Tough Girl Podcast

In today’s podcast we catch up with Susie Cheetham who’s a professional triathlete and came 6th at the Iron Man World Championships in 2015.  Susie provides advice, top tips and tactics for all aspects of the race from the the swim, cycle, run and how to make the transitions work best for you.  Susie shares her first experience of fitness  at a young age and how by deciding to join a running club, it's changed the whole direction of her life. We also discuss the following:- The importance of trying new sports and seeing what works for you.  Getting back to basics - what’s involved in a Half Ironman and how her first experience went.  Discussing some of the myths that surround an Ironman - from drinking coke on the run to it being boring!  How to choose what advice to listen to and what advice to ignore. Learning to take confidence in the decisions you make - for triathlons and for life. The high points for Susie during an Ironman, as well as the low points and how she deals with them. From punctures on the s

Arry hated sports, hating being active and was completely turned off exercise from a young age. At school she came up with every excuse under the sun not to get active!  But what changed?  What led her to take up running and to eventually taking on the challenge of being the first person to run around the perimeter of Wales via the newly opened Coastal Path and Offas Dyke.  What were her motivations and the reasons behind the challenge?  During this podcast we learn more about Arry and how she's inspired others to get into sports and fitness. How’s she's battled grief, anxiety, depression and haters - people who still say she ‘doesn’t look like a runner’.  Arry’s a remarkable women, who has a fantastic story to share. During this podcast you’ll be inspired and motivated as well as picking up loads of top tips and advice about undertaking a challenge and getting outside of your comfort zone.  What are you waiting for! It’s time to listen to Arry’s story.  We also talk about the following: What The Dragon Run

Kathryn is an author of three books as well as producing and directing her debut documentary film: HALF THE ROAD: The passion, pitfalls & power of women’s professional cycling. During this podcast we discuss a variety of different topics from the books she's written, why she’s so passionate about road cycling, as well as women’s equality in sports and her plans for the future.  We also discuss the following: Why she decided to take up the sport of triathlon before moving over into road cycling at the age of 31. Landing her first professional contract for cycling at age 36. How one assignment from ESPN changed the direction of her life forever.  Attempting a variety of different Olympic Sports from modern pentathlon, open water swimming, to team handball. We talk about racing on the road and the different tactics involved from the peloton - to what it is, how it works as well as tactics for mountain climbs Her career highlight bringing parity to women’s professional road cycling, starting with getting wom

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2016! I’m so excited to kick off the New Year with this awesome podcast episode which is bound to inspire and motivate you.  Today we’ll be talking to Annie Ross from eXerK. She set out in 2015 to complete 52 challenges in 52 weeks in an attempt to encourage busy people in and around London (maybe even the world) to make time for the things they care about – whatever it may be. Annie has a full time job working in banking, but she was sick and tired of the lack of exercise in her life. In December 2014 she decided to make a change and she started the eXerK project on the 1st January 2015.  During this podcast we discuss: What the eXerK project is and how it came about Why she kept her plans flexible and wasn’t rigid in her planning Why she felt empowered by this idea and her first challenge to kick of 2015! The types of challenges she decided to do from physical challenges to exploring more of London Why having balance in your life is so important and just being busy is not a si

Milly started running purely for fitness and health, it was a means to an end and she’d go out, pounding the road and the pavement but never enjoying it. But that all changed when she went off road running.  Running no longer felt like a chore or just a means to keep fit. She found a real passion and love for it.  Milly shares her story and talks about making the change to off road running and how she went from running a 10 mile fell race to a 53 km ultra race in the Alps.  During this podcast Milly also talks about: What fell racing is, the different types of races and how to classify them Navigating with a compass, following other runners and planning your own route Why fell running is more of a thinking race Why she decided to go down the ultra running route and the most impulsive thing she's ever done! The challenges she faced during training, from over training, to injury and training for the mountains while living in the city The mental preparation and strategies she used to prepare for her race  How

“The MDS is a magical race and I can honestly say that the two times I have run it (2012 + 2015), it has been a life changing experience in different respects. Whether you look at it as a fun holiday, a race, a trek or an adventure that has been on your bucket list for 20+ years you probably won't be disappointed. It can be as hard as you want it to be (or harder!) and it will likely test your physical and mental strength to the limits. The sun is ruthless, the terrain is brutal, the scenery is quite something and you will make friends for life.” During this podcast we discuss a variety of topics, from how she got into ultra running, how the focus of her life changed, and how she trained for an event like the MDS. Elisabet, has a great story and shares some of the challenges she’s faced and overcome. Providing top tips and advice which will motivate and inspire you!  Discussion points: After you’ve run a marathon - what’s next? How personal events impacted on her and made her really reflect on what she wante

Susie started running later on in life, she used to be a single mother, who loved drinking and smoking, but running had a profound effect on her and after doing one half marathon that was it, she was hooked. Two years later she was entering and running ultra marathons.   During this podcast we discuss: -Her first race and what happened before, during and after -How she swapped her bad habits for good ones -Joining a running club and connecting with other runners -Two races went on her bucket list- the Boston Marathon and the Marathon des Sables -Advice for listeners who want to make a change in their life -Why its never to late and age is irrelevant -Her first ever Marathon - Running the Paris Marathon and why she had a terrible time! -Do you need a training plan for a race?  -Why listening to your body is so important -How she fits in her training around having a daughter and a full time job -How she didn’t make excuses, she made it happen  -How she trains and why she loves hill training! -Make a “run date”

  During this episodes we chat with Mimi Anderson, who describes herself as a wife, mother and grandmother, who likes to run. We get to share in some of Mimi many challenges, from racing in some of the most extreme environments on the planet, from the heat of the desert to the bitter cold of the Arctic. She shares her experiences, the hights the lows, and what she learnt from the races. She provides advice and tips and will inspire you to put your trainers on and go for a run! During this podcast we also discuss the following: Why she decided to start running & when she called herself a runner for the first time Making the change from the treadmill to running outside The 6633 Ultra Race - A 350 mile non stop, self sufficient race in the Arctic. Training for the event and having a plan for the race What it was like being in that environment Coping with being on her own during the race - and getting away from it all Coping with the cold and dealing with temperatures of -70! Why you don't want to sweat in t

Nat is a lover of endurance events, and anything to do with the outdoors! She loves being fit and active and during this podcast she shares with us some of the events she's participated in, from being involved in adventure races to  completing Ironman's and ultra endurances races in extreme conditions.  She also discusses why she decided to join the army and what military life was like while training at Sandhurst. She shares top tips and advice which you'll be able to implement in your life. Topics discussed during the podcast: -What Adventure Racing is and what to expect during a race -Tips for making decisions when tired and sleep deprived, and how she's learned from previous mistakes -Why communication and teamwork is so important during race conditions -How her journey into ultra events started and why she decided to do the 6633 Ultra Race - A 350 mile footrace in the Canadian Arctic! -How she trained both mentally and physically for the 6633 Ultra Race -Why it’s important to break your big goals down int

During this podcast we get to cover a whole host of different topics! From why Nics decided to join the British Army and what its like being a female in a male dominated environment. How sports at a young age from athletics to skiing encouraged her to try triathlons at university which led to her completing an Ironman! Nics also touches on the following topics: -The difference between Alpine skiing and Nordic skiing -The Bolton Ironman in 2012 and coping with the unexpected heatwave -Trying to get the balance right between training and studying -How she combined her fitness with studying to become a doctor -Mental preparation for the Ironman -Getting help with training and training programmes -The Winter World Triathlon Championships -Doing a Nordic Ski Season  -Top tips for running on snow -Coping with the cold! -The 6633 Ultra Race - One of the toughest races in the world. Held in the Arctic! -Her concerns before the race -150km Ultra race in Lapland, Finland -Coping with sleep deprivation and the thoughts

British polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE became the first woman in 2012 to ski alone across Antarctica. It was a journey of 1744km that took 59 days to complete and which gave her a place in the book of Guinness World Records. During this podcast Felicity shares her experiences of how she prepared both mentally and physically for this journey.  Felicity also talks about the following: -What first got Felicity interested in Polar Exploration -How she coped with preparing for her first expedition -Being 19 and heading off to the unknown for the first time -Tips on building self confidence  -How to retain your femininity in a male dominated environment -How to cope with criticism -Staying true to yourself -Her first job… moving to the Antarctica for 2.5 years! -Why she decided to ski across Antarctica -What skills she needed to develop before setting off on this challenge -What it felt like at the very start, when she was suddenly alone on the Antarctica coast -Preparation for being alone -Mental hygiene -Why i

In this podcast we talk about: How Megan first got into Judo and what she loves about it. Taking it to the next step and deciding to train full time How Judo built her internal self confidence Why she wants to be the best in the world Jumping from a green belt to a black belt at 15 years old The grading route verses the competitive route Coping with being diagnosed with OCD at a young age How her OCD impacted on her Judo Competing at the Cadet Europeans  How it works at Judo competitions The four main ways you can win in Judo The struggle to win and perform at a junior level How she needed to change her judo style to become a better athlete Keeping the faith and not giving up when she wasn’t getting the results Preparation for the Commonwealth Games “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday” Why you need to focus on YOU! Facing her nemesis! - Sally Conway in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games 2014 Getting over her own mental block of being able to beat Sally Do

During this podcast we speak with Rachel Gibson a mum of two from the Wirral, UK. Rachel shares her experience of the Spartan races from competing and placing at the Manchester Spartan Race and her journey to the Spartan World Championships in America. In this podcast we talk about: Getting back into fitness after children Why the Spartan Sprint races appealed to her What to expect at a Spartan Race from the obstacles to the atmosphere What happens when you fail an obstacle Why the Spartan spear throw isn’t as easy as it looks Top tips for rope climbs What happens after you win a “Spartan Coin” Advice for balancing training with work and having children Why you should always read the small print for races Dealing with the brand new Spartan course What it felt like at the start of the race & the Spartan chant The obstacles that challenged Rachel and pushed her to her limits Coping with the ice cold water during the swim Hitting the wall and still moving forward Future challenges Raising money for Cancer R

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast we talk to Sarah Outen where she discussed her journey from London all the way around the northern hemisphere and back to London by rowing, kayaking and cycling. In order to do this Sarah had to overcome a variety of challenges. She’s endured extreme conditions in remote environments, often being alone for months at a time.  A typhoon during the North Pacific crossing forced a mid Ocean rescue from her rowing boat in 2012 and a hurricane on the Atlantic this summer forced a pre-emptive evacuation after 143 days at sea. She has also kayaked some of the most treacherous waterways in the world and cycled across North America during one of the harshest Winters on record. After 4.5 years and over 25,000 miles, Sarah has made it back home, arriving back on midday on the 3rd November 2015. Sarah shares the following on the podcast: Her background and what’s inspired her to achieve what she’s achieved Becoming the first woman to row across the Indian ocean Turning her dream into a

Elin Haf Davies got into sports later on in life. When she moved to London, she started with rugby, and for 9 years her life was all work and rugby, until she got dropped by the rugby team and divorced. All of this happened at the same time and massively impacted on her confidence and took her to a dark place.  She decided she had to move on and change her life and this is when her love of challenges and adventures started. During this podcast we discuss: Her Inspiration - “Rowing it Alone” by Deborah Veal Rowing across the Atlantic in a pair Raising funds for Metabolic Research How she approached the preparation for the Atlantic row Not getting on at school but going back to academia to get her degree, masters and PHD.  Learnings from the Marathon Des Sables where she failed to finish Rowing across the Indian Ocean in the first female crew What life was like rowing every day - sleep deprivation, rowing in shifts, the drive and motivation Why you row naked! Mental preparation before and during the race. - “W

During this podcast Amy talks all about her love of fitness and how she came to take up the sport of powerlifting. To put this in context, Amy had never done any weight training before and had never even picked up a dumbbell! Five months later she had entered her first powerlifting competition.  Amy shares her journey from entering local competitions and progressing to the British Championships before taking on the European Championships where she gained the European Junior Bronze Medal.   Amy talks about the following: What powerlifting is What happens in a competition How to overcome nerves and focus on what you're doing Why having goals are important to helping you achieve The difference between weightlifting and powerlifting Why powerlifting isn’t recognised as a sport Competing in the European Championships How she overcame her nerves What goes through her head when she lifts How “mind over matter” works in powerlifting Breaking the British Junior Record Squat Training cycles Rest & recovery Nutriti

I first noticed Ali on twitter, as she’d just completed a 24 hr endurance running race!  I was really interested in the whole event and wanted to understand more about it. Plus I thought it would make an awesome episode for the tough girl podcast! In this episode we talk all about running, whether it’s 800 m sprints, 5K park runs, trying to break the 3 hr barrier for the marathon as well as ultra running races, such as the Marathon Des Sables and Endure 24.  Ali is a personal trainer and certified running coach and has loads of top tips.  She discusses: - Goal setting Training How to run faster Different runs you can do Ultra running This episode will make you want to go for a run!  So put your trainers on, download this episode and go for it! New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast are out every Tuesday at 7 am. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out!! If you’ve enjoyed this episode then please send Ali at tweet @AliJYoung. I’m also on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL. 

Boxing has always been a part of the Copeland Family. Stacey’s father was a professional boxer and her granddad has been involved in the family gym, which has been teaching boxing for over 40 years.  Stacey was brought up at gym and spend many happy hours down there from a young age learning how to box, and she would happily spar with the boys not knowing any different. It was only as she got older, she was made aware how unusual her passion for boxing was. She’d wanted to take boxing to the next level, but because boxing was illegal for women, she had to put her dream on hold and instead decided to follow her other passion, football, and after playing for her country at under eighteen, she then became a professional and headed off to play football for clubs around the world.  After twelve broken bones, it was time for Stacey to retire from football and at 29 she decided she was going to follow her dreams and see if she could make it at boxing!  Although many people said at 29 Stacey was too old to take up a

Helen is a Triathlete and Duathlete who is enjoying success as an age group athlete representing Great Britain. Since competing in her first triathlon in 2006 Helen has been very successful in multi-sport competitions, securing a number of victories and podium places in both, local, national and international Triathlons and  Duathlons. Helen takes us back to how she first got into running and cycling and why she decided to take it up again, later on in life. She explains how she became a World Champion in both the Duathlon and Triathlon for her age category.  We discuss a wide variety of topics from coping with self doubt and how to break down large challenges into smaller more manageable chunks. In the Tough Girl Podcast, we discuss the following: What a duathlon is Which is harder - duathlons or triathlons Why coaching helped to propel her forward  Tips for balancing fitness & training with a full time job The benefit of having a to do list Coping with self doubt & coping with the pressure of havin

We recorded this episode while Natalie was sat outside a cafe on the streets of New York & I was at sat at home in England! It was great to talk to Natalie about how she first got into fencing and how she progressed in just seven months to competing at the Junior Olympics!  She has a really insightful view point on training and what the different aspects are. It was really interesting talking about the mental side and how meditation was so important in her sport and being present, being aware and being in the moment. Lots of advice and tips that you can apply to your life, even if you don’t fence.  Natalie explains about the different types of fencing and how the scoring and competitions work. I didn’t know anything about fencing before this interview and feel as though I’ve a better understand of what’s involved. I now want to give it a go and see what it would be like to hold an epee!  Natalie is super down to earth, very friendly and loves her sport. She’s just about to start competing to secure her in