Tough Girl Podcast

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Alex Mason - Thru-Hiker turned Ocean Rower! Rowed the Atlantic Ocean - January 2020 0

Jun 18, 2020

Alex, 36, is a multi-discipline adventurer, since 2015 she has hiked over 9,400 miles across America and New Zealand on the Pacific Crest, Appalachian and Te Araroa Trails. Alex has cycled around 4,000 miles across Australia and Indonesia, she’s also climbed up to 6,500m on Mera Peak in the Himalayas and has rowed across the English Channel.

During this podcast Alex shares more about her most recent adventure rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. She talks about the preparation, the challenges, dealing with sea sickness and adventure blues and what she hopes to achieve in the future.

As always Alex gives lots of practical advice and tips to help you achieve your dreams and goals.

Listen to Alex on the Tough Girl Podcast!

Show notes

Who is Alex
What adventures and challenges she's done
Getting the idea for rowing an ocean in 2016
Team mate wanted on explorers connect
Dealing with doubt - can I do this….
Why the timing the first time wasn’t right
Rowing the Atlantic as a training row..
Signing up for 2 rows!
Partnering with Oxford Brooks University to continue the research
Getting a taste for Ocean Rowing by rowing the English Channel
Dealing with injury and sea sickness…
Funding the rows
Getting sponsorship
Qualification and skills needed on an independent row
Starting rowing on the 5th January 2020
Final weeks of preparation
Starting from Lanzarote
Being on the Ocean!
The power of team work to get the boat ready
The realities of life on the boat
Being ill for the first 2 weeks with sea sickness
Rowing 2hrs on 2hrs off
Pooing and periods on the boat
Moving from a 4 person crew to a 3 person crew
The memories and moments which stand out
Not believing it’s been achieved
Dealing with adventure blues, Covid and planning for the next row
Changes to future plans
adjusting to a new normal
Getting a part time job with Tesco
Working with Jo Bradshaw
Final words of advice

Social Media

Alex

Website https://masonalexandra.com

Instagram @masonalexandra

Facebook @alexmasonadventurer

Youtube @AlexMason

Rowing - Monkey Fist Adventures - Mixed crew rowing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in 2020 as team Brain Waves. Supporting research into Parkinson’s Disease and PTSD

Website - https://monkeyfistadventures.com

Instagram @_monkeyfist

Facebook @monkeyfistadventuresltd

Twitter @_monkeyfist

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Danielle Brown MBE - 2x Paralympic Gold Medallist,1st disabled athlete to represent England in the able-bodied team, Speaker & Inclusion Champion 0

Jun 16, 2020

Danielle in her own words…

“I've always had big dreams for my future. Even though I didn't always have a clear idea of what that success would look like, I knew that whatever vocation I eventually settled into I was going to be good at it. Failure was not an option.

My plans came crashing to a halt when I was struck down with a disability as a teenager that severely effected my mobility. I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a rare and very painful condition in my feet. At a stage in your life when you're figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life, this was a challenging but I came to realise that whilst you can't control what happens to you, you can control your response to it.

Determined to live life on my terms, I looked around for a sport that didn't involve lots of running around or walking and took up archery on my 15th birthday. This was the first step on a journey that saw me rise to Paralympic glory, dominating my field for over eight years. During this time, I also proved doctors wrong by successfully juggling a law degree and achieving first class honours.

Three years after taking up the sport, I stepped straight into the international circuit as World Number 1 and had soon accumulated a number of titles, including that of Paralympic Champion in Beijing 2008. Always striving to improve, I transitioned onto the able-bodied team. In 2010 I became the first Para athlete to represent England in an able-bodied discipline where I won the gold medal in the team event. London 2012 was the tournament I was most excited about and I worked incredibly hard, committed to retain my Paralympic title in such a prestigious setting. The proudest moment of my life was receiving my gold medal in front of that home crowd at London. The support of the entire country was overwhelming, but it was also the first time that my family and friends had ever seen me compete internationally and this made standing on the podium a very special moment.

Archery was such a big part of my life and I was fully committed to making the team for Rio and trying for my third gold medal, but life has a way of throwing up setbacks when you least expect it. In 2013 I learned that I had failed to classify under the new rules and that I could no longer compete at Paralympic events. I started archery because I was fed up of all the limitations imposed on my life and archery helped a disillusioned teenager come to terms with having a disability. In one moment everything I had worked so hard for was gone, just because I didn’t tick a box.

I wanted to discover what it took to be the best in the world, and I got there because I always believed I would. Now I am moving onto other exciting projects and challenges, where I am determined to be as much of a success as I have been in my sport. This time I get to help others achieve their ambitions and goals through my work as a speaker, trainer and coach.”

Listen to Danielle as she shares more on the Tough Girl Podcast.

Show notes

Who is Danielle?
What life was like growing up
Having issues as a teenager
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Dealing with pain
Why role models are so important
Lack of role models in the media
The struggle of not knowing
Being desperate to get back into sports
Archery!
Progressing quickly in her sport
Performing better under pressure
Dealing with setbacks in international competition
Needing to rethink her mindset
The link between confidence and pressure
How Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics changed her life
Having a mental meltdown and dealing with it
“What if I’m not good enough”
The power of other people’s belief
Going to university to study law
The transition to the able bodied team
Getting the training right and figuring out a routine
Dealing with pain all the time
The London 2012 Para Olympics
Coming down to the last arrow…. in an all GB Final…
Working with Sports Psychologists and coaches
Training in NLP
Changes in classification rules
Deciding to start her own company
Making the next decision in her career
Following her passions and translating that into a career
Why inclusion matters
Not wanting to offend people
How to have difficult conversations
Writing her first book —>>Be Your Best Self
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website https://www.daniellebrown.co.uk

Instagram @daniellebrownmbe

Facebook @daniellebrownmbe

Twitter @Danibrownmbe

Book

Be Your Best Self

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Nicky Spinks - Fell Runner & Farmer who ran in the Barkley Marathon & completed the Double Paddy Buckley Round! 0

Jun 11, 2020

Nicky first came on the Tough Girl Podcast in 2018 where she shared more about her early running career and completing the Double Ramsay Round and becoming the fastest women to do so!

Nicky held the women's records for all three Rounds simultaneously until 2016, and is the holder of the overall record for the double Bob Graham Round and the only person ever to complete doubles of the other two Rounds.

Nicky is passionate about running and during this episodes she shares more about her training and preparation, running the perfect race, as well as touching on nutrition, dealing with mind games and participating in the Barkley Marathon in 2019.

Find out more about Nicky from our first interview - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/Nicky-Spinks

Show notes

About Nicky
Her passion for running
Ultra Tour Monta Rosa 2018
When a race goes to plan
Deciding to go faster at the half way point
Eating while running
Not trying new foods anymore!
Using gels
Using poles on climbs
Planning for the perfect race
The Barkley Marathon 2019
The hoops you have to jump through to enter the race
The mind games….
The preparation for the Barkley
Doing research on the race
Keeping everything the same
Not knowing what time the race would start
Not being able to switch your mind off
Not knowing what time it is day or night
No Spot trackers!
Why you are racing the clock and not other people
Taking us back to the start line
Making the decision to drop out of the race
Reflecting back on the race
Dealing with brain fog and when your brain isn’t working
Planning to do the Barkley again
Writing an essay…
Doing the Double Paddy Buckley Round 2019
Running with other people
Advice for doing the Double Paddy
Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website http://www.runbg.co.uk

Twitter @NickySpinks

Instagram @NickySpinks

Watch Last Woman Standing - Barkley Marathon 2019

Nicky has been supported for several years

by inov-8 and is a proud Ambassador.

Follow inov-8 here: Twitter @inov_8

Instagram @inov_8

Facebook @INOV8run

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Sensi Graves - professional kiteboarder & entrepreneur, empowering women to get out there and do what they love. 0

Jun 9, 2020

Sensi Graves is a professional kiteboarder, entrepreneur, speaker, kiteboarding instructor and writer. In 2007, she tentatively signed up for a kiteboarding lesson in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and immediately fell in love. Just two years later, she applied to be a kiteboarding coach, relocated to the East Coast, and started collecting accolades. The Hood River, Oregon, local regularly places in the top three at some of the biggest international kiteboarding invitationals, garners continuous coverage in kiteboarding magazines, and leads women's kiteboarding retreats worldwide.

In 2012, Sensi launched her eponymous swimwear label, Sensi Graves Bikinis, to meet the demands of her sport. The Mission - To empower women to get out there and do what they love by giving them the confidence they need and swimwear they can rely on. The values: create an awesome product, empower women in sports & protect the environment.

“This big, beautiful life is meant to be lived and we do so with an open heart, an adventurous spirit and a smile on our faces. When all else fails, we laugh and have a margarita.” - Sensi Graves

Show notes

Who is Sensi
What life was like growing up
Moving to San Diego to go to college
Learning how to kite board
Falling in love with the sport
What kiteboarding is
Deciding to become a professional
“Eat, sleep, dream - Kiteboarding”
Surrounding herself with people who were on the same path
Making money from kiteboarding
Starting her own bikini company
Gaining confidence in kiteboarding
Dealing with imposter syndrome
Keeping going after set backs
Why you don’t always need to keep on pushing
Celebrate the effort, celebrating trying.
Re-visit your WHY
Why there isn’t a typical day or week
Learning systems and how to allocate out time
Getting her morning routine dialled in.
Top tips and getting sponsorship
The power of relationships
Dealing with challenges and setbacks
Encouraging women to get in the water
Equality in the sport
Keeping motivated
How can we actually make a change
Sharing stories and highlighting the stories of women
Final words of motivation

Social Media

Website - https://sensigravesbikinis.com

Instagram @sensibikinis

Facebook @sensibikinis

Twitter @sensibikinis

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Elle Linton - Fitness Professional & Blogger at Keep it SimpELLE 0

Jun 2, 2020

Elle is a Fitness Professional based in the UK, with a degree in Exercise Science and over a decade of experience in Sport Development, Leisure Management, Personal Training and Group Exercise.

Elle in her own words -

I've come to understand that my skills lie in sharing insight, providing input, relating to others and quite often, playing 'devils advocate'. My passion is in learning, sharing that learning and listening to the stories of others. No matter what role I have undertaken, there has always been as aspect of people and community - from working in Sport Development looking after education programmes for London based Fitness Professionals to my own space on the internet - keepitsimpElle.com - where I bring together my strengths, skills and passion in the fitness industry.

Elle’s goals -

“Create a community which inspires and motivates people to live an active, healthy lifestyle whilst fostering empowerment through conversations which add value and allow for informed choices”

Show notes

Who is Elle and what she does
Growing up as an only child
Getting into sports at a young age
Being encouraged to do all the extra curricular activities
Getting into running and athletics
Losing all motivation for exercise and sports for a few years
Following her passions at school and university
Getting back into sport and being active
Having a lack of motivation to do exercise
Getting motivated to do exercise now
Her passion for teaching
Starting to blog in July 2012 after being inspired by the London Olympics
Starting to work with Nike
Not being much of a talker
How her blog evolved over time
Figuring out blogging as she went
Getting qualified as a personal trainer
The realties of being a blogger and personal trainer
What a typical week looks like
What really matters
What the priorities are
Creating structure in a week
Advice and tips for women who want to get into Personal Training
Figuring out what you want to do and what the best qualification would be
Elle’s running story
Advice for running your first 5k
Mental tips for keeping on going
Getting into cycling
Cycling to Paris over 3 days - riding 100 km per day
Learning how to be part of a team
The RedBull Time Lapse - 25hr Challenge
Getting the team together and the challenges of getting to the start line
Learning who she is when sleep deprived and hungry
Putting a race plan and strategy together
How the RedBull Time Lapse worked
Dealing with sleep deprivation
Goals and races on the bucket list
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website https://www.keepitsimpelle.com

Instagram @ellelinton

Facebook @simpelle

Twitter @X_eLle_S

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Ursula Martin - Survived Ovarian Cancer - Walked 3,700 miles in Wales. Wrote a book. Now walking 5,000 miles across Europe! 0

May 26, 2020

In 2011, at the age of 31, Ursula was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and later spent 17 months walking around Wales raising money and awareness of ovarian cancer. Since the walk, Ursula went on to write a book about her experience “One Woman Walks Wales”.

During this podcast we learn more about Ursula’s early life, when she discovered that she did have stamina, leaving school after doing her GCSEs and spending time with her sister in Spain, as well as her kayaking journey down the river Danube with no experience.

Ursula shares more about the challenges she has faced and overcome, what she has learned on the way and how she has struggle with self confidence and belief, but also why she knows she is a work in progress.

After living in a van and working for a number of years to save money, Ursula at 39 was finally ready to head back out to the Ukraine to start her walk home across Europe.

*Due to the Corona virus Ursula is now in lockdown in France. Ursula will continue her journey when it is safe to do so.

Show notes

Childhood memories
Finding out that she did have stamina
Counselling
Deciding to go travelling at 29
Dreaming of travelling around East Europe
Going to live with her sister in Spain
Kayaking down the Danube River with no kayaking experience
Let’s just see what happens
Being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer (Stage 1 A) - December 2011
Having no support and no shelter
Staying on friends sofa’s
Needing to have checks up’s post treatment
Deciding to walk to hospital appointments
Finding out she was still capable
Deciding to raise awareness (in 2012) about Ovarian Cancer and its symptoms
Dealing with uncertainty
13 months on the road walking 3,700 miles
Dropping out of school after GCSEs
Never thinking she was capable of writing
Struggling with self confidence
Getting in contact with Honno Publishing
Why writing a book is similar to an endurance challenge
Being a work in progress
Deciding to walk across Europe and where the idea came from
Planning the adventure
“If I was going to do this, what would I need?”
How to prepare for a challenge without getting overwhelmed by the idea of the challenge
Leaving for Ukraine in August 2018
Not being able to write the book and save for adventure at the same time
Living in a van for 3 years and doing house sitting to save money
Not being focused on luxuries
Being determined to achieve her goals and being able to save up enough money
Being terrible at planning
Not picking a specific route….
Just walking as far as she can each day - there is no judgement on distance
Hitchhiking 3 days to the start line in Kiev in the Ukraine
Reasons for hitchhiking
Having one day off a week
Starting walking as early as possible
The route
The impact of corona virus
Being in full lockdown in France
Asking for help in France and finding a place to stay
Isolation and loneliness
Adjusting to the new normal
Living on the generosity of others
The mindset on having enough
Making the journey with a book in mind
Trying to stay off her phone
Writing to photos
Keeping a healthy and happy mind and body
How you can follow along and support Ursula
Final words of advice
Whatever you are is enough - whatever you can do is enough

Social Media

Website https://onewomanwalks.com

Support Ursula via Patreon

Instagram @onewomanwalks

Facebook @OneWomanWalks

Twitter @WomanWalksWales

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Janey McGill - Explorer of people, places and thoughts. Crossing 800km across Oman’s Empty Quarter on foot #meetmeinthefield 0

May 21, 2020

We first spoke with Janey in November 2018 when Janey shared more about her early life, the challenges she has faced and overcome; from breaking her back in a horse riding accident to losing her purpose and way. We also discuss her solo 630-mile trek on the South West Coast Path.

https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/Janey-McGill

During this podcast we catch up with Janey and find out what she’s been up to since November 2018, she discusses conflict, the loss of her father, the challenges of leading a team. As well as sharing more about filming and writing a book about the expedition and her plans for the future.

Show notes

Who is Janey
How she would describe herself
Doing what makes her happy
Wanting to cross the Empty Quarter
How things have changed
Dealing with weaknesses and insecurities
Having no where to run when in the desert
How the team evolved
Funding the challenge (savings, compensation, sponsorship and debt)
Having Land Rover support the expedition with vehicles
Doing something new for the first time
Figuring out problems as she went on
Getting to the start line!
Feeling unfulfilled and not knowing what do to with her life
Going thru a grieving process for the life she wanted
Exploring relationships and conflict
Why it’s ok to think differently
Why you can’t make everyone happy
“We don’t have to be friends to be a team”
Being filmed while out in the desert
Creating a documentary
Writing a book about the experience and the challenges involved…
Spending time with her dad at the end of his life
Forgiveness?
Figuring out purpose constantly
Choosing not to have children
Racing Heroes
Future dreams
Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website - http://www.janeymcgill.com

Instagram @janey.mcgill

Facebook @janeymcgillexplorer

Watch the short film on Youtube

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Jo Moseley – Joy Encourager, Midlife Adventurer & Beach Cleaner who SUP 162 miles, Coast to Coast across Great Britain! 0

May 19, 2020

Jo is known by her twitter and Instagram handle @HappyHealthy50 which is where I first discovered her.

Jo is 53 years young and lives on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Jo is a single mum, after getting divorced in her early 40s and has two sons aged 21 and 17.

In May 2014, after the loss of her mum, Jo decided to row a million metres and marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support. For eight months Jo would head down to her local gyn and hop on the rowing machine. She would then row 10,000 metres. She would do this every other night after work - through her dedication and hard work, Jo raised £10,000 for charity.

During this podcast Jo also shared more about her experiences with menopause and peri menopause and how exercise helped her both physically and mentally and how she began to incorporate more of it into her life.

In September 2016 Jo picked up a paddle board for the first time and she had no idea where it would lead! Since that moment, Jo has gone on to become the first women to stand up paddle board (SUP) 162 miles /260km from coast to coast (Liverpool to Goole) across Great Britain.

Jo talks more about self confidence, dealing with grief, living her dreams, joy and learning to be proud of herself.

Show notes

Who is Jo
More about her family
Her greatest joy at the moment
Learning more about her childhood
Growing up in North Yorkshire
Her love of the sea
What life was like in her forties
Going through a divorce
“I can’t do this anymore” - “I just want to sleep”
Getting through the tough times
Getting an old indoor rowing machine
Starting to be able to sleep
Fitting in the exercise
Taking the first step
Having no expectations
Why fitness wasn’t a priority
Raising money in memory of her mum
Deciding to row 1 million metres and a marathon!!!
Rowing 10,000 every over night for 8 months (200 days)!!
Dealing with her grief and needing to get it out of her body
What is was like turning 50
Jo’s experience of menopause and peri menopause
Having to put herself on the priority list
The power of exercise
Doing stuff (exercise) that she love
Learning how to say no to stuff
Joy!
Jo’s paddle boarding journey
Rain or Shine 30 - getting outside for 30 mins everyday
Paddle board the North - 162 miles coast to coast in Great Britain
Putting her dream away
Needing to have a big dream to pull her into the future
To trust in the timing of your life
The planning and preparation for the coast to coast challenge
Getting the time off work
Working backwards from the start date
Facts make dreams possible
Why it didn’t feel hard
The physical challenges of the expedition
Living her dream
Picking up litter on the journey
Having people question her ability while on the water
The positive impact on self confidence and believe
Being proud of starting the challenge
Trusting in herself more
Creating a short 1 min film
Final words of advice for women around being brave

Social Media

Website https://healthyhappy50.com

Instagram @healthyhappy50

Twitter @healthyhappy50

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Arita Baaijens - To rewild the western mind Arita Baaijens looks for ancient narratives that matter in the modern world. 0

May 14, 2020

We first spoke with Arita on February 8th 2016. Since then Arita has continued to follow her passions. She has recently returned from her 2nd expedition to the rainforest in Papua New Guinea.

While in Papua’s New Guinea, Arita has been focusing on life in the forest. This has involved taking sound recordings of ambient sounds, birds, etc. with the goal of producing a podcast in which the forest is the main character. There has also been a focus on the birds and how they communicate with each other and the local people.

For the past two years Arita has also initiated a landscape project in the Netherlands to rewild Dutch minds and to innovate mainstream cartographic maps. Arita also shares more about starting the - Dictionary for the Future.

Arita in her own words,

“Thirty years of exploration in wild places taught me that the separation between man and nature is an idea that exists in the western mind only. Nature is not ‘out there’, we are part of it. During my travels I was struck by the intimate way herders and nomadic people relate to the natural environment. Land in those regions has agency, intelligence and spirit. Closer to home, in the Netherlands, nature is considered a resource or at best a pleasant decor. We are stuck with an outdated model of reality. Let’s explore new narratives and in doing so create the world we want to live in!”

This is a fascinating podcast which will get you to explore more of your mind and the different way of explaining the world.

Show notes

Welcoming Arita
Who is Arita
What is her background?
Exploring difficult ways of explaining the world
Different realities at the same time
Starting a project in Holland
Nature spirits
A new way of mapping
Mapping subjective experiences
Deep mapping
The impact of the virus on our lives
How everyone and everything is connected
Needing to explore new places
Heading out to Papa New Guinea in 2016
The challenges of the jungle
Communication with the birds in the jungle
Studying bird language
Making a podcast with the sounds
Doing pioneering research
What it was like on expedition
Making sure there were women in the team
What is ecological intelligence?
Not being spiritual or religious
Believing in nature spirits
Funding the expeditions
The power of setting a deadline
Money is important - but - Believe in your own mission
Trust in yourself
Getting all the information she needed
The next steps after the expedition
Needing discipline in order to get the work done
Working on the podcast
Dealing with loneliness
The dictionary for the future
Special words
Quick Fire Questions
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website http://www.aritabaaijens.nl

Facebook - Arita Baaijens

Twitter - @aritabaaijens

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Louise Johnstone - Endurance Athlete & PT, discussing mental health, Marathon des Sables & her next challenge #2020RunNorthSea 0

May 12, 2020

Louise is a Dundee based person trainer and endurance athlete. She has spent her career focusing on improving the mental and physical health of women, utilising her expansive knowledge to adapt recommendations to allow each individual to strive for an improvement in their health.

Louise has struggled with depression throughout her life. This in turn has been the driving motivation for the fundraising Louise has undertaken over several years. To give an example of the extent of her running ability, one of the races she ran in 2016 was the Marathon des Sables, raising over £5,000 for Dundee Association for Mental Health, covering 154 miles over 6 days in gruelling conditions.

Louise describes herself as a ‘middle to back of the pack’ runner, loving to chat with fellow runners along the way, to hear their stories and what has brought them to take on their current challenge.

Louise is passionate about raising the profile of mental health, holding talks in schools and businesses as well as the general public. 2017 saw the launch of Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart, started by Louise herself.

2020 will see Louise take on her biggest challenge to date #2020RunNorthSea it involves 7 countries, 2 feet and over 3,000 miles in approximately 100 days.

Show notes

Who is Louise and what she does
Her passion for rugby and running
Deciding to become a personal trainer
Sports and self esteem
Sharing more about her journey of mental health
Managing her own mental health
Taking photos while out running
Having alternatives to manage your mental health apart from exercise
Needed to get out of her own head
Continuing to learn about herself and what works
Having a gratitude journal - A positivity journal
The 100 Day Run in the Cotswolds
Having her eyes opened to a whole new world of people and challenges
Starting to do fundraising
Running the Marathon des Sables in 2016
Going back to university while working full time
The MDS - “Being brilliant and awful in equal measures”
Having too much time in her own head
Rolling her ankle on the first day of MDS
The horrific sandstorm on the 1st day
Having a good cry and letting it all out
Growing into the challenge
Wanting to go back and do the challenge again
2017 - The West Highland Way Race - 95 miles in 35 hrs
Dealing with some of the worst weather in Scotland
How having a 20 min power sleep made all the difference
Finishing the race in 30 hrs with thanks to her support crew
Key lessons learned from extreme endurance events
Having physical fitness and being able to go to the next level mentally
2017 - Launching Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart
Focusing on the services that are being provided to help support mental health
#2020RunNorthSea
Starting the run from her home town in Dundee
Aiming to do 100 days - approx 40 miles per day - with a rest day every 7 days
Key aims and objectives from doing this challenge
Hopping that people will come and join her on the route
Getting support from so many people in the local community
Deciding to do this challenge…
Doing the challenge solo
Dealing with other peoples fears and concerns
Don’t let other people limit you and your dreams
How to fund and pay for the challenge - Feed Me Days - £25
The challenge of female hormones on training and day to day life
Working with your monthly cycle
Follow Louise on Social Media
Final words of advice

Social Media

Instagram @silverfoxm3h

Facebook @louisejohnstoneOCR

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Carolin Botterill - Bravery, Running the Jungle Ultra for the 5th time - Plus Escaping the Jungle - a 200km race in Belize! 0

May 7, 2020

Carolin Botterill is a 54 year old mom of 3 grown daughters. She lives with her husband and dog in Calgary, Canada.

Carolin loves taking herself on ultra-running and backpacking adventures to far-flung corners of the globe, and she is passionate about shining the light on mental illness as a member of the Bigger Than the Trail team.

During this podcast episode we catch up with Carolin, who we first spoke to in November 27th 2018. Since then Carolin has gone on to her first 100 mile race a dream she has been working towards for over 8 years! Carolin shares more about that experience, what she did differently and how positivity helped her during the race.

Carolin also shares more about dealing with her first DNF (Did Not Finish) at the start of January 2019 during the Spine Race in the UK, plus camping solo in the back country and what it was like running the Jungle Ultra with a friend.

Show notes

Who is Carolin
Her achievements in 2019
Smashing a 100 miles (her 5th attempt)
How she trained differently
Having a goal for 8 years and continuing to work towards it
Getting over the mental block in doing a 100 mile race
The power of staying positive during the race
The Spine Race - January 2019
Dealing with a DNF
Bouncing back from failure blog post
Doing the canal walk from Liverpool to Leeds
Respecting the race
The British Weather…
Getting back out to running pretty quickly
Preparing for the next challenge the Jungle Ultra in Peru
The benefits and challenges of doing a race with a friend.
Wanting to be brave and have courage
Going camping in the back country solo
Why being out in nature by yourself is very empowering
Being alone with your own thoughts
The start of 2020
Escape from the Jungle
Wanting to take her races to the next level
Doing the challenge solo
14 competitors with 2 women
What the survival training was like
Feeling unprepared before the start…
What the race was like
Getting outside her comfort zone with a 200ft waterfall
Not enjoying the experience
Managing fears while being out in the jungle
Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website/Blog - https://accidentalultrarunnerblog.wordpress.com

Facebook: @accidentalultrarunner

Instagram: @carolinbotterill

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Rosie Watson - Running from the UK to Mongolia, finding stories of better ways of living in the climate crisis. 0

May 5, 2020

Rosie, 25, a fell runner, climber, wild swimmer and all-round mountain lover from the Lake District in the UK is currently running to Mongolia! While running, she’s searching for stories about new ways of living and working while meeting our needs in a time of climate crisis.

"I will also cross as many mountain ranges and areas of wilderness, remoteness and natural beauty as I can”

Rosie started her solo and self supported run on the 17th August 2019. Along the way, Rosie will be meeting with people from projects who are creating a new, and a more sustainable way of living, and who are dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and its related issues. Rosie will share these stories through her website.

"By exploring the climate crisis and it’s solutions through a story of adventure, I aim to explore these issues in a fresh and personal way."

Show notes

Who is Rosie
Starting on the 17th August
Being stuck in Kosovo
Where the idea for the run came from
Looking for a job after university
Keeping the plan very vague and loose
Moving the start date from October to August
The planning and preparation
Trying to be flexible with the route
Creating her own website
Contacting brands for sponsorship
Trying to get local media interested
Planning the first couple of weeks of the route
Paying for the challenge
Deciding to set up a Go Fund Me account
Having a budget of £50 per week…
Problems with sticking to the budget
Only planning to run for 1 year….
Why she decided to finish her run in Mongolia
The route so far
The physicality of the challenge
Having a running buggy for parts of the challenge
Meeting people and seeing a different range of projects
What it’s like wild camping
The biggest challenge while out on the run
How to cope with the tough days
Food and music
Daily routines
Being stuck in Kosovo due to the Corona Virus
Final words of advice for other women

Social Media

Website - https://newstoryrun.wordpress.com

Go Fund Me Page - https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-new-story-run-a-climate-activism-adventure

Instagram @RosieWats

Facebook @RosieWatson:TheNewStoryRun.

Twitter @r_birdshouts

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Audrey McIntosh - 56, Her Global Odyssey, 100km non-stop in each of the World’s Continents! 0

Apr 30, 2020

Audrey in her own words..

In November 2013, I made a bit of running history when I became the first Scot (and second British woman) to complete my Antarctic Odyssey — the Antarctic Ice Marathon and Antarctic 100km double — in the space of three days, and this is one of my greatest achievement.

Crossing that 100k finish line marked both the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one...

In 2015, I completed the North Pole Marathon and became the first Scot to complete all 3 polar races. I also added the West Highland Way Race and West Highland Way Triple Crown and 100 miles in 24 hours at the Glenmore 24 hour trail race to my tally of achievements.

In January 2017 I became the first person to complete the double extreme marathon event of the Namibian Sand Marathon and Genghis Khan Ice Marathon: 36 degrees to minus 32 degrees.

During this podcast we will be focused on what Audrey has been up to since 2017. Audrey will share more details about the double extreme marathon event of the Namibian Sand Marathon and Genghis Khan Ice Marathon. Audrey will share more about the challenging races and what she has learned on the way, she will also share more about the global odyssey and how her dreams and goals have evolved over time.

If you are a passionate runner and enjoy hearing tales of adventure and challenge, then this is the perfect episode for you! Enjoy!

The Global Odyssey story so far:

Antarctica - 2013, The Antarctic Ice 100k and The Antarctic Ice Marathon.
Europe - 2017, Grand Raid Des Bogomiles 100k. I have run a number of marathons in Europe.
Asia - 2018, The Gobi Desert Global Odyssey 100k and 2017 The Mongolian Ice Marathon
Africa - 2019 The Moroccan Global Odyssey 100k and 2017 The Namibian Sand Marathon.
South America - 2019 The Patagonian Global Odyssey 100k and 2014 The Volcano Marathon.
Oceania - 2020 The New Zealand Global Odyssey 100k and the Global Odyssey New Zealand Marathon.

Show notes

Who is Audrey
How she got into running
Trying an ultra!
Reflecting back on 2017
Her goal to run an ultra on all 7 continents and having someone else do it first
How it change her ultimate goal
Needing a different dream
Taking the sense of urgency and time out of the goal
Dealing with the extreme heat and extreme cold of running challenges
David Scott from Sandbaggers
Menstruation and menopause and impact on training
The Global Odyssey
Failing the first challenge
Getting some of the basics wrong from hydration to taking salt tablets
Dealing with the aftermath of failure
Going to the Gobi desert in August
Starting to run without headphones
What a normal training week looks like
3rd time lucky with running in Africa
Heading to Argentina in April 2019
Losing her mum and not being able to run
Deciding to head to New Zealand for the next ultra and marathon race
Quick Fire Questions
Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you

Social Media

Website www.audreymcintosh.co.uk.

Instagram - @aa_mcintosh

Facebook - Audrey McIntosh

Twitter - @audreymcintosh

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Gina Johansen - Walking 3,000km the length of Norway, plus a solo crossing of Lake Baikal in Siberia! 0

Apr 28, 2020

Gina 28, from Sweden has a passion for travel and adventure, and for pushing herself outside of her comfort zone. Her goal is to “Escape the Ordinary”. Over the past few years, that is what Gina has done!

On May 14th 2016 Gina left Sydney on a bicycle, with everything she would need to be self sufficient as she cycled 2,700km up the east coast of Australia to Cairns, where she stayed for 2 months.

In early 2018 Gina decided to take on her first big solo winter expedition, skiing 60 days from North Cape to Jäckvik in Sweden, having never skied before. Since then she has gone on to cross Lake Baikal in Siberia (Russia), 692 km over 14.5 days - Going solo from South to North and most recently she did the NORGE PÅ LANGS a 3,000km walk over 3.5 months, from the southernmost point in Lindesnes to North Cape the northernmost point of Norway.

During this episode, Gina shares more about her early life, how she got into adventure, how she picks future challenges and what she has learned on the way. Gina also provides top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you as you go after your next challenge.

Show notes

Who is Gina
Growing up in Sweden around horses
Why she decided to enter the world of adventure
Leaving school at 16 and starting to work with horses in a professional capacity
Getting into Thai boxing and trail running
Being inspired by podcasts
Not being excited by work anymore
Starting to look for a new challenge in her life
The process behind getting more adventure in her life
Deciding to cycle the East coast of Australia with her now ex boyfriend
Spending 3 months living in the mountains
Dealing with injury
Starting to be scared when riding horses
What she would do differently on a big cycle trip
Where the idea came from for the ski expedition
Wanting to see more of her own country
Having no experience in skiing
Deciding to start at North Cape - the northern most point in Sweden
Starting 3 week later than planned due to delayed equipment and bad equipment
Doing the challenge solo and unsupported
Walking for days in a whiteout
Not being able to make any mistakes while in the extreme cold
Think 3 x before you act
How this challenge changed her life going forward
Thinking about happiness
Moving back to Norway
Meeting a new man!
2019 - Hiking across Lake Baikal in Siberia
Dealing with the extreme cold in Siberia
The importance of good quality gear
Getting to the start of Lake Baikal
Dealing with feelings of loneliness
Deciding on the next big challenge
Travelling with her partner and a dog!
The amazing moments
Dealing with winter storms
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website - https://www.ginajohansen.com

Instagram @ginajohansen91

Twitter @ginajohansen91

Facebook @ginajohansen91

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Alice Morrison - A 1,000 mile walk with 3 Amazigh (Berber) companions and 6 camels across the Sahara desert in Morocco! 0

Apr 23, 2020

Alice in her own words…

“I am an adventurer and an explorer. I travel to the furthest places on earth and walk through its toughest habitats. I have been described as ‘Indiana Jones for girls’ (which I liked!) We live in a time when the world is in crisis in so many ways. I want to bear witness to what is happening to the planet as our climate and our society changes and I want to tell the stories that bring we humans together rather than the ones that drive us apart. Together, we can strive towards solutions and a happier world. What better place to start than with the places and people that are furthest away.”

During this episode Alice will share more about her walk across the Sahara Desert. Alice left Draa at Oued Chbika on the 26th November 2019 and walked over 1000 miles (with three Amazigh (Berber) companions and six camels) to Guerguerat on the Mauritanian Border and finished part 2 of the adventure at the end of February 2020.

Show notes

Who is Alice
The Sahara Expedition - the toughest challenge to date
The team of camels
The 2nd part of the trilogy
The planning and preparation
Starting in November 2019
Using an expedition organiser
The challenge of getting water and food
The goals and the purpose
Reclaiming the word explore
Wanting to travel slow and to take in all the details
Being a woman and how she can interact with everyone
Not doing enough training
The start line and what it was like
Finding sponsors and getting media attention
Thank you to Craghoppers
How expectations didn’t match the reality
Team dynamics
Getting into routine
Walking at 5km per hour
Looking for trees in the desert
Tent life
Being a team member and not just a client
Getting water from Nomads
Being on an expedition with 6 camels
Starting a podcast! Alice in Wanderland
Spending the New Year in the desert
Making Christmas special
Walking into the nothingness of the desert
Climate change and desertification
Key lessons from the experience
Learning patience
Hoping to take on part 3 of the expedition at the end of June
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website : www.alicemorrison.co.uk

Twitter: @aliceoutthere1

Instagram: @aliceoutthere1

Facebook: @AliceHunterMorrisonAdventures

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Dr Kate Edwards & Dr Blair Green - Go Ahead, Stop and Pee: Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum 0

Apr 21, 2020

“Slow down. Stop running. Pregnant and postpartum women have heard this advice since the beginning of time. Many runners have no idea what they can and cannot do during pregnancy and postpartum, leaving them unsure, scared, and susceptible to injury.”

During this podcast, we talk with Kate and Blair about their first book. Go Ahead, Stop and Pee: Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum. This book throws out all those old wives’ tales and proves that women can keep running—during and after pregnancy. All they need is the right information.

More info about the book:

Written by two moms and physical therapists who also have a passion for running, Go Ahead, Stop and Pee is a fresh voice that empowers women to maintain their running lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum. Combining first-hand experiences as well as science.

During this episode we discuss:

Common myths about running pregnant and postpartum
A few key exercises for pregnant runners
What the pelvic floor is and why it’s so important
The 4th Trimester
Tips for running with a stroller/pram

Plus much more!

This podcast episode is ideal for any soon-to-be or new mom who wants to keep on running and wants to be as informed as possible.

Show notes

Meeting Kate and Blair
Finding out more about their running backstories
How running became a lifestyle
Getting pregnant during triathlon training
Myths around running while pregnant
Myths around postpartum running
Key things that pregnant women need to know about running
Pelvic floor muscles
The power of the breath
What is the 4th trimester?
Postpartum is forever
The reasons for writing the book
Kate’s story of returning to running after pregnancy
Ending up with a stress fracture
Being at a higher risk of stress fractures when you’re breast feeding
Blair’s story of returning to running after pregnancy
Dealing with a hip injury
Taking years to be able to run without pain
Having a plan to get back into running
Top tips for new mothers
Getting a pelvic health check done
Running with a stroller
Check out this Youtube video for running with a stroller
Favourite exercise and where to start
Barefoot training
Final words of advice

Social Media

Dr. Kate Edwards

Endurance athlete guru, PT, author, biz owner & educator helping

PTs widen the lens on treating endurance athletes

Website: www.katemihevcedwards.com

Instagram @katemihevcedwards

Facebook @KateMihevcEdwards.

Dr. Blair Green - Pelvic Guru

Website www.catalystga.com

Facebook @CatalystGA

Twitter @Catalyst_GA

Go Ahead, Stop and Pee

Facebook @goaheadstopandpee

Instagram @goaheadstopandpee.

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Phoebe Smith - Extreme Sleeping Adventurer, Storyteller-in-Residence at Calm.com, & host of the Wander Woman Podcast. 0

Apr 16, 2020

Phoebe Smith is an adventurer, presenter, broadcaster, author, editor, photographer, speaker and filmmaker.

By day she is award-winning travel writer, broadcaster and presenter, host of the Wander Woman Podcast, Sleep Storyteller-in-Residence at Calm.com and contributing editor for Wanderlust Travel Magazine. By night she’s an extreme sleeping outdoors adventurer who thrives on heading to the wildest locations she can find to sleep in the strangest places she can seek out.

She was the first person to sleep at all the extreme points of mainland Britain – including the centremost point – which she did solo, on consecutive nights in 2014. In December 2017 she gave up her Christmas to complete the self-devised Sleep the Three Peaks challenge – in which she overnighted on the summits of the highest mountains in Wales, England and Scotland - successfully raising over £8,000 and awareness for Centrepoint (the young people's homeless charity) ending on Christmas morning on the summit of Ben Nevis. In 2018 she gave up Christmas again to walk the Hadrian Hundred for Homeless dressed as Wander Woman.

In 2020 she will embark on a world first in Antarctica with her teammate Dwayne Fields, in a bid to raise awareness about climate change and how it effects the wildlife who call the place home, and as part of a bigger project to take a group of underprivileged young people to the White Continent in 2021 with her #WeTwo Foundation (LINK wetwoexpedition.com).

She is the author of 10 books including the bestselling Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper,Wilderness Weekends: Wild Adventures in Britain's Rugged Corners, The Wilderness Cookbook and the Travel Writer’s Field Guide.

Show notes

Who is Phoebe
Extreme Sleeping
Getting more involved in charity work
Deciding to sleep the 3 peaks
What was involved and the challenges involved
Deciding to sleep off 10 UK Landmarks
Walking the width of Britain dressed as WanderWoman
The WE TWO Foundation
What it was like on Snowdonia in winter
Being in a cloud inversion
Dealing with gale force winds
Her motivations
Sleeping better outdoors
Sleep stories for an app called calm.com
The process behind sleep stories
Becoming a slow traveller
Portaledges…
Sleeping in a harness
How to poo and pee from the tent
Using a pee bowl…
The Night Vision Challenge in 2019
What Three Words
Not having any kayaking experience
We Two Foundation
The challenges of talking about gender and race with companies
Having to change the goal due to lack of funding
Doing the challenge in the UK - Seabirds to South
Planting seeds for the next generation
The challenges of the UK weather and dealing with the rain…
Human kindness seen on the trip
Maintaining moral during the tough times
The Wander Woman Podcast
Wanting to go to Easter Island in Chile
Katherine Routledge who helped us understand the origins of the Easter Island moai.
Getting mad and getting even by telling women’s stories
Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you

Social Media

Website www.phoebe-smith.com

Instagram @phoebersmith

Facebook @ThePhoebeRSmith

Twitter @PhoebeRSmit

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Miriam Lancewood - Woman in the Wilderness: A Story of Survival, Love and Self-Discovery in New Zealand 0

Apr 14, 2020

Miriam Lancewood was born in a loving home in a small village in the Netherlands in 1983. After completing her university degree, she worked for a year in Zimbabwe, and then traveled to India. And in India she met her now husband Peter Raine.

Peter had resigned from his job as university lecturer in New Zealand and had moved to India to live like a ‘modern nomad’. He had lived five years in India when they met.

Together they hiked over eight mountains ranges in the Himalayas, journeyed for years through South East Asia, including Papua New Guinea, and eventually they ended up in Peter’s home country: New Zealand.

Miriam worked for a while as a teacher, then they decided to give up all their worldly belongings and move into the mountains with a tent and bow and arrow.

They wanted to learn how to hunt and survive in the wilderness, and they wanted to find out what happens to the mind and body, when living in the beauty of the wildest nature on earth.

Show notes

- Growing up in Holland

Wanting to be a sports teacher
Heading off travelling at 21 years old
Meeting her husband Peter and travelling together
Climbing 8 mountain ranges in the Himalayas
Deciding to live in the wilderness
Making it to New Zealand and having to work as a teacher for a year
Tramping in the mountains
Deciding to spend a year in the mountains
How to afford to live
What it was like living in the wilderness
Learning how to hunt…
Deciding to catch possums
Not knowing what to do
Learning the art of doing nothing
Walking the Te Araroa Trail, 3,000km from the North to the South
Keeping clean and healthy
Dealing with periods
Keeping in contact with friends and family
Not taking anything for granted
Her relationship with Peter
Deciding to write a book about her life
Having to find a house
Stress and anxiety in the wilderness
Thinking short term to not get overwhelmed
Lessons learned from living in the wilderness
Walking the Lycian Way in Turkey
Second book on it’s way with plans to release it in October 2020
Plans for the future
Attending writers festivals around the world
Learning how to cook and skin the animals
The roles in the relationship
Why you should read the book and how it will inspire you
Not understanding social media
Final words of advice
The power of sleeping

Social Media

Website - https://miriamlancewood.com

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Mollie Hughes - 29, Youngest woman to ski from Hercules Inlet in Western Antarctica to the South Pole. 0

Apr 9, 2020

In 2019 Mollie set off on her most ambitious expedition to date, skiing solo from the coast of Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole.

29-year-old adventurer and motivational speaker, who was born in Devon and lives in Edinburgh, started her world record attempt at 1.40 pm (Chilean time / 4.40 pm UK time) on Wednesday 13 November.

After 58.5 days and 650 hours of skiing alone in whiteouts, storm-force winds and temperatures hitting minus 45C, Mollie reached the Geographic South Pole on the 10th January 2020 at 8.50 am (Chilean time / 11.50 am UK time) – achieving her second world record by becoming the youngest woman in the world to ski solo from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.

Listen to Mollie as she shares more about her polar challenge, discussing sponsorship, learning how to ski, coping in a whiteout, and the power of positive affirmations.

Show notes

What Mollie has done before
Her desire to go to Antarctica
The starting point with the plan
Figuring out the sponsorship
Creating a “war room” - in the living room
Being a visual learner
Being £15k short before the start of the trip
Getting the final sponsor on board
Learning how to cross country ski
Training in Norway
Learning how to cope being solo
Her fears and concerns before the trip
Feeling happy and excited
Having a degree in psychology
The importance of having a routine
Flying over to Chile
Taking advantage of the small weather window
The first couple of days on the ice
Entering an horrendous weather front for 2 weeks!
Letting her emotions out
What it’s like skiing in a whiteout
Getting into the rhythm of skiing big miles every day
Not being able to get the negative thoughts out of her head
The power of positive affirmations
Figuring out priorities and making better decisions
Supported or unsupported
Mini challenge for the tribe
Breaking the record
The lessons learned
Heading home and returning to normal
Quick Fire Questions
The power of getting started

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Alyssa Azar - Mountaineer - Youngest woman to Summit Mt Everest from both the North and South sides at 21 years old. 0

Apr 7, 2020

Alyssa is the youngest Australian to Summit Mt Everest which she did at 19 years old on the 21st May 2016. Alyssa is also the youngest woman to Summit Mt Everest from both the North and South sides after successfully reaching the summit of Mt Everest from the North Side (Tibet) on the 19th May 2018 at just 21 years old.

Alyssa began trekking in 2005 with her first challenge, crossing the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Alyssa then trekked in Nepal, completed treks such as Everest Base Camp and Kokoda numerous times, Mt Kosciuszko in Australia, the Aussie 10 (the 10 highest peaks in Australia), Mt Kilimanjaro.

After completing Mt Kilimanjaro in 2011, Alyssa began climbing by doing a mountaineering course in NZ. Since then she has climbed in South America, Russia and Nepal on various expeditions to different peaks including: Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Manaslu, Elbrus and four Everest Expeditions.

Alyssa was on Everest both in 2014 and 2015 when the Avalanche and the Nepal Earthquake occurred and closed the mountain. She returned in 2016 to make her first successful summit of Mt Everest.

After taking one year off Everest Season in 2017 she decided to go back in 2018 and make her successful north side attempt via Tibet.

Show notes

Who is Alyssa
Her relationship with her family
Finding her passion
People not understanding her goals
Climbing Kilimanjaro at 14
Deciding to go and climb Mt Everest
Struggling in school socially and feeling like an outcast
Setting the goal
The lack of female role models growing up
Being surrounded by like minded individuals
Her 5 year journey to the summit of Mount Everest
Doing a climbing course in New Zealand
Working with a coach to get physically fit
Having mentors
Putting her training to the test and making sure progress was being made
Doing a climbing expedition to the Andes in South America
Trekking into Everest Base Camp
The challenges in 2014 and 2015 at Everest
Trying to decide what to do next?
Going for her 3rd attempt in 2016
Dealing with her emotions
Perfect Performance Line
Keeping focused while dealing with set backs
Paying for the adventure
The team dynamics on Everest
Caring what other people thought
Why the goal to climb Everest was the most important thing
What summit night was like
20 mins at the top!
The biggest challenge of climbing Everest
Life after Everest….
Going to uni to study Psychology
Goals and dreams for the future
Final words of advice to help you achieve your dreams

Social Media

Website - https://www.alyssaazar.com.au

Instagram - @alyssaazar

Facebook - @AlyssaAzarAdventurer

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Anna McNuff - Running 2,300+ miles through Great Britain barefoot! 0

Apr 2, 2020

Anna McNuff is an adventurer, speaker, author and mischief maker. Named by The Guardian as one of the top female adventurers of our time, Condé Nast Traveller included her in a list of the 50 most influential travellers in the world. She is also the UK ambassador for Girl Guiding.

Anna’s major journeys include cycling a beautiful pink bicycle through each and every state of the USA, running the length of New Zealand, and exploring the peaks and passes of The Andes mountains – a journey in which she ascended the equivalent to eleven times the height of Everest on a bicycle.

In the summer of 2019, she set off on her most ambitious adventure yet – a 2,300+ mile (90 marathon) run through Britain… in her bare feet. Starting in the Shetland Islands and ending five months later in London, she weaved her way along rugged coastlines, through small villages, across moors, along beaches, over farmland and even pitter pattered down the odd picturesque A-road too. All the way along, she gave talks to the young women of Britain about taking on challenges of their own.

Much closer to home, Anna has also spent a month cycling across Europe directed entirely by social media, run the length of Hadrian’s wall dressed as a Roman Soldier, and the length of the Jurassic Coast, dressed as a dinosaur. As you do.

She can often be found writing in a local café in her home city of Gloucester, and will never turn down a slice of lemon meringue pie.

Show notes

What Anna enjoys doing
Why she loves doing big challenges
The Barefoot Britain Challenge 2019
How 50 barefoot marathons turned into 100…
Building awareness for the Girl Guiding
Preparing her feet for the run
Running the London Marathon April 2019 - 26.2 miles
Dealing with other people’s opinions about you
Why you know what you are capable off
Asking for help…
Starting the challenge in the Shetland Islands
Having a kit bag called “Barry Buttercup”
Dealing with the logistics and how challenging it was
Making it 1000 miles….
Getting a small cut in her foot
Homeless?
Looking for a Doctor who could help!
Being off her feet for 2 weeks
Getting running coaching to help minimise injury
The Running Lab - London
Dealing with injury
Trigger Point Therapy
Sadness
Defaulting to happiness
Pink hair and maintaining it!!!
Making sacrifices?
Choosing happiness
Managing a relationship while doing adventure
Trying to have babies!!
Let’s talk about periods and moon cups
Finishing Barefoot Britain in London and moving the finish date
Running multiple marathons on running tracks around London
Book update!
Llama Drama…. coming out in July!
New Kids book - 100 Adventures to Have Before You Grow Up
Advice for self publishing your own books
The Creative Pen Podcast
Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you.

Social Media

Website www.annamcnuff.com

Instagram @annamcnuff

Facebook @AMcNuff

Twitter @AnnaMcNuff

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Catherine Wallis - Plus-size adventurer, working mum, doing ultra challenges around the world! 0

Mar 31, 2020

Catherine Wallis is a 43 year old, mother of 3 who is a plus-size adventurer.

In her later 30s after realising she leads a very boring life, Cathy wanted to make some changes. She signed up for her first 100k ultra and has been doing challenges and adventures ever since.

Along the way Cathy has shared more of her journey via instagram (@plus_size_adventurer) and in the process has been inspiring other women to get out and see the world – regardless of their body type.

In March 2019 Cath took part in the Rat Race Adventure Sports Mongol 100, a 100 mile long, four-day challenge across a frozen lake in northern Mongolia, in which temperatures plunged to minus -25 degrees celsius.

Cathy has also completed numerous other adventures from the; The Canberra 100, The Big Red Run, The Oman Desert Marathon, Hellespont Race (swimming from Europe to Asia) and Race to the Wreck in Nambia!

During this episode Cathy shares more about her life and the different challenges she has undertaken, she shares what she has learned and gives you advice and top tips on how you can get more adventure in your life.

Show notes

Leading a boring life and wanting to make a change
Growing up in the 1980s
Realising that she needed to make a change
The first step to making a change
100km hike in a loop
Starting off by making some little changes
Being completely underprepared for the 100K walk
The key lesson from this experience
Starting to do 1 big event per year
Doing The Big Red Run
“How hard could it be?”
Training for endurance walking
Noticing improvements in your life
The first multi stage endurance race
Meeting the supportive ultra running community
Finding day 3 to be the hardest
Changing her mental mindset during a race
“How lucky I am I to be here on my own two feet”
Starting to share more of her journey on social media
Training to run across a frozen lake in Mongolia!
Dealing with extreme cold
Being able to adapt to different challenges
Confidence
Deciding to swim from Europe to Asia!
Challenges in 2019 and plans for 2020
Rest and recovery and dealing with post adventure blues
Doing a multi stage running event with her 12 year old daughter in Kenya
Testing out a new challenge in Russia
Final words of advice

Social Media

Website - https://www.findyouradventure.online

Instagram @plus_size_adventurer

Facebook @plussizeadventurer

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Wendy Searle - Adventurer, mother of 4 and 7th woman to ski solo and unsupported from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole! 0

Mar 26, 2020

We first spoke with Wendy for the Tough Girl Podcast in August 2019, when she shared more about her life and dreams of skiing to the South Pole.

In January 2020, Wendy completed that goal!

Wendy became the 7th woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported, she was the 4th fastest and completed the challenge in 42 days, 16hrs, and 23mins, she took no rest days, had no showers, and skied 720 miles in total.

The condition were brutal and hard, with temperatures dropping to -35. This was a journey 5 years in the making and shows what hard work, commitment and focus can achieve.

Listen to Wendy on the Tough Girl Podcast Extra as she shares more about this extraordinary challenge.

Show notes

Wendy introduces herself
5 years of her life
Paying the final bill in USD
The final 2 weeks before the trip
Getting Christmas all sorted in October
Getting the plane over to Antarctica
Getting to the start line
Going after the speed record
Women supporting women
86kg of sled weight
The focus you need to have every single day
The routines and the consistent while out on the ice
Dealing with a snowstorm on day 3
Meeting Mollie Hughes on the ice!
The mental challenge of the expedition
Not wanting to get out of the tent in the morning
Dealing with the isolation in such an extreme environment
Feeling all the support from home
Missing her children
Counting down the days
Doing a power pose to the sun every morning
Realising that the record wouldn’t be broken
Giving everything, every single day
Seeing the South Pole for the first time
Listening to audio books
Skiing into the South Pole
Getting home
knowing that she has changed from the experience
Overcoming self doubt
The joy of sitting in a chair
Working on the legacy of the expedition
Not being a big completed finisher
Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website - https://southpole2020.com

Instagram @betweensnowandsky

Twitter @betweensnowsky

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Melanie Vogel - Explorer, thru-hiking Canada’s Great Trail, 24,000km from the Atlantic Ocean, to the Arctic Ocean and then on to the Pacific Ocean. 0

Mar 24, 2020

Melanie Vogel - Explorer, thru-hiking Canada’s Great Trail, 24,000km from the Atlantic Ocean, to the Arctic Ocean and then on to the Pacific Ocean.

Melanie, ‘Mel’ is coming up to her 3rd Year on The Great Trail in Canada.

Mel 44, started her journey on June 2, 2017. She began in Cape Spear on the Avalon Peninsula near St. John’s, Newfoundland, the most Eastern point of the country, and will finish at Mile Zero in Victoria, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia—after going via the Arctic Ocean. Initially she started walking with a backpack, but she has now changed over to a cart which she pulls behind her. Mel has also gained a new furry companion on the trail, Malo her dog.

Mel spent 11 months preparing for the trail; researching, saving money, getting her gear figured out and sorting out logistics.

During this podcast Mel shares more about her early years, her passion for travel and why doing this journey was so important. She shares more about the challenges and frustrations as well as the joy and kindness of strangers. Mel will be the first women to complete the trail when she finishes.

Show notes

Living and growing up in Germany
Deciding to move to Vancouver in Canada
Taking 2.5 years to go low budget travelling around South East Asia
Not wanting to come home
How her live had changed after travelling
Embracing a minimalist lifestyle
Feeling stuck and depressed
When she started to think about the Great Trail
Deciding to move to Toronto
Feeling fragile and lonely
Making the decision in July 2016
Planning and preparing for the trip
Doing it all alone
Failing to get sponsorship at the start
How everything just fell into place
Being told she was crazy
Feeling insecure about the trip
Gaining new knowledge to take on this challenge
Having to constantly defend her decision to walk The Great Trail
Dealing with her own fears and doubts
Gaining new skills and gaining confidence
Human interactions on the trail
Funding the challenge
The physicality of the challenge
Carrying a pack or pulling a cart
Dealing with the extreme cold temperatures
Going for more comfort
Having a dog and the new challenges that came along
Needing a hug on the trail
Planning on going to the Arctic Ocean
Having many end dates on this journey
Blogging while on the trail
Advice for other women on how to take on their own personal challenge
Learning patience

Social Media

Website - http://www.betweensunsets.com

Twitter - @BetweenSunsets

Instagram - @betweensunsets

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Sarah Davis - Adventurer - Paddling the length of Australia's longest river, the Murray River, 2,500km! 0

Mar 19, 2020

Sarah decided to tackle the Murray River in her home country of Australia, less than eight months after completing the Nile expedition.

While there weren’t any hippos and crocs to deal, it wasn’t without its risks. There were snakes (and of course being Australian they were deadly), extreme weather conditions, sections with little water thanks to the drought and plenty more challenges to deal with.

In 60 days Sarah covered 2,500km.

The first four days were trekking to the source with a small team and then sticking within a stone’s throw until it was time to get in her kayak.

For the next 56 days Sarah was solo.

On 13th February 2020 Sarah reached the Southern Ocean and the end of the Murray River. It was another expedition that tested her mentally as much as physically.

Listen to Sarah as she shares more about this challenge on the Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA!

Show notes

Sarah introduces herself
The Murray River Expedition
Source to Sea on each continent?
Wanting to do an adventure in Australia
The start of the River in the Snowy mountains
How long to plan, train and prepare…
Trying to write a book
Starting the challenge on the 16th December 2019
Having to get a different type of kayak
Figuring out how to get to the source of the Murray River!
Dealing with low water levels
Reaching the start!
The physical side of the challenge
The challenge of not making progress
Dealing with frustration
Resupply via towns every 4 days or so
The highlights from the river
Getting the time to do some deep thinking
Doing the challenge solo
Going back to uni?
Update on the book….fun?!
Having a bit of a break…
Thinking about an ocean row….
Time and money!
Heading to Nepal for the Annapurna base Camp Trek
Adventure blues?
Quick Fire Questions

Social Media

Website - https://www.sarahdavis.co

Twitter - @Sarah_paddles

Youtube @SarahDavis - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrrvIkh9I_7BIDgNzGh83zQ

For more info on Paddling the Nile - https://www.paddlethenile.com

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