Tough Girl Podcast

Earlier this year, On January 22, Brooke Thomas an ultra runner and nurse, finished running the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail. Which starts at Cape Regina in the North Island and runs through to Buff, which is the bottom of the South Island. Brooke started her journey (supported) on November 26, 2020 and ran for 57 days, 12 hours, breaking the Te Araroa women's route record by almost nine days! During this episode, Brooke shares more about her love of running and why she wanted to take on this challenge, she shares the high points; running 100km in one day and finishing the challenge. To reflecting back on when she ending up in hospital and not knowing if she would be able to carry on. We talk about the logistics and the physical and mental preparation. Brooke also shares more about her heart condition and how having a pacemaker/defibrillator installed has impacted on her life and running. Brooke was raising money for Heart Kids, a nonprofit organisation in New Zealand that supports children living with heart defects. Brooke in her own words: "At age 22 I was diagnosed with a heart condition and became the recipient of an inserted cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator. Being told you have a long term condition at that age, I reckon it's probably pretty normal to go through the journey of feeling hard done by, asking 'why me', then eventually learning to accept and embrace it. One of my favourite quotes is that "it's not the throw, but the catch". You can't always choose what life might chuck at you, but you decide how to receive it, and what to do next. Being a nurse and witnessing the enormous challenges some patients go through has also definitely helped me to stay grounded when it comes to my own condition, and 100% inspired me to keep pushing my own boundaries. I guess the best thing I've learned through my own experiences is that you never know how long you're going to get in life to do all the things you want to do. We've just got to make the most of what we've got and embrace any opportunity you get while you can. For me, anything that both scares me and makes me question myself is definitely something I want to try!" "Running the length of a country is without doubt the toughest challenge I have ever undertaken before. Yet somehow all the moments of struggle, exhaustion, frustration and disbelief in myself are so quickly forgotten in comparison to the excitement, raw happiness and gratitude that I have experienced throughout this journey." - Brooke Thomas New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Who is Brooke Not thinking of herself as an athlete Going running with her dad when she was younger Living in Queenstown Coming from a close family Having a twin sister Her running journey Being into rowing at a competitive level Using running as an outlet Training 2x a day for rowing Quitting rowing due to a heart condition Having a pace maker fitted to help her heart beat What her pace maker does Not being able to compete in the world championships Fundraising for Heartkids The transition period from professional athlete to having a pace maker fitted Finding your own limits Building back her confidence with running Deciding to run the full length of New Zealand Being inspired by Mina Holder and Lucy Clark Meeting her running coach - Adam Keen The planning and preparation for the trip Wanting to start the trail in November Getting 2 months off work Thinking about the record Wanting to prove something to herself Feeling the pressure from being behind schedule Feeling like a failure every day The magical moments while on the trail Mental preparation Dealing with the challenging sections and moments Fuelling her body! Getting into flow while running The beauty of trail running and community Dealing with the challenging river crossings Dealing with food care Documenting her journey in order to get the FKT (Fastest Known Time) Wearing a Coros watch The finish line... The final 100K - a nice round number The biggest lesson learned from running the TA The power of believing in yourself Thinking about the worst case scenario Getting back to work straight away Follow Brooke and donate to Heart Kids - links down below. Social Media Instagram - @brooke_bt_thomas Charity donation link - onebigjog.wixsite.com/onebigjog/where-s-wally te-araroa-for-heart-kids.raisely.com/brooke-thomas Brooks Running Coach - Aerobicedge Coaching Listen to Mina Holder on the Tough Girl Podcast

Jessie's lifelong outdoor odyssey began with Duke of Edinburgh walks in the Peak District. This segued into long hill hikes in the Yorkshire Dales, multi-day treks in the Lake District, scrambles in North Wales and adventures scaling alpine pinnacles. When not walking, she can be found rock climbing, wild swimming, cycling, photographing, filmmaking, writing and modelling. Jessie in her own words: "It's so so important to be championing a greater diversity of voices and lenses that show a different narrative on the world." "For me, trad climbing helps me slow everything down. When I have deadlines on, worrying about where my next job comes through or trying to give my head a bit of space, I find nothing helps concentrate me more than heading to my local crag and putting all the mind chatter in a box. Being on the sharp end and taking a deep breath, committing to the move above my gear - that is what gives me energy" New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Who is Jessie Juggling a lot of things as a freelancer Being British-born Chinese Her family and growing up in Essex Being encouraged by her parents to get into a good university Doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award through Air Cadets Getting mini expeditions under her belt in the local area Heading out to the Peak District for the DoE Silver Award Going on to do the Gold Award and doing the expedition to the Pyrenees Mountains! The spark for hiking, trekking and exploration Her future plans and dreams Being the oldest in her family and being a rebel Having a desire to spend time outdoors Where her drive and ambition comes from Her passion for photography Being inspired by amazing and supportive teachers The realities of being a professional photographer in the outdoors Heading up North to Leeds to get a degree Working in a commercial studio Getting involved in a hiking club Starting as a social hiker and how it evolved into climbing The loss of a climber from the hiking club and its impact Finding solace in the mountains Gaining Alpine Skills Getting Trad Climbing experience in 2015 Having good friends Heading to the Alps for her first Alpine Adventure 2016 Being an OS #GetOutside Champion Dealing with the Beast from the East in the UK while climbing Encouraging people to see what adventures are available on their doorstep Advice for other women to achieve their goals 2020 goals Taking her ML assessment and her challenging experience Advice for those who want to take their ML New film….with the Pinnacle Club Social Media Website jessieleong.co.uk Instagram @jessielphoto Facebook @jessieleongphotographyuk Twitter @JessieLPhoto Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JgkubKdHJmdNhciVbfc2Q

Jessi (Jessilynn) was born in a small town in Southern Alberta Canada. She grew up on a ranch and has always loved being in the mountains. She moved around quite a bit as a child and is now living in Sandy, UT, USA. Jessi started competing in cross country in high school but stopped due to illness, which later was diagnosed as Lyme Disease. After going through treatments in the United States, Jessi spent three consecutive summers in Kerala, India where she learned the value of meditation and building a relationship with herself. After having her daughter, who is now seven, Jessi decided to run her first marathon. She went on to compete in many ultra-marathon distances and recently won the female division at Moab 240 in October 2020. Jessi recently wrote a book called, Defying the Odds, which talks about her journey and how she used mental fortitude to become the person she is today. CONTENT WARNING - Rape is mentioned and miscarriages are discussed in detail. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Growing up in Alberta, Canada on a farm Moving to Texas with her mum when she was in the 10th grade Going to 15 different high schools Her passion for ultra running, yoga and meditation Staying in Utah Trying different sports but never sticking at any one sport Getting into running and falling in love with it Becoming a PT Having her daughter and running her first marathon Not being a natural runner Doing the mile test Running at night around the farm Running while pregnant Having multiple miscarriages Being active during pregnancy Running her first marathon 4 months after having her daughter The Boston Marathon bombing 48 hr labour Why her first marathon was a disaster Signing up for her first 50 mile race Using running for therapy Feeling healed Increasing the mileage and going outside her comfort zone Feeling so nervous doing her first 100 miles Hearing about the Moab 240 race Breaking down the race into smaller distances Why she enjoys the longer distances Nutrition and problems with digestion Having chronic lyme disease Staying on top of hydration Mindset and mental resilience Why running ultra's is like life Being the fastest woman running Moab 240 The final stretch Winning her first race Being humble and wanting to be relatable Book - Defying the Odds Final words of advice Social Media Instagram - @jessimortonlangehaug

Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel – Kul Wičasa Lakota, a citizen of Kul Wicasa Oyate (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) as well as a passionate and devoted advocate for Indian Country and all people. Nationally known for her advocacy and grassroots organization for anti-pipelines/climate justice efforts, change the name/not your mascot, the epidemic and crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, two spirits and relatives (MMIWG2S), and native youth initiatives. Her experience in grants and project management, policy, blogging, and organizing has been leveraged by both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to quality healthcare, MMIWG2S, the Violence Against Women Act, and a variety of other worthy causes. Jordan is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led grassroots group devoted to elevating Indigenous voices and promoting intersectional collaborative efforts across all movements with the goals of racial, social, climate, and economic justice. The primary focuses are to inform, elevate, mobilize, and organize through strategic and targeted advocacy, establishing collaborative partnerships to help create a better and safer future and environment for all of our relatives who inhabit this planet, past, present and future. Jordan sits on the Board of Directors with the PowerShift Network and ReNew Earth Running, to work with passionate individuals to influence change and to help increase Indigenous visibility. She was also awarded the NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 in the fall of 2018. In 2019, she served on the Womxn's March – Ending Violence Against Womxn and Femmes Policy Committee with other Native womxn representing on multiple committees. She is also a 2020 Society fellow with Return to the Heart Foundation. As well as sitting on the Intersectional Environmentalists Council, and Runner's World Alliance Ambassador program. Currently, she is using her running platform, to help raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives by dedicating the miles she runs to a missing or murdered Indigenous person, #RunningForJustice and is now intersecting this effort and prayers for Black Lives Matter and calling an end to police brutality. She is among many Indigenous people working to elevate this crisis and to bring justice to the families and victims. And creating programming to build community and focus on wellness through Indigenous Wellness through Movement while continuing the heart work in supporting communities. Now, she is continuing this running journey and advocacy, as a professional runner with Altra Team Elite and Rabbit. She is an Ambassador with Ultimate Direction for her running and advocacy. Jordan has launched, Mitakuye Oyasin (We Are All Related), a COVID19 relief program since June 2020 for Indigenous communities, to send masks to Indigenous relatives and communities to help protect and keep the communities safe and organizing virtual running and wellness events to support Indigenous communities and expand community through allyship. Jordan is consulting on documentaries as Indigenous advocate, producer on films focused on Indigenous Earth Protectors, BIPOC runners, and supporting families impacted by MMIW, Executive Producer and co-director of #RunningWithPurpose. She consults with outdoor organizations to develop content on social media to protect sacred lands and promote health and wellness for Indian Country. Jordan is an Outreach and Project Manager with the UCLA, supporting researchers with their project proposals and with the new pivot to COVID-related studies and clinical trials, and continuing to organize in the community she lives on, homelands to the Tovangaar people, also known as Los Angeles, CA. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes What Jordan does What her early years were like Moving to the state of Maine Trying to figure out life Experiencing racism for the first time Being different How her life changed at college Her dreams as a little girl Living in DC and being an advocate for Indigenous Women Learning to love and accept herself Making it through high school How running became her identity Finding her community Moving to DC and making the transition from college to work Building her network Running and fitting it into her life Why her community comes first Combing her passions for running and advocacy Running the Boston Marathon and doing a prayer run Giving up The red hand print symbol 2 spirits What can I do? Self care The challenges of 2019 Being mentally and physically exhausted before races Taking 2 months off Founding Rising Hearts in 2016 Why the wellness industry needs to reflex diversity Being inclusive Running on native lands Dealing with an injury for the past 2 years Words of advice to encourage you to start running Social Media Website www.jordanmariedaniel.com Instagram @nativein_la Twitter @_NativeInLA

Ellie in her own words: "I am a Mental Health Personal Trainer based in East Sussex. I started my business WellbeingFIT last year because I want to raise awareness of the many benefits of exercise on our mental health and wellbeing. I also want to make exercise more accessible and positive to people - especially if they usually feel that exercise isn't for them. All of this was inspired by my own mental ill-health. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for the last 10 years, and have also received treatment for PTSD. I did get to the point when I began planning my suicide. Exercise was my saviour through my toughest times. I am still on my journey of recovery and I am using my experiences to help people; to provide empathy and compassion; alongside emphasising how exercise can really help our mental health. Alongside WellbeingFIT I have also started my mental health blog #WeGotThis. My aim here is to raise awareness, challenge stigma and to provide a safe space to share stories. I want people to know that you can go through a really tough mental health journey and still come out the other side. There is hope when you are able to share what you are going through. Stigma still tells us that we should feel guilt or shame when we are experiencing mental ill-health - this alone adds a huge amount to our suffering which is completely unnecessary. Exercise can provide relief from symptoms of mental ill-health and can be a space for sharing how you are feeling. It can also be a way of maintaining good mental health - regularly giving yourself priority and challenging what you are capable of." New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Who is Ellie and what she does Being a Mental Health Personal Trainer Her journey into fitness and how it started How exercise helped her with her mental health Getting though the toughest times Feeling alone with her mental health and not being able to talk to people Realising that becoming a PT could be a way of helping people Wanting to help people with their recovery Signing up to a PT course after her first child Starting her own business - WellbeingFIT The exciting and challenging times at the start of her business Trying to get paying customers Knowing the reasons why you are doing this Being supported by her Brother in Law who built her website The power of asking for help Enjoying all types of exercise Exercise after having your baby Sleep deprivation Mum guilt Depression and anxiety after having her first child Seeing a therapist every week Getting professional help Being told she had 'mild depression' Talking therapy by the NHS Needing to know the core reason of why she was feeling how she was The stigma of mental health and how it's changed over the past 8 years What makes a Mental Health PT different Dealing with stress Coping with lockdowns Comparing situations with other people Wellness and kindness Final words of advice Social Media Website - www.wellbeingfit.co.uk Facebook @wellbeingfitwithellie Instagram @wellbeingfitwithellie

Patricia Alcivar (Patty Boom Boom) was born on December 12, 1983 from parents who emigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia. She is one of four sisters who grew up in a small two bedroom apartment in Woodside, Queens, N.Y. Her father was removed from their home when she was 10 years old leaving her mother to take care of four girls. Patty left an abusive home at the age of 16 after completing her first NYC Marathon. She knew that if she could complete 26.2 miles on her own, she could do anything! She completed High School with honours while working after school to support herself. Patty is a 2-time NYC Golden Gloves Champion, USA Nationals Champion, NY Metro Champion, Western States Champion and the first Female ever to be voted and win "Athlete of the Year," as voted by the United States Olympic Committee. As a Professional Boxer, she captured the New York State title. Patty's passion is Alpine/Mountain Climbing and one of her goals is to be the first Latina from Queens, New York to climb the 7 Summits of the World. She has already successfully summited 3 of the 7 thus far: Kilimanjaro-the highest peak in Africa (in 2 days!), Aconcagua-the highest peak in South America and in the Western & Southern Hemispheres and Mount Elbrus in Russia-Highest Peak in Europe. When Patty is not out climbing, running or boxing, she supports herself by working in a variety of ways which include being Spanish Interpreter/ Translator, EMT, Event Manager, Group Fitness Instructor & Print Ad & Commercial fitness model. In Patty's free time, she is an animal activist and is also active in Fighting Hunger & Poverty through NYCARES, Meals on Wheels and NYC Harvest which provide Food to homebound elderly or New Yorkers in need. Patty hopes to go back to school in the near future for a Nursing degree and continue giving back and be a positive role model to athletes and women of all ages around the world. Upon completion of her project " Climbing for a Dream-7 Summits" she would like to help build a foundation to educate people around the world about the great outdoors and how to use the challenge and beauty of nature to heal physically, mentally and spiritually. CONTENT WARNING - we discuss leaving an abusive situation. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Her nickname and professional boxing name Who Patty is and what she does Her goal to climb the 7 summits 3 done, with 4 more to go Living in NYC on her own Running her first marathon at 16 Being 1 of 4 sisters Being inspired by the Boston Marathon and knowing she would run it one day Coming from Colombia in South America Being laughed at for her dream of running a marathon Going for her first run at 5am Joining the NYC Road Runners Living in a bad situation at home How running helped her leave an abusive situation Being diagnosed with ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder Being enrolled in sports at a young age Getting into martial arts Winning a world title in martial arts Deciding what to do next Lying about her age to get her first job How she got into Boxing Not being able to support herself through boxing Taking the opportunity to focus on mountaineering Falling in love with the mountains Climbing in Ecuador Wanting to take climbing to the highest level Becoming more patient Having to turn back from a summit Her though process while climbing Needing to be fully focused while climbing Climbing Kilimanjaro in 2017 in 2 days! Climbing Aconcagua in South America and why it was so challenging Training for 12 months Carrying all her own equipment at high altitude The power of visualisation Getting back to normal after summiting Aconcagua Money and paying to climb mountains Maintaining her motivation levels The power of praying Living in NYC during the pandemic Making the most out of her time Getting up at 3:30am Her plans to go and climb Denali Documenting and sharing her journey Social Media Website - www.climbingforadream.com Medium - link.medium.com/TqkCgkXDfcb Instagram @pattyboxer12 @climbingforadream

A lover of adventure: climbing, hiking, camping and fun, Frankie started biking in lock down and with very little experience took her second hand bike on a squiggly loop of the UK to interview 51outdoorsy folx older than her about how they kept the adventure alive, and showing that you don't have to "do it whilst you're young". These stories were recorded and the conversations shared via the Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn Podcast* *Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn - has had a rebrand and has changed its name to Extraordinary Ordinary You - this transition is taking place now. The reason for the name change will be discussed during this episode. Listen to Frankie now on the Tough Girl Podcast! You can listen on itunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify & iheartradio. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out! The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast Show notes Who is Frankie What she loves Growing up in the countryside in Devon Moving to rural France when she was young Wanting to live in the city Moving to Brighton, UK at 17/18 years old Living in France Doing an exchange to New Zealand Being broke and living on a tight budget Investing in a pair of hiking boots, sleeping bag and backpack Getting into hiking in New Zealand Having fun on a budget Connecting with awesome people Not planning on going to university Studying childcare in college Working seasons for 2 years as a kids rep Wanting to move up or move on Deciding to go to university to study Tourism Wanting to work and travel! Not having a plan for the future Doing a placement year in Chamonix - Action Outdoors Playing catch up and wanting to do as much as she could Heading back to the UK to finish her degree Having a go with the flow plan for after university Starting working as a freelancer and wanting to work from her van Getting injured at the climbing gym Having a tough few months in rehab in 2019 The start of 2020 and dealing with the UK lockdown Moving to Hastings to stay in a holiday home Having negative thoughts about prioritising adventure When things go wrong, while living an alternative life Wanting to ask people for advice Wanting to do a cycling trip Buying a bike for £70 Wanting to find more role models Deciding to cycle around the UK and interview as many women as possible Taking the first step and putting herself out there Dealing with imposter syndrome and feeling anxious about putting herself out there Was the trip too big and too cool for her? Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn Speaking to 51 amazing women and non-binary folk Judging the success of the podcast Re-branding to Extraordinary Ordinary You Reflection on using the term "Womxn" Reaching out to her community Book: What the T?: The no-nonsense guide to all things trans and/or non-binary for teens Book: Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between Womxn Instagram post on @Extraordinaryordinaryyou Moving to Sheffield Plans for 2021 Supporting Frit (@frit_tam) on their 2 month trip doing a zig-zag across the UK - starting on the 15th May 2021 - #glideforpride Rollerblading England tackling the issue of belonging in the LGBTQIA+ community LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual and/or Ally. Working with RachelSarahM Final words of advice Social Media Personal Website - www.frankiedewar.co Instagram @frankie_dewar Extraordinary Ordinary You Website www.extraordinaryordinarywomxn.co Instagram @extraordinaryyou Facebook @ExtraordinaryOrdinaryYou

Zelzin was born in Mexico city in the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Nov 1993. Since she was a girl, she was passionate about outdoor sports such as rowing, running, mountain biking, a sport in which she excelled in National and International competitions and forged her determination and love for the mountains. Zelzin graduated in Communications and Electronics Engineering from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional. In 2017 she traveled to the USA for the first time alone, without speaking the language to hike the second longest trail in the US the PCT. On April 4 she started the adventure and despite her little knowledge of hiking, being new to the high mountains, and dealing with snow. Zelzin completed her first thru hike in 153 days, covering a distance of 4,277 km. In 2018, Zelzin thru-hiked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail in 100 days. In 2019, she completed the Continental Divide Trail in 145 days. Zelzin was the first Mexican person to have thru-hiked the three longest trails in the US. Zelzin goals is to promote thru- hiking in Mexico and her dream is to create the first long-distance trail in Baja, California. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Growing up in Mexico City What the triple crown in hiking is Her childhood Being the oldest of two brothers Growing up in a dangerous neighbourhood Starting working at 11 years old Hearing about the PCT for the first time Studying engineering at university How her family reacted to her wanting to go to America and hike Being worried about the snow and black bears Not speaking English Her worries before the hike Getting a visa for America Research and planning for the trail Not being able to find information in Spanish The support of Facebook Groups Going to the mountains in Mexico Learning about the gear and the animals Trail name? What it was like doing her first thru hike The challenging and difficult sections on the PCT Dealing with a lot of snow Facing river crossings Making a few mistakes on the trail Lessons learned from those mistakes Finding someone to walk in the mountains with Having good luck and trying to catch up with other hikers Dealing with the cold Keeping her clothing simple Food on the trail Eating "trash food" Her love of cheese! Hiking the Appalachian Trail 2nd Leaving the Continental Divide Trail to the last The challenges on the CDT What happens when times get tough Has she ever wanted to quit? Learning from her mistakes Feeling passionate about hiking Her favourite hiking trail is the Hayduke Trail Paying for her hikes Struggling to find sponsorship in Mexico Her dream of starting a new thru-hiking trail in Mexico Figuring out the new trail and having support with water and food The goals of the project Finals words of advice for other women who want to get into hiking "Don't be afraid and live your dreams" Social Media Website www.zelzinaketzalli.com Instagram @zelzin_aketzalli Facebook @unquetzalennorteamerica

Cadi in her own words: "Having lost a partner to suicide in 2014 I turned to being active in the outdoors to bring joy back into my life. Challenging myself, whether it's an ultra run, white water raft racing or cycle touring somewhere fabulous bring great sparks to me. I am never happier than when I'm running on the trails with my dog, swimming in a cold lake with friends or just taking in the beauty of nature. My desire to chase positivity and help others find theirs has led me to now become a Life Coach. I plan on using the great outdoors along with my coaching to create positive change in peoples lives." *please note during this episode we do talk about, mental health, losing someone through suicide & dealing with frightening situations. Show notes Growing up in Nottingham Being passionate about the outdoors Working for British Canoeing - running ShePaddles program Re-training as a life coach What her early years were like Her dreams as a young girl Not being a career person Working to live Going to university Trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life Starting to go travelling more Losing her partner to suicide Wanting to be more of an independent traveller Dealing with the shock of losing someone a partner Making a decision on how it would affect her Wanting to carry on doing adventures Her first trip with Bob to Egypt Getting her first bike Cycling in Cuba Deciding to do the coast to coast challenge in a day Being supported by friends and family The benefits of blogging and how it helped her process her feelings Joining a local group SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide Seeking out support and finding people to speak to Going to Nepal in 2015 after the earthquake Spending time in Tibet Mount Kailash Kora Trek The challenges of getting a visa for Tibet How her definition of adventure has changed Blogging at Adventurous Girl and sharing beautiful pictures Dealing with Covid and it's impact on time outdoors and mental health Focusing on the joys and positives of the situation Summer 2017 and heading up to the Lake District Handling setback when things go wrong on an adventure Dealing with disappointment and feelings of failure Running across Iceland and the lessons learned Why it's worth trying new things Making the decision to run across Iceland - East to West The lessons learned from the Iceland experience Feelings of disappointment Running around Malta solo Dealing with frightening situations while being solo on an adventure Being followed and flashed at. Taking a knife? Further solo challenges? Being aware of her surroundings Training before trips She Paddles - what it is and what the goals are Funding to coach women and girls in leadership positions Building a positive community for paddlers Making the decision to leave British Canoeing and transition into self employment Losing her mum last year and making changes to her life Training to be a life coach and gaining new skills Turning 40 on the 1st January Wanting to cycle tour in Japan Final words of advice and why you should go with your heart What do you really want to do? Social Media Blog - anadventurousgirl.co.uk Instagram @adventurousgirl Twitter @cadilambert Shine Life Coaching - If you have a change you want to make in your life I'll help you get there. Person centred coach & NLP Practitioner Website - www.shinelifecoach.co.uk Instagram @shinelifecoach Facebook @CadiShineLifeCoaching

Neruja shares more about her Tamil culture and her experiences with the outdoors. How she went from someone who didn't like being outside and never spending any time outdoors to becoming a passionate outdoor adventurer, hiker and climber. Neruja shares more about her gap year and spending time in Borneo, Australia and New Zealand and what it was like moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the Lake District. Neruja is passionate about diversifying the outdoors and pushing the importance of representation. In April 2020 she started her Instagram page @so_little_a_time to inspire others like her to adventure in the outdoors. Her thoughts: "Hiking can feel never ending, runs can feel relentless and climbing can feel impossible. And yet these are activities I keep going back to. What I've realised though... it's not the discomfort that makes these activities difficult for me but actually my fear of failing. After all it is much easier to put it down to not liking discomfort than admit I might fail." "My biggest enemy is myself. Giving myself a hard time actually stops me from being the best version of me. So currently I'm on a journey where I embrace the failures and remind myself that at the end of the day I really love doing these things!" "There are times when your mission is clear. You can see it and are overwhelmed by the long journey ahead of you, but what keeps you going? Sometimes it can be as simple as wanting to witness and celebrate the beauty of success at the finish line and to look back at the hard but rewarding journey you have gone through." "These journeys may not be easy but personal growth during these times, no matter how you do it and how far you get, are almost certain. Every experience makes you grow." You can listen to Neruja share her story on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don't miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes Who is Neruja What being Tamil means Family expectations on her upbringing and what she will do Not being encouraged to spend time outdoors when she was younger Not being able to speak English when she moved to the UK Moving to the Lake District from London Going walking for the first time Deciding to have a year out in 2013 Being a volunteer in Borneo with Raleigh International Living out of a rucksack Spending time in Australia and being ready for anything Going around New Zealand in a camper van Getting into the outdoors with her husband How spending time in Borneo solo changed her Being uncomfortable in that environment Magical moments in Australia Spending time in Sydney and doing house/dog sitting Doing a bungee jump and jumping when she was ready Moving back to the Lake District and hiking all the time Lessons from the Tour de Mont Blanc hike Planning and preparation for the 11 day hike Meeting like minded people A typical day in the mountains Getting through the tough moments Starting her Instagram account - @so_little_a_time Why your holidays don't just have to be sitting on a beach Advice for other women who want to get outdoors more Try everything once Social Media Instagram - @so_little_a_time Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEF7jyILbx81BF_jSxT7yw/featured Tour de Mont Blanc Cicerone Guidebook - www.cicerone.co.uk/trekking-the-tour-of-mont-blanc-fifth