Sarah Thomas - Ultra Marathon Swimmer - Breast cancer Survivor and the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel in 54 hours and 10 minutes.
Release Date: 01/02/2024
Carol Devine: Researcher, writer, artist, climate activist and humanitarian professional. From Antarctica's Ice to Scotland's Seas, A Journey of Activism and Adventure.
Tough Girl Podcast
Carol Devine embodies a diverse array of roles, seamlessly intertwining her work as a researcher, writer, artist, climate activist, humanitarian professional, and explorer. Her pursuits range from spearheading groundbreaking ecological expeditions to championing causes such as combating plastic pollution and empowering women in adventure sports. She spearheaded the first civilian volunteer ecological expedition in Antarctica, collaborating with the Russian Antarctic Expedition. Additionally, Carol has actively participated in and documented environmental initiatives, such as Clean Up...
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Gráinne Moss: Navigating Open Waters - Expert Advice from arguably Irelands most accomplished female open water swimmer. First Irish woman to swim Cook Strait (2001) Foveaux (2022), Lake Taupō (2021) and the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (2023).
Tough Girl Podcast
Gráinne Moss is arguably Irelands most accomplished female open water swimmer. At 16 she was the first female to represent Ireland in open water swimming at the World Championships. At 17 she became the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel. She has continued to achieve many firsts including the first Irish woman to swim Cook Strait (2001) Foveaux (2022), Lake Taupō (2021) and the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (2023). Gráinne holds three Triple Crowns of Open Water Swimming (awarded when a swimmer has completed three of the toughest swims in any nation) - including...
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Fatima Haidari: Shattering Stereotypes, Embracing Opportunities, and Pursuing Dreams as Afghanistan's First Female Tour Guide.
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode of Tough Girl Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Fatima, from her early years in Afghanistan to her pursuit of education, independence, and empowerment in Italy. Fatima's childhood was marked by challenges, but her curiosity and determination to learn led her to secretly educate herself. As Afghanistan's first female tour guide, she defied expectations and empowered herself economically. Threatened by the Taliban, Fatima made the courageous decision to flee to Italy, where she faced new obstacles but persisted in pursuing higher education. Now, as a refugee with a...
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Dr. Kaz Williams - Performance Psychologist, Certified Running Coach and Ultra Runner. Striving to help people discover their mettle.
Tough Girl Podcast
Listen to Kaz on the Tough Girl Podcast as she shares her passion for running and helping individuals discover their inner strength. Kaz founded Mettle—a platform dedicated to empowering runners to conquer personal challenges, chase personal records, and train for specific distances. Mettle isn't just about running; it's about equipping runners with coaching plans, mental strategies, and unwavering support to thrive both on the track and in life. Drawing from her extensive academic background—holding a PhD in human behaviour and an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology—Kaz delves into...
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Emma Hull - Unleashing Confidence, Embracing Change, and Fearlessly Pursuing Adventure and Dreams with Life Untethered
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Emma Hull, a confidence coach who discovered her true potential in her 40s and embarked on a transformative path towards self-empowerment. From grappling with anxiety and self-doubt to embracing a life of purpose and fulfilment, Emma's story is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination. Emma's journey to confidence began with a desire for change, fuelled by a reluctance to rely on medication for anxiety and depression indefinitely. With a commitment to self-improvement, she gradually introduced yoga into her routine,...
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Dr. Meera Velankar - Scientist turned tandem cyclist. Exploring India since 2015. First woman to complete India’s Golden Quadrilateral, which connects Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, on a tandem bike (6,000km in 41 days).
Tough Girl Podcast
Dr. Meera Velankar, a mother of two with a doctorate in life sciences, embarked on a transformative journey over a decade ago. Feeling unfit and discontent, she turned to cycling, becoming a seasoned endurance athlete since. Her achievements include completing numerous running and cycling events, earning the title of an Ironman 70.3 finisher, and conquering the Super Randonneur norm three times, with a podium finish at the Tour of Nilgiris. In 2022, Meera made history by setting a Guinness World Record for a self-supported cycling journey from Agra to Umlingla, covering a distance of...
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Arlette Laan aka “Apple Pie”. First woman to hike all 11 National Scenic Trails in USA. 35,000+ miles hiked!
Tough Girl Podcast
Join us for an exhilarating journey into the world of long-distance hiking with Arlette Laan, affectionately known as "Apple Pie." In this episode, Arlette shares her awe-inspiring tale of becoming the first woman to hike all 11 National Scenic Trails in the USA, covering over 35,000 miles on foot. From her childhood adventures in Holland to navigating the rugged terrains of America's most iconic trails, Arlette's story is one of perseverance, passion, and the sheer joy of exploration. Tune in as she delves into the essence of long-distance hiking, the challenges she faced along...
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Lauren Beihoffer: Biochemist, Ultra-runner, Coach, and Mom of Three. Passionate About Helping Women Over 40 Feel and Perform Their Best.
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode, we embark on a journey with Lauren Beihoffer, a trail and ultra-running enthusiast residing in Tennessee, USA. As she prepares for a 100-mile race in the rugged mountains of Virginia, Lauren shares insights into the physical and mental challenges she faces and offers valuable advice for fellow runners, particularly women over the age of 40. Lauren's love for running runs deep, having discovered it in her 30s and gradually progressing into the world of trail running. Through trial and error, she has gained valuable knowledge, emphasising the importance of self-compassion and...
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Shirin Gerami - Trailblazing Triathlete & Advocate for Change who made history as Iran's first female triathlete to compete in a world championship.
Tough Girl Podcast
Shirin made history as Iran's first female triathlete to compete in a world championship. On 15 September 2013, Shirin represented Iran at the triathlon championship in London, wearing full Islamic dress. Growing up, Shirin discovered her love for movement through activities like yoga, swimming, and running. Her passion for sports blossomed further during her university years when she decided to pursue triathlon. Despite initial fears, she pushed through, embracing the challenge with determination. After graduating from Durham University, where she studied Philosophy,...
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Beth Whitman - completed the Grand Slam Plus with Racing the Planet. This included running 5 separate events, each 250K, across Georgia (the country), the Namib Desert in Namibia, the Atacama in Chile, the Gobi in Mongolia and Antarctica.
Tough Girl Podcast
Beth is a traveler first and foremost. With 35 years of travel experience, each year she spends three to four months abroad, combining her love of adventure with vacation and business. For 15 years she has been running WanderTours, focusing on women-only tours, where she encourages and inspires women to dive deep into cultures and to challenge themselves by getting out of their comfort zone. She recently discovered running and, at age 50, ran her first marathon. She then discovered ultra-running and has been using these as an excuse to explore remote destinations around the globe that...
info_outlineSarah 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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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 with breast 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 Gibraltar and 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