Tough Girl Podcast

Meaghan Hackinen is a Kelowna-based bikepacker and writer whose two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads.

She is a 4X Everester as well as a Transcontinental Race, Trans Am Bike Race, and Paris-Brest-Paris brevet finisher. Meaghan holds the women’s course record for the World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships, among others.

In 2023, Meaghan took the overall solo win in all but one of the endurance races she competed in, including the Buckshot and Lost Elephant in British Columbia, Silver State 508 in Nevada, and an Individual Time Trial of the Log Driver’s Waltz in Canada’s Capitol region.

Her debut travel memoir, "South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels" (NeWest Press, 2019) was shortlisted for two Canadian book awards and her follow up, "Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race" was just released to critical acclaim.

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The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

Show notes

• Who is Meaghan
• Her 2023 cycling plans and how she structures her training in the winter
• Letting things fall into place and being opportunistic
• Having a dislocated finger and getting COVID
• Working with a coach in the past
• Using TrainerRoad as her cycle training platform
• Using the Dynamic Cyclist app for strength, stretching and mobility work
• Writing the races down on her calendar
• Preparing herself and her bikes
• Choosing races with the goal of competing at her best level
• Setting a new women's FKT
• the importance of nutrition and recovery
• Prioritising route prep using a combination of Strava, ride with GPS, and Google
• Creating a cue sheet with resupply points, elevation high points, and challenging features
• Having a to-do list and a checklist
• Journaling and giving yourself space
• Meditating and feeling much better afterwards
• Practicing visualization
• Transitioning from road cycling to off-road gravel adventures
• Enjoying the challenge and discovering unexpected places
• Carrying a bike through obstacles like water crossings and steep hills
• Not training very much on the TT bike this year
• Having a friendly and supportive cycling community
• Finding rivalries motivating
• Finishing the Dark Divide race alongside her partner
• Describing the Dark Divide and what it's like
• Writing and releasing her new book, Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race
• Having a transformative experience in 2017 that made her write a book
• Lessons and realizations that made her grow
• Reflecting on solo mountain biking experience
• Her plans for 2024
• Quick-fire questions
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Website: meaghanhackinen.com

Instagram @meaghanhackinen

Facebook @meaghanhackinen

Book: Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race

Sarah Thomas, aged 41, is an ultra-marathon swimmer who achieved the current world record for the longest continuous swim in current-neutral conditions, performed without assistance or a wetsuit. This record-breaking feat spanned 104.6 miles over the course of 67 hours and took place in Lake Champlain, USA, in August 2017.

Shortly after this remarkable swim, Sarah faced an aggressive form of breast cancer diagnosis at the young age of 35. During her cancer treatment, which included chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, Sarah remained unwavering in her pursuit of an extraordinary swim that many considered impossible.

One year post-cancer treatment, Sarah made history by becoming the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel, accomplishing this incredible feat in a remarkable 54 hours and 10 minutes.

More recently, Sarah achieved another groundbreaking milestone, becoming the first individual in history to conquer a two-way crossing of the North Channel, enduring 21 hours and 46 minutes in frigid waters inhabited by enormous jellyfish.

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The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

Show notes:

• Who is Sarah
• Her story of becoming a long-distance open-water swimmer
• Early memories of comfort and joy in the water
• Begging her dad to sign her up for the swim team
• Getting introduced to open-water swimming by a friend and found her passion in it
• Swimming through high school and in college for the University of Connecticut
• Trying out other sports after college
• Growing up in Texas where swimming is super competitive
• How she transitioned to open-water swimming after college
• How she returned to swimming after a 2-year hiatus
• Discovering her passion for open-water swimming in 2007
• Signing up for Catalina Channel in 2010
• Training for the English Channel by swimming around Manhattan in 2011 and booking a slot for 2012
• Struggles with cold water and building up tolerance
• Refusing to take cold showers, and values warm showers as a luxury
• Poor weather and not wanting to swim the English Channel
• Returning to England with a reformed crew enjoying a beautiful, sunny swim across the channel
• Falling out of love with swimming
• Setting her sights on longer swims, including a 42-mile swim across Lake Tahoe
• Swimming for 24 hours and the challenge of mentally preparing for such a long distance
• Having her husband next to her helps her prepare for each swimming session
• Sarah's experience of swimming 104.6 miles in Lake Champlain
• Reflecting on her childhood and meeting her potential
• Feeling on top of the world after completing an incredible swim
• Having digestive issues during long swims and eating liquid-based nutrition
• Swimming and craving for giant cheeseburgers
• Finding a lump in her breast and being diagnosed withbreast cancer
• Her treatment and how it would impact her ability to swim
• Finding solace in swimming during chemotherapy
• Sarah and her doctor working together to find solutions
• What makes her uncomfortable after a mastectomy
• Being glad for keeping her left side intact
• Swimming the English Channel in 2019 after completing an 80-mile swim in Lake Powell in 2016
• The difficulty of her swims, particularly in the English Channel
• Struggles with nausea and vomiting, seasickness and mental exhaustion during her swims
• Battling a strong current caused hours of delay in the swim, causing mental and physical exhaustion
• Her desire to complete the Oceans Seven Challenge
• Having two remaining swims in the Oceans Seven Challenge
• Swimming the Strait of Gibraltarand the Tsugaru Strait
• Why the swimming organization in Japan stopped accepting swimmers
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Website:sarahthomasswims.com

Instagram: @SarahSwims04

Twitter: @SarahSwims04

Facebook: @SarahThomasMarathonSwimmer

Rebecca's story starts in the North East of England, where she grew up on a smallholding in an area with little ethnic diversity. Influenced by her mom's passion for animals, she pursued a dream of becoming a vet and moved to Liverpool for University.

As a young mom, she discovered tennis and joined a fitness group before her journey led her to running.

Residing at the foot of the Pennines in West Yorkshire with her husband and two children. Rebecca turned to running in 2021 as a way to escape life's demands of a busy family life and the stress of running a veterinary practice during Covid. In 2022, she set her first trail race goal, a 16k trail race in the Lakes.

Rebecca's story also includes her involvement with Black Trail Runners, where she found community and purpose. She shares her experiences, from Endure 24 to the 3 Dales Marathon in North Yorkshire.

Rebecca shares more about why she wants to participate in challenging races, how she build inner strength, and expands her comfort zone. She candidly discusses her experiences, of training for and running in the mountainous Adidas TERREX Infinite trails race in Austria. Plus how she completed her longest run to date, 77k on the Peak Divide running from Sheffield to Manchester through the Peak District.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

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Show notes

• Who is Rebecca
• Her early years in the North East of England
• Growing up on a small holding
• Living in the least ethnically diverse place in the whole of the UK
• Being influenced by her dad who was super sporty
• Her mum’s passion for animals and how it influenced Rebecca into wanting to become a vet
• Having one cat
• Studying to become a vet at Liverpool University
• Being use to working hard and dealing with pressure and stress
• Gaining work experience at every opportunity
• Not being able to do sport while at university
• Moving to a more diverse city
• Growing up in white spaces
• Not being a runner
• Having her first child in 2014 and feeling a bit lost
• Getting into tennis and starting to play on a regular basis
• Having her 2nd child in 2018 and joining a mums fitness group
• The impact of covid while working as a vet
• Getting into running in 2021
• Living in West Yorkshire at the foot of the Pennines
• Running to have time to herself and to get away from everything
• Deciding to set a running goal in 2022 and entering her first trail race (16k trail race in the lakes)
• Her journey with Black Trails Runners, where it all started
• Watching Martin 'MJ' Johnson in the film - ‘Run to the Source’ made with Patagonia
• Feeling uncomfortable, weird and isolated
• The sense of satisfaction after completing her first race
• Finding her community and what she wanted to do
• Getting more involved in BTR and what that looked like
• Connecting with an online community via social media
• Endure 24 with BTR
• Signing up for the 3 Dales Marathon, North Yorkshire
• Not eating or drinking enough and how it impacted her race
• Building inner strength and dealing with the hard moments while out on the race
• Entering the growth zone and expanding your comfort zone
• Signing up for 2 more races
• Running The Haworth Hobble in winter
• Running the Peak Divide (a 2 day ultra - running from Manchester to Sheffield)
• Singing up to do Infinite Trails
• Fitting in training around her life and what it looks like
• Liking routine and liking to be busy
• Why it’s about the journey
• Deciding to apply to run in her first mountain race and becoming part of the first all female, all black running team
• Needing to be prepared
• Working with a running coach - Sam from Kings of the Wild Frontier
• Having the opportunity to train in Chamonix and Snowdonia and spending time as a team
• Running the “Short Leg” as part of the relay - 21k, 1900m of climbing!
• Running the 10k technical descent and the concentration needed to get to the finish
• Recovery after the race and struggling to walk afterwards
• Having a 77k ultra marathon (Peak Divide) the week after!
• Dealing with pain and nausea and not being in a good place
• Not knowing how she would be able to run the final 40k
• Trying to turn it around mentally
• Needing to stop thinking about the end and focusing on the next step
• Taking things step by step and slowly starting to feel better
• Finishing the race after a difficult and challenging internal battle!
• Filming a short film for Kendal Mountain Festival
• Being on the cover of German Trail Magazine
• Sharing her journey on Instagram
• Final words of advice to encourage and motivate you
• This about the journey and don’t always think about the end goal
• “You can achieve, you just have to take the first steps"

Social Media

Instagram: @rebecca_runs_wild

Black Trail Runners - A community and campaigning charity seeking to increase inclusion, participation and representation of Black people in trail running

Website:www.blacktrailrunners.run

Instagram: @blacktrailrunners

Facebook: @blacktrailrunners

Bethan is committed to challenging the way we talk about running to encourage as many people as possible to find joy in the experience. She’s an advocate for pace inclusion, spending time outdoors and living well in the world.

Bethan in her own words:

“I live in South London with my husband Mike, our daughter Evie and Loki the Brussels Griffon in a flat that has views over the whole city.

A few years ago I quit the city and went back to university to work on my PhD and I spend my days researching the representations and identities of women in ultra running in the Sport Business Research Centre at Birkbeck, University of London.

I’ve struggled with my wellbeing and mental health for most of my life. Over the years I’ve found things that have helped make things more manageable and I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learnt to help other people ‘Live Well In The World’.”

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Bethan?
• Being a feminist sociologist of sport
• Her academic approach to her insights
• Having a post modernist feminist perspective
• Being an activist with an agenda
• Asking questions and wanting to learn and develop her thoughts
• Sharing about her life on social media
• Her manifesto and how it came about
• Managing her mental health
• Wanting to live well in the world
• Managing the physical and mental stress, rest and energy
• Wanting to be content and to enjoy herself
• Mindset, gratitude and connection
• The benefits of movement and why it always has a place in her life
• Feeling better in nature and spending time outside
• Starting her running journey 10 years ago
• Being in her late 20s, in a difficult relationship and a stressful job
• Running in the dark in her old school t-shirt
• Knowing that running would change her life
• Feeling good and capable
• Entering her first race and starting to run with other people
• Running her first half marathon and being inspired to run a marathon
• Doing her masters part time while working and how running had to take a backseat
• Running her first post baby marathon in April
• Finishing up her PhD and running 30mins here and there to keep things ticking over
• Spending time around the running community
• Having an emergency c-section and returning to physical activity at 6 weeks
• Working with a postnatal specialist
• Doing couch to 5k NHS App
• Starting running too soon and getting injured and needing to postpone the October London Marathon
• Finding joy in running (Tina Muir) and why London was her ultimate Joy PB
• Using a run walk strategy and having a detailed plan in advance
• Doing her long runs during the week as that’s when she’s got childcare available
• Doing her PhD studying the representations and identities of women in ultra marathon
• Quitting her job and becoming a full time academic
• Wanting more women to take part in sport and physical activity
• Why sports are not just a boy thing
• Post feminist narratives around participation in sports
• Will women outrun men?
• Black Trail Runners
• The million dollar question!! (When will the PhD be finished?)
• What’s changed over the years and starting to understand post feminism more
• The costs of running and why it’s not free
• Reductionist ideas and why we need to be mindful of what’s said and seen
• Why you can’t “just do it”
• The pressure for women to do a lot and to excel at what they do
• You can have it all….
• Working with her partner to balance the challenges of life
• Why your priorities can’t be everything
• How to connect with Bethan on the socials
• Final words of advice
• Examine what your privileges are when it comes to sport and physical activity
• Avoid platitudes and how you can understand your journey better

Social Media

Website:www.bethantaylorswaine.com

Instagram:

@bethantaylorswaine

@feministsportsociologist

“On 5th September 2022, full of excitement for what lay ahead, I began my run from Land’s End to John O’Groats to show others that despite life throwing curveballs our way we can still achieve. I intended to cover a distance of 40-50 miles a day for 20 days, a total of approximately 855 miles, aiming to become the world’s fastest female, with single-sided deafness, to complete this journey by foot. However, after 4 days of running in continual torrential rain, things went very wrong on day 5."

During this episode Sara shares more about her run from Lands End to John O’Groats, the challenges, the setbacks and how she moved forward after failure. We discuss in detail her recovery, the changes she made and how she moved forward and tried again.

This is an episode about endurance running, passion for making a difference and never giving up.

Sara is a brain tumour survivor who is giving back.

“Brain tumours kill more adults and children under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this disease.”

Sara is fundraising forBritish Acoustic Neuroma AssociationandManchester Skull Base Foundation (FBT).

Sara is also the founder of: The Beyond Recovery Project.

“It's all about bringing together others on the same or similar journey, creating a ‘safe’ space and sense of community, where brain tumour survivors can share experiences and discover how to push beyond the physical and psychological barriers they face together. It's very much nature based, so walks, hikes, challenges. Lots of talking therapy - because you can't beat sharing what you're going through with someone else who has been in that place. It also aims to bridge the gap in some services post treatment, when you're considered ‘fixed’.”

Upcoming events in 2024

May - Toubkal with a group of brain tumour survivors

June - Hiking the Langtang valley, Nepal.

September - The Wadi Rum Ultra (now known as Ultra X Jordan). 220km over 5 days in the Wadi Rum desert.

We first spoke with Sara: 15th March 2022 - Overcome fear and achieve your potential. Author of #SickbedToSummits.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcastto be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

Show notes

• Who is Sara
• Planning a 20-day route from Lands End to John O'Groats
• Accepting a Guinness World Record for single-sided hearing loss due to category limitations
• Training and preparation for a 1,000-mile run
• Working with an endurance coach and focusing on physical and psychological preparation
• Sacrificing much of their life to train and prepare for the event
• Balancing family, work, training, and self-care
• Feeling ready and focused on the starting line
• Sharing their experience of the first day of the run
• Experiencing a torrential downpour and strong winds during a marathon
• Having discomfort and difficulty with balance and hearing
• Challenges of running in adverse weather conditions
• Having single-sided deafness due to a brain tumour
• Struggling with balance issues, tinnitus, and fatigue during their training
• Mindfulness training and how it helped in coping with the challenges
• A challenging endurance run with physical setbacks
• Experiencing extreme fatigue and the need to take naps to cope
• Having a traumatic toenail incident
• Struggling with hip flexor pain and later developing a painful left shin injury
• Continuing to push through and finish their planned distance
• Struggles with disappointment after injury and ends up running career goals
• Missing an opportunity and struggling with the mindset shift towards rehab
• The importance of treating rehab as training
• Accountability and consistency in the recovery process
• Resuming running after an injury and nutrition strategies
• Running again in mid-November 2022 after a break
• Being diagnosed with an iron deficiency in January 2023
• Running a half-marathon despite injury and iron deficiency
• Second attempt at charity bike ride after setbacks
• Feeling physically and mentally drained during the second attempt
• Focusing on the present moment and what is directly in front of them
• Paul Betteridge and Aimee Tippins running 50 miles in horrendous weather
• Being joined by her friend Andrew Reed, she connected via the British Acoustic Neuroma Association
• Experiencing persistent pain in her Achilles tendon during her running journey
• Using a bike as a backup plan to get to John O'Groats to manage the pain
• Reflects on post-marathon life, feeling lost and struggling to readjust
• Working on a project called "Beyond Recovery"
• Overcoming self-doubt and fear after a brain tumour diagnosis through adventure
• Lack of support for brain tumour survivors during their recovery process
• Setting up The Beyond Recovery Project
• Her journey of creating a Community Interest Company (CIC) to address gaps in brain tumour recovery services
• Final words of advice from Sara

Social Media

Website:www.saracrosland.com

Instagram: @saracroslandhttps://www.instagram.com/e3coach/

Facebook: @saracroslandhttps://www.facebook.com/sara.crosland

The Beyond Recovery Project CIC is a non profit community interest organisation improving lives of brain tumour survivors.

Website:www.thebeyondrecoveryproject.org

Facebook: facebook.com/TheBeyondRecoveryProject

Instagram:@TheBeyondRecoveryProject

Louise is a journalist, broadcaster, podcaster and writer.

She presented BBC Breakfast for 20 years and before that was a news anchor on the BBC News Channel and the BBC’s One O’clock News. She has also presented The One Show, Five Live Drive, Real Rescues and Missing Live and has been a contestant on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Time Crashers and Celebrity MasterChef.

Her first book, Dare to Tri, charted her journey from the Breakfast sofa to representing the Great Britain Triathlon team in her age-group at World and European Championships.

Her second bookFearless, Adventures with Extraordinary Women was published by Bloomsbury on 25th May 2023.

It reflect her passion for celebrating women’s success. In each chapter Louise takes on a different challenge with a courageous woman, to get to know them and tell their incredible stories.

About the book:Fearless, Adventures with Extraordinary Women

JOIN LOUISE MINCHIN ON 17 EXHILARATING ADVENTURES WITH TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WHO ARE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, SMASHING RECORDS AND CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES.

'To get to the heart of who these women are… I decided to do it the way that I know best, by taking part, spending time right beside them to experience the things they love.'

Driven to bring more attention to female stories of courage and endeavour, Louise Minchin pushes herself to the extreme and embarks on thrilling endurance adventures with trailblazing women.

She freedives under the ice in the dark in Finland with Cath, the first woman to swim a mile in the Antarctic Circle; she cycles across Argentina with Mimi, one of the world's most famous female endurance runners; and she swims from Alcatraz with Anaya and Mitali, two young sisters who have braved the shark-infested waters over 70 times.

With her natural empathy and sense of humour, Louise forms close bonds with 18 incredible women. She explores what drives them and how they find the resilience and determination to go on despite life's setbacks. Lizzie overcame a life-threatening illness and now paddleboards whilst cleaning up the planet with her community; Rhian set up a charity in the face of grief and fundraises through hikes; and Zee took up rugby alongside her busy nursing career and motherhood.

Louise reminds us of the bravery inside us all, and how essential it is to celebrate women's achievements. Prepare to be touched and inspired by these fearless women.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Louise?
• Why you might know who Louise is (if you live in the UK)
• Taking up sport at 45
• Calling herself an endurance athlete
• Her early years and passion for sports
• Being a water baby and why swimming was her thing
• Stopping swimming at 15
• Doing a Christmas Challenge in the velodrome for BBC Breakfast in 2012
• Having 1 hour of training before race night
• Buying herself a road bike with drop handle bars
• All the gear….
• Making mistakes on the bike
• Being encouraged by a friend to try a triathlon
• Being a goal driven person and why having a goal helps with training
• Advice for taking your first step
• Telling other people and feeling a sense of accountability/responsibility to achieve goals
• Being willing to say yes to new challenges
• Being pushed out of her comfort zones at work
• Fears and concerns before her first triathlon
• Her attitude of - lets give it a go
• Not worrying about negative outcomes or failure
• Having a life changing moment when her daughter was born
• Thinking she might die and how the experience changed her
• Having a more positive attitude to life
• Feeling so lucky to do what she does
• Her love for cycling and spending time on the bike (both indoors and outdoors)
• Becoming a Team Great Britain (GB) Triathlete
• Representing her country at triathlon at theWorld and European Championships at Olympic distance.
• Feeling extra pressure when competing in the UK
• Training for a triathlon and fitting it around her work and job
• Waking up at 3.40am every day to host the breakfast show
• Book: Dare to Tri: My Journey from the BBC Breakfast Sofa to GB Team Triathlete
• Chapter 14 - Kit list - What to take and why to take it.
• Book: Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women
• Loving stories about adventure
• Why do we never hear about women doing these adventures and challenges?
• Making changes at the BBC around equal pay and being allowed to say hello first
• Wanting to drive change, by going and doing it
• Doing 17 different adventures with fearless women
• Needing to amplify women’s voices
• Needing different heroes
• Trying to get Fearless on the TV
• Noticing change
• Do you know who Mimi Anderson is?
• Do you know who Cath Pendleton is?
• Free diving under the ice in Finland with Cath
• How hard could that be?
• Why being fearful and having fear is a good thing
• Deciding to cycle across Argentina with Mimi Anderson
• Feeling the fear and wanting to stop
• Listening to her gut
• Doing running with Susie Chan
• Being part of a wonderful sisterhood of amazing women
• Running the London Marathon with her daughter
• Fitting in training while travelling for the book tour
• How menopause has impacted on exercise and taking HRT
• How to connect with Louise on the socials
• Final words of advice for women who want to be fearless and embrace new adventures
• Words from Belinda Kirk

Social Media

Instagram: @louiseminchin

Twitter: @louiseminchin

Books:

Dare to Tri: My Journey from the BBC Breakfast Sofa to GB Team Triathlete

Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women

Raquel Vélez is the Founder and CEO ofAlpine Parrot, an outdoor apparel company that caters specifically to people of size and people of color. She brings with her almost two decades of engineering experience, having received her degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech, worked and studied as a robotics engineer, and eventually shifting over to software engineering and engineering management.

Now, as an apparel engineer, she's creatively tackling one of the oldest (and most polluting) industries by creating sustainable, inclusive clothing for a market of people who have so often been neglected in the outdoor space.

As a plus sized Latina who discovered her love of the outdoors later in life, Raquel has put an incredible amount of careful consideration into the design of each product, focusing on great fit and quality construction. She was named one ofOutside Magazine's Outsiders of the Year 2021 and one ofWell+Good Magazine's Changemakers 2023.

Raquel has lived in 4 countries, speaks 5 languages, and currently lives in California.

***

Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Raquel?
• Living in California, USA
• Her early years
• Loving to read and explore through books
• Getting into the outdoors in her 20s
• Learning how to ski and falling in love with it
• Her gateway to the outdoors
• Climbing, camping, surfing and backpacking
• The lack of Latina role models
• Growing up being surrounded by whiteness
• Making friends in the outdoors
• Learning how to sew and make patterns
• Having a degree in mechanical engineering
• How hard could it be?!
• Designing an 8 piece plus size women’s ski/snow line
• Being miserable but earning good money and doing interesting work
• Starting to think about quitting her job
• How Alpine Parrot came about
• The reason behind the company name
• Putting a plan in place to quit her job
• The transition from full time employment to being an entrepreneur
• Figuring out personal finances and if there was a market for a plus sized focused clothing company
• Making plans and metrics for success
• Engaging with her audience, designing hiking pants and getting feedback
• Launching a kickstarter in 2021
• Starting to sell clothing in August 2022
• Needing to understand what the problem was with plus sized hiking clothes
• How clothing is made
• The fit model
• Making clothes that fit people in bigger bodies
• Making the outdoors more inclusive
• Happy tears
• Making people feel they belong
• Why there is nothing wrong with your body
• 2 different fits for pants - Mountain and River
• 2 different fits for tops - Coastal and Forest
• Using the outdoors to help manage stress
• Having to make hard decision and needing to let people go
• The power of being in nature
• Expanding internationally
• Buy Alpine Parrot in Australia/New Zealand - Plus Snow
• Buy Alpine Parrot in the UK - Vampire Outdoors
• How to connect with Raquel and Alpine Parrot
• Final words of advice - on how to get into the outdoors
• The power of taking one step
• Walking with purpose

Social Media

Alpine Parrot - Outdoor apparel for sizes 14-30 and 1X-5X!
Latina owned and operated

Website: alpineparrot.com

Instagram: @alpineparrot

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we delve into the inspiring journey of Maite Rojo, a passionate ultra runner who has taken on some of the toughest challenges in the world of endurance racing.

Born in a small fishing village in Northern Spain, Maite's love for sports and running ignited at a young age. Encouraged by her family, she discovered the simplicity and joy of running, eventually becoming an integral part of a supportive running community.

Over the years, she embarked on marathons, ultra marathons, and eventually 24-hour races, pushing her body to its limits.

Maite's perseverance and dedication paid off when she won two 24-hour challenges, with her second victory securing her a direct entrance to the prestigious Spartathlon Race in Athens. In the gruelling Spartathlon, Maite ran an astonishing 247 km and placed 9th female, proving her indomitable spirit.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Maite recently tackled the Ultr'Ardèche ultra race in France, covering a distance of 222 km and finishing in an impressive 4th place. Her relentless pursuit of new challenges and her ability to adapt to the demands of each race showcase her extraordinary strength and tenacity.

Beyond her own personal achievements, Maite also dedicates her races to her father, who battles a degenerative illness that affects his mobility. Her running journey serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the ability to find strength even in the face of adversity.

Join us as Maite Rojo shares her insights on training for 24-hour races, the importance of rest and recovery, nutrition for endurance athletes, and the mental preparation required to conquer monumental challenges. Her story is one of passion, perseverance, and the unwavering belief in following one's heart.

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Show notes

• Who is Maite
• Born in Northern Spain in a small fishing village
• Currently living in her brothers house, close to Santiago, Spain
• 50 years old
• Spending time around boats from a young age
• Learning dingy sailing with her brother at 18 years old
• Having a love for sports from a young age
• Starting running at 13 years old
• Her running journey and how it progresses
• Being very shy as a child and being encouraged by her family to do sports
• Loving the simplicity of running
• Finding fellow runners and being part of a community
• Competing for 6 years in running before stopping due to other commitments
• Sailing full time and trying to train for her first half marathon
• Running 1 or 2 marathons a year
• Training for 24hr races
• Supported her brother running the Spartathlon 2018 (he was the only Spanish finisher)
• Being inspired and wanting to race the Spartathlon
• Entering the Spartathlon lottery for 3 years before going for a direct entrance
• Doing her first 24hr race In New Zealand (23rd Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race) and running 206km and placing 1st female.
• Running a 24hr track race in Barcelona (24 hores d'ultrafons en pista de Barcelona (ESP)) and qualifying for the Spartathlon by running 216.9km
• Quitting her sailing job to focus on running and training for 4 months before the Spartathlon Race
• Wanting to be super prepared
• Working as a running coach
• Wanting to challenge herself with training and to see how much her body could adapt to the challenges of the race
• What training looked like
• Looking at her strengths and weaknesses
• Being able to do hard sessions and being able to recovery quickly
• Focusing on strength training while working on a boat when not able to run
• How sailing helped prepare her for sleep deprivation while running through the night
• Starting to increase her millage on a gradual basis and doing back to back training sessions at the weekend
• Tips for rest and recovery and why its good to have a regular massage
• The benefits of stretching
• Working on her weaknesses and focusing on building strength in her legs through weights
• Ensuring enough food is consumed to support her body and training needs
• Nutrition for fuelling her body as a vegetarian, wanting to eat as natural as possible (avoiding gels)
• The mental preparation for the Spartathlon Race
• Race strategy for running including dealing with cut off points and the challenge of the mountain in the middle
• How meditation helped during the race - focusing on the beauty of the running environment from the stars to the moon.
• Reducing her caffeine consumption before the race and then having caffeine again before the mountain
• Being supported by her crew and seeing her brother at aid stations along the way
• Running Ultr’Ardèche, in France (222km) and getting 4th place
• How to connect with Maite
• Why it’s important to have passion for what you do and why you should follow your heart.

Social Media

Instagram: @mairedrunner

Facebook: @mairedrunner

Ellen is a 27-year-old pilot, flight instructor, and adventure traveler, with a background in writing, acting, and modeling. She grew up on a farm in rural Texas. In her short adult life, she’s been on five expeditions by bicycle, paddle, and oars, both domestic and international. Those journeys add up to a total of 18 months and roughly 10,000 miles - nearly all of which were human-powered and half of which were solo.

In 2017, Ellen, then 22, completed a solo descent of the Missouri from Three Forks to St. Louis. Ellen had previously paddled a tributary of the Amazon and cycled from England to Greece. Ellen is the youngest person to solo paddle the Missouri River from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis.

In September 2022, Ellen Falterman paddled her 18-foot Grumman canoe to her family's Trinity River home in East Texas, completing a full descent of the Mississippi River and then some.

Her motivation and mentor for these trips have always been her brother Patrick, who died suddenly in 2016. She dedicates all of her expeditions to him, and even when she’s traveling by herself, she never feels as if she’s traveling alone.

***This episode was recorded at the end of 2021 to be released in early 2022. Ellen lost her fiancé in 2022 so we decided to delay the release of the episode until now. Our hearts and hugs go out to Ellen.***

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Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you.

Show notes

• Who is Ellen
• Her trail name
• Being based out of East Texas
• The big challenge - gong around the world by rowboat
• Being inspired by her brother
• Her family
• Wanting to make her own way in life
• Thinking of becoming an actor
• Losing her brother suddenly in September 2016
• Starting to live life like there is no tomorrow
• Dealing with the dark and tragic situations that happens in life
• Going to Brazil with her brother in 2014
• Talking about her grief
• Hitching around Brazil and making money while on the road
• Learning from her brother while travelling together
• Doing a river trip after he died
• Her first solo expedition on the Missouri River, the longest river in North America
• Planning verses going with the flow
• Daily life while on travelling on rivers
• River time and working with tides and rowing in open water
• Figuring out resupply and knowing what rations you have
• The lessons from her first solo expedition
• Why everyone should do a solo challenge at some point
• Dealing with loneliness
• Funding and paying for challenges
• Working as a flight instructor to self fund challenges
• Learning to fly and getting her pilot license at 17
• Deciding to row the length of The Mississippi River
• How her expeditions have tied together
• Naming her boat after her grandma
• Gaining ocean rowing experience
• Doing a sea school course in the UK and gaining qualifications
• Handling concerns before the journey
• Creating a non-profit and how it works
• Documenting and sharing the challenge
• Working with UK non-profit IMMAs
• Keeping stuff in storage
• Creating a cozy cabin
• Wanting to be in Panama in 12 months
• Launching on September 4th 2022
• Falling in love and the challenge of leaving
• Wanting to be the captain of her ship and being alone for the first year
• How you can support Ellen
• How to connect with Ellen on the socials
• Final words advice - The 3Ds - Desire, Decision, Details

Social Media

Website ellenmagellanexpeditions.com

Instagram @ellenmagellanexpeditions

Facebook Ellen Magellan Expeditions

Josephine in her own words:

“I’m a middle aged mother of three. Also, adventurer, rock climber, former Mountain Rescuer, wilderness addict, lover of Nature, doer. Oh, and professional author and award-winning photographer.

Many hats, but a common thread of being outdoors, helping people and sharing a love of wild places.

Having moved on from the confines of Mountain Rescue, I am on a journey with Mountain Training Association to get qualified so that I can introduce people, and especially women, to the indescribable benefits of outdoor adventure.

Too many women feel that it is beyond them. I want to show that it is not.

I love polar adventure and have been to Norway many times and skied across Svalbard on a 9 day expedition.

Mountains, moors, wilderness, old mines and rock faces all vie for my time so that it feels there is never enough!

My mantra is: “Do it now. Life is too short.”

I am not one for “ests” the longest/fastest/highest etc. To me, it is all about being there, in that moment.

My work as an author and publisher includes the Dartmoor Tors Compendium, the Official Visitor Guide to Dartmoor National Park and the Geology of Dartmoor. I also design unique infographics and poster art about Dartmoor in particular. My photography, when not illustrating books, is photographing architectural properties and interiors. Mainly though, photography is about showing how beautiful and amazing our world is.”

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, airing every Tuesday at 7am UK time. Hit the subscribe button to stay updated and connected.

Join us in our mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Show your support by visitingwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you for helping to make change happen.

Show notes

• Who is Josephine
• Wearing lots of hats
• Her love for going out and exploring and spending time in wilderness
• Studying geo-physics at university down in London
• Making the move to Devon
• Deciding to re-train in photography
• How her career focuses on photography, design and being outdoors
• Having 3 grown children
• Her love and passion for the outdoors
• Growing up in Acton, London
• Spending more and more time in Dartmoor
• Age 14, having the opportunity to do an outward bound course (3 week residential)
• Discovering different possibilities and wanting to live a life outdoors
• Meeting her husband at the Officer Training Core at University
• Making the decision to move to Devon to raise her family
• Asking herself the question - what does she really want to do
• Buying an old barn to renovate, while raising 3 children and going back to college for 3 years to study photography and media production
• Why we have to take a risk and make things happen
• Not doing any adventures for 20 years while raising the kids
• Starting to do more solo activities at 52
• Booking to do a polar training course with Newland Expeditions
• Spending time walking on Dartmoor
• Losing her mum to Ovarian Cancer
• Skiing across Svalbard on a 9 day expedition (being the only woman and one of the oldest there)
• Camp life, dealing with Polar bears and why it’s so challenging
• Imposter Syndrome?
• Feeling like an explorer and an adventurer
• Cycling the Hebridean Way, Scotland 2022
• Being inspired by watching the Reality TV Show Castaway (2000)
• Dealing with the tough days while on challenges
• Suffering from covid
• Challenges with mental health and seeking therapy
• Dealing with setbacks and failure
• Spending time in the Cairngorms, Scotland and going exploring
• Doing her Hill & Moorland Assessment
• Wanting to train for her Mountain Leader (ML) Award
• Her healing process and wanting to learn new skills
• Trying to identify what you want to be
• Doing what’s achievable first
• Signing up for the Rock Climbing Instructor Course in 2022
• Wanting to share her love for the outdoors and encourage more people to spend time outside
• Mountain Rescue and the training program
• Hitting a glass wall and dealing with bad people management
• Deciding to resign from Mountain Rescue
• Advice and tips for other women who are in a similar situation
• Not wanting to rock the boat and what she would do differently now
• Why the old school way of thinking has to change
• Why we don’t have to put up with bad behaviour
• How the ML training is going
• How you can connect with Josephine
• The meaning behind the name ‘Tavicinity’
• Using Instagram in the old fashioned way - black and white photos
• The importance of learning how to navigate
• Why you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people
• Why you should try something new
• “Make it happen and do it for you”.

Social Media

Website:www.tavicinitypublishing.co.uk

Instagram: @tavicinity