Tough Girl Podcast

Vedangi Kulkarni was born and raised in India and currently lives in the UK.    She’s an adventurer, endurance athlete, writer, expedition/project manager and a business owner. She loves organising mountain biking and bike-packing events, managing a million projects simultaneously and talking to a ton of new people.    In 2018, she rode 29,000km around the world in 160 days, mostly solo and unsupported, at the age of 19/20, becoming the youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe on bike.    She’s always keen for an adventure, be it cold water swimming, long distance hiking or cycling, climbing, mountain biking, skiing or travelling through remote places.    On her most recent expedition, she skied across Svalbard.    Her happy place is anywhere outside, in the wild, and on the move. She tells stories from her adventures both digitally (through her social media channels) and through in-person events.    When she isn't out and about, you can find her reading non-fiction books or writing something in one of her million Moleskine notebooks.   You can listen to Vedangi on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes 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 Vedangi Moving to Inverness in 2022 Cycling daily and taking up mountain biking Mountain biking and how it’s helped with her confidence Imposter syndrome  Blog post - “I shouldn’t be here”  Becoming more ambition especially in the world of adventure New book coming soon - why people need adventure  Feeling selfish while doing adventures  Book: SOLO: What running across mountains taught me about life By Jenny Tough  Starting to organise adaptive mountain biking races in the UK Mountain Biking Race 12th - 13th November 2022 - “MTB4ALL” is a downhill race series where our aim is to make racing fun. Whether you're a first time racer or a pro, we've got something for you!  Wanting to get more women racing mountain bikes Arranging a series of events in 2023 for women in mountain biking  Wanting to help build women’s self esteem in mountain biking Working on improving her mountain biking skills Heading to Svalbard in April 2022 The Trans Arctic Expedition Speaking with Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions Helen Turton - Newland Expeditions  Visa challenges  Sponsorship for Svalbard  Sharing a tent with Helen & Ellen Piercy  Reflections from the experience  Dealing with the cold and learning patience Tent life The plan for the Trans Arctic Expedition Just Around The Corner — exploring the best of the South West by bike  How to connect with Vedangi Final words of advice    Social Media   Website: https://vedangi.info Instagram: @thisisvedangi LinkedIn: Vedangi Kulkarni Twitter: @thisisvedangi Facebook: Vedangi Kulkarni YouTube: Vedangi Kulkarni Link to donate me a small amount: Buy Me A Coffee

Ellen started to get into adventure in her late 30s. By day she work as an engineering, by night, she dream of adventure.    In 2017 she wanted a new, big, scary challenge and decided on an arctic expedition - crossing Svalbard.    Ellen has never been anywhere that cold before and she didn’t’ know how to ski! She didn’t know if the challenge that she had decided on would even be achievable.   The Svalbard Expedition was meant to go ahead in 2020, when Ellen was 42. It was postponed from 2020 to 2021 and again to 2022.    To keep herself motivated, during the delays and wanting to focus on building her endurance, she set herself a more local project – the Cheshire Challenge to walk all 25 long distance paths in Cheshire totalling 1,500km.   In January 2022, Ellen had her sabbatical booked, and found out the Svalbard crossing would be going ahead in April.    During this podcast Ellen shares more about the challenge, the lessons learned and provides top tips and advice to help you with your next adventure.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button 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 and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.     Show notes Who is Ellen? Age 45…. The concept of identity  Describing herself pre and post Svalbard  Calling herself a cold adventurer! Who is Ellen pre-expedition? Dealing with imposter syndrome How adventure has changed her life Not knowing if she would be able to do the challenge “Maybe I can do this sort of stuff”   The mindset shift that has happened Dealing with setback after setback 42 the second, 42 the third etc Doing a polar training course in Norway Covid Times and being able to work from home What’s your plan B….. The Svalbard Expedition April 2022 A 10 day crossing across the main island from the East to the most northerly town in the world The route - 130km/100 miles Being part of a team of 5, plus the guide The pulks and the kit Polar Bears, glaciers, mountain passes and an enormous ice cave Structure of the day and the daily routine (melting water, packing up, ski and break time, tent life) Thinking about doing her Mountain Leader Qualification  Working towards her Chartered Engineer Qualification  Tent mates, group dynamics and roles Peeing and pooping outdoors Fitness and training Costs Completing the challenge and what happened afterwards Reflecting on the challenge and having time to process  Getting Covid and being knocked for 2 months Plans for 2023 Newland Expeditions Guided polar ski expeditions to North/South Poles, Greenland, Svalbard and Norway.  How to connect with Ellen Final words of advice for working women who want to have more adventures   Social Media   Website https://randogirls.com    Instagram @randogirl42    Facebook @EllenRandoGirl    Twitter @RandoGirl42

After a lengthy battle with a rare brain disease, Crystal Gail Welcome came to recognize the healing power of nature.    She now uses her intersecting identities; Black, disabled, lesbian to break down barriers so more people can access the outdoors.    Crystal is an experiential educator, author, storyteller, activist, backpacker, and Black outdoor leader. She chooses to speak out against racial injustice in the United States by hiking and giving voice to her experiences.     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 especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Thank you.     Show notes Who is Crystal Gail Living in Minnesota  Turtle racing! Growing up in Florida  Where Minnesota is located in the States Not being exposed to the outdoors  Not thinking the outdoors was for her Her first visit to a National Park Visiting the birth home of Martin Luther King Junior in Atlanta, Georgia  Learning about the National Parks  Feeling connected to Nature Feeling a sense of belonging and wanting to spend more time in nature Continuing her journey and connecting with nature  Going out to live life and getting back into running Her desire to go backpacking and wanting to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Hiking 600 miles on the PCT  Learning about her capabilities Her love of the outdoors and the power of connecting with nature How hiking improved her health  Why nature is a wonderful place to be Her experience on the PCT  Trail culture and trail families Needed to recharge her batteries every 7-10 days  for 1.5 days Connecting with new people and the kindness of strangers Her trail name “The Giver”  Book: “The Giver” by Lois Lowry  After the death of George Floyd Protesting in the way that she knows Her reason for hiking the Superior Hiking Trail  The Great Western Loop - is a 6,875-mile footpath that links together five existing long-distance trails — including the Pacific Crest Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and Arizona Trail — and a trail-less segment through the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts.  Hiking until her body tells her body it’s time to stop How her disability effects her hiking and how she adapts her hiking to suit her Needing to keep her base weight at 10lbs /4.5kg and having to forgo luxury items (apart from her tent!) Structuring her day while hiking  Listening to podcasts and music while being on the trail Listening to true crime while being out in nature The music to power her up the hills - Eminem - fight song Being inspired by Harriet Tubman Learning about adventure therapy and going on to study it at Prescott College  Sharing more about restorative narratives The power in the stories we tell ourselves  Plans for 2023 How Crystal Gail afford to backpack Writing a book of poetry when she was first diagnosed with a rare brain disease Being published in an anthology “Crossing Paths” How to connect with Crystal Gail (see links below)   Social Media   Website: footprintsforchange.com   Instagram: @footprintsforchange    Facebook: @crystalgailwelcome    Twitter: @awesomewelcome    TikTok: @footprintsforchange

Jennifer Strong McConachie is a life-long outdoor adventure athlete.   She has traveled the globe, raced an ultramarathon on five of the seven continents, swam the Hellespont from Europe to Asia, escaped Alcatraz, climbed several of the Seven Summits, and conquered an American epic by running across the Grand Canyon and then back again.   For more than 30 years, Jennifer has competed in running, swimming, triathloning, and adventure racing as part of her global endurance sporting lifestyle. She also trains for various kinds of paddling sports and mountain ascents around the world.   When not tackling tough adventures, Jennifer is an award-winning marketing executive based in the US, with more than 15 years of experience working with local, regional, national, and global firms.    Jennifer most recently became a Fellow in the Royal Geographical Society after writing her first book, Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life. https://amzn.to/3ciFo4O    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    You can 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 and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show Notes Who is Jennifer Being able to do all kinds of endurance sports  Running at a young age  Getting into mountaineering, climbing, and wild swimming  Putting all of her endurance sports experience into her book: Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life Getting into new adventures with kids Dedication to endurance challenges and writing a book Growing up in a sporty, outdoorsy family  Having fun as a child triathlete in the 90s  Being on a rowing team back in college  Getting into ultra running and marathons in her 20s  Travelling the world with her family Choosing her own unique life path Having a female role model Going on adventures with her dad  What does adventure mean to Jennifer Her secret to exploring the adventure mindset  Making the most of what you have to be the best you can be  Reading books about places and feeling energized  Magical moments from her adventures and challenges  Motherhood and how her adventure has changed over the years  Creating physical and mental space for her recovery  Having her team as her recovery tools  Getting into more details about therapy and recovery  Running the length of the Grand Canyon and back What inspired Jennifer to write the book Final words of advice   Social Media   Website: jenniferstrongmccon.com    Instagram: @jenstrongmccon    Facebook Author Page: @JenniferStrongMcConachieAuthorPage    Twitter: @jenstrongmccon    Book: Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life.

Julie Bradley was born with adventure genes and shares her passions in her books “Escape from the Ordinary” and “Crossing Pirate Waters”. Both are true stories about an 8 year adventure of sailing around the world with her husband, Glen.    After twenty years in the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer she traded her uniform and worldly possessions to pursue the dream that had inspired her to keep going through the long separations of military deployments.  During those years her stack of Cruising World, Sail and Latitude 38 magazines grew to hoarder proportions until the big purge of all belongings to buy their new home: a French built Amel blue-water sailboat.   Julie shares more about her passion for adventure and sailing and what it was like selling everything she owned to sail around the world.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Make sure to 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.    *Content Warning - during this episode - addiction to alcohol is talked about.    Show Notes Julie in her own words Living out on the water with her husband  Joining the army after high school  Getting hooked on an adventure  Julie's decision to leave the army after 20 years  Sailing around the world with her husband for eight years Not worrying about the money  Julie and her husband's background in sailing  Delivering a friend's boat Being a company commander and sailing at the same time  Selling everything and buying a sailboat  Sailing in the South Pacific  What it was like to sail through the storm  How did they spend their days on the boat Writing her books Escape from the Ordinary (Escape Series Book 1)  and Crossing Pirate Waters (Escape Series Book 2) How she lost control of her addiction to alcohol Keeping a close relationship with her husband  Deciding to stop sailing  Final words of advice   Social Media   Website: www.juliebradleyauthor.com    Facebook: @julie.bradley.798    Twitter: @redjuliebradley    Books: Escape from the Ordinary (Escape Series Book 1)   Meet Glen and Julie, sailors who follow their dream and discover that reality can be even bigger than imagined. From Force 10 storms in the North Atlantic to the crystal blue waters and native dancers of French Polynesia, Escape from the Ordinary (book 1 of the Escape Series) opens a window to adventures in extraordinary places not found in travel brochures.   Told with keen observations and sparkling with wry humor, Julie describes the terrors and pleasures of living a life of total independence on a sailboat where even simple decisions can have big consequences.  This exhilarating, true story will thrill those planning to sail off into the sunset as well as armchair adventurers. Escape from the Ordinary reminds you of the unlimited possibilities in life and offers inspiration to go “all in” on your own dreams.   Crossing Pirate Waters (Escape Series Book 2)   You don’t have to know a spinnaker from a mainsail to enjoy this adventure book. Join Glen and Julie as they continue around the world through less traveled, dangerous areas on the far side of the world.   Turmoil in the Mideast convinces Glen and Julie to linger in the South Pacific visiting primitive villages on remote islands. But hang on tight, because to finish their voyage they must leave friendly shores and navigate through trouble in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea before arriving in Europe.   Full of dry wit and compelling descriptions, Julie takes the reader along for the ride of a lifetime in this sequel (book 2 of the Escape Series) to her previous bestseller, Escape from the Ordinary.

Molly Huddle is an American long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country running events.    Molly has won 28 USA titles, held six American records, looked down the start line of two Olympic finals and four major marathons.    Molly set the American record in the 5000 m at the 2014 Herculis Diamond League meet in Fontvieille, Monaco (14:42.64). She also set the American record in the 10,000 m at the 2016 Olympics, with a time of 30:13.17. Molly lives and trains in Providence, Rhode Island.   Molly has recently co-authored “How She Did It”, with college coach Sara Slattery.The book is the ultimate roadmap for female distance runners—featuring 50 candid interviews with women who’ve made it   The book begins with key information from the professionals who help make athletic excellence possible: trainers, physicians, nutritionists, and sports psychologists. Then, you’ll hear the first-person accounts of fifty women who’ve done it themselves. From the pioneers who fought tirelessly for women’s inclusion in the sport to the names splashed across headlines today, featured athletes include:    Joan Benoit Samuelson • Patti Catalano Dillon • Madeline Manning Mims • Paula Radcliffe • Deena Kastor • Brenda Martinez • Shalane Flanagan • Emma Coburn • Raevyn Rogers • Molly Seidel • and more   With Molly and Sara guiding the way, these athletes share their empowering stories, biggest regrets, funniest moments, and hard-won advice.    Collectively, these voices are the embodiment of strength, meant to educate, inspire, and motivate you to see how far—and how fast—you can go.   Learn more about the book and Molly on the Tough Girl Podcast.    New episodes go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out.    You ca support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Who is Molly Her job as a professional distance runner Having her first baby and entering her 3rd trimester  Running while pregnant Reducing her average weekly miles down from 90 miles to 40 miles. Learning more about her childhood and her younger years Her journey into running Not thinking about becoming a professional athlete Her senior year of high school and wanting to qualify for the National Cross Country Championships Quitting basketball and focusing on running all year Setting a new national record in high school for the 2 mile distance Running with professional runners Dealing with big failures and figuring out how to bounce back Tools and strategies for mindset The power of writing down goals and journaling Having a mantra and using powerful words - STRONG Loving the 5k distance and finding it fun Running the London Marathon in 2019 and getting a Personal Best Wanting to run a sub 2.25 marathon Figuring out her race strategy for a marathon Having faith in how you are feeling and going with your own plan Releasing her new book: How she dit it - A high performance guide for female distance runners with stories of women who’ve made it. By Sara Slattery and Molly Huddle. Wanting to write a resource for young female runners Writing the book and speaking to 50 women about their running experiences Speaking with Dr. Stacy Sims (Author of ROAR) and working with the female body  The new developments with maternity cover for professional athletes since The Dream Maternity Campaign organised by Alysia Montaño  The NY Times Article - Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby - Alysia Montaño  Contracts and being away from the track and the impact on the financials The running woman emoji  Creating the Keeping Track Podcast Wanting to share athletes stories who don’t get exposure via the main stream media Particular highlights from the podcast - Racing for Representation Reflecting back on finishing her first marathon in 2016  Advice for women who want to get into running How to connect and follow along with Molly Final words of advice for women who have lost their running mojo   Social Media   Personal Instagram @mollyhuddle    Keeping Track Podcast - A podcast built to elevate. Inspiring athletes & figures in sports, lesser known stories, & complex topics of Women’s sports ALL IN ONE PLACE!   Podcast: Instagram @keeptrackmedia  Website: https://keeping-track.com    Book: How she dit it - A high performance guide for female distance runners with stories of women who’ve made it. By Sara Slattery and Molly Huddle.   A book of interviews with elite female distance runners on what they’ve learned along the way & words from experts in the endurance sports world.    Instagram: @howshediditbook   Website: www.howshediditbook.com

Anyika 37, is a retired British sprint track and field athlete who competed in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres, and also the 4×100 metres relay and 4x400 metres relay.   Anyika is one of the few GB athletes of the past 20 years to achieve a full set of major medals.She has won medals at the Olympic Games, the world championships, Commonwealth Games and European championships.   Anyika has published a book about her life called - My Hidden Race.     “My Hidden Race is the story of Olympic medallist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics.   This book won't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport or the beauty of the Olympic spirit however.   In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, this is an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds.   This three-time Olympian will lift the lid on the reality of life as a black female athlete in Britain in a way that nobody else has done before her.   Nothing is off the record. She is revealing her life for the first time in this book with complete fearlessness.   There have been far too many years of silence caught in a system. Now Anyika is determined to make up for lost time and use her story to inspire and heal others.   My Hidden Race will take you into a world that often takes place far from the spotlight of the Olympic torch and shines an intense light on the brutal reality of professional sport for many black females.”   Listen to Anyika on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes 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 Anyika and what she’s achieved Working as a consultant and sharing more about her new book Living between Liverpool and London Her childhood and early years Growing up in a sporty, competitive family  Being inspired by her older brother  Realising that she was good at running Her dreams and ambitions as a little girl The dream of becoming a professional athlete Being shy and ambitious  How you progress to the professional level in athletics  Getting a degree while also competing as a full time athlete Any regrets over missing out  Working hard for everything she has Getting to the senior level and being consistent in performance Competing at her first senior championships in Melbourne, Australia Learning from her peers  The lessons learned from failure  Mental health and support and how it’s changed over the past 17/20 years The lack of support to help with changes and transitions  Feeling disposable as an athlete  The pressure to perform and to be consistent How expectations can weigh you down Blocking out the pressure and working with a psychologist  Smiling and laughing to release the pressure  Getting into flow and what it’s like The struggles 10 months before the Olympic games in Rio Contracting malaria and ending up in hospital Getting back to full fitness and getting ready for the Olympics Focusing on getting the job done What it was like winning a Bronze Medal in the 4x400m  Fitness and sport now Making the transition to the next stage of her career Figuring out what’s next  Getting qualified in Corporate Governance  Role models and the women who have inspired Anyika Advice for women and girls who want to get into running Figuring out your why Remembering to have fun Looking after her Olympic Medal The shrine! Book: My Hidden Race   Social Media   Instagram @anyika   Twitter @annyonuora    Book: My Hidden Race

Siobhan is 62 years old. She retired from the BBC two years ago, after 30 years working as a Reporter, Presenter and Producer in News. During that time she juggled being a single mother with working full-time. When she was nearly fifty and her daughter went off to university, she took a gap year from work and backpacked solo around the world. It was then she hatched a plan to one day travel around in a motorhome when she retired.   By her mid-fifties she felt burnt out after dealing with symptoms of the menopause, ageism and bullying. She realised she needed to find her escape plan.   So it was in 2019, aged sixty, she bought a motorhome and embarked on her solo trip around Great Britain, to champion positive ageing and to challenge ageism and ageist stereotypes of what society thinks a retired woman does. She wants to change narratives around ageing from ANTI-AGEING to POSITIVE-AGEING. She has faced her fears and weathered severe storms and a pandemic along the way but she feels the highs and lows are all worth it.    She hopes her experiences inspire women, both young and old, to embrace ageing.   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.    Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Who is Siobhan Learning more about her background Buying her motorhome and travelling Great Britain  Her goal to promote positive ageing Having a hysterectomy at 40  Taking a gap year from the BBC and going solo backpacking around the world Feeling ageless and alive Wanting to retire and go travelling  Planning her gap year with Trailfinders  Going with the flow and meeting incredible people Fears and concerns before the adventure Magical moments which bring joy Dealing with change Facing each challenge and breaking it down into little bits Running marathons in her 50s Not being a planner - “My plan is to have no plan, to go with the flow and see where life takes me” Losing family members and going through the menopause Struggling with life  Out of adversity comes opportunity Being a stubborn Yorkshire lass Finding a way to do things Fitness and exercise and how it’s evolved over her life Training for her first marathon and her feelings after crossing the finish line Top tips and advice for new runners who want to take on a marathon Why you are never too old for adventure  What pro ageing looks like  Changing the negative narrative Retirement rebellion and why its a chance to have more adventures  Working on a farm for 5 weeks in Dorset Feeling liberated after selling everything Confidence around driving the motorhome Enjoying her own company Sharing her life online and blogging  Writing a book?! And signing up with a literary agent Living her life by 4 values Talking about bravery Being an anti-agism campaigner Being true to yourself and age as positively as you can  Why you should enjoy and embrace ageing  Plans for 2022 Taking the motorhome over to Europe How to connect and follow Siobhan Final words of advice for other women What do you want to do? What would make you happy?  You will work out a way to have your adventure    Social Media   Website: shuvonshuvoff.co.uk    Blog: shuvonshuvoff.blogspot.com    Instagram: @shuvonshuvoff    Twitter: @siobhandaniels

Abby in her own words:   “I used to be a competitive ultra-runner. I competed in 100-mile mountain races and was pretty decent at it. In 2013 I competed and won (female division) the Grand Slam of Ultra-Running. This is 4 x 100 mile races in a 10 week span.   But too much endurance + too little calories and carbs= Burnout. Anyone that doesn’t believe burnout or adrenal issues are real is a liar. It’s real and it’s debilitating to your body and mind.   I was forced to stop running and I eventually found weight-lifting. I tried my best at CrossFit but really gravitated towards heavy lifting and fell in love with Powerlifting.    I worked with a Nutrition Coach and spent years reverse dieting to support my body and goals and un-do all the years of damage I did as an endurance athlete. My sole purpose was to lift as much as I possibly could in a weight class sport and I was pretty decent at it. In 2018 I competed in PowerLifting Nationals. At 138 pounds my best squat was 290 pounds, bench 190 pounds, and deadlift 325 pounds.   I ended up hurting my back while lifting in 2019. I eventually decided to walk away from all competitive sports and focus on living a normal life with food and fitness balance.   These days my goals include lifting weights to support health and hormones. I want to be fit and strong enough to keep up with Molly-dog and continue hiking some beautiful miles in the Colorado mountains. I enjoy eating all foods and consume over 2300 calories. I strength train for ~ 1 hour x 4-5 days per week. I walk 2.5-3.5 miles every-day with Miss Molly.   I am happier and confident with my body now than any time before. You don’t need to be extreme or restrict yourself to get results. I follow an all-foods fit approach. As a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach my mission now is to prevent other athletes from making the same mistakes I made.    My purpose in life is to serve others (women) and help them fuel their bodies, improve their relationship with food + fitness, and body image.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.    You can support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media by visiting www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Who is Abby Living in Denver, Colorado Working as a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach What her early years were like Being 1 of 4 girls Being inspired by her older sister and getting involved in running from a young age Running in college and being a mid range mid pack person Post college getting into longer distances and finding her calling Loving the people in the running community Getting into the longer distances  Running her first trail ultra and building a solid foundation Enjoying the mental side of the physical challenge Why 2013 was her break through year  Putting in the hard work everyday Entering the grand slam of ultra running 4x100 mile races and winning (2013)! (the Western States 100 in California, the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run in Vermont, the Leadville Trail 100 in Colorado, and the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run in Utah. Post season - and trying to recover Struggling with insomnia, fatigue, blood sugar levels, being anaemic, and not having a menstrual cycle for 3 years Trying to run through the symptoms  Getting support and starting to help herself recover Adrenal Fatigue - HPA Access Disfunction Why Abby started strength training  Having the goal to be as strong as possible Running following a low carb diet - and following keto Dr Stacey Simms - ROAR  Why low carb isn’t the best for women Needing to step away from competitive sports Having more balance in her life with regards to food and fitness Starting her own business Having balance in her life?! What a typical week of training looks like Loving and appreciating rest days Her philosophy with food now - all foods fit How to connect with Abby Final words of advice Figure out why you are making changes   Social Media   Instagram: @abbymcpabby    Facebook: @AbbyMcQueeneyPenamonte

About Sabrina   Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is a 44-year-old mother of 4 and grandmother of 3, an award-winning businesswoman, an ultrarunner, a social justice activist and a recovering alcoholic. She is a mixed-raced woman, the daughter of a white Scottish Roman Catholic woman and a Black man.    In July 2020 she co-founded the fast-growing community and campaigning charity, Black Trail Runners, and is also a well-known ultra-marathon runner. She finished the 'toughest footrace on earth', a 250km multi-stage marathon across the Sahara Desert known as the Marathon des Sables, as 10th UK woman and most recently she completed the Spine Race, a non-stop 268 miles race down the Pennine Way.    Sabrina is the author of Black Sheep: A Story of Rural Racism, Identity and Hope “In Black Sheep, Sabrina reveals how she got from there to here: about growing up in a home, a school and a town where no-one looked like her and her subsequent struggle to understand and find her identity; about her lived experience of rural racism; about becoming a teenage mother and her determination to break that stereotype; about her battle with alcoholism and her mental health; about how running saved her life; and ultimately about how someone can not only survive but thrive in spite of their past. Sabrina's experience will chime with anyone who has felt like an outsider. Poignant and eye-opening, and exploring themes of trauma, identity, mental health and addiction, Black Sheep is a tale of triumph: of grit and determination, of hope over despair.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday 7am UK time - Subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.      Show Notes Who is Sabrina Previously chatting on the TGP - July 7th 2020 What was happening in late 2020 Launching Black Trail Runners (BTR) in July 2020 Black Trail Runners - writing an open letter to race organisers  Taking about the issues and the lack of diversity in trail runners Moving house, welcoming a new grandchild, running the Ramsey Round Doing the 3 peaks challenge and seeing me at the top of Ben Nevis (Watch the vlog) Building the community of Black Trail Runners and the impact  Having the uncomfortable conversations Collecting ethnicity data Having a BTR race fund  Taking real action and breaking down the barriers Running the 4.5% challenge in 2021 Working with youth groups Coping with the mental and emotional pressure Running and mental health Running as a form at activism Understanding her why of running the Spine Race The Spine Race  Working with her running coach Damien Hall Figuring out her race strategy and how her race goals changed over time Focusing on the “B” goal - completing the race Focusing on 10k stretches and reaching certain views  Keeping in the moment and not thinking about the full distance Struggling with sleep deprivation and figuring out a new sleep strategy The power of sleep and needing 30 mins of sleep at every checkpoint Dealing with food pain and having to implement a pain management strategy Training for the Spine Race and what a typical week looked life Doing more back to back training runs and weighted runs Winning her first ultra marathon!  Kissing a wall The lessons learned from running the Spine Race “You can do hard things - you can do this” Being on the June cover of Women’s Running UK  Book: Black Sheep: A Story of Rural Racism, Identity and Hope. Black to the trails - 11th September 2022 - The FIRST trail running event designed, directed and run by Black Trail Runners for Black people, people of colour, and White allies who want to do their bit to diversify the UK trail running scene.  The vision board and hopes for the future Wanting to participate in the UTMB Race Wanting to write a second book about running   Social Media   Website:   Personal:  www.sabrinapacehumphreys.com  Instagram: @sabrunsmiles Twitter: @sabrunsmiles   Black Trail Runners - A community and campaigning charity seeking to increase inclusion, participation and representation of Black people in trail running.   Community and campaigning charity. Registered in England and Wales, No. 1194094.   Black Trail Runners: www.Blacktrailrunners.run  Black to the Trails: www.Blacktothetrails.co.uk    Instagram: @blacktrailrunners Twitter: @RunnersBlack  Facebook: @blacktrailrunners   The Check Point Podcast    A podcast hosted by Black Trail Runners which discusses access to, skills for and representation of Black people who want to experience, or are experienced in, trail running. Featuring tips, tricks, events, guest interviews and much more.   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-checkpoint/id1530677708