Tough Girl Podcast

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.

Amy Aed is a travel writer and adventurer from Wales who was the first person to walk the entire Danube River. Amy was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 15, and the daily impact on her health was a struggle, but there’s nothing stopping her from living the life she wants. On 14th September 2022, Amy finally finished the 1770-mile journey and became the first person to walk the Danube river, more or less a year after she started. Amy is also the face behind the blog Wandering Everywhere. She enjoys writing raw, off-the-beaten-path guides to beautiful places. Amy's writing has been featured in Sick Chirpse, The New Welsh Review, Yahoo! Lifestyle, Buzz Magazine, Wanderlust Magazine, Buzzfeed, and many more. About the blog: Wandering Everywhere is a space filled with raw, off-the-beaten-track travel guides on gorgeous places, with a focus on solo female travel and travelling when there’s a million obstacles in front of you. This blog is for the travel-hungry, those who are on the constant search of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s for the people who are all about asking questions and collecting stories, sharing their passion for exploration in an outlet designed to inspire a whole community of travellers. Wandering Everywhere is a blog set out to inspire others to live a life of a travel in a way that needn’t be scary, expensive, or isolating – where wandering and wondering go hand in hand. Let’s turn the world travel-hungry.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. *This walk was started 1st September 2021 and finished 14th September 2022   Show notes Who is Amy Her early years Wanting to travel from a young age Her blog - Wandering-everywhere and how it evolved from a book blog to what it is now  Travelling to Germany and writing about travelling  Working with tourism boards  Walking the length of the Danube river. Where the idea came from  Doing research on the Danube and finding out that no one had walked it before  Not doing a lot of planning and preparation Concerns before taking on this challenge Feeling excited to go and travel Planning to walk 40 miles a day and finish the challenge in a month Having to go home multiple times during the trip Never having done a walking trip before Doing about 25km on average per day Deciding to walk with other people  Not being able to finish the trip before Christmas Having to make changes to the journey The challenges of walking with teammates (girlfriend - Emily and friend - Ines) The challenges of taking a break during the walk and going back to it  Feeling ready to finish and end the trip Being diagnosed at age 15 with Crohn’s Disease. Changing her diet and eating while walking Not taking care of herself and getting ill Figuring out what her food triggers were Getting food and resupply while walking  Money and costs of the challenge Receiving a small grant for £500 and a small amount of sponsorship  The biggest lesson and learning from the challenge Dealing with the street dogs Not being able to rely on other people The ending of the journey and reaching the Black Sea The Danube Delta and not being able to walk the end and needing to take a boat Why the end was underwhelming and vey different from what she imagined Magical moments from the walk Deciding not to camp anymore Using couch surfing for the first time  Future plans - a road trip through Eastern Europe and going to Mexico for the day of the dead celebration How to connect with Amy  Final words of advice for women who want to get wandering and travelling    Social Media   Website www.wandering-everywhere.com  Instagram @wandering-everywhere  Facebook @wanderingeverywherepage  Twitter @wandrevrywhere     

Crystal Rose in her own words: “I am Crystal Hudelson (she/her) a cishet (both cisgender and heterosexual) gender Black woman I am a foster youth who was brought up by the state. This gives me incredible empathy for marginalized people which is what led me to my work with Climbers of Color (CoC). I am in love with sport climbing (specifically outdoor leading). Certifications: The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) apprentice rock guide, Single Pitch Instructor All of my climb training focuses on being a solid leader outside on rock. I used to co-host Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) climb nights for Climbers of Color at Stone Gardens Bellevue since it started there. Climbers of Color opened up a platform for people like me to connect and teach with the climbing community in the closest way to my heart: Black people, people of color, and marginalized communities. As my involvement grew, I became part of a new branch of CoC: outdoor rock climbing instruction. My partner and I developed all the instructional programs for rock at CoC and strive to make each course a welcoming, equitable, and informational experience for each participant. CoC is the entity who has mentored me through the AMGA certification process and trusts I will do a good job. They have placed a confidence in me I have known few other places and I am grateful for it. Within the BIPOC climbing community, I have seen a wide array of abilities and experience.  I want you to know that we see you because we are looking. We see you and want to honor you by creating a strong climbing community who shares joy with one another. Bringing one’s culture and ancestral essence into climbing is what will allow us to enter the climbing community as our whole selves. Fun facts about me: My ancestry is Haitian and Irish. By day I work as an aircraft mechanic in the avionics department on heavy jets and my partner and I are building our first climbing wall in our backyard. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  To support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Sign up as a Patron -  www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Crystal Rose Her current roles What she was like as a little girl Not having the opportunity to go outside much Trying to find her place in the world Getting into rock climbing through her partner Keith Her passion for climbing and the outdoors Meeting Keith and how their relationship developed  Not coming from an athletic background Enjoying the mental aspect of the challenge Managing fear and being able to believe in herself  Her love for sports climbings  Sport Leading Outside and why its her favourite type of climbing  Her journey in getting her climbing qualifications  The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA)  Single Pitch Instructor Course Needing traditional gear and being supported by the climbing community  Gear Fund Collective - IG @thegearfundcollective  The challenge of finding climbing partners  Managing fear while climbing  The power of breath work and why it is one of the best tools you can use Getting into a mindful space  Falling out of love with climbing in 2021 The need for rest and figuring out a balance  Being a Co-director of Climbers of Color (CoC) which was established in 2017 Her volunteer role at Climber of Color  Working full time as an airline mechanic  Assisting people to become guides Driving change in the climbing world Having scholarships available  Partnering with the American Alpine Institute  Her passion for writing and sharing on her blog - Rock Rose Blog - Examine the intersection of climbing, Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color, and policy.   Magical moments while climbing Reflecting back on one of the hardest climbs she’s ever done Not feeling worthy of being able to climb at a certain grade Climb training for sport climbing  Following the Anderson Brothers Training Manual  Mercedes Pollmeier - Longevity Climbing Coach IG @modusathletica  Modus Athletica Website  Working with Climbing Coach Emily Taylor IG @browngirlsclimbing1 Brown Girls Climbing - 1st all BIPOC girls & GNB youth pioneering adventure based-climbing from Ohlone Land. Website - https://www.tayloredfitsolutions.com/  How climbing and your everyday life can cross over Advice for women who want to start climbing and to step outside their comfort zone Look for an affinity group and finding a climbing partner who you connect with  Connecting with people via the internet and social media  Safety is number one and the skills will follow Building her own home climbing wall  The community feel of the project  Deciding to name the climbing wall - the Monolith How to connect with Crystal Rose Final words of advice  Why healing isn’t linear    Social Media   Blog - https://rockrose.blog/    Personal Instagram  @aroseontherock @monolith_wall Go Fund Me - https://www.gofundme.com/f/climbing-wall-dream  @rockrose.blog - Examine the intersection of climbing, Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color, and policy.     Climbers of Colour - Creating leaders of color in mountaineering and climbing. Based in Western Washington. Website: https://www.climbersofcolor.org/  IG:  @climbersofcolor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/134722430557412/about/ 

Victoria is an ambassador for UK charity ‘Women in Sport’. Having developed a love of adventure in her late twenties, she progressed from running and cycling to summits of Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso and Kilimanjaro.  In March 2022 she became the fastest female to solo row 2,559 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, finishing in 40 days, 21 hours and 1 minute and knocking 8.5 days off the previous Guinness World Record. Outside of adventure, Victoria is a sports and media lawyer with over ten years of experience practising in both the UK and Switzerland. Having held roles in both European and Olympic federations, as well as commercial media organisations, she focuses on the development and negotiation of sports sponsorship and licensing, media creation and distribution, and sports governance. She uses her legal training to tackle gender equality in sport, securing the first written pregnancy deferral policy of an organised race in February 2022 when Ironman agreed to collaborate, and now focusing heavily on safeguarding.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Victoria  Woking as a commercial lawyer Being based in London Growing up in the countryside in Yorkshire Not being interested in sports as a young age Getting into fitness in her mid/late 20s Deciding to become a lawyer Wanting to become financially secure Training in Manchester and working long hours Moving to Switzerland and getting into the outdoor lifestyle Doing her first (and only) triathlon Getting into climbing mountains Where the dream to row the Atlantic Ocean came from Wanting to make a change  Doing work with UN Women  Doing research into ocean rowing The reasons behind the challenge Being inspired by the women on the tough girl podcast The practical steps taken to make the dream a reality  Having to quit her job to take on the ocean row Taking a leap of faith and finding a way to make it happen Connecting with Women in Sport Sorting out the basics Rannoch Adventures  Securing her title sponsor at the end of 2019 Sitting her ocean rowing exams in Feb 2020 Going into lockdown in March 2020 Planning to go in 2021 and needing to postpone to 2022 Dealing with new challenges and setbacks Deciding to go freelance as a lawyer Dealing with the stress before getting to the start line Having a fantastic support network The start of the challenge Structure on the boat?! The challenges while on the boat The magical moments while out on the water Focusing on the good What are you doing? Why are you here? The mental side of the row Having no let up at all  Needing to be the one to fix every problem and every issue Getting through the tough days  Making history and breaking records Not wanting to do another adventure at this level Wanting to help and support athletes with safeguarding issues Looking after her own mental health  Taking a break from exercise and fitness How to connect with Victoria  The importance of knowing your why and why you are passionate about it Back yourself Listening to multiple episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast   Social Media Website www.seachangesport.com  Instagram @seachangesport      

Phillipa in her own words: “I’ve been an OS GetOutside Champion since 2020, I’m the Chief Volunteer Queen for Adventure Queens South Wales and deputy chair of the Brecon Beacons National Park LAF.  I’ve just turned 50 and am not your stereotypical outdoor type. I’ve never been great at sports and I’m not a pretty sight puffing and panting up a mountain. But being outdoors makes me feel alive – it’s my soul food.  My goal is to encourage more women of every age, size, ability and background to participate in outdoor activities and that’s what I do for Adventure Queens South Wales.  Adventure Queens is an online UK-based community of more than 20,000 women. Its goal is to encourage, inspire and educate more women to get outside.  Over the past four years I’ve organised weekends away (camping, surfing, scrambling, climbing, hiking, climbing, kayaking and wild swimming), day walks, social evenings and walked the 99-mile Beacons Way. On top of that I’ve given live online talks, organised virtual meet ups and mentored new members.  AQ has transformed my own life. I was a cautious day walker before I joined, but since then I’ve become a seasoned camper, I’ve completed multi-day hikes, learned scrambling, climbing, surfing and paddle-boarded – I keep pinching myself as I can’t believe this is really me!” New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Phillipa? Being the Chief Queen for Adventure Queens, South Wales Working as a journalist Spending all her free time in the mountains  How life has changed over the past 4 years Growing up in Hampshire Her passion for the outdoors  Wanting to do more stuff outside - but not knowing how to go about it The start of her journalism career Meeting her partner who was outdoorsy at 28 Her gateway to the outdoors Developing new skills and building confidence in navigation and map reading Staying in her comfort zone The Beacons Way - 99 mile thru-hike First hearing about the Adventure Queens Being inspired to say yes and take on new challenges Deciding to run the Adventure Queens South Wales Group Finding people to walk the Beacons Way with Connecting with like minded people The first weekend of the challenge You have to start somewhere The sense of achievement at the end Learning to camp and wild camp Advice for women who do want to start spending time in the outdoors The benefits of social media and how it can be used to connect with others with similar interests Dealing with her fears before her first meet up Being inspired by Kate Adie  Her role as the Chief Queen for the South Wales Group Her dreams for 2023 Cycling in Bosnia  Documenting the journey and speaking with ITV Advice for planning events and challenges  Fitness regime and doing what she loves Getting into running during lockdown  Reframing running to trotting  Final words of advice - “think about what you want to do and if you don’t know what you want to do, try lots of different things” The support from women in all women groups  Think about what you want to do and give it ago   Social Media Instagram @phillipacherryson  Adventure Queens - Non-profit women’s adventure community  Website: adventurequeens.co.uk  Instagram: @adventurequeensuk Facebook: @AdventureQueens  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyTRW_ulgP09i7EhU1vdAAw  The Adventure Queens Grant     

Katrina Megget is an ordinary woman who dared to believe she was more than she thought she was. After three years of listening to her self-doubt and the negative voice in her head that told her she wasn't good enough she finally set out to walk the 3,000km (1,864 mile) Te Araroa Trail down the length of New Zealand, her home country.  A knee injury led to her having to pull out once she got to the South Island but she was determined to complete the trail so returned the next season. Unfortunately, covid lockdowns stopped her seven days from reaching the finish but by that point she had realised she didn’t need to walk the trail to prove she was enough.  She is now writing a book on her experience on the trail, her battle with self-doubt and self-worth and dealing with an emotionally abusive relationship. Katrina then spent three and a half months sailing around the coast of Great Britain with her new partner on a 28-foot boat. She had only a handful of days sailing experience, didn’t know the lingo, didn’t know if she would get seasick and had no idea if she would even enjoy it! Katrina, who is from New Zealand but lives in the UK, works as a freelance journalist who speaks and writes on the power within all of us to empower others to believe in themselves so they can be the people they want to be.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Katrina Originally from New Zealand but living in the UK for the past 16 years Working as a health care journalist and writing adventure travel articles Deciding to move to the UK after have her OE - “Overseas Experience”  Being more academic focused rather than outdoorsy Getting into the outdoors via her partner Joining a mountaineering club in the UK Her journey into the outdoors  Pushing herself outside her comfort zone Trying to climb 40 volcanoes before she turned 40 Where the idea came from and the reason why Having 5 years to complete the challenge Wanting to do something epic Being fascinated by volcanoes  Why things didn’t go according to plan Making changes to the challenges Climbing Mt. Vesuvius, Italy  Your challenge - Your rules Coming to understand her reason why Dealing with chronic self doubt and not feeling good enough to do anything Wanting to prove to herself that she as good enough  Walking the length of New Zealand Not being able to live up to her own expectations Being a high achiever and a perfectionist  Wanting to do adventure and why it does’t have to be epic Adventure is something which is pushing you outside your comfort zone Wanting to be in the growth zone Having big dreams and ambitions  Dealing with negative thoughts  Why starting is the hardest thing Making the decision to walk the length of NZ Taking the first steps and the process involved  Starting with research and guidebooks Getting over her fear of kayaking  Taking it one step at a time Making the decision to commit and jumping into the unknown Why the unknown doesn’t have to be scary Keeping your mind open to new possibilities  The start of the challenge Dealing with doubts Wanting to finish the journey  Going back after taking a break The mental and physical side of the challenge Dealing with a knee injury and needing to adjust her plans Learning about sailing and wanting to sail around GB Communicating with your partner while on the boat Day to day life on the boat The route around Great Britain How to connect with Katrina Advice for dealing with self doubt   Social Media   Website www.katrinamegget.com  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/katrinamegget  Public Facebook page www.facebook.com/KatMegget  Twitter @katrinamegget  Instagram @katrinamegget

Dr. Anu Taranath brings both passion and expertise to her work as a speaker, facilitator, author and educator.  A University of Washington professor for the past 20+ years, she has also received the Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” recognition, the University's Distinguished Teaching Award, and multiple US Fulbright Fellowships to work abroad.  As a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and racial equity consultant Dr. Anu offers coaching, training and facilitation services, and has partnered with over 300 clients from Amazon to the Raging Grannies.  Her book "Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World" was named a finalist for several book awards including the Washington State Book Award and included in Oprah Magazine’s “Best 26 Travel Books of All Times. Aun in her own words: “As the daughter of immigrants who has grown up between two cultures, I often draw on my personal experience as a way to connect with and amplify the voices of those who have historically not been heard. As a scholar and academic, I also know that racial equity work is challenging, emotional, institutional, and personal.  I’ve taught about global issues, race, gender, identity, and equity to thousands of students, presented at high-profile as well as more humble events, and collaborated with social change agents and innovative thinkers around the world. I partner with clients for the long haul and strive to build inclusivity and collaboration, inviting people into conversation.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.  You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.    Show Notes Who is Dr. Anu Being based in Seattle in the USA Working as a professor for the University of Washington  Is it possible to travel well in an unequal world? Her job and roles How do we deal with history in the present? Her family and love for travel Her experience of not feeling a sense of belonging Introducing students to new places in the world Finding yourself through travel Her first solo travel experience through university Spending 1.5 yrs in India Figuring out who we should be Following a very traditional academic road Studying computer science, but not finding her passion Not knowing what she wanted to do  Finding passion in discussions on social issues How do we travel and be aware of the inequities that structure our world Book: "Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World” How to navigate uncomfortable feelings  Working in collaboration and community with many change makers Travelling with privileges  Wanting to use our privileges to help others  Why our goal should be to travel mindfully What is ethical travel? Why ethics is never just a tickbox exercise  Understanding my place in an unequal world Going through the hard things to get to the other side Getting more comfortable with my discomfort  Feeling bad is not a strategy of social justice Thinking and reflecting on travel and why it doesn’t feel like work Feeling joyous and alive while engaging in tricky conversations  The importance of different types of conversations  Learning about the world and ourselves  How to connect with Dr. Anu Final words of advice and what Dr. Anu has learned from her travels Feeling grateful for being part of the community of change makers around the world    Social Media Website www.anutaranath.com  Instagram @dr.anutaranath     

Adventure & endurance enthusiast, with a fondness for Type 2 Fun. Ski instructor and mountain leader.    Happiest when outside, particularly in the mountains!    Challenges include cycling LEJOG, NC500 and Tour du Mont Blanc, both ski-touring and running the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, and climbing Mont Blanc.   In 2018 Emily completed Project 282: a 4-month self-propelled round of Scotland's 282 Munros (mountains above 3000ft) which involved cycling 2,600km, walking 2,200km on foot and crossing 3 waterways in a kayak. The total elevation gain was over 150,000m – all of this was self-supported.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast .Thank you.     Show notes Who is Emily  Being an adventure endurance junkie Her 2 buzz words for happiness are ‘Outdoors and Active” Being on the support crew - Climate Relay from Scotland to Egypt  What Emily was like as a little girl Breaking her arm and getting into running Doing her first marathon at 17 years old Running the Athens Marathon 2004  Transitioning from marathons to ultra running Preferring to run the longer distances Running the Dublin Marathon 2008  Going through a phase of running marathons Working in London and making some big changes Not feeling fulfilled and wanting to take some time off Becoming a ski instructor and doing a ski season in the Alps Project 282 Munro Challenge - where the idea came from and what was involved A 4-month self-propelled, continuous trip from North to South Scotland Being unsupported and the challenges  The logistics of the challenge and putting a plan in place Being fully committed to the challenge The final few Munros  Fuelling and nutrition while climbing big mountains  Training programs? Feeling rested and getting a PB in the marathon distance Post adventure blues after the challenge Struggling with a lack of direction  Spending approx £4k on Project 282 Plans for 2023 Connect with Emily  Final words of advice Making yourself commit and taking the first step Cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats    Social Media   Instagram @adventure_scottie

Shilpa in her own words:   “I'm a British Indian gal who is about to hit 60 and feel that I am really only just starting to explore the wonderful joy of outdoor adventures.    I am happiest when I'm on the water on my paddle board, or cycling along a canal, or walking in the beautiful English countryside, or body boarding in Cornwall.    I leaned to swim in my late 40’s and this just opened up a whole new world of paddle sports.    My biggest personal adventure was this summer (2022) when I paddle boarded on a SUP board from London to Nottinghamshire, some 165 miles (and 144 locks) along the vertical length of the amazing Grand Union Canal.    This was such a joyful journey and revealed so much about myself that I had not been aware of - particularly how much I love to meet new people and how caring and kind strangers are.    Since then I have been exploring SUP journeys where I carry my camping kit on my SUP board and I absolutely love doing this.    I am extremely grateful to British Canoeing who accepted me as a #ShePaddles Ambassador and this really helped me to go out of my comfort zone and explore new adventures.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.    To support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Sign up as a Patron -  www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.      Show Notes Who is Shilpa More about her friends and family What Shilpa was like as a little girl Growing up in Africa until 8 years old Moving to the UK and the culture shock Finding a different type of entertainment Not having dreams or aspirations as a young girl Leaving school to study economics and accounting at University  Retraining as a town planner Getting back into the outdoors and sports Meeting up with friends to go for walks in the local area Setting up a local walking group which has been going for over 20 years Building up her walking gear and kit Learning to swim in her late 40s Not having the opportunities when she was younger Learning how to cycle  Going to adult only swimming classes to get coaching Doing wild swimming for the first time  Getting into kayaking and water sports Her first experience on a paddle board Why she prefers paddle boarding Her adventure in Summer 2022 Becoming a British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador  Wanting to encourage more women to try water sports Deciding to do a long distance trip on the Grand Union Canal  Knowing it was the right time to do the challenge Being honest with herself of what she could and couldn’t do  Doing it at her pace  The planning and preparation for the journey  Researching the route and figuring out distances and accommodation The Pirate Castle - boating and outdoor activities charity on the Regent's Canal in the heart of Camden Town, London  Struggling with her back and recovering from injury Being helped and supported along the way The kindness of strangers and when strangers become friends  Joining a gym and working out with a personal trainer Focusing on getting strong Dealing with injury Cupping  Reflecting back on the journey  Feeling more confident Plans for 2023 Learning new skills and becoming qualified as a coach Becoming a She Paddles Club How to connect with Shilpa Final words of advice - “you'll never know if you love it or not until you try it”   Social Media   Website https://sbcpaddlers.wordpress.com    Instagram @sup.loving.shilpa

Marta in her own words:   “My name is Marta and I come from a small town in Poland called Pila. Growing up I was raised by a single mum; I had a good but humble upbringing, I always loved the outdoors and hanging out with my friends.   My childhood in Poland was a happy time in my life, but after my first trip to London as a teenager it all changed. I realised very quickly that living in Poland wasn’t for me anymore; I had big dreams and ambitions that I knew I couldn’t pursue in my hometown. I spent one more year living in Poland, learning English and saving ready to finally enter the ‘big world’… then I moved to London.   Taking this chance opened up so many opportunities for me. I got a good degree, good job, I travelled the world and had some awesome adventures whilst doing so, that I’ve decided to share them here. So, here I am, writing my blog, hoping to inspire and invite you on my journey.   My love for travelling has grown immensely over the years. The more countries I saw, the more countries I wanted to see. Along the way, my style of travelling changed; I had even bigger accomplishments on my agenda. So I set myself two goals: to climb to the highest peak on each continent, the challenge known as 7 Summits; and to reach the highest peak of each European country, which I call The Crown of Europe.   Out of the 7 Summits, I’ve already completed 5 (the highest peak in Europe, Africa, North and South America, Antarctica) and I am getting ready to attempt another one later this year… Everest. I am extremely excited about it as this is also the last continent I still haven’t seen.   The second goal is to reach the highest peak of each European country, which I call The Crown of Europe  There are 50 countries but 48 peaks and I have already completed 17 of them. However, this leaves plenty of adventure still ahead…”   *This episode was recorded in 20th January 2022 - Marta summited Everest 6.25am on May 15th, 2022.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast Thank you.   Show notes Who is Marta Moving to the UK from Poland 17 years ago Her goal to climb the 7 summits  Wanting to climb the highest peak in each European Country  Growing up in Poland and what her early years were like Not being close to the mountains as a child Being inspired by her father who was very outdoorsy Getting use to the cold weather  Her passion for travel Wanting more from travel and wanting to combine it with adventure  Setting herself 2 BIG goals  The Crown of Europe of Challenge Climbing Kilimanjaro first  Climbing Mt. Blanc and then Elbrus. Climbing Aconcagua in South America Climbing Denali in North America which was the toughest climb she’s done. Go to Antarctica to climb Vincent and why it was her favourite climb so far Taking on Everest in April 2022 Leaving Carstensz Pyramid until the end due to the political situation and the costs involved.  Costs of climbing mountains and how she’s paying for the adventures  Going to Everest in 2021 and having her trip cancelled Funding her challenges Her fear of dying while in the mountains Dealing with the downtime and how she handled the waiting.  Handling her period while in the mountains Using wet wipes to shower Stop taking the pill when you are at high altitude as it thickens your blood Wearing a nappy on the summit push? Trying things out in advance Dealing with stress diarrhea while climbing  The mental side of the challenge  Dealing with stress and anxiety  How you can change your thinking  Focusing on what she can control  Visiting the Altitude Centre in London  Getting physically strong and what training looks like this year Developing her own training plan and being flexible with what it looks like Stretching for recovery and eating well Being anaemic and feeling tired Feeling more relaxed and knowing what to expect this time around Being guided by Nirmal Purja team  Elite Expeditions  Being inspired by Martyna Wojciechowska  How you can follow Marta Final words of advice and wisdom  Being a normal person and making the decision to go for it.    Social Media   Website: www.tolivetotravel.com    Instagram: @tolivetotravel    Facebook: @tolivetotravel    Twitter: @tolivetotravel