Tough Girl Podcast

Jill changed the direction of her life when she decided to move to Alaska to follow her heart. After have her heart broken she recovered while riding in the 2009 Tour Divide — a 2,745-mile mountain bike race along the Continental Divide from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. In 2014 Jill completed in the Freedom Challenge, a 1,400-mile mountain bike race across South Africa. Following on from that race, Jill went on to set a new women's fastest human-powered time while riding her bike across Alaska in the 2016 Iditarod Trail Invitational. During the podcast we discuss the why, we discuss the motivation and we discuss her fears and how she still battles them everyday. Show notes Getting to know Jill Why she moved to Alaska Finding out about the Iditarod trail - 350-mile winter bike race from Knik, Alaska 100-mile winter bike race What she learned while racing and how she found it empowering Growing up timid, being cautious and not wanting to take risk How she changed the direction of her life after her race Being more confident and more being more willing to take on bigger challenges The next big challenge! Learning how to be self reliant Being constantly scared and having to talk herself down and how she uses the power of mantra! "Be Brave - Be Strong" The 2009 Tour Divide — a 2,745-mile mountain bike race along the Continental Divide from Banff, Alberta, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico Dealing with a break-up, being demotivated before the start Dealing with bad weather, mud and facing near death experiences What drove her and why she had to keep on going Getting herself physically ready and why she took leave from her job to prepare Day to day life on the trail from cycling for 14 to 18 hr days, and camping at night Having doubts she would finish the race Her top tips for recovery Rediscovering who she was and what she was capable of Racing the Freedom Trail and how it came about Seeing what this whole running thing was about! Meeting a new man and the special races they've done together Why really successful people are drawn to endurance sports Goals for the future and taking on a 1000 mile race! Starting weight lifting and how its helps her in training and in the race Struggling with confidence and self belief and trying to understand where that comes from Why its ok to have fear Her goals and plans for the future Learn more about Jill be visiting her blog or follow her on twitter @AlaskaJill

Corey is an American living the expat lifestyle in London. She started blogging in 2011 "Learning Patience" and has documented her adventures in cooking, running, traveling, and all things expat. I'll also be giving an update about the Tough Girl Tribe and what's in store for 2017! Show notes Struggling to deal with patience Learning a little more about Corey Dealing with a foot injury Being diagnosed as a diabetic Differences between the types of diabetics Growing up and hating running How running has changed her life Starting with virtual races and moving onto trail marathons to relay races Being diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes and how it impacted on her life Why her goal was to just get running again Trying to learn patience! Recovery from injury and not taking no for an answer Dealing with the worst year of her life and why she tries to be as positive as she can Top tips for patience How meeting her husband taught her about positivity and why she only hangs out with positive people Her plans for the future Getting into climbing and heading over to Austria! Travelling Final words of advice and why you should soak up all the happiness you can Learn more about Corey by visiting her website and following her on twitter @CoreyLearn To see more episodes of the tough girl podcast check out - www.toughgirlchallenges.com

Cathy grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, as a child she was not sporty and labelled herself as an academic. As a shy person, she embraced rock climbing at university and during this podcast we learn more about Cathy, her drive, and how she went onto become the fist women to climb Mount Everest from both sides. Show notes What it was like growing up in South Africa Being terrible at sport at young age and labelling herself as "academic & square" Why she loved rock climbing and how her passion progressed As an introvert and shy girl growing up, rock climbing allowed her to develop her social skills while also using her mind to solve climbing problems How she ended up getting on the South African Team to go and climb Everest & why it was never a goal for her Being inspired by Arlene Blum - Annapurna: A Woman's Place Trying to find the opportunity to climb big mountains! What she learnt whilst being on and around Mount Everest Knowing she was going to make it to the top and the boost it gave to her confidence Why she has always been careful on the mountains and why you can be to careful What she learnt about failure from the expedition Dealing with the negative media coverage and coming home to people who had opinions about her and every decision she made while on the mountain Finding the opportunity in the mess Being more prepared to try things Being process driven, rather than goal driven Attempting a new route on one of the world's top 10 mountains – the Mazeno Ridge on Nanga Parbat The different challenges and adventures that have impacted her the most Dealing with risk - in high stress environments and how's she applied what she's learned in the mountains to every day life Why she likes to try new things! From skiing down 6,000 metre peaks, to dog sledding in the Arctic! Waiting for the stars to align & having patience! Shout out to Alistair Humphrys and his Micro Adventures Money, finding the right partners & serendipity! Why she thinks of life like a journey Her next challenge! Visit her website! Cathy is on twitter @CathyODowd - I'm also on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL

Here is a raw and unedited interview I did with Ali, where we discuss some of the big challenges I've faced in my life, from deciding to leave my job, coping with summit night on Mount Kilimanjaro, to training for and running the Marathon des Sables this April. Ali will also be writing a blog post about our interview and this will be available on www.ithinksport.com. Helping to raise awareness for Women's Sport Week - organised by Women in Sport. #WSW2016 Show notes Discussing the challenges of writing a book! More about me, my background and how I ended up leaving my job Why I decided to leave my job Having to deal with change Why I felt so lost when I didn't have a job How I decided on what I wanted to do next Why I needed to get away from friends and family to help me decide what I wanted to do next Coming up with Tough Girl Challenge and what it's goal is Where my mental strength comes from Summit night on Kilimanjaro Why you have a choice over your attitude The power of "self-talk" - "you can either be your own best coach, or your own worst enemy" How the Marathon des Sables came about The responses of friends and family when I told them about the race. Why you have to be careful of who you spend time with Dealing with fear before the race How I took training to an extreme level Thinking I was mentally weak! Being told by a Doctor that I couldn't do the MDS in 2015 What I learned from all the negative experiences Building my physical strength and mental strength up Trying to get balance in training The power of visualisation, and why I always thought about crossing the finish line Creating my own certificate of achievement! Being overwhelmed by trying to pack everything Trying to stay calm and why yoga helped me Dealing with the long stage during the marathon. Running 52 miles in a day. The benefits of breaking down challenges into smaller chunks Why the final stretch on the long day was so, so hard! Why I thought I could keep on going Coping with pain The final day, and just being over the whole race Why gratitude can play an important part of mental strength Seeing the finish line and how I was feeling! The anti climax of finishing the race Why it was all about the journey and what I learned along on the way Crying at Euston Train Station What's next for me and why I struggle when I don't have a goal Stepping into the boxing ring Why you have to know your reason Learn more about ithinksport.com Learn more about - Women's Sport Week Follow along on twitter #WSW2016

Kat is originally from Melbourne, she spent 7 years living in Tokyo before moving to London. After a knee operation she was forced to forget about running and sports and walking was the only activity she could do. So far her quest has taken her all over the world, on epic walks, from the Camino's, the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, as well as numerous short walks in the UK. Most recently she has completed the Pacific Crest Trail which stretches from Mexico to Canada! During the podcast Kat shares her story, she shares top tips and advice and why she believes anyone can get out there and go for a walk! Show notes Kat introduces herself and shares more of her story Moving from Melbourne, to Japan, to Toronto to London Why she became a walker What is was like making the decision to move to Japan Falling in love with Japan and living there for 7 years! Climbing Mount Fuji and why she did it every year The meaning of "Henro" Deciding to quit her job in 2013 and head off to do the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Dealing with typhoons, snakes & centipedes The reason she started her blog - Following the Arrows Why you don't need to speak Japanese to do the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage The enlightenment, prayers and ritual you could choose to follow at each temple Doing it on a budget The highlights and the challenges she faced Getting to the final temple number 88 and the final challenge she had to overcome The Camino Route and why it's such a special pilgrimage Walking the PCT - Pacific Crest Trail in 2015 How it came about and how she had to face her fears Doing the research and getting mentally prepared Dealing with injury just months before the PCT Advice and tips for planning and preparation Getting through the low points while on the PCT How she copes when she finishes a challenge Why her trail name was, "Hummingbird" What future walks she would like to do Words of advice for wannabe walkers Read more on Kat's Blog - Following the Arrows Check out www.toughgirlchallenges.com for more info!

Emily shares more of her remarkable story of how she first entered the world of cycling and how it changed her, how she grew to love it and how it took her on adventures all over the world. Emily is a master story teller, and during this podcast we get to go with her, to experience the highlights and learn from her mistakes along the way. This is a very open and revealing interview, Emily talks about depression, dealing with failure and why she's so passionate about encouraging more women to enter the world of cycling. Shownotes Emily introduces herself and shares a little more about who she is Why she ends up talking about danger a lot! Why she found cycling in London empowering Becoming a cycle courier and what it was like Learning on the job and why she wanted to do a winter on the bike so she could call herself a proper 'cycle courier' Deciding she wanted to do a bigger cycling challenge & being inspired by Alastair Humphreys Realising she could take on a bigger trip and having the courage to do so What she learnt most while planning her round the world trip and why next time she wouldn't plan as much Remembering the day she set off and what she was feeling The highlights! Surviving the Turkish winter and why she remembers it as one of the best times of her life! Why she's still trying to work out what drives her and motivates her How she knew it was right to finish the cycle and head home at the end of Asia and not continue Dealing with the adventure blues and being clinically depressed for a year Postponing the rest of her cycle until 2015 and why it was hard to give up on the dream but why she knows it was the best thing for her Going back to being a cycle courier and why it helped her recovery In 2014 - Turning her blog into a book! Setting off from Anchorage on the 2nd January 2015 Dealing with fear while heading off into the great unknown The magical encounters that happened on the way Camping at -40! Dealing with the loneliness & isolation What she's learnt about herself while on these trips What the Transcontinental Race across Europe is and why she wanted to cycle it Becoming obsessed with sleep - but not allowing herself to sleep…dealing with chest pains and ending up in hospital Winning the women category in the Transcontinental Race 2016!! What can we do to encourage more women to enter long distance cycling races? The Adventure Syndicate - What its aims our and why it was started Emily's next challenge! Visit Emily's website! Say hi to Emily on twitter! @emilychappell

Some of the amazing challenges Juliana has done… World Cycle 2012 On July 23 2012, Juliana Buhring set out from Naples, Italy to make the first women's world record for fastest circumnavigation by bicycle. On December 22, 2012, she re-entered Naples with a total time of 152 days including flight transfers and 144 actual days peddled. Transcontinental Race 2013 In 2013, Juliana participated in the inaugural Transcontinental Race, the toughest unsupported race across Europe starting in London and ending in Istanbul, crossing the high cols of the Alps. Juliana was the only woman in the race, finishing in 12 days and placing 9th overall. Trans AM Race 2014 In June 2014, Juliana raced the inaugural Trans Am Bike Race. Starting in Astoria, Oregon, and finishing in Yorktown, Virginia, the race is 4,322 miles long, with 67,000 metres of total altitude. Buhring finished the race in 20 days and 23 hours, winning first place in the women's category & 4th place overall. The Race Across America 2016 The Race Across America (RAAM) is one the most respected and longest running endurance sports events in the world. Racers must traverse 3000 miles across 12 states and climb over 170,000 vertical feet. This will be Juliana's first supported ultra-cycling race and she is keen to discover how much further she can push herself within this category. Shownotes -Where Juliana is living at the moment and why she love Naples -Going back to when Juliana was growing up and what life was like for her growing up in a cult -Learning how to ride a bike at 30 and making the decision to cycle around the world -Dealing with tragedy and the death of her soulmate and how she struggled to bounce back -Deciding on the ultimate adventure of cycling around the world and finding out that no women had done this challenge before -Starting to train for the challenge and deciding on which bike to use & what route to take -Advice for listeners on how to get through the darkness and into the light -What Juliana's learnt about inner strength and how you can get stronger - "if you're going through hell keep on going" -Why you need to have a purpose and a reason to wake up in the morning. -Her world cycle trip & what she experienced along the way and why she changed on the journey -Running out of money, almost having to give up and what kept her on the road -Human kindness while on the road and how the most incredible moments came after the hardest points on the way -How cycling changed her life and why she didn't want to go back to teaching -Being invited on the transcontinental race across Europe in 2013 and being the only women in the race! -What's she learnt about the "mind body connection" and how she's applied it to endurance sports and also to her life -Trying to find the balance in her life -Following a ketogenic diet to reduce inflammation -Being the only female in a very male dominated world and how she's started to see this change -Dealing with accusations of cheating and how she responded to it -Advice for women who are competing with the men at all levels and why she just focuses on herself and why knowing your why is so important -The Race Across America (RAAM) - everything you need to know and why Juliana decided to do this race -Her next challenge - heading off to Australia to race! -Changing her diet to fat burning and the benefits she's had from that -Her advice for women who may be scared or afraid of travelling alone You can learn more about Juliana by visiting her website Support her on Facebook Say hi to Juliana on twitter @JulianaBuhring

Shownotes -Where Jo is at the moment -Getting back out to Everest in March -Why she didn't want what happened last year to stop her from living her life -Reflecting back on what happened and why she found it cathartic -Climbing two, 6,000 metre peaks before Everest -Getting back on the mountain and feeling right at home in her tent -Getting blessed before the climb and why its important to follow this tradition -Learning more about the atmosphere on the mountain after the earthquake the previous year -Why you shouldn't be 100% reliant on your climbing sherpa the whole way -Why you need to have experience when climbing Everest and the ability to get yourself out of problems that can happen on the mountain -Jo summit attempt -Dealing with feelings of frustration while on the mountain "Choose your mood!" "Its about attitude not altitude!" -why you need to conserve your energy on the down days -How Jo kept herself entertained while having to wait at camps -Dealing with low points & wanting to walk off the mountain -Feeling calm on the final push -Having to deal with slower climbers in front and how she handled it -Trying to keep awake and warm on the mountain -Coping with her fear of heights and having to keep it together on a windy high ridge -Why reaching the summit was a massive anti-climax -Learning to appreciate what she's achieved and dealing with the post trip blues -Having more self belief in herself and what she's learnt most about herself from climbing Everest -Why she wants to climb more 8,000 metre peaks -Questions from the tribe! -Find out what's next for Jo! Links! Take a listen to the first Tough Girl Podcast episode with Jo! Click here! Check out Jo's Blog - http://www.29029feet.co.uk Follow Jo on twitter @29029feet & on Facebook! Charities Check out - Place2Be & Support4Sherpas Events! Come & join us at the Women In Adventure Expo in Bristol 8th October! Get your ticket before the 30th September!

In Summer 2015 Jessica did a thru-hike and hiked the full length of the Appalachian Trail all 2189.2 miles! During this podcast Jessica shares with us, more about her journey, the highs, the low points, what she learned on the way and why she loves being outdoors! If you've ever wanted to go on a long distance hike - take a listen to this episode to learn more! Shownotes The Appalachian Trail Where the idea came from The steps she took to get to the start of the trail Telling her friends and family about her dream to hike the Appalachian Trail Dealing with fears Why you sometimes have to do things on your own Why she set her start date for March 29th Research & planning - especially around what gear to take! Where you can save some money on gear What's it like being on the start line! Trying to figure out things as she went Getting her trail name! Being challenged on the trail and the hardest things she faced Being alone on the trail and taking the time to figure things out Money and the costs involved Having run in's with wildlife & dealing with bears! Why you shouldn't really plan your hike! Vlogging & blogging while on the trail What to do about water while walking What she learnt most while on the trail Getting to the end of the hike Finishing the hike, dealing with the aftermath and what her next steps were Going for the Triple Crown in hiking! More details about her book - Take A Thru-Hike: Dixie's How-To-Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail! Read Jessica's book! Check out her blog Follow her on twitter @HomemadeWL Watch her videos & subscribe to her Youtube channel here! A massive thank you to everyone who has become a patron! You too can support the Tough Girl Podcast from $2 to $5 per month! CLICK HERE! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Myself and Emma Timmis headed off to run Hadrian's Wall at the end of August and I wanted to share more of the story with you. So whilst I was away I thought about what the best way to do this was. Although my interviews are very informal and relaxed they do take me a long time to edit. At the moment I don't have the capacity to edit two full podcast episodes a week. So instead, as a compromise I thought I'd upload a raw, unedited conversation of what my previous guests have been up to since we last spoke. So in essence…..Tough Girl Extra is an extra podcast episode that will be happening on an adhoc basic, it's going to be released on a Thursday #ToughGirlThursday at 7am UK time. This is a new style for me and I would love to get your feedback. Please do let me know what you think. You can either comment below, send me an e-mail (sarah@toughgirlchallenges.com) or send me a DM on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL. I hope you enjoy! Shownotes What Tough Girl Extra is! Catching up with Emma Timmis & what's she's been up to since we last spoke in August 2015 The costs of her three months Dolomites trip What the Australian Alpine Walking Track is and why she decided to do it Loneliness, hallucinating, and getting lost and seeing a side of Australia that she didn't know existed Carrying half her body weight in her pack! Her 2 month adventure in Malawi Planning our Hadrian's Wall trip & how it all came about Our training or lack of training for the challenge! Why you don't necessarily need to do a huge amount of planning for challenges Having support verses doing independent challenges What we took! (You can also watch my packing video on Youtube) Deciding which way to run - East to West or West to East Starting at Wallsend on the west coast and why it was the best decision Day 1 memories! Camping at Robin Hood Inn for 2 nights for £5 per night! The tent getting flooded!! Day 2 challenges Navigation on Hadrian's Wall Path Toilet talk!! What we forgot to take with us! Camping along the route or not? Day packs and what we carried while we ran including the spot tracker Answering questions from the Tribe Poles or no poles - that's the question! Emma's next challenge! Watch our daily vlogs from our Hadrian's Wall adventure on youtube Check out Emma's Website Here To listen to the previous episode with Emma Timmis - CLICK HERE A massive thank you to everyone who has become a patron! You too can support the Tough Girl Podcast from $2 to $5 per month! CLICK HERE! Future Events! 7th October - Tough Girl Tribe Social, Bristol 8th October - Women in Adventure Expo, Bristol 22nd - 23rd October - Yestival (I'm going to be speaking!!! Come along and say hi!) Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!