In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we catch up with Helen Dainty — solo female cyclist, self-described "full-time global hobo," and one of the most committed long-distance bike travellers you'll ever meet.

For the past decade, Helen has spent nine years on the road, travelling exclusively by bicycle and living on around £50 a week. She's cycled across Australia, ridden from London to Nordkapp and back, travelled extensively through the Middle East and North Africa — and in 2025 became the first woman to cycle across Libya.

When war in Sudan forced her to abandon an overland route into East Africa, Helen adapted and rerouted — because that's what life on the road demands: flexibility, resilience, and the ability to trust the process.

In this episode, we dive into what's happened since we last spoke in January 2022. From navigating complex visa systems (including Algeria and Libya), to travelling with police security details, being detained in Libya, and accepting incredible hospitality through the Warm Showers community — Helen shares the raw, practical realities of long-term cycle touring.

We also talk about:

• The logistics of visas with a British passport
• Working with visa agents and last-minute plan changes
• Cycling in Algeria and Libya
• Budget travel (sticking to AUD $100 per week)
• Her bike setup — switching from chain to belt drive
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and long-distance reliability
• Not collecting souvenirs and living with less
• Documenting her journey on YouTube (and the time spent editing!)
• Saying yes to unexpected opportunities

Helen also opens up about going through perimenopause and menopause while cycling through deserts — dealing with extreme sadness, brain fog, hot sweats in the middle of the night, and coming out the other side feeling stronger and more balanced. At 47, she believes she has another strong decade of adventure ahead — and she's not slowing down.

Looking forward, Helen plans to spend the next two years cycling down the west coast of Africa in an attempt to circle the continent, before eventually heading back towards Australia through Asia.

Her advice for women wanting to do something different?

Say yes to the opportunity — you can work out the details on the way. Accept without hesitation.

Raw, honest, practical and deeply inspiring — this is a powerful catch-up with a woman who has built her entire life around two wheels.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Helen
• Catching up since we last spoke
• Cycling through the Middle East and Africa
• TGP Episode - January 2022 -
• TGP Extra Episode -
• What's changed?!
• Going back to the start of 2022
• Taking the ferry from Turkey to Lebanon
• Flying home to surprise her family for Christmas
• Setting off toward Iran in 2022
• The practical side of travel - visa's, entering and leaving countries (with a British Passport)
• Saudi Arabia and Oman using a E-visa system
• Getting a visa for Algeria - paperwork, needing to be in your home country while applying for the visa, face to face visit to the Embassy in London
• Visa's for Libya - not being issues and needing to work with a contact to get a visa
• Using a visa agent - Tap Persia
• Last minute change of plans and trying to extend a 2 week visa while in the country - which proved impossible
• Booking accommodation to get the visa
• Cycle touring being a little stressful at times
• Cycling in Algeria for a few days and what the experience was like
• Warmshowers hosts
• Accepting hospitality
• Having an Algerian security detail (police) and what that entails
• Needing to trust the process
• Having her passport taken off her…
• Arrested/detained in Libya by the police
• Finding affordable accommodation
• Tourist sites in Algeria and Libya
• Not meeting other bike packers in Libya
• How it all happened….
• Saying yes to opportunities as they present themselves
• Libyan Cycling Centre
• Starting to share videos on Youtube and documenting her trips
• Working on improving the sound quality
• Aiming for 8 min vlogs
• The time spend editing….
• Sticking to her budget of AUD $100 a week
• The bike, the bike set up and new gear
• Changing from a chain to a belt drive
• Getting a new saddle - Repente
• What is a belt drive and needing a specific frame for it and how it works
• Why it's popular with long distance tourers
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
• Not collecting souvenirs
• Day to day emotions and loving life on the road
• Not having any plans to stop cycling
• Heading into Western Africa - and taking 2 years to cycle down the coast
• Planning to cycle back to Australia through Asia
• 47 years old - another good decade ahead of her
• Going through menopause 3/4 years ago
• Not knowing what was happening in 2021/2022 and not undertaking that she was going through perimenopause
• Experiencing extreme sadness and brain fog
• Feeling more balanced and having less brain fog, and less depression bouts
• Having hot sweats in the desert, in the middle of the night
• Feeling glad to be on the other side of it
• Starting to think about bone density
• Cycling down the West Coast of Africa
• Using this downtime over winter to plan out her route and sort out visa's.
• Taking her dad to Ethiopia
• How to connect with Helen on social media and follow along with her journey
• 9,570 subscribers on YouTube - wanting to reach 10k!
• Final words of advice for women who want to do something different and take on new challenges
• Say yes to an opportunity -you can work out the details on the way
• Accept without hesitation!

Social Media

All links: helsonwheels.bio.link

Instagram: @hels.on.wheels

Facebook: @Helsonwheelswithmlt

Youtube: @helsonwheels

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Chloe Stead — 42 years old and currently living in a rustic tiny shack in the bush in Tasmania with her husband — but her journey to this simple life has been anything but ordinary.

Since 2008, Chloe has been living a travelling, nomadic lifestyle. After leaving school at 18 to join the Navy and later working in health and safety in Perth, Australia, she reached a quiet breaking point while staying at the Whim Creek Hotel in 2006. A simple but powerful thought surfaced: There has to be more to life than this.

Within a week, she sold her house, packed up a shipping container, took her dog, and began driving solo around Australia with just $500 AUD — despite being petrified of sleeping in a tent. That leap of faith set the course for the next chapter of her life.

But Chloe's story is not just about adventure — it's about grief, reinvention, and learning to live on her own terms.

After the sudden death of her partner Willy in 2013, everything stopped. In the depths of grief, Chloe stepped away from social media, let go of her old life, and slowly began again. Meditation, yoga retreats, and eventually walking the Camino de Santiago in 2014 became turning points. Carrying everything on her back, she discovered a deep love for minimalism, simplicity, and self-reliance.

Over the years, Chloe has:

• Walked multiple Caminos including the Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo and Via de la Plata
• Hitchhiked and walked along the beaches of Uruguay
• Taken a 10,000km road trip with her dog Dexter
• Lived off less than $100 AUD per week
• Worked seasonally to fund months of adventure
• Cycled from Alaska to San Francisco (86 nights in a tent!)
• Walked the Wales Coast Path and the Portuguese Camino
• Chosen to stay off social media to be fully present on trail

Now married, Chloe continues to design a life built around freedom, movement, and intentional simplicity. With big adventures planned for 2026 — including walking the South West Coast Path and the GR10 — she shares honestly about navigating partnership on trail, managing knee issues, strength training gains, and why getting to the start line is often the hardest part.

This conversation is about:

• Letting go of possessions and expectations
• Living with uncertainty
• Processing grief through movement
• Creating "trail life" off-trail
• Why you don't need technology to experience adventure
• Trusting that the universe conspires to keep you going
• And why you should "give it a crack and get to the start line."

Chloe's message is simple but powerful:

Life is uncertain. Don't put things off. If there's something you want to do — take the plunge.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Chloe
• 42 years old, currently living in Tasmania in a rustic tiny shack in the bush with her husband
• Living a travelling lifestyle since 2008
• What was the lead up to making changes in her life
• Leaving school at 18 and joining the Navy
• 2006 living in Perth, Australia and having a job in health and safety
• Starting to feel different when staying at the Whim Creek Hotel
• Thinking that there has to be more to life
• 100 things to see and do in Australia before you die
• Selling her house within a week, filling up a shipping container
• Taking her dog and starting to drive solo around Australia
• Being encouraged by a friend - to just do it!
• Not being in tune with herself
• Highlights from spending time on the road, driving around Australia
• Starting off with $500 AUD and getting a job
• Spending the trip just driving around
• Being petrified of staying in a tent
• Pitching her tent and staying in it for the first time
• Meeting a boy, Willy (which wasn't part of the plan!)
• Deciding to move to New Zealand (2009 - 2010)
• Backpacking around Europe for 3 months
• Planning every day and having a very tight schedule
• Feeling disheartened with her experience
• Needing to do something spontaneous
• Backpacking around Cambodia for 3 weeks with no plan
• Seeing a flyer about yoga and meditation
• Struggling with mental health and things in life
• Doing a yoga retreat in Australia and doing a deep dive into meditation
• Starting to work in farming around Australia
• 2013 and the year of her 30th birthday
• Deciding to go to South America to visit Machu Picchu
• Willys death and how it stopped everything
• Not knowing how to cope
• The funeral and not wanting to live where she was living or work where she was working
• Getting rid of her phone and getting off social media
• Starting again and wanting to forget
• Needing to deal with the grief
• Going back to mediation and doing a workshop which helped
• Learning about the Caminos in Spain
• Walking the camino in April 2014 (The way of st James)
• Not knowing what she was doing and carrying far too much stuff
• Learning a lot on the way
• Not being very open on the French Camino
• Learning a lot from Willys death and making a promise to him
• Doing what she wanted to do with her life - no excuses
• Falling in love with a minimalistic, simple way of life
• Waling with everything on her back and how it agreed with her
• Finding her passion and purpose
• Living this simple life
• Needing to create trail life, while off trail
• 2016 - waling the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo
• 2017 - hitchhiked and walked along the beaches in Uruguay
• Feeling safe and not feeling alone
• 2018 - ten years since starting her nomadic journey and taking a 10,000km road trip with her dog - Dexter
• Needing to sort out her stuff in the shipping container
• Feeling so much lighter without all of her possessions
• Losing Dexter in 2019
• Doing a silent retreat in Bali
• Wanting to do a 5 year walk around the world
• Not having any more responsibility and having ultimate freedom
• Working in Tasmania in 2020 and dealing with Covid and why it was so difficult
• Buying a block of land and a 1976 Volkswagen Kombi Van
• Self reliance and simplicity
• 2022 and the world starting to open up again
• Starting to work again to make money and giving up on the idea of the 5 yr walk around the world
• Her 40th birthday and wanting to walk 2,000km to celebrate it
• Meeting Will
• 2023 - Walking the Wales Coast Path and the Portuguese Camino
• Discovery the Tough Girl Youtube Channel!
• Buying the Cicerone - Wales Coast Path Guidebook
• Trying to plan the first few days
• Wild camping on her first night
• How things just kept working out
• Heading to Bali in 2024
• Doing some backpacking in 2025, throughout Vietnam, Laos and Thailand
• Needing to thru hike these caminos by herself
• Finishing the Camino Via de la Plata.
• Getting married!
• Being the planner in the relationship
• Deciding to do a bike trip in America - cycling from Alaska to San Fransisco (86 nights in the tent)
• The challenges of adventures with a partner and navigating them together
• Needing to focus more on recovery and needing to put more effort into training before adventures
• Adventures booked for 2026 - Walking the SWCP and the GR10! Starting 1st June!
• Thinking this is crazy and how am I going to do this!
• Why you just need to start and the rest will unfold
• Why getting to the start line is always tricky - mentally
• Noticing her improvements in running at park run after strength training
• Having some knee problems
• Starting on the creatine and having more energy during the summer
• The South West Coast Path
• Not being on social media and being in the moment.
• Final words of advice for other women who want to live life differently and live life on their own terms
• Life is pretty uncertain, and definitely our time here is uncertain.
• Don't put things off to the future. If there's something that you want to do, take the plunge.
• The universe conspires to keep you going
• Learning to live with less over the years and how money has become more abundant
• Working for 6/7 months of the year, and 1 month of earnings goes towards her future
• Living off less than $100 AUD a week
• Stopping working after earning $20,000 dollars and coming back to a $3,000 dollar tax cheque
• Give it a crack - get to the start line.
• Keep that dream at the front of your mind
• Don't be afraid NOT to use technology on trails - walking the trails with just a guidebook or map

Social Media

None.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Aisyah Rafaee – a two-time Olympic rower from Singapore who competed at the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the single scull.

After taking an eight-year break from the sport, Aisyah made the bold decision to return—qualifying for Paris 2024 as one of the oldest athletes in the field and redefining what it means to be a high-performing athlete in your 30s.

Originally from Singapore and now based in Boston, USA, Aisyah grew up with four brothers and discovered rowing after being scouted during an indoor competition at school. With limited rowing culture and opportunities in Singapore, she carved her own path—training overseas in Sydney, qualifying through a fiercely competitive Asian selection process, and representing Singapore on the world stage.

But her journey hasn't been linear.

From struggling with pressure at her first Olympics to working with mental skills coach Hansen Bay, from stepping away from elite sport to rediscovering her love for movement, from fracturing her ribs a month before Paris to qualifying with just six months to go—this is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, vulnerability, and growth.

Now working as a HYDROW Athlete and Mental Performance Coach with 3HP Athlete Coaching, Aisyah shares insights on:

• Building confidence and resilience
• Letting go of expectations
• Separating identity from performance
• The realities of returning to elite sport after time away
• Training and mindset during pregnancy
• Why rowing is a lifelong sport
• Her philosophy of the 3Hs: Happy, Healthy & High Performing

This episode is about trusting your timing, embracing new chapters, and asking yourself: Is this smart for me?

Aisyah's story is proof that it's never "too late" to chase a dream — and that high performance can evolve with you.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Aisyah
• Being based in Boston, USA
• Originally from Singapore
• Working as a HYDROW Athlete
• Working as a Mental Performance Coach
• 3HP Athlete Coaching
• 2x Olympic rower in the single sculll
• Competing at the 2016 and 2024 Olympics
• Learning to live a normal life outside of sports
• Growing up in Singapore with 4 brothers
• 3 older brothers and 1 younger brother
• Being sporty and learning to be competitive
• Living a simple life and being raised by her mum after her parents got divorced
• Not knowing where her mindset comes from
• Wanting to be the best version of herself
• Not being surrounded by high performance individuals
• Starting rowing, Singapore not having much of a rowing culture
• Getting scouted at her secondary school during an indoor rowing competition
• Singapore Rowing Association
• The importance of hight in rowing
• 5'8 (173cm)and being tall for an Asian Woman
• Learning how to row on land with the ergo
• The challenges and continuing to show u to training
• Not enjoying it at first
• Getting out on the water and spending more time in the water than on the water
• The lack of opportunities in Singapore
• Why the Olympics was not on her radar
• Wanting to be the best at it and wanting to represent Singapore
• Team sport (Netball) V individual endeavours (Rower)
• The South East Asia Games
• Rowing in a single scull
• Winning gold in 2013 and beating a 2x Olympian
• Quitting her job and training full time in Australian
• When the seed got planted about going to the Olympics
• Deciding to go and train over in Sydney, Australia
• Building confidence and winning competitions
• Qualifying for the 2016 Olympics - the Asian Qualification Criteria for that cycle
• 16 countries competing for 7 spots
• Dealing with the pressure of going to the Olympics and being able to perform at the highest level
• The weight of expectation and not being able to perform
• Working with the mental skills coach Hansen Bay
• The power of letting go of expectations, facing the fear, how losing can tie into identity, building confidence and resilience
• The practical side of mental preparation
• Communication and trust
• Learning how to be vulnerable
• Why it took more than 1 session
• Taking an 8 year gap and what happened
• Trying to retire from sports and wanting to focus on her career
• 2018 and deciding to do some soul searching and heading to the USA to work as a rowing coach in Boston
• Meeting her current husband
• Getting into marathon running and thinking about trying out for the Paris Olympics
• 2023 - visiting Paris
• Thinking she was too old to row in the Olympics in her 30s
• Having 6 months to qualify for the Paris Olympics
• Qualifying in April 2024 and getting the last spot available
• The Paris Olympics and what it was like
• Fracturing her ribs a month before the games
• Having her family there to support her
• Handing the pressure the 2nd time around
• Motivation during training
• Keeping her eye on the prize
• Moving her body
• Being in a different chapter in her life
• Being a HYROW Athlete and how it works
• Advice for women who want to get into rowing
• Why it's a lifelong sport
• How to connect and follow along with Ariesyah
• 3Hs - Happy, Healthy and High Performing
• Training for a marathon in 2026 and finding out she's pregnant!
• Fitness and health during pregnancy
• Top tips and advice to listen to your body
• Is this smart for me?
• Think of the bigger picture

Social Media

Website: 3hpathlete.com

Instagram:

@ariesyah @3hpathlete

Lauren Roerick, known on trail as Longway, is a long-distance backpacker, filmmaker, and outdoor educator who has hiked across North America, Europe, and Oceania. From the Pacific Crest Trail to New Zealand's Te Araroa, and becoming the first North American woman to thru-hike France's 3,034 km HexaTrek, Lauren shares her adventures and the lessons they've taught her.

In this episode, she talks about stepping into the world of long-distance hiking in her 30s, navigating challenges on remote trails, making decisions in the moment, and learning to trust herself. Through her storytelling and filmmaking, Lauren inspires women to build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection with the outdoors—proving that it's never too late to take that first step.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lauren
• Long distance backpacker and film maker
• Currently in California, but normally based out of Vancouver, Canada
• Her early year growing up in a small city in Southern Alberta called Lethbridge
• Not getting into backpacking until her 30s
• Playing a lot of sports, being a gymnasts, playing rugby and doing jujitsu
• What changed in her 30s
• A walk in the books by Bill Bryson - the classic thru-hiker read
• Having the courage to take the step to make her dreams come true
• Why the first step is the hardest
• You get one life….
• Being willing to sacrifice the other things
• What's really important to you
• Support from family
• March 2020 and being on the trail when the pandemic started
• Moving in with her mum in Southern California for 4 months
• Making the decision to leave the trail
• Why it wasn't an easy decision to make
• Heading back the following year (2021) and not knowing if she would get the chance to hike again
• Being made redundant after 6 months
• Finding a southbound permit for the PCT at the end of June
• Being drawn to hike on long trails
• Making life long friendships and building community while hiking
• Starting to document her hikes as soon as she started
• Vlogging for THE TREK
• Being a documenter - but not having experience in vlogging
• Her biggest challenge while being on the PCT
• The fires, the weather and needing to adapt to the trail
• Making the decision to fly to Colorado to hike the Colorado Trail
• Doing back to back hiking since 2023
• Wanting to make a career out of this
• Needing to go all in
• Deciding that it was ok to be tired
• Her love for the trails
• Taking things a little slower when you need to
• Finding a balance that works for her
• Deciding to hike the HexaTrek
• Choosing a trail off the beaten track
• Not speaking French
• HexaTrek is a 3034 km hiking trail, connecting 14 of the most beautiful nationals parks and crossing France from the Vosges to the Pyrenees.
• The people on the trail
• Wanting to make more solo decisions and building those skills
• Making decisions when you don't have good options
• Trusting her gut and intuition
• Learning acceptance while on the trail
• Thoughts on the Hexatrek and why it's not a beginner trail
• Spending 4 months on the trail (121 days)
• Feeling strong and fit at the end of the trail
• Having 3 months before heading out to New Zealand to hike the Te Araroa Trail
• Heading NOBO on the TA - starting in Bluff and heading to Cape Reinga (the non traditional way)
• Highlights from the trail and why it's such an interesting trail
• The hut system in New Zealand
• Why it's not just about the hiking
• The logistics off the trail - and why it was frustrating
• The lessons learned from hiking the TA
• Changing from a purist hiker to a hike your own hike, hiker.
• Making it her own adventure, doing side quests and making the adventure unique to her
• Sharing her stories online and hiking while being observed
• People expectations of her while hiking
• Figuring out what works for you
• Hiking in Georgia - and loving it!
• Transcaucasian Trail
• Nutrition and food while on the trail
• Eating the same food day after day and being ok with it
• Wearing trainers on the trial
• Hiking Plans for 2026
• Hiking with a group of content creators - The Drakensberg Grand Traverse, South Africa
• Working with Jack Wolfskin
• The Wolf Trail
• Being booked out until October
• Feeing excited about the future
• Advice and tips for new hikers - the tropics that should be talked about me
• Don't get overwhelmed by the whole trail
• How to connect with Lauren online
• Final words of advice for women to step outside their comfort zone
• It's okay to want things for yourself. It's okay to prioritise yourself and your dream - even it that sometimes means putting them ahead of other people's goals.

Social Media

Website: www.laurenroerick.com

Instagram: @laurenroerick

Youtube: @laurenroerick

Patreon www.patreon.com/laurenexplores

In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we catch up with Paula "Must Try Harder" McGuire — author, speaker, triathlete, wing-walker, double TEDx speaker, mental health ambassador… and proudly, a trier.

Based just outside Glasgow, Paula has been adventuring since 2015 and has built a reputation for trying something new every day — including completing 366 new experiences in 2020. But the years since we last spoke have brought extraordinary challenges.

Paula shares openly about being diagnosed as autistic at 44, having a stroke at the end of 2021 and developing epilepsy, going through a divorce after 15 years of marriage, losing her home to a flood, and navigating post-stroke fatigue — all while spending six months in enforced van life.

We talk about how adventure supported her through the hardest moments, how her neurodivergent brain fuels her love of planning and trying, and why you don't need to be the best at something to enjoy giving it a go. Paula also reflects on writing her book Adventures for Bored Adults (commissioned by Penguin), rediscovering her love of swimming, and learning acceptance in the face of uncertainty.

Honest, funny and deeply human, this conversation is about resilience, identity, and continuing to say yes — even when life doesn't go to plan.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Paula
• Being based just outside of Glasgow
• Being adventuring since 2015
• TGP Episode
• Working as an electronic note taker and captioner for deaf people
• TGP Extra Episode
• 6 years since we last spoke
• How things have changed over the past few years in quite negative ways before eventually turning to a positive thing
• In 2020 trying something new every day 366 new things (leap year!)
• Starting off the year really positively
• How it became an adventure in creativity
• Feeling exhausted after the year was over
• What that the last few years have taught her
• Figuring out her place in the world of adventure
• Being ready to relax
• Social media not coming naturally to her
• Struggling with the negativity of social media
• Paula has tried hard enough - Paula is done.
• Being diagnosed with Autism at 44
• 6 months of enforced van life (November 24 - May 25)
• At the end of 2021 having a stroke and developing epilepsy
• Her husband leaving her after 15 years and going through a divorce
• Losing her house after a flood
• One thing after another
• Feeling that the universe had turned against her
• Feeling very lucky
• Brain tumour??
• Start to prepare for Paula last Christmas
• Moving on with a stroke and the potential for more strokes in the future
• How the adventures from before really supported her
• Reminding herself of things she achieved, things that she'd failed at and survived
• Adventure and acceptance
• Continuing to do fun things
• A to Z of Adventure
• Post stroke fatigue
• Not sticking to things - buying all the gear
• Getting the most mental stimulation in the trying
• Wanting to be the person who tries it all
• Her love for swimming and going back to it again and again
• Her neurodivergent brain - the planning, the execution, the reflecting
• Being butterfly minded
• Why you don't need to be the best at everything to enjoy having ago
• Coping with how your brain works
• How her entire life has become clear after her diagnosis
• Advent(ure)
• Writing a book commissioned by Penguin
• Book: Adventures for Bored Adults: Games. Challenges. Activities. Treats.
• How to connect with Paula on social media
• Supporting people with mental health
• Advice for women going through lots of challenges

Social Media

Website: www.paulamusttryharder.co.uk

Instagram: @pmusttryharder

Facebook: @pmusttryharder

Rebecca Dent is a high-performance dietitian specialising in ultra runners and mountain sport athletes — from passionate recreational runners to world-class professionals. Based in the Chamonix Valley for the past 10 years, she combines her expertise in performance nutrition with a life immersed in ski touring, trail running, mountaineering, and the mountains she loves.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Rebecca shares her journey from the Forest of Dean to the French Alps, balancing elite-level training with everyday life, and the nutrition strategies that help athletes optimise performance, recovery, and health — particularly for women navigating hormonal changes and perimenopause.

We talk race day fuel, strength training, managing limiting beliefs, and why it's never too late to start a new adventure.

Whether you're chasing your first trail race or aiming to summit Mont Blanc, Rebecca's insights will inspire you to push your limits while taking care of your body.

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time).

Support the Tough Girl mission via Patreon: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast

***

Show notes

• Who is Rebecca
• Working as a high performance dietician for 25 years
• Starting out in the NHS, before moving into elite sport
• Focusing on climber and ultra runners
• Moving to the Chamonix Valley in the French Alps, 10 years ago
• Training for an ultra race in Snowdon
• Being passionate about ski touring, trail running, hiking, climbing and spending time in the mountains
• Growing up in the Forest of Dean in a little village
• Spending a lot of time outdoors
• Starting trail running in her teenage years
• Always enjoying athletics and being inspired by the women on TV
• Doing GCSE PE and A'Level PE
• Having fun doing sports in a team environment
• Deciding what to study at university
• Niching down in her career
• Being exposed in the NHS to different areas of health care
• Starting to enter trail races and pushing herself physically
• Her running journey and progression in the sport
• Entering into races for fun
• Following a training plan for a 50k trail race in Snowdon
• Using Training Peaks and working with a coach
• Doing approx 7hr of training per week
• Using sports drinks, gels, kindle mint cake, chews and jelly sweets
• Needing to get good at running up hill
• Doing 2, 1hr gym sessions per week
• 46 years old and why it's so important to strength train
• Perimenopause and changes in hormones
• Changes in body composition and carrying extra body fat
• Starting to work with a personal trainer once a week
• How a change in hormones can affect your confidence and mood
• Feeling stronger and lifting heavier
• How the extra's were creeping in
• Eating well and focusing on things that were easy to change
• Focusing on the protein
• What a typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner looks like
• Keep things simple and nutritious
• Doing a recovery shake after the gym
• Race day nutrition - before, during and after
• Being guided (by her husband) up Mont Blanc - up and down in 1 day
• Struggling with acclimatisation
• The mental side of running and climbing
• Reflecting and working on her limiting beliefs
• Being able to regulate thoughts that are't helpful
• Reframing thoughts
• Dealing with disappointment
• Being good at feeling your feelings
• Planning, logistics, and being organised
• Deciding to pull back and focus on resting and recouping
• Doing an ultra every 2 to 5 years
• Being a procrastinator
• Having to make training a priority
• Why it is hard sometimes
• Needing to have a balance with life
• Why some things do need to be delayed
• How to connect with Rebecca on social media
• Final words of wisdom and advice
• It's not too late!!!!
• Find what it is you're interested in

Social Media

Website: highperformancedietitian.com

Instagram: @high_performance_dietitian

Facebook: @HighPerformanceDietitian

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Manika Gamble — an Atlanta-based trail runner who thrives on testing her limits in some of the world's toughest ultra races.

Manika's running journey started with casual neighbourhood runs, but soon she found herself racing 155-mile desert ultras in Africa, tackling Mongolia's Gobi March, and pushing through multi-stage, extreme endurance events. She shares the highs, the lows, and the mental grit it takes to keep moving when every muscle is screaming.

We dive into:

• Training by feel, without a watch or GPS
• Fueling, hydration, and surviving the desert heat
• Coping with pain, blisters, and fatigue without relying on painkillers
• Recovery strategies, sleep, and balancing life with training
• The mental challenges of multi-day ultra races
• Staying motivated and tackling new adventures outside your comfort zone

Manika's message is simple: don't let fear hold you back. Find what excites you, lean in, and see what you're capable of.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Manika
• Being based out of Atlanta, USA
• Trail Runner
• Currently training for a race our in Morocco
• Running every since she was a child but being new to long distance running
• Always being an active child
• Going out for the track team and how it became her whole life
• Focusing on 100 m and 400 m hurdles
• Wanting to run further
• Dreaming of the day she would be able to run casually
• Starting with 20 min runs throughout the neighbourhood
• Signing up for more and more races from 5k, up to Marathon distance
• Deciding to take on an ultra race
• Seeing a YouTube video of a man running in Namibia, Africa
• Signing up for the race and giving herself a 1 year time line to train for
• The running logistics and what her training looked like
• Being a laidback person when it comes to a training schedule
• Not running with a watch or gps tracking device
• Training based on feel and time
• Leaning about fuelling and nutrition and how to manage herself in the desert
• Carrying everything she needed on her back for 7 days while running through the desert
• Learning how to hydrate probably
• What worked well nutrition wise while racing
• Using Tailwind Powder
• The mental and emotional side of the challenge
• Why it was so tough
• Why it was such a beautiful race
• Issues with her feet and dealing with blisters
• Dealing with pain and not being able to block it out
• Not being able to take pain medication - due to the heat and potential damage to organs
• Telling herself - you're not going to stop
• Trying to divert her mind from the pain
• Camp life
• Finishing the race and the thoughts running through her head
• Never Again….
• Sprinting V Longer Races
• What does recovery look like?
• Incorporating creatine into her diet, resting more, prioritising sleep and taking on less races
• Taking 5g of creatine in the morning, and 5g in the evening
• Taking other supplements, Magnesium, potassium and starting to take athletic green in the future
• Trying to have a well rounded diet based on feel with a focus on protein, fibre and carbs
• Trying the carnivore diet but not having the energy to run
• Waking at 4am - but staying in bed till 6am
• Not napping during the day
• Heading over to Mongolia to race the Gobi March (250km across the desert)
• Racing the Planet
• Racing on green trails through the Mongolian Desert
• Getting very tired of eating the same food day after day
• How things changed mentally having done the Nambia Race previously
• Getting bored of the green pastures - being ready for it to be over
• Feeling mentally drained on her 2nd Ultra
• Too much too soon? Racing in Mongolia only 6 weeks after Nambia
• Racing the Planet - Grand Slam Challenge
• Trying to raise funds to race an ultra in Antarctica ($14,100)
• Fitting training into her life and work
• Having a pretty flexible schedule and stating to work with brand
• Using running as work
• Stone Everest, Atlanta Challenge (May 16th & 17th)
• Races for 2026
• Training for a team relay 100k challenge
• Running a Marathon in Morocco
• Running a 3 day stage race through Utah
• How to connect with Manika on social media
• Advice and top tips for other women who want to take on new challenges
• Outside of just do it
• Don't allow fear to rule you
• Find something that intrigues you and go with that

Social Media

Instagram: @manikaruns

Youtube: @ManikaRuns

Lisa Jackson is a hypnotherapist, running writer, Runner's World columnist, and the author of three bestselling running books, including Your Pace or Mine?, Running Made Easy, and her deeply personal latest release, Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief.

Originally from South Africa and now based in Worthing, UK, Lisa is a veteran of over 100 marathons and two 56-mile ultramarathons — despite often coming last. A proud reminder that endurance sport isn't about talent or speed, but about showing up, again and again.

In this powerful and emotional episode, Lisa shares her journey into running, from hating sport as a child to rediscovering running at 30, navigating disastrous races, and learning to reset expectations through walk-run strategies. She opens up with raw honesty about her husband's terminal lung cancer diagnosis, how running helped her survive the darkest moments of caregiving and grief, and what it means to lose — and slowly rebuild — your running mojo.

We dive into running through trauma, comfort eating and wine, the power of a ten-minute run, and why sometimes one mile is more than enough. Lisa also speaks openly about death and dying, dignity at the end of life, writing living wills, DNR decisions, death doulas, and how facing mortality can bring clarity, purpose, and peace.

This is a conversation about resilience, realistic goals, choosing hope over fear, and why tenacity will always beat talent. Lisa's story reminds us that running doesn't need to look impressive to be meaningful — especially when it helps carry you through loss and into hope.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lisa
• Writer and Author of 3 running books
• Her latest book: Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief
• Being based in sunny Worthing
• Her early years and coming from a running family
• Hating sports at a young age
• Doing a 5k fun run when she was 10
• Not running again for 20 years
• Turning 30 and realising her life was at a crossroads
• Wanting to walk in the footsteps of her parents
• Being invited to a Race for Life event
• Being supported by other women
• Entering the Great North Run
• Everything that went wrong!
• Being offered a place in the London Marathon
• Wanting to do another marathon….
• Running the Edinburgh Marathon and having an horrendous experience
• Trying a walk run strategy
• Her recovery after the Paris Marathon
• Writing her first book: Running Made Easy
• Jeff Galloway
• Book: Your Pace or Mine?
• Having her husband diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
• Learning a lot about cancer, mindset and dealing with medical professionals
• Turning wounds into wisdom
• How running played an important role during her husbands illness
• Dealing with her loss of running mojo
• Giving people a roadmap; through trauma, grief and through terminal illness
• Life lessons for help in a challenging situation
• Running through trauma and grief
• Being a goal orientated person
• Wanting to run 100 marathons and visit 100 countries
• Throwing her goals out of the window and focusing on keeping her husband alive for as long as she could
• Turning to comfort eating and drinking wine
• The power of a ten minute run
• Running mojo - "Running will be your salvation"
• Being told to stop running
• Needing to reset and recalibrate her expectations for herself
• Setting the target of running 1 mile
• Running a park run
• Running her first marathon in 7 years
• Peter Rook
• Being a cancer thrivers partner
• Writing her book - running after all these tears
• Why it was the most difficult book she's written
• Feeling drained by the writing
• Why the tears were healing and necessary
• Being a supporter for Dignity in Dying
• The realities of death
• What stage the bill (Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill) is at
• Talking about death and dying
• Making peach with our lives
• Anything that needs to change with our lives going forward
• Making the decision to live in hope not fear
• Marie Curie
• Writing a living will
• Signing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) for her husband while he was in hospice.
• How to have a good death
• Living her life with a sense of purpose
• Wanting to have someone hold her hand at death
• Having a death Doula
• Wanting to die at home in her own bed
• Future plans in relation to running and travel
• The importance of goals
• Why its the journey and not the destination
• Heading to visit Libya
• Running the Brighton Marathon in 2026
• Wanting to 100 Park Runs
• Wanting to run 100 Half Marathons
• Doing a half ironman…..
• Being inspired by IronGran
• Writing her bucket list
• Being very good with money
• Running a 100 mile race…..
• Not being a naturally talented runner
• The triumph of tenacity over talent!
• Wanting to preserve her body as much as possible
• Treating her body with respect
• Coming last in 25 marathons
• How to connect with Lisa on social media
• Funny moments in the book!
• Final words of advice
• Start every run with a 5 minute walk
• Make it as fun as you can
• Enjoy youself as much as you can
• Don't live your life with regrets
• Why a 10 min run will make you feel like a new person
• Why running can be your salvation to

Social Media

Instagram: @lisaflamingojackson

Facebook: @LisaFlamingoJackson

Meet Dr. Erin Ayala, a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant from Minnesota, specialising in supporting female endurance athletes. With over a decade of research and clinical experience, she's a published author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for mental health in sport.

In this episode, Erin shares insights on:

• Building mental resilience for endurance challenges
• Strategies for coping with performance pressure and burnout
• Balancing high-level competition with wellbeing
• Lessons from her own journey as a competitive cyclist

A must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their mind while chasing big goals.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Dr Erin - Licensed Psychologist and certified mental performance coach
• Being based in the twin cities, Minnesota, USA
• Her love for working with female athletes
• Her backstory and being a multi-sport athlete in High School
• Getting to grad school and starting to get into running
• Joining a run club and getting the running bug
• Working her way up to marathons
• Meeting her spouse and getting into cycling, triathlons and doing Ironman
• Moving to Minnesota in 2016
• Joining a cycling club and being encouraged to start racing bikes
• Gravel racing for the past 10 years
• Growing up in a small, midwestern town.
• Wanting to look after herself better
• Being a workaholic and not prioritising her health or wellness
• Stretching herself to thin and not feeling proud of what's going on inside
• Being very achievement driven
• Needing to match the internal to external
• Being consistent with therapy since undergraduate
• Why running and riding can be therapeutic but it can never replace working with a licensed therapist.
• Thoughts while running and how they have changed over the years
• Being a smoker, waking up coughing and not feeling good
• Starting running to be healthy and fit again
• Why it became so much deeper so much quicker
• External motivation can only get us so far
• The internal motivation is what keeps us going
• How running helps her prioritise her "me" time
• Figuring out the WHY
• Wanting to get off Strava, not following anyone on it, and not worrying about the social comparison game
• Getting sucked into the world of social media
• Starting with your WHY and what does that actually mean
• What words do you want people to use to describe you as a person
• Setting herself up for success
• Why her favourite clients are women in their 50s
• Getting the balance right between going after your goals and managing a relationship
• Being supported on her bike adventures, both on and off the road
• Doing really long road trips and going back country hiking together
• Doing 2 big events per year
• Planning a race strategy and what the mental side of a race strategy looks like
• Nothing new on race day and why the same applies to mental work and mental skills
• It's never too soon to start.
• Doing meditation every day via a free app
• 3/4 weeks out and getting series about her race goals
• Being ready to reassess her goals based upon life circumstances
• Taking into account- life - when setting race goals
• Life gives us training scores too
• Tips and tricks while being on the start line to get into the zone.
• The cognitive piece and psychological piece
• Here are my pre-race jitters
• Feeling anxious at the start line e.g. going to the bathrooms multiple times before the start.
• Take a deep breath? Breathing
• The importance of low and slow breathing and how it helps to balance out the nervous system.
• The concept of the pain cave
• Courtney Dauwalter
• Taking it to the next level- finishing strong - the final push over the finish line
• Figuring out - What is the most difficult or most important part of the race?
• Visualising success…. Toxic positivity
• How am I going to respond once the feeling hits?
• If - then - situation
• Responding and dealing with failure and set backs
• Letting the disappointment settle in
• Reminding yourself that just because you didn't reach your goal didn't mean you are a failure and did anything wrong
• Doing everything right and still not hitting your goals
• Outcome goals are how we compare to other people
• Set process goals and why they are more effective than outcome goals
• Starting a new podcast with Fiesty Media
• Focusing on what she can do
• The noise on the internet
• The Feisty Women's Podcast - January 12th 2026 was the launch date - with weekly episodes going forward.
• Women and sleep and why women are more efficient sleepers than men
• Focus on the basics
• Taking on the more taboo topics
• Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body. By Starre Vartan
• Sports psychology and why there is so much work to do in this space for women
• Research which is specific for women
• The lack of large scale studies in sports psychology for women
• How to connect with Erin online
• "Skadi"- The Norse Goddess of ice, snow and mountains
• Words of advice to motivate and inspire other women and girls
• Being willing to ask the hard questions around where our expectations are coming from
• Why it's ok to make our own rules and break them
• Going back to your value system
• Does leaning into this experience make sense for me?

Social Media

Website: www.skadisportpsychology.com

Instagram: @skadisportpsychology

@feisty_womens_performance

Fiesty Media Podcast: feisty.co/podcasts

Jennifer is an adventurer, wellness professional, and founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, helping women connect with nature, challenge themselves, and build lasting friendships through experiences grounded in the 3 Cs: Challenge, Connection, and Community.

She designs international hiking adventures and UK-based experiences that blend movement, mindfulness, and wellness. Her work spans everything from planning logistics and designing programs to facilitating group hikes, yoga, sauna and ice-bath sessions, and breath work.

Jennifer lived in Trentino, Italy for four years, where she learned to speak Italian and fell in love with the mountains and the sports within them, including ski touring. Over time, she has also run ultra marathons and bike packed long distances. Adventure is what makes her feel alive!

As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, her adventures are rooted in wellness and informed by research like the 3 Day Effect, showing that just three days immersed in nature can boost attention, creativity, and emotional resilience — benefits especially meaningful for neurodivergent women. Each international trip ends with a sauna experience, which she considers essential for physical and emotional wellbeing.

Her experiences encourage women to step outside their comfort zones while feeling supported, mindful, and fully present. Through adventure, movement, and shared experiences, Jennifer helps women slow down, feel capable, and reconnect with themselves and each other.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Jennifer
• Original from Manchester, but now based in Sheffield
• When her running journey started
• Maintaining a good level of base fitness
• Running 50k in January
• Feeling the need to go for a run
• Getting into ultra running
• Supported a guy who did the Bob Graham Round and running one of the legs
• If he can do it - I can do it to
• Knowing that she was capable of achieving
• Breaking down the goal
• Seeing the behind the scenes of planning a run and how it inspired her
• The Japanese Odyssey
• Doing the next best thing - signing up to a race in Italy
• Being supported by people along the way
• Running the Edale Skyline with Barefoot John
• Digging into the planning and learning new planning skills
• Being impulsive and spontaneous
• Being determined enough to do it
• Why it's not just about the planning, but also about the execution
• Coming up with a rough plan
• Planning, hormones, structure
• Not having the energy for hill reps and feeling fatigued
• Beating herself up for not achieving it
• Having to reframe the situation
• The night before the race and doing a race strategy with Chat GPT
• Working with a coach - S&C and following a 12 week running plan
• Why there isn't a right and a wrong - why it's what works for you
• Looking at the training plan and listening to her body
• Running the ultra marathon while menstruating
• Fitting training into life and work
• Running to her cleaning job
• Starting a marketing contract for 4 days a week
• Having a rest day on Monday
• Being forced to find the time
• Combing running with life
• Starting with a running coach and training for a 50k in April in Wales (She Ultra)
• The Ultra Race in Italy - being the only British women running
• Her aim for the race
• Why it's not about the other people racing - it's about you
• Treating it as a fun day out - chatting to people in the mountain huts, changing her top, taking things steady
• Teaching herself that she could do it
• Sprinting towards the end, just trying to get there
• Gaining new experience
• SheUltra Race
• Wanting to build her confidence in her physical abilities
• Getting into plyometrics - for building bone density
• Founding the Adventure Wellness Club and what it's goals are
• Wanting to bring people together to share her passion
• Being diagnosed with ADHD and starting to understand how her brain works and working on her self confidence
• Pushing herself out of comfort zone with travel and adventure
• Delivering her first trip in 2025
• Teaching herself that you can make your idea a reality
• Ending each trip with a sauna and spa experience
• The "3 Day Effect" - spending 72 hours disconnected from technology and surrounded by nature has a breadth of benefits for your mind.
• Why adventure is key to wellness
• Looking at herself with more compassion
• Why it's not just a focus issue
• Why a diagnosis does change everything
• Trying medication and working with a nurse practitioner
• Starting to realise how awesome she is
• Seeing yourself in a different way
• Issues with ADHD, perimenopause and mental health
• Her feelings with turning 40
• Becoming more comfortable with not having children
• Being more comfortable with how her life is
• Wanting to age as strong as she can - keep pushing it, keep learning what it is capable of
• Wanting to go ski touring in New Zealand
• How to connect with Jennifer on social media
• Developing her website at the moment
• Final words of advice for other women who want more adventure in their life
• The thing that you're thinking of doing that seems scary, follow the thread of that curiosity, it's there for a reason.

Social Media

Website: www.adventurewellness.club

Instagram: @adventurewellness.club

Facebook: @adventurewellnessclub

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Marie "Lootie" Leautey, the second woman in history to run around the world solo and unsupported — and the fastest woman to do it.

Lootie's journey began in France, far from the running world. A former smoker and corporate finance professional, she swapped cigarettes for daily runs at 25, building up to her first marathon in just eight months. That spark turned into an audacious dream: to run across the globe — 26,000+ km, across four continents, relying entirely on herself.

Starting her run in Europe in December 2019, Lootie faced deserts, mountains, and long stretches between resupply points, carrying only a 12–15kg stroller packed with her essentials. Along the way, she experienced the kindness of strangers, the thrill of new cultures, and the incredible mental discipline required to run a marathon every day for years.

Beyond the physical feat, Lootie shares how her journey is rooted in purpose: raising funds for Women for Women International, honouring her grandmother's legacy, and inspiring women to ask themselves, "Why am I doing this, and is it aligned with who I want to be?"

This is a story of grit, adventure, and the extraordinary power of chasing your own path — a reminder that there's very little you can't achieve once you set your mind to it.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lootie
• Becoming the 2nd woman to run around the world - solo and unsupported
• Fastest women to run around the world
• Her early years growing up in France
• Coming from a sporty family but not being interested in running
• Her love for team sports
• Being a smoker
• Being out of shape at 25/26 years old
• Swapping her cigarettes for a run ever day
• Her wake up call in Greece while learning how to windsurf
• Building up to a marathon distance- 8 months later
• Leaving France when she was 20 - working in finance for big corporates
• Having the idea to run around the world
• Going on Google - has anyone run around the world before
• The World Runners Association (WRA)
• Her route and the rules and how they gave her structure
• Needing to cross a minimum of 4 continents, and run in one continuous direction
• Running a minimum distance of just under 30,000 km (The runner must cover a total of at least 26,232 km on foot)
• Making the decision and the commitment
• Understanding her WHY and having it at the forefront of her mind
• Self financing the challenge
• Deciding to run a marathon per day
• Taking 2 years in the planning and preparation
• Running without time pressure
• The daily thoughts, the novelty of running
• Never thinking of giving up as this is exactly what she wanted
• Her running set up - and keeping it as light as possible (12 - 15kg)
• Researching with google maps - trying to figure out her location every 40km
• The longest distances without resupply - and knowing she would need to camp and to be self sufficient.
• Having a stroller with waterproof bags
• The mental side of the challenge while running
• Having a sensory experience while running
• Not being bored on any of the days - even while crossing the desert in Australia
• Speaking French, English, German and Greek
• Starting her run in Europe and why it was such a challenge (covid)
• Starting 6th December 2019
• After leaving Europe and heading to America (Getting an exception from the WRA)
• Arriving in New York in Mid November 2021
• What daily life was like on the road
• Starting running at dawn and being done by lunchtime
• What the afternoons would look like
• Carrying 2 GPS trackers - and updating the info daily (or as often as possible when wifi was available)
• Going to bed by 9pm and sleeping very well throughout the challenge - going from sleeping 5hrs a night to 9/10 hours of sleep at night
• Eating what you find, eat until you are not hungry anymore
• Not being dependent on certain types of food, drinks, gels, supplements etc
• Running in South America (her first visit was on the run), starting in Patagonia
• Running up to 4,000m of altitude
• Being inspired by her Grandmother who was the director of the first feminist library in France
• Being taught the differences between the treatment between men and woman
• Being encouraged to do what ever she wanted
• Wanting to use her voice to share that message with women
• Running for Women for Women International
• Wanting to rise $1 per km run
• The challenges of running in Australia: - road trains, distances between resupply points
• The kindness of strangers
• Running in Australia between May and August - which is Autumn time
• Finishing the world run in Sydney, Australia and coming to the end of the run and the experience.
• Feeling a little bit of satisfaction and also wanting the run to continue - a cocktail of strong and contradictory emotions
• Feeling at peace now - 3 years after the run
• The day after and not needing to run anymore
• Never missing the running, even though she enjoyed it everyday
• Struggling to run casually after the end of the world run
• Flying back to France and going back to the normal world
• Having a publishing contract in France and being ready after 2/3 months to start writing about the experience
• Feeling that the adventure was so rich - that she wanted to write the story in English and finding a publisher in the United States
• The next challenge….
• Deciding to run across Africa
• Wanting to be a teacher
• How to connect with Lootie on social media
• Final words of advice for other women who want to take on their own personal challenge
• Whatever you're doing — at work or in your life — pause and ask yourself: Why am I doing this? And how aligned is it with who I am, or who I want to become?
• There's very little you can't do once you set your mind to it.
• Her motto - Wanting to see the world, enjoy it and appreciate every step of the way.

Social Media

Website: lootie-run.com

Instagram: @lootierun

Facebook: @lootierun

Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/48402997