Tough Girl Podcast

Cheryl Strayed is the author of four books, including the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Wild. Through her book, she shares her journey of hiking Pacific Crest Trail at 22 years old and dealing with the grief of losing her mother. These events changed the course of Cheryl’s life and took her on an incredible adventure along the Pacific Crest Trail. It wasn’t until 10 years later that Cheryl shared her experience in a memoir. As a writer, Cheryl has been committed to the power of story all her life. In our conversation, she reflects on her childhood and what’s changed since she’s become a mother herself. She shares her experience of personal transformation, what it was like publishing Wild, and what happened after sharing her book.   Show Notes Growing up with a young mum and witnessing abuse Learning to live ‘rich in love’ from her mother Being a mother and how it’s changed her perspective Dealing with the loss of her mother and leading up to the PCT Deciding to hike the PCT from a place of weakness   “I knew that the wild places made me feel most full.”   Writing the book 10 years later Figuring out who she was throughout her life Having no one to rely on during her hike on the PCT and feeling empowered Finding transformation in wilderness, physical challenge, and solitude About ‘monster’, Cheryl’s backpack on the PCT Feeling lucky to have made mistakes during her hike   “I had to learn how to live with the truth of my life. I had to learn how to carry those things.”   Being astounded by the beauty of the PCT and feeling gratitude Understanding what was important about writing Wild What it felt like having her personal story read by people around the world   “You have to be fearless when it comes to writing the truth.”   The values of a writer and how that helped Cheryl share her story Dealing with people who don’t like her books Teaching her kids to have emotional intelligence Using the outdoors to cope with the emotional ups and downs Having a revelation that grief is always with us and learning to live with it What it was like finishing her hike of the PCT Deciding what’s next after a big adventure Meeting her husband 9 days after her hike Sharing other people’s stories while telling her own Being a writer mum and teaching her kids Telling herself, “I’m not afraid.” Sarah’s Appalachian Trail challenge The pros and cons of being connected during an adventure How Cheryl met Oprah Measuring your success by doing all you can do Watching Wild for the first time Considering the ‘flawed’ label Cheryl’s words of advice for people going through struggles   “Even the hardest times are only a moment. They are one part of a whole life.”   Social Media Keep up with Cheryl on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and at www.cherylstrayed.com   Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.  Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!   Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.   

Chloe Phillips-Harris is a freelance adventure journalist. While her day job is riding, training, and competing with horses, adventure lurks around every corner. In the winter, she goes off the beaten path to adventure and shares her experience with journalism. As a teenager, Chloe would get naughty ponies she had to train. The next step for her was training wild horses. Bonding with wild horses is a magical experience she goes back to again and again. You can hear the passion in Chloe’s voice for her horses. Chloe has worked all over the world in places like Egypt, Fiji, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia to use her skills in new ways. Her interest in the world and animals propelled her to take amazing opportunities taking care of wild animals. Chloe raced unsupported in the Mongol Derby, what’s called the toughest horse race in the world. While dealing with sickness and wild animals, Chloe was spurred on by anger and kept going.      Show Notes   Growing up in the Bay of Islands on a farm with her strong mother Developing a passion for horses at an early age Working with wild horses at 21 years of age How Chloe gets wild horses and spends 16 hours a day with them Bonding with wild horses and how it relates to other relationships The wild horses Chloe’s learned to love and taught to love other people Dealing with horses she hasn’t been able to connect with Learning that we’re all similar from working with horses A typical day in Chloe’s life Enrolling in a double science major at Uni Working hard at age 18 and winning the New Zealand Young Rider series Getting burnt out at 23 and going to Egypt Travelling around the world to use her skills in new ways Caring for horses and doing aid work in Fiji, India, and Egypt Seeing the worst parts of humanity at times and feeling burnt out Writing about what she saw for horse and adventure magazines Participating in the world’s toughest horse race, the Mongol Derby Training for the Mongol Derby by running and riding in shorts The difference between Mongolian horses and New Zealand Getting sick during the Mongol Derby and dealing with incredible challenges Being chased by wild dogs and having her horse bolt into a swamp The most amazing experiences of the Mongol Derby doing exactly what she wanted to be doing   “It’s really important to do something in your life that you’re proud of.”   Being a part of the crew for the Mongol Derby this year Getting to a crossroads and deciding what to pursue Wanting to work with camels Having an incredible experience watching a woman ride a reindeer   Social Media Say Hi to Chloe on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.    Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you! Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.  

Yorkshire Rows is a team of four working mums who dared to dream. They are the first women to row across the North Sea and holders of the Guinness World record for rowing 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean during the world’s toughest rowing race. I’m joined by Niki Doeg and Janette Benaddi, two members of Yorkshire Rows. They share their story about life-changing adventure, witnessing the beauty of the elements, and discovering who you really are. With corporate and medical backgrounds, spouses and children at home, these women committed to an adventure. They challenged themselves to prepare the finances, take the exams, and train themselves to row across the ocean. Show Notes How Janette and Niki began their careers and got interested in adventure Meeting at a rowing club and becoming good friends Deciding to embark on a challenge and getting family support What their children had to say about their adventure Being very passionate in order to accomplish a dream Racing finances, learning about the ocean and taking exams Supporting charities through their challenge What it cost to row across the ocean How long it took Yorkshire Rows to execute their idea Transporting the 30 ft long boat Preparing for the launch date Recognising the danger of being out on the ocean What it was like for Jeanette being the skipper Dealing with the pressures of the row Mentally preparing for the challenge Getting annoyed with each other and dealing with it What a typical day looked like during their row Being bored, experiencing highs, and missing family Finding comfort in the middle of the ocean What it was like seeing land in the distance at the finish Shouldering responsibility during the row Celebrating their amazing crossing Learning to be more relaxed about life and not be so cautious What’s next for Niki and Janette Coming out with a book about friendship and adventure Last words of inspiration and not making excuses   Social Media Connect with Yorkshire Rows at www.yorkshirerows.com/ and YorkshireRows@outlook.com   Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.  Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you! Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.   

***Thank you to all my patrons and all the amazing members of the Tough Girl Tribe - thank you for your continued support, in allowing me to share important stories like this***   Show notes How she heard about the Tough Girl Tribe (thank you Lou!) Life before children - running marathons and climbing mountains Finding a lump in her right breast Being diagnosed with a very aggressive type of breast cancer How her whole world came crumbling down Dealing with the shock and trying to come to terms with it Losing control of her life Joining a FB group for women under 45 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer - The Younger Breast Cancer Network Setting her intentions from the start of the diagnosis Spending New Years Eve doing chemo - and a reminder of why good friends are so important A year of treatment How much her mentality played a part in her recovery Getting through the bad days and how she got through them How her girls coped Dealing with her hair loss and cutting her hair Why she decided to take on a triathlon while undergoing treatment Team Phoenix and signing up for a sprit triathlon Her training and how it all worked Her fears about the triathlon… swimming! Why she kept on practicing and why she enjoyed learning a new skill Drawing a line in the sand and using the triathlon as a way to mark the end of her treatment for cancer Being so happy to be alive Advice for other women who may be in a similar situation Her next challenge in 2017! Supporting Team Phoenix as a mentor for the ladies in South East London Raising funds for Team Verrico Looking forward to the future,  focusing on her family, her work and her exercise   ***CHECK YOUR BREASTS - TODAY***

Paula Reid has achieved 150 things of her things to do before she dies list including skiing to the South Pole, walking on hot coals, kayaking the Thames, and running a marathon.   She believes in living life to the full and making the most of our one life. To seize and savour is her mantra from taking advantage of amazing opportunities to savouring beautiful, small moments.   In one of her challenges, Paula sailed in a race around the world with only 2 months of preparation. The team faced a number of trials and accidents, ultimately making it home in 10 months. Later, Paula became the 14th international woman and 3d British woman to ski across the full distance from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.   Show Notes   Finding her sense of adventure and discovery Becoming a rebel as a teenager and falling in with the ‘right’ crowd Starting her living life list and adding a diversity of challenges The challenges that stand out for Paula Feeling stuck in a job she enjoyed and deciding to sail around the world How Paula has been able to afford these challenges Training to sail in 2 months with no prior experience Dealing with overwhelm and worry Using mantras and taking things one step at a time Leaving the port for the yacht race Experiencing medical evacuations, man overboard Working as a ‘pit chick’ on the boat Dealing with accidents during the race Bouncing back from depression as a team Coming home after a 10-month race The difficulty of coming back after a great adventure Getting the dream to ski across the South Pole Finding an adventure partner and telling friends and family about her goals Skiing in a temperature colder than a freezer Facing a major challenge with an injury Balancing the seize and savour Paula’s next challenge, 50 Good Turns Getting in touch with Paula at www.paulareid.com Looking forward to biking Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania Paula’s tips on living life to the full Writing a list of what you’ve done already and creating your live life to the full list Planning for a worm charming competition   Social Media Find Paula’s book and connect with her on www.paulareid.com. She’s also on Twitter and Instagram.     Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.  Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!   Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.   

Over the last twenty years Anna-Marie’s journey has taken her from icy snow holes in Norway, to the desolate plains of Afghanistan and Iraq while working for the British Army. Most recently she’s been pushing her endurance boundaries running various ultra races & competing in long distance triathlons.  Her diet, lifestyle and work has turned a full 180 degrees from being totally over weight and unhealthy to being tucked up in bed by ten with a diet based on real food and competing at a high level in endurance sports. Her passion has focused in on the mindset aspect of endurance/adventure/challenges and what you can learn from them to apply to your every day life    Endurance Portfolio  •Marathon des Sables - finished 2nd lady & top 50 overall (2015) •Ultra-Trail World Tour Future Series Cappadocia 110km – finished 1st lady & 5th overall (2016) •Course records in The ONER (2016), XNRG Cotswolds Way (2015) & XNRG Round the Island (2016) •Qualified IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships 2013 & 2014 •IRONMAN 70.3 Aix en Provence (2014) & Weymouth (2016) placed 3rd in age group •Ultra-Trail World Tour sponsored athlete •Supported by French endurance company W A A •Other races include: St. Oswald’s Way 100 mile, North Face 100, Everest Marathon, UTMB CCC, Challenge Roth, GeoQuest 48 hour adventure race.   Show notes Connecting at the WAEXPO event in January Getting AnneMarie to introduce herself Hating PE when she was a child, but loving the outdoors Being involved in Cadets and Duke of Edinburgh Being sponsored by the Army & going to university, before heading off to Sandhurst Being in the military for 9 years and going on operational tours in Afghanistan Running her first marathon, but never really enjoying running on the road Meeting her husband while in the Army Deciding she wanting to do an ultra in 2007 Deciding on the Everest Marathon! Getting perspective on the world & finishing the race! The race which has really challenged her mental limits What goes through her mind before she races - the planning, the preparation, the route, visualisation and her internal chat and why she checks in with herself a lot during the race Why she has a strategy to be positive during the race Deciding to commit to your goals  Advice and tips to help you take your first steps and why you should always ASK people for HELP Being scared of even going into a bike shop Training for the Marathon des Sables and getting the balance right Her concerns before the race Her race and the point which really challenged her! Being one of the top 5 females on the long day “Just do your best” Trigging my memories of Marathon des Sables The race to the finish and coming in 2nd women! Would she do the race again? Trying to pick races which have a special meaning Advice and tips for when you’re going after your first ultra,  why you should build up to it and be kind to yourself. Getting into Ironman & training in Dubai Being horrific at swimming and wanting to sort it out What a typical training week look likes and why it does vary Getting her genes tested - DNA FIT to understand more about what she should be eating and how she should be training Avoiding junk miles and why you should either be doing, long slow runs or speed work. Why it’s about the quality of your training and not the quantity How she recovers and why it’s all about sleep! RFM Coaching - how the company started and has evolved Why performance is so important in all areas of your life Loving her life! NLP Quick fire questions from the tribe:- kit, mantras, books, food & theme songs! Future plans for 2017 - learning how to swim properly & taking on the UTMB!   Contact Anne-Marie anna@rfmcoaching.com www.rfmcoaching.com @rfmcoaching   Feeling inspired week after week?    You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!   Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.    Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!   Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.    SaveSave

Part 3 - 7 Women - 7 Challenges 2017   At the start of 2017 after feedback from the Tough Girl Tribe. I started 7 Women - 7 Challenges.  Throughout the year I will be interviewing 7 women as we follow them on their journey of going after their own personal challenges. We will learn what really has to happen for people to achieve their goals, we will hear about their frustrations, disappointments, set backs, as well as their successes and achievements.  It is real stories, from real women, living real lives.  This is part 3*   Timings   Jen Dxyhorron - 4 mins Jo Jo Rogers - 33 mins Georgie Akin-Smith - 1.07 Gemma Smith - 1.35 Rachel Wise - 2.09 Laura Try - 2.47   *We will be catching up with Rae Red in Part 4   Show notes   Jen Dykxhoorn   Visiting friends and family in Canada How our last conversation reinvigorated her training plan Signing up for 1 month gym membership and doing 20 classes Feeling strong, powerful and feeling even more energised  Moving back to Sweden for 3 - 6 months Update on her everyday magic goals  - from reading more books to flossing her teeth everyday Being inspired by the adventurous women from the Tough Girl Podcast Being inspired by the book “Wild Women” Cultivating good habits  Champagne Goals - are in progress and her first goal will be checked off soon when she moves back to Sweden The planning and preparation for her August cycle ride - LEJOG Working with her sister to plan the trip in more detail The power of lists Sorting out the route and accommodation How her PHD has helped her to plan for her adventures Using permanent lists Her city break to Poland and taking a break from life and being able to switch off  The 3 Ps - Packing - Planning - PHD  Her end of month check in - “Structured Reflection” Feeling good about the progress she’s made in both her training and her PHD The Passion Planner - Why she loves it and has used it religiously for the past 2 years Filling that space when you’ve finished your goal Her focus for the next few weeks Thinking about an ultra marathon! Looking for an ultra marathon race in July somewhere in Europe - Any ideas! Continuing the, Year of the Mighty Thigh! Sunning 6k to get to wifi! Why she’s also going to focus on strength training as a use for injury prevention   Her Sister - Karen Dykxhoorn - Follow on Instagram @hopefulgoat  & twitter @hopefulgoat    Jo Jo Rogers   What’s been happening since we last spoke The snowshoe races! The World Snowshoe Championships… with no snow! Getting ready to race when the course conditions were so terrible What the route was like and being fearful of getting hurt Finishing 3rd in the world for women aged between 50 - 59 How she celebrated The National Snowshoe Championships… 10 ft of snow! Her race strategy Watching her daughter race How she deals with nerves before a race Travelling next year to Spain for the World Championships with her daughter Mother daughter bonding Her next race in Texas Starting to pick up training again Training for snowshoeing in the dirt and the grass Mixing up her training The challenges she is dealing with at the moment - sleep, nutrition,  Weekly millage… 130  Junk miles? Running easy miles Overtraining and how she knows Happiness Speed work and how she does it - her favourite is progression training  Sleep habits What she’s learnt from the races so far Feeling selfish, because she’s doing what she loves Living the life she wants to   Georgia Akin-Smith   2 of her challenges have been completed! How she was feeling before her duathlon in Windsor Getting to the venue super early What the course was like 10k run - 40k bike - 5k run What was going through her head on the start line Trying to remember to run her own race Her race strategy  What she learned from the experience Why being prepared helped her Her “oh no” moments Her final transition and what her legs were like Trying to fit another duathlon into her schedule for this year! Her 2nd challenge The Cross Country Ski Marathon in Switzerland! Training for the Ski Marathon in Hyde Park! Not being able to get into her rhythm The downhill and why it was harder Her next challenge - The London Marathon Suffering with a hip injury Why you have to listen to your body 120 mile cycle ride, 10 hours in the saddle with few stops What she was eating on her cycle ride Going for a Bike Fit Feeling nervous about her next cycle challenges Her current fears about the upcoming races Mantras and visualisation to help with her challenges   Learn more about Georgia and her future challenges www.gwhodares.com  Twitter @GWhoDares & Instagram @GwhoDares   Gemma Smith   What Gemma has been up to since we last spoke Working hard, making the most of her weekends and spending time in Chamonix Skiing, climbing and heading up North in the UK to head into Snowdonia in Wales Some low level hiking just below the snow line Enjoying ice climbing and leaning new skills to help in the mountains Heading over to Italy to climb and being one of the few girls out there Practicing screwing in ice screws and different ways of belaying on ice What good ice should look like Thinking about the long term and why she’s learning these skills now Having the aim to be skilled and fit enough to face any challenge on the mountain Working with her personal trainer “Hurricanes” a new fun way of training! Working in a hypoxic way Trying to maintain everything she’s doing Heading back to Chamonix in Easter Getting everything ready for her trip in August Getting her accommodation all booked for August - staying in mountain huts on the way Dealing with Raynaud’ s while out in the cold The £200 pair of gloves… Starting to blog - Adventures of a novice mountaineer Why she’s going to start upping things now Trying to do more ridge walks to get as much exposure as possible Her next challenge in Chamonix and planning another trip to Scotland Finding a good guide through - Adventure Base Tips from her guide - John The challenges over the past few weeks, especially trying to balance work   How she keeps her motivation going especially day to day Collecting local art work and reminding herself why she’s doing it Why music helps to keep her motivated as well as talking to people Why you have to be a little bit crazy to pursue what you love  Nutrition for mountain days The Sandstone Trail in Cheshire - potential training walk for me!   Keeping updated with Gemma via Instagram, twitter and her blog!     Rachel Wise   A reflection on how she was feeling a few months ago Turning a corner  The website is now live, and she’s up and running on twitter and Instagram Air BNB is starting to make money which is great going into the savings account Speaking with their landlord about being able to sublease the house while they were away Being able to come back to the same house in Switzerland once they finish travelling Paying for the flights and being all booked up as far as they can with regards to flights Planning the budget per day for each place they visit Progress regarding the girls education The focus for the coming weeks Trying to figure out what to do with their dog! Feeling more organised and getting on top of things Documenting the journey through the website and via social media Not getting twitter, and not seeing how it can work for her Enjoying Instagram and finding it fun Feeling more positive about everything Training for the Geneva Marathon What’s she learned so far Telling work….. Blog post - “Are we who we say we are?” Ignore the haters and the negative comments Feeling proud of the website, and crossing of items on her to do list Applying to be a house sitter for July What else she’s be working on in the coming weeks - from running the Geneva Marathon to sorting out accommodation for their trip, and planning the US road trip Visit the website - www.slowtravelfamily.com  and follow on twitter @SlowTravelFam  and Instagram @slowtravelfamily   Laura Try Life is tough Formulating a plan New members of the LT Support Crew The issue of raising funds for the challenge The struggle of getting in front of the right people £6k raised and another £15K needed to reach her target in 9 weeks or else she will be kicked off the team New strategies every week e.g. last week cold calling How’s she's handling the pressure Having a melt down a few weeks ago Not being able to rest, if she rests, then nothing else happens Trying to remain positive Waking up at 6 am - working all day and then back on the laptop working (every day) What the options are? Feeling embarrassed if she doesn’t do it Focus on the positives Being featured by Health & Fitness Magazine! New videos being made Making progress Speaking with Lauren Morton  Connecting with local business people The £150 club! Speaking to Jamie Sparks Cold calling!! Learning new skills!! Making changes to sponsorship brochure  No time for training  Having to sacrifice; food, sleep and training to focus on sponsorship and funding Mental health Feeling on the edge How its become an obsession The focus for the next few weeks Wishing she done crowdfunding first Debt? Creating a video for the - Road Rower! Being proactive What she’s learned from the past few weeks Not being able to think straight How to connect with Laura - Facebook, twitter, Youtube, and visit her website

17-year-old Lilyella Craw-Seaman carried a 43lb rucksack as she took on the Pen Y Fan in the latest instalment of the Fan Dance Race Series. More than 300 people took part and Lilyella was the first female across the line. Lilyella carried a 43lb rucksack to the top of 2907ft Pen Y Fan in Wales, ran down the mountain, then turned round and did it all over again. She completed the brutal 15-mile route, designed to weed out the weak in SAS selection training, in just four-and-a-half hours. Afterwards, Lilyella said the trek, known as the Fan Dance, was the greatest challenge of her life!  During this podcast we learn more about Lilyella, why she enjoys doing challenges, her motivation and her drive to make sure she always give her best and goes after every opportunity. Show notes Her first passion, swimming & swimming competitively from 5 years old Finding out about her family Liking to win! Balancing school work with swimming and why boarding school helped Waking up at 4am, to swim for 2 hours before school and swimming again in the evening Where she gets her drive from Why swimming makes you mentally strong Her proudest moment swimming Being 14 and making the Scottish Senior Team Competing internationally in Germany The start line, what’s going through her head Keeping her composure while racing Her race tactics Why it’s important for her to stay calm, especially at the start of the race Having a strong finish at the end Making a transition into the mountains and how it came about Alba Military Fitness Who Dares Cares The Fan Dance Challenge! Telling her parents about the challenge! The race, her bag, the route, the distance, the start Crossing the finish line! How working as part of a team helped her to achieve this goal Future challenges she wants to get involved in! Wanting to join the Army Why failing has made her stronger Advice for other girls out there who want to get involved in sports and doing challenges   Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.    Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!   Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.   

Thank you to all the Patrons of the Tough Girl Podcast  - your continued support is fantastic!!! To become a patron - click HERE! Ride4MedicalAid is a sponsored cycle ride from London to Jerusalem to raise awareness and funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). The ride, started on the 27 August 2016, crossing 13 countries, covering a distance of 3,500km in less than 35 days, arriving at Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on the 30 September 2016. MAP is a humanitarian organisation working for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. MAP provides lifesaving medical supplies, equipment, training and humanitarian aid to those most in need in Gaza, the West Bank and in Lebanon. Show notes About Rahma, her transition into cycling from rowing Growing up in Norwich and having a very normal upbringing Setting her history and learning more about her family Being brought up with Islam In 2014 during the war in Gaza, she was sitting on her sofa watching the news and finally decided it was time for her to do something to raise awareness about the situation in Palestine/Israel.  Not doing anything for a year and not knowing how to start In May 2015 visiting Shatila camp in Beirut where she learnt more about MAP and how it was founded following the massacres in Shatila and Sabra camps in 1982. The “Key of Return” and what it means Finding her belief and her reason why” the belief in equal healthcare for ALL” Being scared, and how the idea slowly evolved and all started to become real Dealing with her fears and how her family and friends helped Planning for her cycle! Fitting in her training around work, doing back to back training and adding in sportive events to ensure she was on track Sorting out tyres and becoming a tester! Planning her route using Google earth & street view How she didn’t plan mentally for the trip Starting her adventure, from the bottom of her road Having her mum with her for the start Dealing with the hills & the cobbles! Getting to Munich and being joined by her friends and enjoying the first few weeks Saddle soreness and dealing with the pain Doing exactly what she wants to do with her life The descent into Athens! Getting into Jerusalem and finishing the cycle What she's learnt most about herself on this trip The most challenging part of the trip and what she learned from this experience Dealing with unwanted attention  Arriving back into the UK and trying to settle back into normal life Getting out of the slump and being inspired by Emily Chappell & Anna McNuff Her plans for the future! Raising £22,000 for MAP - Learn more about MAP Final words of advice and, “why you can’t fail if you try”    Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.    Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!   Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs. 

Frances Taylor a member of the Tough Girl Tribe is sharing more of her life on the Tough Girl Podcast! Over caffeinated and overreacting.  Marathon runner, and one time ultra runner. Cycling New Zealand, Cape Reinga to Bluff 🚲 💌: francesmtaylor@gmail.com Show notes Hating PE at school and stopping all physical activity from 14 years old Finding fitness again Deciding to do the Detroit Marathon Living in London and working full time as a receptionist Starting to run and how it helped her with her mental health Having 10 months to train for her first marathon The first time putting her trainers on and going for a run Building up her training over time To tell people or not to tell people? Being embarrassed about how slow she was Being a few weeks away from her first marathon and dealing with the nerves Letting herself feel her feelings and carrying on Her first marathon, being overwhelmed, tired and crying at mile 17 How her self confidence sky rocketed after doing the marathon The Scafell Pike Marathon! Training for the hills Deciding to do an ultra! A flat 75K (with no navigation) Why the time is passing anyway and you should go out and do what you want to do Giving it their best shot Doing the race for themselves With her 30th birthday coming up & deciding to quit her job Needing to do something big with her life  Why she decided she wanted to go to New Zealand Tips for saving money Giving herself 2 years to get ready Her plan for NZ and why it’s been more difficult than she thought and why its been more amazing that she could imagine Learning to have more self belief Social media Tumblr - http://pennyface.tumblr.com Instagram - @Penny_face Twitter - @penny_face    Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.  Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you! Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.