loader from loading.io

Theresa Frost: 68-year-old Ironman, European Aquabike Champion, smallholder, wife of over 40 years, mum of 2, and grandma to 3. Proving age and a double hip replacement are no reasons to slow down.

Tough Girl Podcast

Release Date: 08/20/2024

Vicki Anstey: Overcoming Limitations, Conquering Fears, and Breaking Records—From SAS Challenges to Rowing the Pacific and Cycling 3,000 Miles Across America. show art Vicki Anstey: Overcoming Limitations, Conquering Fears, and Breaking Records—From SAS Challenges to Rowing the Pacific and Cycling 3,000 Miles Across America.

Tough Girl Podcast

After 20 years in a relationship that limited and stifled her, former advertising professional, turned fitness pioneer and award-winning entrepreneur, Vicki Anstey became (age 41) one of the first ever women to participate in Channel 4’s ‘SAS Who Dares Wins’, reaching the final stages after 11 days in extreme conditions at an altitude of 3,000ft in Chile. In 2021, she and 2 other women, the Girls Who Dare, set a new World Record for rowing unaided across the Pacific Ocean, confronting her fear of deep, open water to do so. It took 60 days, 17 hours and 6 minutes. Her latest endeavour (a...

info_outline
Charlotte Bowens: From a Health Crisis to 50-Mile Ultramarathon Finisher—Creating VestaPak for the Plus-Size Community in Outdoor Sports show art Charlotte Bowens: From a Health Crisis to 50-Mile Ultramarathon Finisher—Creating VestaPak for the Plus-Size Community in Outdoor Sports

Tough Girl Podcast

Charlotte Bowens: Founder of Conscious Gear and trailblazing innovator behind VestaPak, the world's first plus-size hydration vest. From university administrator to entrepreneur, she fearlessly reshapes the outdoor industry.  Motivated by a personal health scare, she champions inclusivity and empowers the plus-size community to embrace an active lifestyle. Founding Story: A Transformation and a Vision  It all started with a health scare that jolted Charlotte's life. An unexpected visit to the emergency room revealed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, severe depression, borderline...

info_outline
Tiffany Coates - Live from the Armchair Adventure Festival. Sharing more about her motorcycle adventures around the world. show art Tiffany Coates - Live from the Armchair Adventure Festival. Sharing more about her motorcycle adventures around the world.

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany at the Armchair Adventure Festival in Mount Edgcumbe. Join us as we explore the world through the eyes of Tiffany Coates, recognised as the world’s foremost female motorcycle adventurer. Tiffany has spent over twenty years exploring six continents on two wheels. With hundreds of thousands of miles under her belt, she continues her adventures both solo and as a sought-after motorcycle tour guide, captivating audiences at adventure travel events worldwide. Her journey began with a memorable trip alongside her best friend, Becky. With just two months...

info_outline
Candida Louis - An Indian girl riding around the World. 10 Years of full-time Travel. Sharing her story live at the Armchair Adventure Festival. show art Candida Louis - An Indian girl riding around the World. 10 Years of full-time Travel. Sharing her story live at the Armchair Adventure Festival.

Tough Girl Podcast

Candida Louis, a 28-year-old adventurer from Hubli, South India, embodies the spirit of wanderlust and the pursuit of freedom through motorcycle riding. From a young age, she shared unforgettable rides with her father, sparking a passion that led her to become a motorcyclist herself. Over the past 12 years, she has transitioned from a pillion rider to the one in the front seat, fully embracing the thrill of the open road. A birthday gift of her first motorcycle marked the beginning of an incredible journey that fuelled her dreams of riding around the world. After spending five years working at...

info_outline
Jen Scotney - Running Through the Dark: The rise and fall of an ultrarunner. A story about resilience, about never giving up, and about battling through the night and always believing that there will be a new dawn. show art Jen Scotney - Running Through the Dark: The rise and fall of an ultrarunner. A story about resilience, about never giving up, and about battling through the night and always believing that there will be a new dawn.

Tough Girl Podcast

Jen Scotney boasts an impressive record as an ultrarunner with podium finishes in the 108-mile Montane Winter Spine Challenger South and the 190-mile Northern Traverse. She is host of the Resilience Rising Podcast, a running coach, writer, Mountain Leader and yoga teacher, which have followed her career as a human rights lawyer.  Jen has appeared in magazine features for Runner’s World, Trail Running and Women’s Running. She has been a guest host on the Wild Ginger Running YouTube channel, and a previous guest on the Tough Girl Podcast. Jen crewed for John Kelly’s successful Pennine...

info_outline
Risa August - Removing limiting beliefs, shifting her perspective, and embracing an expansive life…. Author of 'The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike’. show art Risa August - Removing limiting beliefs, shifting her perspective, and embracing an expansive life…. Author of 'The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike’.

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life and inspiring journey of Risa August, a multifaceted individual based in Colorado, USA. Risa wears many hats - she's a Gestalt practitioner, a captivating speaker, an author, and a passionate patient advocate. Her story is one of resilience, marked by her decade-long battle with a pituitary tumour and a rare disease, Acromegaly. Risa shares candidly about her experiences, offering profound insights into overcoming adversity and embracing life with unparalleled vigour. Risa's journey into the realm of personal transformation began with her...

info_outline
Bailey Seamer: Hiking Australia's East Coast (14 Months, 5,000km) for Mental Health Advocacy. show art Bailey Seamer: Hiking Australia's East Coast (14 Months, 5,000km) for Mental Health Advocacy.

Tough Girl Podcast

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Bailey Seamer, an extraordinary individual who undertook a 14-month, 5,000km hike along Australia's East Coast, from Wilsons Promontory to Cape York, all in the name of mental health advocacy. Bailey's story is one of resilience, determination, and hope, as she uses her journey to raise awareness and support for mental health issues. Diagnosed with a major depressive disorder at just 14, Bailey has faced significant challenges, including managing an all-consuming mental illness and dealing with the impact of bi-polar disorder. Despite these...

info_outline
Shafeeqah Gordon - Trail Runner from Cape Town, South Africa: Pushing Limits on the Trails and the Importance of Community show art Shafeeqah Gordon - Trail Runner from Cape Town, South Africa: Pushing Limits on the Trails and the Importance of Community

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we sit down with Shafeeqah Gordon, a passionate trail runner from Cape Town, South Africa. Shafeeqah shares her journey, from playing netball as a child to discovering the freedom and challenge of running through her university cross-country club. Over the years, running has become an integral part of her life, and she hasn’t looked back since. As a leader for Tuesday Trails, a group dedicated to the joy of trail running, Shafeeqah is all about building community and encouraging people to get outside. Her work as a mountain guide and sports...

info_outline
Amanda Harris: Overcoming Adversity with Adapted Cycling, Fundraising, and Inspiring Resilience After a Life-Changing Spinal Cord Injury.  show art Amanda Harris: Overcoming Adversity with Adapted Cycling, Fundraising, and Inspiring Resilience After a Life-Changing Spinal Cord Injury.

Tough Girl Podcast

Join us on this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast as we explore the remarkable journey of Amanda Harris, an adapted cyclist and dedicated fundraiser who has embraced life's challenges following a spinal cord injury. Living in South Wales with her husband and two teenage children, Amanda's story is one of resilience, determination, and breaking down barriers. Originally from Devon and a law graduate from Cardiff University, Amanda has spent over 30 years in Wales. Her life took a dramatic turn after a serious bike accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. Despite the life-altering event,...

info_outline
Dena Lewis: Running for Resilience and Safety - Advocating for Women's Safety and Launching the Running Mate App. show art Dena Lewis: Running for Resilience and Safety - Advocating for Women's Safety and Launching the Running Mate App.

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we speak with Dena Lewis, a dedicated runner and advocate for women's safety based in Florida, USA. Dena shares her 20-year journey in running, which began as a way to manage stress after college and evolved into a lifelong passion.  Dena's dedication to running is evident in her meticulous planning and commitment, including her morning routine of fasted runs, coffee, and early starts. Where she runs between 10 and 12 miles per day, 6 days a week. Safety has been a significant concern for Dena, who often runs in the early hours of the morning....

info_outline
 
More Episodes

In this episode, we have the privilege of chatting with Theresa Frost, a remarkable 68-year-old athlete who shatters stereotypes and redefines what it means to stay active and competitive at any age. 

Theresa's list of accomplishments is as impressive as it is diverse, including:

  • European Aquabike Champion 2023 🇬🇧
  • Team GB Athlete 🇬🇧
  • Barcelona Ironman Finisher 2022 🇪🇸
  • 70.3 World Championships Competitor 2016 🇦🇺

Theresa's journey is a testament to her incredible resilience and determination. A retired teacher and smallholder living in Cornwall, UK, she balances her athletic pursuits with her family life, being a wife of over 40 years, a mother of two, and a grandmother of three.

In this episode, Theresa shares her fascinating life story, from her active childhood on a farm in Gloucester to her impressive achievements in the world of endurance sports. She talks about her initial foray into running after the birth of her daughter, Harriet, and how this led to her participation in multiple London Marathons and ultimately, Ironman competitions.

Listeners will hear about Theresa's triumphs and challenges, including overcoming double hip replacements, her rigorous training schedule, and her philosophy on staying active and healthy. 

Whether you're looking for inspiration to take on a new challenge or tips on staying fit and motivated at any age, Theresa Frost's story is sure to captivate and inspire. 

Tune in to learn how Theresa continues to defy expectations and live life to the fullest, proving that age and obstacles are no barriers to achieving greatness.

***

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

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

🙏Thank you for your invaluable support!

 

Show notes

  • Who is Theresa
  • Retired teacher and small holder 
  • Being a GB athlete and competing in standard, middle and long distance Aquabike (Swim and bike of a triathlon)
  • Being European Distance Champion for the 65- 69 age group
  • Based in Cornwall, UK
  • 68 years young
  • Reflecting back on her childhood and growing up on a farm in Gloucester with her 3 siblings 
  • Doing all of the team sports at school, from hockey, netball, rounders, tennis and gymnastics. 
  • Outside of school, doing Judo, fencing and sub-aqua
  • Spending time outdoors exploring, and playing in the woods
  • Being inspired by her sports teacher at school in both sports and education
  • Becoming a PE teacher and meeting her husband at work
  • Being married to Peter for 41 years, having 2 children and 3 grandchildren
  • Not being active during her pregnancy's 
  • Getting into running after her daughter, Harriet was born
  • What her running journey looked like
  • Starting with 10ks and half marathons and entering the London Marathon in 1990
  • Running London Marathon 5 times 
  • Deciding to take on a Ironman and not knowing if she had the potential to achieve it
  • Doing an Ironman with Harriet
  • Having 2 hip replacements 14 years ago - August 2010
  • Doing the London Triathlon in 2013 at 57
  • Getting more confident and training better
  • 2015 doing an half ironman 
  • Finishing first in her age group to go to the World Championships in Australia 
  • Being retired and working on her smallholding
  • Speaking with and working with a coach in 2021
  • Deciding to commit and do a full Ironman in October 2022
  • What a typical training week looks like
  • Training 13 out of 14 days (not always taking a day off)
  • Strength and conditioning class with Ruth 
  • Not being a fan of stretching
  • Being a member of a running club
  • GLL Better Leisure Centres, Cornwall
  • SNUGGs Wetsuits
  • Liking the thought of running  
  • Feeling pain while running
  • Running on her terms 
  • What is Aquabike? https://www.aquabike.world/ 
  • The European Aquabike Championships in Portugal
  • The mental side of races
  • Being inspired by the Eileen’s in her life
  • The distances involved and fuelling during the race
  • Maurten 
  • Food and meat from the small holding 
  • Needing to eat more protein
  • Being a baker but not a cooker
  • Food before a race and after
  • Recovery and not being a fan of stretching
  • Dog walking and active recovery
  • Not being good at sitting down and doing nothing
  • Turning 70 and looking forward to it
  • How to connect with Theresa on Instagram
  • Final words of advice for other women who are in their 60s and want to try new things
  • Starting with one thing and why moving is so important
  • Take opportunities and try new things

 

Social Media

Instagram: @theresa.frost