Tough Girl Podcast

Alvina was brought up in a traditional Navajo running family and she has always loved to get outside in nature and run, she dreamed about being a competitive runner when she was younger and pursued this dream by heading off to Arizona State University to compete for them.   Alvina has made it to the Olympic trials three times in the marathon and the 10K distance. She runs a 2hr 22 min marathon time.    Alvina is a Registered Dietitian, and has a Masters Degree in Health Administration. In November 2020 Alvina gave birth to a healthy baby girl.    During this episode Alvina shares more about her passion for running; how she trains, what she eats and how motherhood has impacted on her running. Plus the women who inspire her. Listen now!   New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out!    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Alvina introduces herself by her clan in her traditional Navajo culture Explanation of her introduction Becoming a mother in November 2020 Growing up in a small town on the Navajo Reservation Life as a new mother to a baby girl Just about getting enough sleep The naming of her child with a traditional Navajo name Being a high risk pregnancy Sharing more about the Navajo Culture What her childhood was like and her connection to nature Growing up in a running family  Having a coming of age ceremony  Having a female mentor and being taught how to be a strong Navajo Woman The importance of running to the East every morning Thoughts while running and enjoying her run time Knowing that she wanted to be a runner from a young age Making the transition from running for pleasure to being more competitive The Olympic Trials in 2008 Not being a super start in college  Working with a Native American running coach Mike Daney Focusing on the 2012 Olympic Trials The importance of a coach  Being a small town girl What a typical training week would look like  (120 miles weeks, speed work, hills) Doing more strength training and helping to reduce injury Diet, fuelling and nutrition while training Making sure she got enough iron Getting blood work done every 3 months The hardest aspect of training and how she approached it Changing her mindset and how her mindset evolved as she got older Working with a sports psychologist Running while pregnant Having a difficult labour and needing to take 6 weeks off Increasing her milage gradually and getting back into shape Working on rebuilding her ab strength The hardest challenge mentally with running and pregnancy Needing to focus on herself and the health of her baby Being surrounded by good people The women who inspire her Rachel Sneider @rachschneid18  Michele Reyes @micheleinthemaking  Final words of advice Be patient and be consistent      Social Media   Instagram @aybegay

As our world grows ever smaller and more connected, it’s easier to travel, but harder to find true adventure but at twenty-eight years old, Lucy is at the forefront of modern exploration.    From high mountains, rainforests, to the Arctic, she has plotted a thrilling, inimitable path. Made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society at age twenty three and on the council for the Scientific Exploration Society as a result of her expedition achievements.    Lucy's expeditions have taken her all over the globe and she now shares her love for this world with others by both guiding expeditions to the Arctic and sharing her own adventures on film.   Lucy in her own words:   “I am a strong believer that when we put ourselves in challenging situations, whatever that may be, that our character grows and we become better people as a result. Given the current climate of how those in power are acting and how mental health and obesity problems are on the rise, we could all do with stepping outside our comfort zone and doing what we previously thought impossible.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Being called an adventurer! Her job and what she does Spending time in the Arctic, Jungle and high mountains Her parents Her early years, climbing trees and being creative Losing her mojo in her teenage years The term ‘expedition’ Applying to join a scientific expedition in Svalbard at age 18 Trying to figure out what’s next Her next steps to make adventure her career Going to York University to study film and TV production Trying to gain new skills over the next 3 years Connecting with individuals via the Royal Geographical Society  Spending 1 month in the jungle at 22 years old Saying she wanted to be an adventurer for real in 2015 Living in the jungle for a month Being stalked by a jaguar Dealing with the dangers of the jungle Deciding to head back to the jungle in early 2020 Wanting to do citizen science  Kanuku mountain range in the Amazon jungle of Guyana Micro plastics in the jungle….  Having 3 weeks for the expedition How the expedition evolved and changed Documenting the journey  Her process for planning expeditions The initial idea The struggle of getting detailed maps Advice for sponsorship and why you need to tell everyone about it The challenges of covid and getting sponsorship Getting physically ready for the expeditions What a typical weeks looks like training Mental training before and during expeditions Calculating risks Spending 2 weeks in a tent on Denali at -40 degrees Moving into acceptance  Peeing in the tent! Periods on mountain expeditions Charging electronics - Goal Zero  Practical tips for dealing with the cold Why you need to empty your bladder before bed Favourite piece of gear Why you should be bothered.   Social Media   Website - www.lucyshepherd.net    Instagram: @lucysheps    (New) YouTube Channel: LucyShepherd    Facebook: @lucysheps    Twitter: @lucysheps

Lavina Mehta is a 43-year-old award-winning Personal Trainer and mum of three who has been awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness during Covid-19 in October’s Queen Honour’s List.    Over lockdown, she provided free twice-daily virtual workouts with her family, aimed at keeping people of all ages healthy and mentally positive from home. Her slogan was to “Exercise for Sanity not Vanity” and she also provided a free Feel Good 21 Day Workout Plan.   Lavina’s free specially designed virtual chair workouts for Seniors, in English and Gujarati, with her 73-year-old mother in law featured on national TV and radio and inspired thousands of elderly members of the community to get involved. She continues these to give back to the disproportionately affected British Asian communities and help the elderly and vulnerable stay fit, physically and mentally.    Lavina continues providing free home workouts & videos over the pandemic. She also uses her concept of Exercise Snacking for her daily Feel Good Fitness Advent Calendar workouts through December on her Instagram.    She appears regularly on TV and radio passionately promoting the health benefits of exercise to treat, prevent and reduce risks of common chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis. She is also a big advocate of the mental health benefits of exercise.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Lavina Where she was brought up Doing normal school sports Her dreams as a little girl Thinking about being a teacher Having a passion for Art Deciding to go down a managerial route Using art to help with mental health Her focus on education Lack of Asian role models in the fitness space Deciding to become a Personal Trainer Having a mild medical scare Joining a gym with work Getting into strength training and falling in love with it Studying in the evening after the children were asleep Wanting to learn more about the body  The benefits of strength training and why everyone should lift weight The mental health benefits of lifting weight Opening up to the world of social media Needing to be patient with regards to getting results Supporting people of all ages during lockdown.  Wanting to help people and doing 15min live workout on Instagram Exercise Snacking Time, motivation and costs “Exercise for Sanity - Not Vanity” Doing exercise from home Feel Good Walks - just get out - even for 10mins Getting adequate rest and recovery The benefits of stretching Why rest is key Wellness in terms of lifestyle Nutrition and feeding your body during workouts Helping her mum write her book - Feel Good With Food Using food as well as medicine Not believing in the word “diet” Enjoying food and not cutting out any food groups Peri-menopause and menopause  Feel good fitness prescription Covid and mental health and the challenges of 2020/2021 Workouts for women and men online Seniors Session with her mother in law  Final words of advice to help you feel good again   Social Media   Website www.feelgoodwithlavina.com    Instagram - @feelgoodwithlavina    Facebook - @feelgoodwithlavina     Twitter - @feelgoodwithlavina

A lover of all things outdoors, Cathy is an explorer, mother, wife and USA Operations Lead at global drone-based inspection company, CyberHawk - and that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.   Back in 2014, Cathy led a climbing expedition to a remote part of East Greenland, establishing four new, never-before-explored routes.    Cathy passionately believes that these kinds of life-changing experiences don’t just fall into your lap - you have to work hard for them.    Expeditions are born from a book full of notes and ideas, endless nights of planning, and more spreadsheets than any outdoor-lover cares to imagine.   Australian-born and adopted-Scot, Cathy currently splits her time between Colorado and California, where she’s learning to both snowboard and surf, while spending time with friends and family.    It’s safe to say that she’s really taking advantage of every opportunity life throws at her.   Listen to Cathy on the Tough Girl Podcast! New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out!    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Cath? Currently based in Denver, Colorado, USA Living in Scotland for the past 20 years with her husband and children Working for CyberHawk using drones  Growing up in Adelaide in South Australia Spending time in the outdoors and climbing trees at a young age Leaving Australia to go to Canada in her early 20s Meeting her husband in Canada and moving to Scotland Starting climbing in her mid thirties after having her 3 children Making progress in climbing  Having an accident and spending 9 months in recovery Building her confidence back up Finding people to climb with  Venturing outside to climb Not giving up when challenges happen Dealing with fears and building confidence Deciding to head to East Greenland in 2014 Wanting to climb in a remote and challenging location Needing to find a team and get people on board Starting with the research Struggling to find women to come and climb Spending 5 weeks in East Greenland Planning the new routes The tent sent up and what base camp was like Feeling confident but apprehensive Paying and funding for the expedition Being supported by Tiso  Figuring out the food requirements for 5 people for 5 weeks Human waste and dealing with poo! The wildlife considerations from crows to polar bears Her physical preparation and working with a personal trainer  Being part of a “fit-family” Reflecting back on Greenland and the lessons learned Being careful of the people who you surround yourself with Being open to the learning  The next challenge…. and wanting to head to South America Final words of advice to encourage other women to take the next step The power of talking about what you want to do    Social Media   Website - cathyalldred.com    Instagram - @cathyalldred    Twitter @cathyalldred

Before summiting Everest, Tima had climbed 18 high mountains around the world including 6 out of the 7 summits (highest mountain on every continent) and became the 1st Arab woman to climb Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world. With her passion for exploring and redefining limits, mountaineering came as a second nature to her. Staying true to her wanderer spirit, she aims to continue leading an adventurous lifestyle and never stop climbing.   Tima grew up traveling the world collecting bungee jumps and memories of nature and extreme sports. She pursued her licenses in both skydiving and advanced scuba-diving as she made both the skies and the oceans her playgrounds. But, for her, nothing compares to being on the mountains. When on Elbrus, her first summit, Tima knew that this was not yet another hobby; but a natural and essential aspect of her life- just like breathing. It’s where her soul sparkles and her light shines. It’s where she feels she is the best version of herself. And so, it was no surprise that after Elbrus, she decided to focus on mountaineering.   The once-finance professional working in a multinational firm, gave up her career ladder for the love of mountains. Life changing decision is an understatement as she threw herself in a new path she knew barely about. Yet, she explored and excelled and later ventured into entrepreneurship by launching two startups while still climbing around the world.    When she’s not on a mountain, Tima, founder of Mountain Gipsy and a professionally certified coach, believes that her mission is to give back to the world what the mountains gave to her. As such, she works with people from all backgrounds and circumstances to develop an invincible mindset so they can achieve their most ambitious goals by becoming more resilient, creative, confident, and courageous.    Moreover, she dedicates her time to support and raise awareness for essential socio-economic topics that are shaping our world. She’s an advocate of children, youth, and women’s rights, and an activist of environmental issues. She works with various organizations to equip children, youth, and women with the means to follow their passion, develop their leadership skills, and carve their own path for a better future. In parallel, driven by her love of nature, Tima campaigns on environment issues such as climate change, deforestation, and waste recycling.   Tima’s priority remains being in the outdoors and going for any adventure that life has to offer.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Her mission for Arab Women Going back to her childhood Being into sports and wanting to try everything Thinking it wasn’t for her  Turning 19 and getting into scuba diving and sky diving Enjoying extreme sports and living on the edge Feeling the most alive when she was under pressure Never thinking she would climb mountains Being Nomadic and wanting to explore more of the world Going travelling with her family to Nepal at 14 Deciding to go and climb mountains at 23 Making her dream come true What her first steps are Why you need to be determined and serious about wanting to climb mountains Climbing Mt Elbrus - the highest mountain in Europe Not knowing what she was getting into…. Deciding to focus exclusively on mountaineering Not reaching the summit on Mt. Aconcagua  Dealing with failure in the mountains Learning to control her confidence  Making a promise to herself Working as an accountant and climbing mountains Having a vision board Getting the deposit for Mt. Everest from her family Heading to Mt Everest in 2019 and becoming the first Lebanese Woman to summit the mountain Going to Kilimanjaro with 8 young women Wanting to use her platform to give back to others Struggling to find role models in mountaineering  Going against society and the expected norms of society Being very focused on what she wants Confidence and being supported by her parents  Dealing with sickness while out in the mountains and coughing up blood The push to reach the summit of Mt. Everest The practicalities of the journey  Why every move counts at high altitude Being stuck in the bottleneck on Everest for 2hrs Deciding to go to Lebanon after the blast (2020) Working for an (NGO) - Non-Government Organizations Training for the mountains and figuring out what works for her Working as a mindset coach Values…. The power of gratitude Planning her next climbs in Nepal & Africa Final words of advice for women who want to get into the mountains   Social Media   Website www.timaderyan.com    Instagram - @mountaingipsy    Facebook - @Mountaingipsy

Angela started running at the age of 53 as part of a series of ‘small steps’ she took to improve her health and quality of life.  A friend then introduced her to the world of ultra running and she become fascinated with what the human body can achieve when asked.   Since then she has completed events of varying distances including 50 miles, a 100 mile race and the 190 mile Northern Traverse and a number of 24 hour races as well as taking up cycling and swimming.   A former surgeon, Angela has a passion to inspire others to take their own ‘small steps’ to adopt healthy lifestyle choices throughout life and has set up a social enterprise to encourage and motivate people to improve their future health.   Prior to medicine Angela had a first career in the computer industry but in her early thirties she went to medical school and retrained as a doctor. Thereafter she undertook surgical training and specialised in trauma and orthopaedics. She developed a special interest in older people and hip fracture. She combined her skills from both careers throughout her practice to improve services for patients. Among other roles, she has been a Trustee with an Age UK charity and chaired a Local Authority Health and Wellbeing Board. Each of these roles gave her different perspectives on issues affecting us as we age but a predominant concern is the level of long term health problems people develop through life.   Angela says that age really is just a number and, with increased life expectancy, it’s really important that we change our expectations of older age and remain healthy and continue to pursue our dreams and ambitions.  Setting ourselves goals of one sort or another can help give us purpose and a sense of achievement.   In September 2019, to raise awareness of the need to look after ourselves, Angela challenged herself to run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, ‘the JOGLE’, a distance of 875 miles. Overcoming extreme weather and injury, she found herself re-framing her expectations on the run.   Completing the JOGLE in 18 days, 10 hours and 3 minutes, at the age of 60, Angela set a new Guinness World Record as the oldest female to do so.   Angela has three children and three little granddaughters for whom she hopes she is a worthy and positive role model.   ‘You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream’     New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Angela Having 2 careers, first in the computer industry and then becoming a Doctor in her early 30s Developing an interest in trauma in older people 2006/2007 losing 3 close family members within 4 months of one another Throwing herself into work and becoming unfit and unhappy 2009 dealing with personal illness and needing to make a change in her life Taking - Small Steps Taking up running at 53 years old and being introduced to ultra running Learning how to cycle and swim and doing triathlons Being fascinated by what the human body can do 190 mile Northern Traverse   Losing her husband to a brain tumour  Wanting to find a way to help others Setting up a social enterprise to encourage other people to take their own small steps to improve their own quality of life Wanting to change the perception of ageing Going for Old Community Interest Company to help improve the quality of life for all of us as we age (Company Number: 11481424) Starting with walking Renewing social contacts with old friends Having trouble sleeping How can I make it fun? How can I make it enjoyable? Progressing with her running! Joining a running group for mature ladies The Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge - 30 summits over a distance of 48 miles and climbs 17,000 feet (77km, 5182m). Lakes in a Day - 50 miles, 4000m ascent   Mental resilience during tough times JOGLE - 875 miles running from John O’Groats to Lands End Dealing with the bodies response to trauma Running 40 miles a day in training Running 74 miles on the first day of JOGLE Supplementation Food and snacks to fuel the JOGLE run! Dealing with adverse weather conditions - of heat and a North Atlantic Storm! Costs of JOGLE  The challenge of gathering the evidence for Guinness to prove the World Record Advice for women who think they are too old to take on a new challenge Why you are never too old to set a new goal or a new dream Having to make the social enterprise dormant due to covid Taking on a new challenge for her 62nd birthday!  Running the 62 highest lake district peaks back to back in 62 hours on the 6th June 2021 Feeling anxious about the upcoming challenge Racing the Montane Lakeland 100 at the end of July   Advice and top tips for other women    Social Media   To find out more about Angela and The Running Granny: www.therunninggranny.co.uk   Facebook @therunninggranny    Instagram @therunninggranny    Twitter @running_granny     If you’d like to make a donation to support Angela’s social enterprise:   www.gofundme.com/f/62-62-in-62

Amira in her own words:    “My name is Amira I’m 28 years old and I’m from Bolton. I’m a Muslim British Indian. I currently work at a Spa retreat, and when I’m not working you’ll find me somewhere in the mountains or on an adventure. I’m the founder of The Wanderlust Women Group which is a hiking and adventure group for Muslim women. My aim is to break down the barriers and stereotypes of the niqab and to break down misconceptions of Muslim women. The niqab to me is liberating and dignifying. It gives me strength and freedom. I wear the niqab as a personal act of worship and I deeply believe it brings me closer to god.”   Amira shares more about her passion for the outdoors, why she spends time outside and how she is encouraging other Muslim women to get outdoors and try hiking.    “Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do.”    “It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”   Listen to Amira on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time. Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Amira Living in Bolton Combing her passions for photography, videography and the outdoors Doing community based work with other Muslim women Being the oldest child and getting to travel a lot Not wanting to do anything in her teenage years Being encouraged by her mum to go hiking  Going solo travelling and backpacking after college Getting to explore more of England Finding her own route into the outdoors How her mum found more people to go hiking with Being a “good scared’ about going solo travelling Deciding to go on a road trip around England Planning a trip to Paris which then expanded to more of Europe Studying art & design at university Being questioned about her decisions How the name for Wanderlust Women came about Researching and answering questions about her safety Lessons learned from being on her own Trying to find out who she is Needing to get out of her comfort zone Wanderlust Women and how it came about The benefits from joining the group Encouraging women to sign up for new challenges and adventures Why the outdoors is for everyone What the niqab is and what it means to her Advice and tips for Muslim women who want to solo hike Finding appropriate clothing to wear to dress modestly Syndeed Clothing  Food while hiking Magical moments from the mountains Doing the 3 Peaks Challenge in the UK Connecting with God when outdoors Needing a pause and spending time in nature Wanting to do more in the outdoors Dealing with anxiety on Ben Nevis Bucket List Dreams Who her Muslim role models are Don’t let your fears get in the way     Social Media   Instagram   @amira_thewanderlust    @the.wanderlust.women

Nalini in her own words:   “I’m a grants manager at a nonprofit that focuses on youth development by day and an outdoor enthusiast by weekend. Whether I’m tending to my balcony garden, walking in parks in my hometown of the Washington, D.C. area, hiking iconic trails in National Parks, or carrying everything I need for a week or six-month long backpacking trip, I love spending time in the outdoors (and sharing stories of everything that goes wrong during my adventures).   Backpacking. It’s nothing short of a gift to have time to be in your head, carry no other worry than the miles ahead for the day and feel the freedom that comes with with carrying everything you need in a pack. Hiking. The remarkable view from the summit of a mountain feels different when your body’s efforts get you to the top. Walking. Nothing makes me feel more connected to all the beauty and possibility of nature than a walk in a park close to home.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Growing up in DC Area Not growing up going to green spaces Being the daughter of immigrants Not having time to explore the outdoors Getting into the outdoors in 2014 Going through tough times  Watching a documentary on the Appalachian Trail Not seeing herself in the traditional narrative of what’s seen as outdoorsy Wanting to change the narrative of what it means to be in the outdoors Starting the blog and instagram account - Hiking Misadventures  Spending time with her mum in the garden Her earliest memories Being a quiet child Looking after her mum while she had cancer How her parents fled Sir Lanka Deciding to hike the Appalachian Trail Always following a road map and needing to change something Not liking new things Deciding to go solo on the hike Sleeping in the shelter for the first time Focusing on the next step, the next mile and the next day Dealing with her feelings of fear The planning and preparation time The privilege of being able to do a long distance hike Being a good planner Dealing with imposter syndrome Learning to believe in herself The challenge of being 4’9 tall How her body needed to adjust to the trail Getting to the summit of Mt. Katahdin How the Appalachian Trail changed her and helped her to believe in herself How her priorities changed Wanting to share more of her story and starting her next blog in 2018 How the Appalachian Trail was also an isolating time for her Connecting with an amazing community online What adventure means to Nalini Feeling isolated and dealing with those feelings while on the AT Racism on the Appalachian Trail and not feeling safe  Taking time off and using her support networks off the trail Life after the trail and not wanting to make work her entire life The Wonderland Trail (93 miles) Applying to be a thru hiking ambassador  Being rescued from the trail Making the right decision even though it was tough to make Ending the hike early  Dealing with feelings of shame How her mum is doing Advice for other women who want to spend more time in the outdoors Words to encourage you to try new things   Social Media   Website - hikingmisadventures.com    Instagram @hikingmisadventures    

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

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