Tough Girl Podcast

Nicky Button was born in Gloucester and grew up in Worcester. Having a very happy childhood. Nicky was always last to be picked for any teams at school and was the most uncoordinated and non sporty child being told to go and swim after a term of tennis when she still hadn't hit a ball. Her teens and twenties removed around horses and children , whilst she ran a yard starting and schooling young horses and teaching people to ride alongside being a foster mother. In 2000 with an eight year old daughter she moved to Surrey where she spotted a group of people kayaking on a local canal, she went along to the club and heard only two parts of the sentence, Wednesday nights are adults only, whitewater training and we go to the pub afterwards. Six months later she was staring at her first White water river in Wales. Several swims later and at the end of the river she was hooked. The kayaking totally changed her life and she soon realised that whilst she certainly wasn't the most proficient, she had found her tribe. Through the kayaking she was invited to help on set on Midsummer Murders and the rest as they say is history, she retrained learning swift water and rope rescue, working at heights and confined spaces, with fire and setting up stunts and rigging. There then followed some incredible years where she felt that she was being paid to have the best time in life. In 2013 after going away skiing she returned and was unable to see her daughter across the room. Four months later she'd had her driving license removed which knocked onto no job and then no home. Her life felt as though it was falling apart. She moved to South Devon and stormed along the South West Coast path. A few years on and she was part of walking groups for people with Visual Impairment and encouraging people to get out walking. On moving to Worcester in 2021 she met an amazing group of strangers who became friends, a trip up Ben Nevis was followed by entering her first Ultra challenge a 50km over Exmoor. When she completed that she looked for her next challenge. During lockdown she'd dreamed she'd walked from Scotland to Devon, she decided to make this a reality and so Nicky's most marvellous ridiculous adventure was born. Walking from the Orkney Islands to the Scilly Isles. Solo and unsupported. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. Show Notes 54 year old mum of 1 Walking from the Orkney Islands to the Scilly Isles Starting the challenge on April 1st (April fools day!) Not being into team sports and not enjoying the outdoors Preferring reading about adventure Discovering individual sports Her passion for horses and riding Joining The Pony Club Training to be a nanny Running away to work with horses Teaching riding at Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled Bringing up her daughter Moving to Surrey How joining a Canoe Club changed her life How her views on fear changed The link between fear and excitement Starting to work in tv production Making her career change at 38 Over coming the limiting beliefs of other people's thoughts Learning how to run and getting fit for search and rescue If it's important to you, you'll find a way How her life changed in 2013 Being diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease called Stargardts Now being registered as Severely Visually impaired S.V.I /blind Losing her driving licence, her job, and her home in the space of 4 months Dealing with the trauma Moving back home to Devon and spending time on the South West Coast Path Action for Blind People - now connected to RNIB Joining a local walking group and how that helped process her thoughts and feelings Getting to a place of acceptance? How her life is different now What she can see through her eyes Completing her first ultra challenge 50km over Exmoor How it changed her self confidence Navigation The idea for - Nicky's most marvellous ridiculous adventure Sharing the adventure and making it a reality The route Talking with people along the way about sight loss Self funding and working on a tight budget Hoping that people will come and join her Starting in the Orkney Islands Fears and concerns before the start of the trip Wanting to prove to herself that she can still do big thing Having a sense of purpose Final words of advice for women What do you actually want to do? Social Media Instagram: @blind.girl.walking Facebook: Nicky's most marvellous, ridiculous adventure Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/nicky-button-16797715248

Sasha DiGiulian began climbing in 1998 at 6 years old. She won the World Championships for Female Overall, a Silver in the Bouldering World Championships, as well as Bronze in the Duel. Sasha was also the undefeated pan-American Champion for over a decade. Outdoors, Sasha is the first North American woman to climb the grade 9a, 5.14d. Additionally, she has on-sighted multiple 8b+'s, 5.14a's, ascended groundbreaking, multi-pitch routes of over 1500 feet of 8c climbing, and accomplished multiple First Ascents and over 30 First Female Ascents around the World. Sasha is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City where she studied Non-fiction Writing and Business. She is on the Board of the Women's Sports Foundation, and is an Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play, Up2Us Sports, Access Fund, and American Alpine Club. She is the founder of SEND Bars and Female Focused Adventures, and is a co-founder of RoamTV. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. Show Notes Being based in Boulder, Colorado Growing up in the Washing DC Area Her early years Being sporty from a young age Getting into climbing at 6 years old Discovering climbing as a competitive sport Winning her first competition Falling in love with the sport Being supported by her mum Dealing with the pressure of performing and needing to be perfect Train so hard that even on a bad day you can still succeed Dealing with pressure as a professional athlete Using the pressure to her advantage Building her own brand Deciding to go to college Spending weekends in NYC training Making the transition from climbing indoors to big walls outside Feeling more motivated when climbing outside In 2012 - doing her first big wall expedition in the Dolomites The lessons learned from big wall expeditions Type 2 fun!! Her next chapter in climbing How does it work with expedition planning Building out the team Logistic - getting to the location, base camp, food, equipment etc Launching a nutrition bar company - SEND Bars The importance of fuelling her body especially being celiac (gluten free) Planning the route from the ground How to connect with Sasha Read Sasha's blog posts Working on a secret plan for 2023 Words of advice to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone Being committed to what makes you passionate Social Media Website sashadigiulian.com Instagram @sashadigiulian Facebook @sashadigiulian Twitter @sashadigiulian Youtube https://www.youtube.com/sashadigiulian

India in her own words: "I am India Cook, an avid Atlanta-based runner, marathoner, race announcer, YouTube vlogger, podcast host, and RRCA-certified run coach. I have a love for running and road racing, but I also have a passion for encouraging and guiding runners and those who aspire to become runners. I advocate for all paces and body types in the space of road racing. My running journey started in 2008 on the quest to lose weight and also engage in a healthy social activity. Since 2008 I have completed distances from 5K to marathons. Throughout my running journey, I observed that there were limited running resources created by women of color to help individuals get into running or resources for those already engaged in the sport. Therefore, I developed a vlog "Miles From India" on YouTube. The vlog's purpose is to educate, inspire, and motivate runners. Viewers can find tips and how-to videos that aid in helping runners navigate running effectively. Within the running community, I also find it important to ensure diverse running experiences and stories are highlighted. In 2018, I became a podcast host of, The Run Duo Podcast, with my co-host, Tommy Mitchell. On our bi-weekly podcast, we talk all things running as we educate and entertain our listeners and also interview casually to elite runners. In addition to content creation, I am also a race announcer and event emcee. I am the amazing voice that you hear at the start and finish line of a race that motivates you to keep going and cheers you in at the finish. As a fellow runner, I find it important to feed positivity and love during all points for racing and I am your fun energetic voice that does that. On the coaching side of the sport, I have a focus on helping ladies run confidently in any phase of their run journey, my background in mental health not only allows me to have a positive and healthy relationship with running but also enables me to help athletes build a similar relationship as well. I find it essential to make the sport of running less intimidating and relatable for all levels. My goal is to make the sport of running more diverse, inclusive, and less intimidating to my listeners and viewers. I will continue to use my training, experience, and voice to guide others in the community of running through coaching. I take the approach that everyone's journey is unique, and we should celebrate every step, stride, and mile. I believe that running not only boosts physical health, but it also rejuvenates your mind and fuels confidence" New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who is India Being focused on cheerleading and dance Doing a little bit of track and field Focusing on sprinting Not being a fan of running Having a negative relationship with distance running Starting with a 10k race Wanting to start increasing her distance with running Leaving college and not being active Being in graduate school and wanting to be a pro cheerleader Doing a season of semi-pro cheerleading Figuring out that cheerleading was not for her Using running as her outlet to decompress from stressful work days Doing her first race in 2008 - The Peachtree Road Race Starting to race every month Running her first half marathon in 2013 Being surrounded by amazing people who were encouraging her with running Not having a clue when she started running Struggling to find information that suited her needs Why it can be intimidating entering the world of running The advice she wish she had received when she first starting her running journey Why movement is what's important Not training appropriately for her first half marathon Calling herself a runner The high points and low points of marathon running The mental experience of running a marathon Running the NYC Marathon Running the Virtual Boston Marathon in 2021 Tips and tricks for grit and determination while running The importance of knowing your why Staying in the present and focusing on the current mile Thoughts on the Virtual Boston Marathon Taking advantage of the unique opportunity Running a marathon independently and why it's more of a challenge Her running journey and becoming a run coach The Run Duo Podcast Wanting to interview people from the run community who aren't elite athletes Goals for 2023 and how it's a transition year Moving her body and what that looks like How to connect with India (see social media links below) Final words of advice Social Media Website: www.milesfromindia.com Instagram: @i_of_endigo_runs The Run Duo Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Therunduo Link to all places: https://linktr.ee/milesfromindia YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/c/milesfromindia

Maddy is a 72-year-old runner, cyclist, mother of four, and grandmother to three. Her goal is to fight aging and show that we can do things long after we thought we couldn't. Maddy has always enjoyed being outside since she was a child. At school, she enjoyed sports and spent a lot of time swimming with her brother. Maddy has been running for more than four decades. She began running in 1977 at the age of 26. She was working for the military in a child guidance clinic in Munster, Germany. Maddy was just running for pleasure, and prioritises her children after work. She was a social worker before becoming a teacher. She joined the Harriers in the 1990s and began running seriously in 1997–98. She has competed in every imaginable race, as well as loads that no longer exist. In 2017, Maddy competed in over 30 races, winning the majority of them in her age category (V65). From 2004 to 2018, she ranked in the top 50 in the UK for her age group at distances ranging from 5K to marathon. She finished 14th among V65 women in the UK in the half marathon in 2017. Maddy also finds time to coach and support other runners, and she has helped organise local parkruns. She set up Mansfield Runners in 2012 with Sue Bellingham's help. They started it when Run England was promoting beginner's groups. It is now a RunTogether group. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who is Maddy 72 years young Running since 27 Waiting for bi-lateral hip replacements Her early years in the 1950s Getting a TV when she was 7 yrs old Getting a car when she was 11 Cycling everywhere Getting into running while working in West Germany The restrictions on women's running and women not being allowed to run long distances Starting to run every week around the woods Why she loves running and being out in nature Moving back to England in 1981 Signing up for the first Nottingham Half Marathon Having 4 children between 1983 and 1990 Joining Mansfield Harriers Running during pregnancy and after having children Loving yoga and CrossFit Dealing with injury Going back to the early 1980s 1984 - when women were allowed to run the marathon Taking 25 yrs of running before signing up for her first marathon Running the London Marathon in 3hr 27mins (over 50) Deciding to stop running road marathons Training by herself Effort Sessions every Tuesday and Thursday Mindset and mental strategy while running How times and knowledge have trained Getting into coaching Mansfield Runners The Stilton Stumble Dealing with Osteoporosis Why you need to keep moving when you have arthritis Advice for new runners How to connect with Maddy Having younger running friends The isolation that happens when your older Entering the Bath Half Women being veterans from 35 Being competitive Counting while running Embracing technology Magical memory from running Racing with her daughter in the Italian Alps Social Media Instagram @collingemaddy

Amy Rusiecki is a full-time engineer with a passion for ultrarunning. Amy, who has been running her entire life, started out with orienteering when she was only six years old before moving onto cross country running and then transitioning to road racing (during which time she escaped to the trails to train). During her ultrarunning career (Amy has completed 82 ultras and has won 33 of them), she has found confidence, joy and her husband. She is the Race Director for the Vermont 100 and coaches other ultrarunners through The Run Formula. She is a three-time member of the USA Trail Team, and is sponsored by Inov-8 and Drymax. Amy, her husband and their kitty live in western Massachusetts and mainly race throughout the East Coast. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who is Amy Being a lifelong athlete Finding trail and ultra running Ultra running since 2007 Being a race director and working as a full time engineer Waking up super early! Being from an active family Doing orienteering and becoming a cross country skier Finding the right endurance sport Running use to be a punishment when she was younger Why she loves running Signing up for her first 50 mile race Doing her first marathon and trail marathon with her sister Reading Ultra Marathon Man By Dean Karnazes Doing a relay race and roping in her work colleague Signing up for the Vermont 50 Her mental approach to running endurance races Make sure you know your why Being inspired by her friend Doing a 100 mile race without her crew or her friends 100 reasons why Amy is going to rock the 100! Magical moments while racing 2015 - The World Mountain Running and Trail Championships Feeling bad for herself and just wanting to finish the race Making the transition from being an elite athlete to a normal runner Being more of a middle of the pack runner Did she love the sport or was her passion for the sport tied to her success Being ok with not winning Not being able to live unto the expectation of other runners Working as a Race Director The gender split in the ultra races Breaking down barriers in the ultra race space Working with adaptive athletes Wanting to welcome everybody to the trails Having a policy for pregnant women What it's like on race day being a race director Wanting things to be perfect Top tips and advice for new runners Remove any notion in your head about what that mile will look like Why it's about covering the distance Top tips for experienced runners wanting to go after a 100 mile race Why you need a race that inspires you Why it's ok to pick something that you may fail at How to connect with Amy (she's not on social media) Beast Coast Trail Running Working as a run coach through Run Formula Plans for 2023 - combining running and travel Social Media Seven Sisters Trail Race - 12 miles of technical, single track trail on an out-and-back course with over 3,500 ft. elevation gain Vermont 100 - 100 mile race Vermont Adaptive: www.vermontadaptive.org Beast Coast Trail Running: www.facebook.com/beastcoasttrails

Ingrid has loved competitive sports since a young age. Originally swimming was her passion and she began swimming competitively at 6 years old, she swam throughout high school and attending UCLA (a division 1 school) where she swam competitively for 2 years, while studying Sociology. After leaving college, Ingrid made the transition from swimming to running and also decided to become an actress. Played lifeguard Sheryl Whelan, on Baywatch as well as having roles on Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, and Parenthood, to name a few! At the age of 47 after running her fastest marathon ever, 2hr 48 mins in the 2019 LA Marathon. Ingrid was feeling the strongest and fittest she'd ever been. However, while training for her next challenge, she started to not feel well and after seeing her doctor was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ingrid underwent a double mastectomy, and continued to run while undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy as well as radiation. Ingrid is a member of Janes an elite women's running group based in LA and in 2021 Ingrid was inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame. RUNNING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2014 3rd Place Masters Female Chicago Marathon 2014 2nd Place Female Overall Orange County Marathon 2016 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championship: 5th place Masters Woman Overall 2021 2nd Place 50+, 12th Overall USATF Masters XC Club Nationals Tallahassee,FL 2022 1st Place 50+, 8th Overall USATF Masters XC Championships Mission Bay, CA New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who is Ingrid Being based in Santa Monica, California, USA Racing for the past 10 years Starting out as a competitive swimmer Swimming for 2 years in College at UCLA Hating running when she was younger Transition to running at 18/19 years old Starting to work as a lifeguard for LA County Running on the beach and doing her first marathon Running marathons and improving her times Joining the Janes' an elite running team in Santa Monica and wanting to break 3hrs in the marathon Always loved training and competing Liking to challenge herself Working as an actor for 26 years Finding her niche in life What was Ingrid like as a little girl Being taught to swim from a very young age Being a junior lifeguard Studying Sociology at College in the early 90s Getting into acting and booking her first commercial Acting in Baywatch Gradually falling in love with running Hal Higdon - Marathon training plan Deciding to join the Janes Elite Running Club Taking 5 years to run under 3hrs Being fully committed to her running program Getting a running coach and running 70 miles a week Breaking 3 hrs when she was 45 years old Starting to change her training and wanting to go faster Running 100mile weeks for 3 months before the LA Marathon Running 2.48 at the LA Marathon!!! Starting to not feel well and being diagnosed with Breast Cancer Feeling shocked The next steps to follow Being supported by the running community Running throughout her treatment Having surgery in August 2019 Getting into cross country races in 2021 Having a baby heart attack at a race in New Jersey Figuring out what happened Looking at running in a different way Reframing the situation in her mind Advice for new runners starting out The joy of making running fun! A magical running memory How to connect with Ingrid Social Media Instagram @ingridwalt Janes Elite Racing - www.thejanes.net

A Swiss-born ultrarunner, Luzia Buehler now lives in the mountains, trying to live a good life while protecting what is most important to her. Luzia has always been an athletic person since she was a child because of her great love for the outdoors and the mountains. Luzia discovered her passion for trail running when she was about 20 years old, and she has since competed in all of the most important international races. In 2016, Luzia competed in the Western States 100 race for the first time, finishing 27th (27hrs 03mins) and 11th (20hrs 23mins) in 2019. Having run this race twice, which has greatly prepared her, Luzia, 40, has rocked the world's oldest 100-mile trail race, the Western States Endurance Run, by becoming the 4th place women's finisher in a time of 18 hours, 08 minutes last year. Luzia is also a social worker who enjoys skiing and snowboarding during the winter. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who Luzia Living in East Switzerland by the mountains Working as a social worker Being the youngest child and growing up in a sport family Getting into skiing at a young age Always being a runner Working as a cook and fitting in running around her hours Doing her first Half Marathon on the road and why it wasn't good! Working with running coach Ellie Greenwood Listen to Ellie Greenwood on the Tough Girl Podcast 2016 Needing more flexibility in her training Western States 100 mile endurance race Running the WS100 in 2016 and why it was the hardest thing she has ever done Running for 27 hrs and needing to walk the majority of the race Wanting to come back and do the race again (this time training with Ellie) Winning a golden ticket to gain entry to Western States in 2018 Going into the race with a lot of passion Why it's so much more than a race Having stomach problems on Raceday - but completing it in 20hrs Wanting to race the Western States again in 2022 Completing the WS100 in 18hrs 8 mins 27 secs Why it was such a good day and feeling proud of herself Race strategy and tactics for Western States Needing to run at her own pace Feeling the impact of jet lag and needing to go slower at the start Running really well when she runs alone Starting to overtake a few people and having fun while she raced. Just keep smiling and keep putting one foot in front of the other What's going on in her head while racing Trying to stay in the current moment and be in the present Fuelling and nutrition while racing Wanting to eat more salty food and less fatty food Pizza and beer at the end of the race How she recovers after a 100 mile race Taking a week or 2 weeks off from running Supplements? "The future is unwritten" - what does that mean? Her dream race - Hardrock 100 Being an inov-8 ambassador Advice for new runners who are just starting out Losing her running mojo and what she does when she doesn't feel like running Remembering her why - why does she run? Wanting to create happy memories Her favourite paid of Inov-8 trainers Wearing PARKCLAW G 280 in the Western States 100 Advice for more experienced runners Why time on feet really does count Doing strength training 2/3x a week Remaining injury free due to strength training Why cycling is good as well How you can connect with Luzia on IG Social Media Instagram @luz.s.y

Allie spent a lot of her life seeking approval from people she thought were cool, believing that in order to be successful, you had to act a certain way. For her, success is seeing someone who doesn't believe they can do something transform into someone who does. After working for major record labels for 12 years, Allie realised that music, which she had once loved, was slowly killing her. Her dream career had turned her into a nightmare, and she was completely lost. Allie has struggled to find her place and suffers from depressive demons, anxiety, and existential misery. After taking part in the inaugural Rat Race Test Pilot trip to Mongolia in 2018, she realised it was the first time she had truly had time to stop, think, and be completely at peace. Fast forward, after three and a half years, numerous journeys, a pandemic, some questionable decisions, and a lot of planning and running, Allie is now coaching other people to do amazing things. Allie holds several world firsts to her name, including running across Mongolia's Lake Khovsgol and crossing the Namib Desert twice. Allie is the first woman to run the entire length of the Panama Canal. She has also run the length of the Outer Hebrides, crossed Scotland on packraft and foot several times, and completed over 100 marathons and 60-70 ultramarathons, including nine 100-mile plus races. Allie started running 10 years ago and have only being doing the ultra thing for 6 years, but she absolutely love it. It's a game changer. Allie believes that it is something that anyone of any age and from any background can participate in. Allie has been extremely lucky to have discovered something she truly enjoys doing, and her favorite thing in the entire world is seeing people achieve things they never thought were possible "There's nobody funner than an Ultrarunner" - Allie Bailey New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. * We have previously spoken with Allie on 18th Dec 2018 - Listen here FYI marked as *Explicit - as there are a few little swear words! Show Notes Who is Allie Bailey Meeting her dogs! Why ultra running and why she loves it Writing her book How running helps with her mental health Being able to process her thoughts Going more into adventure running Her favourite distance to run… Liking 100 mile races LEJOG - Lands End to John O'Groats The ultimate dream Working with Rat Race Starting on the 1st June 2022 Running on average 35 miles a day The hardest part of the LEJOG challenge The mental side of the challenge The challenges of being away from home What a typical day looked like Starting with the South West Coast Path Running 44 miles into Bristol over 12 hrs Chocolate milk Being in bed asleep by 8pm Snacking all day Having a rest day once a week Staying injury free throughout the journey Wanting to finish the run Voltarol gel to help with the pain Using bonjela to numb blisters Wearing Inov-8 Parkclaw G280 - for 750 miles (then wearing a second pair for the final 250 miles) - "the greatest shoe of all time" The ultra playlist on Spotify - The Bailey Ultra Sound System Getting to Scotland and the final few days Spending time by herself towards the end Getting to John O'Groats and doing the final mile Feeling underwhelmed with what she had achieved What she would have done differently Wishing she had done more strength training before she left Costs of taking on a challenge like this RAT RACE: RUN BRITANNIA Dragons Back Race, Wales Getting timed out on day 2 Why it was the most intense thing she's ever done Feeling like a fraud Taking herself out of the situation The lessons learned from the experience Wanting to go back in 2024 and try again Blog Post - FAILING WHILE DARING GREATLY - THE REAL REASONS THAT DRAGONS BACK RACE IS THE TOUGHEST MOUNTAIN RACE IN THE WORLD. Not being kind to herself Being able to reframe the situation Time off in 2023….. Planning to do her first 200 miler and wanting to run all the Wainwrights in a year Taking 10 days off running!!! How you can connect with Allie Final words of wisdom and advice for women who want to get into running and take it to the next level Finding your people, find your tribe, find your people Ultra Awesome FB Group Social Media Website www.alliebailey.co.uk Instagram @ab_runs Twitter @AllieBailey Spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/alliehbailey

Rav is a mum of 3 teenagers and works as a management consultant. Rav only found running later on in life when she was in her late 30's. She started running to prove a point to someone who said she couldn't run. Rav soon realised that fitness initiatives such as Park Run and races just weren't for her. Her joy for running came from the solitude and peace she found while on an empty trail or a calm street. Rav now runs for fun, for her mental well being and to keep fit. In 2022 she completed a goal she had had for 20 years - running the London Marathon. Rav is currently on a run streak where she has been running outside every day for almost 5 years. She is also training for her next challenge: a 32 mile / 52k Ultra Marathon in the Peak District taking place in the Summer of 2023! "Find what makes you happy. Do more of it" New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show Notes Who is Rav 42 year old, mum of 3 teenagers Celebrating her 5 year run streak in March 2023 Her early years and growing up in a strict Indian family Not being sporty Being pushed down the academic route Deciding to join a gym Getting her first pair of trainers when she was 36 Joining a hotel gym and going at night Getting into swimming Starting her IG account to document her fitness journey Buying trainers The motivation behind wanting to run Wanting to prove people wrong Not wanting to be seen in public Deciding to run outside on the 17th May 2017 Doing a 12 week fitness challenge which involved running 200 miles Setting running goals RED January The power of spending 30 mins outside each day Meeting Scott who was run streaking How the purpose of the run streak has changed since she started Motivating herself to run on the tough days London Marathon 26.2 miles Dealing with imposter syndrome Having social anxiety while running and not being able to do park run Getting a plan in places for races Running plans being stopped due to covid and doing the virtual London Marathon Doing 9 virtual marathons in 12 weeks Finding the training hard when running 18 miles+ Joining a fitness program - Six Pack Revolution Not being able to run the London Marathon in 2021 Dealing with injury and the recovery process while still running every day Losing her running confidence The unofficial running community! Getting over her mental block when running longer distances Getting her running confidence back and starting to work with a running coach Dealing with the fear of getting injured again The start line of the London Marathon 2022 Being a glam runner - hot pink lipstick and shades! Being supported by friends Wanting to make the most of the day The toughest part of the race and struggling around mile 16 and mile 24 Not wanting to do another road marathon again How to connect with Rav Top tips and advice to help you get out running Social Media Twitter @ravbillan Instagram @ravbillan

Grace in her own words: "I'm driven by the need to inspire other people of colour on to the trails. I want to increase diversity and participation in endurance running. I'm also tired of being the only Black person at endurance events and feeling like I don't belong. I've run 70+ marathons including ultras, and I'm still going." New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live in March every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. Show notes Being based on the South Coast of the UK Working as a management consultant Starting running in 2009 Training for her first 10k Her early years and what she was like as a little girl Being sporty but not outdoorsy Her brothers and sisters Her children and grandchildren Being supported and inspired by fellow runners Running her first 5k Being determined to get better Signing up for her first race Running in the dark Not having the confidence to run outdoors Not wanting to stop Joining a local running club Running off road Her love for running and feeling happy Her accidental half marathon What running has taught her Running her first marathon in 2011 Running the Brighton Marathon multiple times Sharing the lessons she's learned Why the race starts at mile 20 What a typical training week looks like Focusing on strength training Wanting to be the best version of herself Practicing yoga Girls run the world The Atlantic Coast Challenge Finishing the race at Land's End and feeling emotional Focusing on core and endurance Fuelling her long runs and focusing on eating real food The women who have inspired her How to connect with Grace Final words of advice for new runners Social Media Instagram @marathongracefully