is Christine
- Being based in New York
- Growing up in Connecticut before moving to San Francisco
- Being sporty from a young age and always being active
- Getting into running, strength training and yoga
- Working in the non profit sector for 10/15 years before making the switch to journalism
- Wanting to write and tell more stories
- Taking time off after having her first child
- Combing her love for writing with her love for sports, science and health
- Wanting to focus on issues relating to women, women’s health and women’s sports
- Being curious and wanting to know more
- The lack of easily accessible information available for women
- Wanting to learn how to make her body more resilient
- Wanting to improve her health and wanting to move her body in a way that makes her feel good
- Wanting to be strong and healthy over the long term
- The starting point with research
- Knowledge from print magazines….. which wasn’t women specific
- Looking at more specific sports science research
- Dr Stacy Sims: ROAR
- The lack of knowledge for women who want to do strength training
- More women getting into strength training
- New Book: Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes
- Where the idea came from and how easy it was to get it published
- Only 6% of sports science (2014-2020) studies focus on issues related to women
- Why do we know so much less about women’s physiology?
- What are the implication due to the gender data gap?
- What you can expect from the book - information on the menstrual cycle, breast health, sporting gear, injury rates and chapters devoted to the life stages of a women’s life
- ‘Women are Not Small Men: a paradigm shift in the science of nutrition’ - TED Talk
- How to study women with the challenges of women’s menstrual cycle
- The blindspots in science
- Leaving women out of the narrative
- Hormones related to the menstrual cycle and how they can impact performance
- Noticing the trends when tracking your period
- Don’t blame yourself - blame your hormones
- Peri-menopause and menopause where is the science?
- Food and nutrition
- Weight and performance
- Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)
- How to connect with Christine
- Final words of advice for women who want to learn more about the science
- Pay attention to your own body, track your cycle and see how your body responds throughout the month
- Dr Stacy Sims
- Feisty Menopause
- Be a critical consumer of the media you are consuming
Social Media
Instagram: @cyu888
Substack: christinemyu.substack.
Book: Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes
Nikki Love is an adventure runner, a sports psychology under-grad, and a motivator of dreaming big, taking action and achieving extraordinary goals.
Nikki turned 50 in 2017 and decided it was time to take her love for travel, marathon running, and cross-country running to a new level.
She is now on a mission to run across, around, or through as many countries that her feet can take her, bringing as many people as she can along for the run.
Her big adventures include running 63 marathons in 63 days through the UK to celebrate her 50th birthday, a craic of a 750 mile run around Ireland, a runcation through Malta and around Gozo, a jolly jaunt across the Netherlands, an extremely muddy and cow-pat laden run from top to bottom of Wales, a 40 day x 1,000 miles treadmill run, and on July 16, 2023 at the age of 56 Nikki set the women’s record for running across Australia from Perth to Sydney 4,044kms in 76 days, 3 hours and 43 minutes.
Driven by her curiosity to answer the question “I wonder if I can do that…”
Nikki shares her adventures – the highs, lows, fun, tears and her experience of overcoming fears, doubts and obstacles as she navigates perimenopause – through her writing, speaking and film-making.
Her goal is to help women know and own their place and space in the world and to keep believing and backing themselves.
Listen to the previous TGP episode with Nikki.
30th July 2020 - Adventure Runner, Ran 63 marathons in 63 days in 2017
***
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO
ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.
Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.
Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.
***
Show notes
- Who is Nikki
- Being an adventure runner
- 56 years young
- Speaking with Nikki in 2020 on the TGP
- A quick recap of Nikki’s previous challenges
- Reflecting back on 2020 and 2021
- Coming up with idea to do a ‘training run’ on a treadmill
- Running 1000 miles and tearing tendons in her toes which ended her adventure
- Learning that she could do hard things
- Setting herself up to run across Australia for real
- Dealing with multiple peri-menopausal symptoms
- 2021- deciding to run 100 marathons in 100 days
- Getting a stress fracture in her pelvis
- Starting a process to understand what was going on in her body
- Getting advice to downgrade her ambitions and dreams
- Being stubborn and wanting to figure out a way to achieve her goal at 56 of running across Australia
- Figuring out what was going on and getting advice from doctors
- Starting on different versions on HRT
- Being encouraged to stop doing her exercise
- Having bloods taken and doing MRI scans - privately
- Speaking to as many people as possible to come up with solutions
- Figuring out that her body wasn’t absorbing the hormone therapy
- Going back to basics - getting back to a good diet and doing strength training
- Taking 2 years to recover from her pelvis stress fracture
- Feeling sad and frustrated
- Not being willing to give up on her goal
- Starting to wonder if it would be possible for her to run across Australia
- Starting to do more planning and putting dates in place
- Dealing with setbacks along the way and why it wasn’t easy
- Setting the start date for 1st May 2023
- Being supported by her partner
- Hiring a camper van and driving from Jhalong to Perth and getting to see the route in reverse.
- Going after a Guinness World Record to be the fastest women to run from Perth to Sydney
- 76 days 3hrs and 43 mins * (waiting to see if it will be accepted by Guinness)
- Having to increase her running distances pretty quickly and averaging about 53km per day
- Getting into a flow with the running after 2 weeks
- Dealing with the traffic which was much more intense than she was expecting
- What a typical day looked like
- How her experiences helped her to keep on going when times got tough
- Having a mantra in the morning Start off slow and I’ll get into a flow
- Challenges with animals!
- Physically not feeling too bad, but mentally feeling very drained and tired
- Listening to binaural music to calm her body down and the importance of sleep to help with recovery
- Dealing with the adventure blues after the challenge
- Making the decision to go to university to study sports psychology
- Applying to Loughborough University
- Becoming more aware of her time line and getting older
- How you can connect with Nikki and follow along with her journeys
- Nikki is also blogging about her run on her website
- Wanting to keep her adventure passion alive
- Feeling that you can - requires that you back yourself
- Keeping telling yourself that you can.
Social Media
Website: www.nikkilove.co.uk
Instagram: @nikkiloveruns
In 1996, Sue Stockdale achieved a remarkable feat: she became the first British woman to set foot on the Magnetic North Pole, a journey she never thought possible.
What followed was a realisation that her success held a profound purpose—to inspire others to venture beyond their comfort zones and unearth their untapped potential.
Sue's captivating memoir, "EXPLORE: A Life of Adventure," chronicles her life's journey, commencing from challenging beginnings and extending into a lifetime of intrepid exploration in some of the world's harshest environments, including the North Pole, Antarctica, and Greenland.
Within these epic adventures lie invaluable life lessons that Sue readily shares, illustrating how the mindset, discipline, and commitment honed in the crucible of extreme exploration are equally applicable in the professional sphere.
"EXPLORE" serves as a wellspring of inspiration, urging all of us to embark on our personal odysseys of self-discovery. Sue firmly believes that no endeavour is too daunting when undertaken with determination, a well-conceived plan, and a readiness to embrace discomfort.
***
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO
ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.
Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.
Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.
Show notes:
- Who is Sue
- Describing herself as an adventurer
- Not going on to guides
- Growing up and not doing adventurous things
- Going on a cycling trip at 15
- Not having any role models
- Being inspired by books like Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Secret Seven
- The unexpected death of her mom when she was 14
- Wanting to make the most of her life
- Challenging herself to see what she's capable of
- Sue's memoir, Explore: A Life of Adventure
- Adventure mindset, inner voice, and risk-taking
- Why did she write the book
- Becoming the first UK woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole
- Deciding to apply despite feeling unqualified
- Being determined and believing in herself
- Overcoming fears and fundraising for an Arctic expedition
- Being part of a team of 10 people
- Her initial lack of experience in cross-country skiing
- Being very optimistic and having an adventurous mindset at heart
- Expedition leader David Hempleman-Adams
- Engaging in an exercise as a team called "what if list" to share their fears and concerns
- Advocates for facing fears by writing them down and talking about them
- Successfully securing sponsorship for her expedition
- Mental and physical challenges during her North Pole expedition in 1996
- Talking about period while she's out on the ice
- Bonding between her and Susanna, the first Swedish woman to reach the extreme
- Learning to tolerate each other's differences and frustrations during the expedition
- How her experience at the North Pole changed her perspective on life
- Deciding to set up a business as a motivational speaker
- Joining Robert Swan on an expedition down to Antarctica
- The process of evolution and building up her business
- Entrepreneurship and finding her unique calling
- Pushing herself too hard and judging herself too negatively
- Talking about her podcast
- Final words of advice
Social Media
Website: suestockdale.com
Podcast: Access to Inspiration
Twitter: @suestockdale
Youtube: @SueStockdale