

Tough Girl Podcast
Sarah Williams
The Tough Girl Podcast is all about inspiring and motivating YOU!
I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who’ve faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges.
I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who’ve faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 23, 2023 • 49min
Amy Rusiecki - Elite ultra runner (Completed 82 ultras and has won 33 of them) sponsored by Inov-8, 3x member of the USA Trail team, providing top tips and advice.
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

Mar 21, 2023 • 52min
Ingrid Walters - Competitive swimmer turned marathon runner. PB of 2hr 48 mins. Breast Cancer Survivor. Inducted into The National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame.
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

Mar 16, 2023 • 30min
Luzia Buehler - Trail Runner, Inov-8 Ambassador and 4th woman at the 2022 Western States 100 in a time of 18hrs 08 mins.
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

Mar 14, 2023 • 47min
Allie Bailey - Ultra runner, Running 1,000+ miles from Lands End to John O’Groats in 35-days
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

Mar 9, 2023 • 42min
Rav Billan - Passionate runner; running for fun, her mental health and to keep fit. Run streaking outside for the past 5 years, and completing the London Marathon in 2022!
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

Mar 7, 2023 • 33min
Grace Natoli - 70+ marathons & ultras including: New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Berlin; Diversify the trails🖤
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

Mar 2, 2023 • 51min
Keri Wallace - Founder & Mountain Leader at Girls on Hills. Skyrunner, fellrunner and ultrarunner encouraging more women to hit the trails and venture into the mountains. Shouting about equity and inclusivity in trail running.
Keri Wallace is the founder & guide at Girls on Hills, the UK’s only trail, fell and skyrunning company for women. After her second child, Keri decided to quit the desk-job and find a way to combine her passion for mountain running with flexible working, so that she could fulfil a life goal and be mum to two toddlers at the same time. Keri in her own words: “I started Girls on Hills with my colleague Nancy Kennedy in 2013, as a way to encourage more women to try trail and fell running. It was a terrifying leap of faith and a dream-come-true rolled into one. It felt like the opposite of a mid-life crisis though; like I’d finally found the confidence to stand up and do something I should have done a long time ago. But I had no idea whether it would take off! We only ran a handful of courses the first year but it soon became clear that there was a real appetite out there for the kind of freedom and empowerment that comes with this type of running – across all ability levels. I love guiding women around the rocky hills of Glencoe, helping them build the confidence and skills they need to become more independent in the mountains (usually a simple case of revealing how much they are already capable of!) Mountain running is such a multi-faceted sport, with benefits that reach out and touch all other areas of your life. As Girls on Hills has grown over the years, we have learned more about the barriers that many women face, across all levels of our sport, from beginner access, right through to elite-level racing. Today we advocate strongly for equity and inclusivity and seek to increase female participation in technical and ultra-distance events, where the gender gap is greatest.” 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 Who is Keri Growing up in Cornwall How she ended up living in Scotland Playing a lot of traditional sports when she was younger The women who have inspired her Working as a science teacher in her 20s Getting into climbing Making a transition from being a teacher to working in the outdoor world Doing the 3 peaks challenge in 24hrs Getting into running The challenges of doing her first mountain marathon Training for races and how it’s changed over the years The Trans Alpine Run The mental side of running challenges Info for new mums who are running Losing her mojo for running Getting anxious about racing Wanting to push herself on her own terms Not being able to stick to a fixed program Creating Girls on Hills in 2018 with Nancy Kennedy Helping to break barriers down and encourage more women into running Working as a champion for She Races Talking about confidence Reassuring women who run Sky running and technical mountain running Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Glencoe Round Women FKT - Women with a goal to flip the FKT statistics. Highlighting women’s FKTs everywhere. IG @womenwhofkt Why it’s not about the time with FKTs Role models in running How to connect with Keri Final words of advice to help you get out of the door and go running Social Media Website www.girlsonhills.com Instagram @girlsonhillsuk Facebook @GirlsOnHills

Feb 28, 2023 • 38min
Kate Strong - 3x cycling world record holder, high performance coach & climate advocate. In June 2023, Kate will start a 3-month cycle (on a bamboo bike) around mainland Britain.
Kate in her own words... "My name is Kate Strong and I don’t believe in living a compromised life. From an early age, I felt I was different. I was curiously questioning almost everything I did, and realised that living within society’s comfort zone doesn’t always create inspiring and extraordinary results. My mission is to inspire and empower people just like you to step up and achieve what you know intuitively that you know you want. Add clarity, direction, a sense of purpose and methods to maintain your desire to move forward to achieve and live your dreams. For over two decades, I tried to fit in. I put what other people expected of me ahead of what I truly wanted to do. I was not being entirely me – I was conforming and compromising. At university, I studied Engineering – to please my parents (I did enjoy the challenge of learning a new topic, but being an engineer was never my dream). After graduating, I went to Latin America. Yet, I eventually ‘returned to normal’ and started to ‘settle down’ – following the unspoken rules of society. I find it curious why most people wait until a ‘cliff edge moment’ before making significant changes. I was no different, waiting until after a dramatic break-up with my fiancé that left me financially in debt and emotionally distraught did I finally accept that things needed to change. I needed to change. It was time I started to live for me and feed what could be rather than resign to what is already. Far too many people are settling for below their potential, in a state of discomfort: Living for Friday afternoon and the next pay cheque. Life doesn’t have to be like this. Applying this philosophy, I took up running and became age-group World Triathlon Champion. I have been striving to stop reacting to circumstances and instead continue to consciously create a life that inspires me and others." New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 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 Who is Kate Strong Her early years and growing up in Wales Loving sport from a young age Not loving the competitive side of sport Wanting to connect with herself and nature through sport Studying engineering in France for 5 years Having a life while studying Her first big physical challenge Learning lessons from cycling to the Alps Treating physical challenges with respect Going through an emotional breakup Getting into triathlon while being based in Australia Not wanting to cap her potential Wanting to be number one in the world Needing a big goal Getting started with training for a triathlon Just wanting to spend time outside and do something physical Overcoming her own excuses Letting herself have the permission to put herself first Starting to add some structure to her training Healing from the breakup and moving on Why she’s still on the healing journey Learning to use her pain as a strength Using triathlon as a distraction Becoming age group world champion in 14 months Selling the business and moving back to UK in 2014 Starting at zero Working on her mindset and belief in herself Racing at the world championships in China Figuring out ways to make it happen Focusing on her future and healing Focus on the WHY and the HOW will sort itself out Showing up everyday regardless of what was happening in her life Being supported by her local community who crowdfunded for her Race day and saying her intentions to come first in the race Focusing on doing her best in the current moment Having an attitude of gratitude Being vegan and plant based Deciding to stop eating dairy and the impact it had on her performance after 5 days What a typical day of eating looks like Tour de Wales and Challenge 3000 Getting injured during Tour de Wales and having to make changes to the plan How the idea came about and how it changed and evolved over time Wanting to travel slower and in a more sustainable way How to connect with Kate and get involved with her challenge The Strong Voice Podcast Final words of advice - go out and start exploring with curiosity Social Media Website katestrong.global Instagram @katestrong01 Facebook @katestrong01 Twitter @katestrong01

Feb 21, 2023 • 42min
Nirjala Tamrakar Wright - First Nepalese woman to complete a full-distance triathlon
Nirjala is a 41-year-old Nepalese national triathlete and a mother of two. She was Nepal's national mountain biking champion for 12 years, from 2001 to 2012, and after dominating the mountain biking scene for 12 years, Nirjala was known as the "Mountain Queen" by her peers. Nirjala is now a triathlete on the Nepal National Team. On June 6th, 2021, Nirjala completed the UK Ultimate Triathlon event in Whitchurch after 15 hours and 13 minutes. The full Ironman distance includes 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling, and 42 kilometers of running. She then became the first Nepali female athlete to complete a full Ironman-distance triathlon. Her historic achievement was publicly recognized as the "First Nepalese Female Athlete to achieve" by Nepal Triathlon Association President, Mr. Nilendra Raj Shrestha. 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 mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Learn more by visiting www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast . Thank you. Show notes Who is Nirjala Speaking with Nirjala previously on the Tough Girl Podcast Discovering triathlon Living in UAE in 2011 and training for mountain biking Thinking about doing an Ironman Making the transition from mountain biking to triathlon Stopping mountain biking and focusing on family Wanting to lose weight after having children Getting back into training after having a C section Why she wanted to do a triathlon Learning how to swim as an adult Overcoming her fear of open water Taking on her first sprint triathlon Learning to swim front crawl in 2018 Not feeling confident in the water Dealing with feelings of panic while in the water Feeling more confident in the water Training for open water swimming Learning how to float Doing her first Full Ironman triathlon Following a free training plan found online Balancing training time with her family Being on the start line of the race Being worried about the cold water Eating during the race Feeling relief and happiness crossing the finish line Recovering afterwards Feeling a lot of pain at the end and not being able to sleep How to connect and follow on the social Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you to take on your next challenge How to face your fears even when you are afraid Why you can do anything you want in your life Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NirjalaTamrakar

6 snips
Feb 14, 2023 • 48min
Camille Herron - Ultrarunner propelled by tacos & joy! The first runner to win International Association of Ultrarunners world championships at 3 different categories, the 50km, 100km and 24 hours.
Camille Herron, an American ultramarathon runner, discusses her journey from a shy athlete to elite runner, balancing energy and minerals in ultra running, challenges and triumphs of 24-hour ultrarunning, and tips for new runners. Her determination, world titles, and records in ultra running showcase her resilience and passion for the sport.