loader from loading.io

Sherry Cardona: Ultra Endurance Cyclist and Content Creator – Tackling the Toughest Bikepacking Races

Tough Girl Podcast

Release Date: 04/22/2025

Emma Wilkinson – Freelance Health Journalist, Ultra Runner & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport show art Emma Wilkinson – Freelance Health Journalist, Ultra Runner & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

Tough Girl Podcast

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we welcome Emma Wilkinson—a freelance health journalist, ultra runner, mother of three, and co-author of the empowering book Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport.  Emma’s journey into ultra running didn’t begin until her 40s, but once she discovered the joy of going long and slow, there was no turning back. In this honest and motivating conversation, Emma shares how she went from half marathons and road running to self-created 100K adventures in the mountains of Snowdonia. Alongside fellow runner and friend Lily...

info_outline
Lily Canter – Ultra Runner, Women’s Running Coach & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport show art Lily Canter – Ultra Runner, Women’s Running Coach & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

Tough Girl Podcast

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Lily Canter—an ultra runner, women’s running coach, journalist, and passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. As co-author of the groundbreaking book Ultra Women, Lily is helping to challenge outdated narratives and spotlight the women redefining endurance running. Lily didn’t grow up considering herself sporty, but after joining a triathlon club in her 30s, she discovered a love for running that quickly evolved into a passion for ultras. What began as a spontaneous 30-mile run turned into a deeper journey into...

info_outline
Tania Carmona – First Mexican Athlete to Complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam: Ultrarunner, Coach, and Podcaster show art Tania Carmona – First Mexican Athlete to Complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam: Ultrarunner, Coach, and Podcaster

Tough Girl Podcast

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Tania Carmona—a trailblazing ultrarunner, endurance coach, entrepreneur, and the first Mexican athlete to complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam. From swimming as a national-level athlete in Mexico to conquering some of the toughest environments on Earth, Tania’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity. Based in Dubai and previously living in Scotland and the U.S., Tania shares her path into ultrarunning—from a reluctant marathon finisher to tackling self-supported races across the Gobi,...

info_outline
Dr. Sarah Ruggins – Record-Breaking Endurance Cyclist on Pushing Limits, Managing Pain, and the Power of Aggressive Patience show art Dr. Sarah Ruggins – Record-Breaking Endurance Cyclist on Pushing Limits, Managing Pain, and the Power of Aggressive Patience

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Sarah Ruggins—a high-achieving investment professional, academic powerhouse, and now a record-breaking ultra-endurance cyclist. From her early days as a national-level track athlete in Canada to surviving complex PTSD and rebuilding her life, Sarah’s journey is one of transformation, resilience, and radical self-belief. In 2023, Sarah competed in the Transcontinental Bike Race, and in 2025, she took on her most audacious challenge yet: cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back...

info_outline
Sarah Williams - 800th Episode Special – 10 Years of the Tough Girl Podcast, 7,400 Miles of Adventure & What’s Coming Next! show art Sarah Williams - 800th Episode Special – 10 Years of the Tough Girl Podcast, 7,400 Miles of Adventure & What’s Coming Next!

Tough Girl Podcast

I can’t quite believe it, but here we are — the 800th episode of the Tough Girl Podcast! In this special solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes for a personal catch-up and reflection on everything that’s happened so far in 2025 — from January through to August. I talk about what life has looked like lately (yes, still living at home with my parents!), working part-time at AIM Health, the adventures I’ve been on, the challenges I’ve faced, and the exciting things coming up next. This episode is a bit of everything: gear chat (flat-lay photos and a new...

info_outline
Tia Banks – From Pro Athlete to Mountaineer: Climbing the 7 Volcanic Summits and Teaching Resilience Through Adventure show art Tia Banks – From Pro Athlete to Mountaineer: Climbing the 7 Volcanic Summits and Teaching Resilience Through Adventure

Tough Girl Podcast

In this powerful episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Tia Banks—a former professional basketball player turned mountaineer and certified resilience expert. Based in Texas, Tia is on a bold mission to climb all seven volcanic summits, one on each continent, using her journey as a platform to inspire strength, courage, and mental resilience. Her love for adventure began with Mount Kilimanjaro in 2021, where she faced illness, doubt, and the ultimate test of her mindset on summit night. But for Tia, mountaineering is more than reaching the top—it’s about how we...

info_outline
Sharon Evans – Walking New Zealand’s 3,000km Te Araroa Trail at 58 and Inspiring Women to Embrace Outdoor Adventure show art Sharon Evans – Walking New Zealand’s 3,000km Te Araroa Trail at 58 and Inspiring Women to Embrace Outdoor Adventure

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Sharon Evans, also known as the Free Wheeling Kiwi—a 58-year-old adventurer, storyteller, and passionate advocate for women embracing the outdoors, especially later in life. Sharon shares the incredible story of walking the full Te Araroa Trail, a 3,000km thru-hike stretching the length of New Zealand. Alongside her partner, she tackled harsh weather, blisters, foot pain, and relentless terrain—proving that age is no barrier to adventure. Five years ago, Sharon made the bold decision to walk away from her...

info_outline
Ioana Barbu – Ultra Runner - Winning the Ice & Highland Ultra and Tackling the Beyond the Ultimate Series in One Year. show art Ioana Barbu – Ultra Runner - Winning the Ice & Highland Ultra and Tackling the Beyond the Ultimate Series in One Year.

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, meet Ioana Barbu—an unstoppable ultra runner with big goals, bold energy, and a fierce belief in betting on herself. After winning the Ice Ultra (230km at the Arctic Circle) and the Highland Ultra (125km in the Scottish Highlands) in 2025—each by hours and against stacked fields—Ioana is now going all-in to complete the entire Beyond the Ultimate series in one calendar year. That means racing across jungles, deserts, mountains, and ice—self-funded, self-motivated, and 100% committed. We dive into her...

info_outline
Nicola Hardy - Munro Bagger, Outdoor Writer & Author of Peak Bagging Munros show art Nicola Hardy - Munro Bagger, Outdoor Writer & Author of Peak Bagging Munros

Tough Girl Podcast

In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode we catch up with adventurer and outdoor writer Nicola Hardy—also known for becoming Munroist #6,765 after summiting all 282 of Scotland’s Munros. Nicola left behind a decade-long career in IT to pursue a life filled with mountains, maps, and meaningful adventure. Since our first conversation in March 2022, Nicola has continued to embrace the outdoor life with passion—working part-time to support her adventures and dedicating the rest of her week to exploring the hills and trails she loves. In this episode, Nicola shares...

info_outline
Ebaide Joy Udoh – Breaking Records on Two Wheels: A Solo Motorcycle Journey Across Africa show art Ebaide Joy Udoh – Breaking Records on Two Wheels: A Solo Motorcycle Journey Across Africa

Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Ebaide Joy Udoh, a bold Nigerian adventurer and storyteller on a mission to make history. Ebaide is currently undertaking a solo motorcycle journey across Africa, aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the Longest Journey by Motorcycle in Africa (Female). The current record to beat is 30,000 kilometers (19,000 miles)—and by the time she completes the final leg of her trip, Ebaide expects to reach an incredible 35,000 km (22,000 miles). But Ebaide’s story isn’t just about distance—it’s...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Sherry Cardona is an ultra-endurance cyclist, content creator, and adventure seeker who thrives on pushing her limits. Born in Colombia and raised in Spain, Sherry’s journey has been one of exploration, self-discovery, and resilience. From long-distance running to cycling, she’s always been drawn to endurance challenges—finding freedom and peace in the process.

In this episode, Sherry shares how she transitioned into ultra-cycling, taking on some of the toughest races in the world, including Race Around the Netherlands, the Transcontinental Race, and the Transibérica. We dive into the mental and physical challenges of these events, the strange things that happen to your body during extreme endurance efforts (think hallucinations and swollen hands), and how she’s learned to adapt and grow with each race.

We also talk about her life beyond cycling—moving to Amsterdam, growing her confidence through YouTube, and her passion for connecting with like-minded adventurers. Whether you’re an aspiring ultra-endurance athlete or simply love a good adventure story, this conversation is packed with inspiration, lessons, and valuable insights.

Don’t miss it! 🚴‍♀️💪

***

🎙️ Catch the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, dropping every Tuesday at 7 am UK time! Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women.

💪 Want to play a part in uplifting female representation in the media? Support the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon! Your generosity helps shine a spotlight on female role models in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Join us in making a positive impact by visiting www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

🙏 Thank you for your amazing support!

***

Show notes

  • Who is Sherry - Adventure cyclist and content creator
  • Being based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands 
  • Being born in Colombia and growing up in Spain
  • Wanting to explore and see new places
  • Not having as many opportunities in Colombia 
  • Feeling lucky to be able to explore amazing places
  • Using Youtube to connect with like minded people 
  • Feeling misunderstood at school 
  • Being able to express herself through YouTube 
  • How her confidence grew 
  • Moving to Spain at 9 years old
  • Being into sports and long distance running 
  • Meeting her husband in London and being introduced to cycling 
  • Having her own coffee company and working as a freelancer in marketing 
  • Running away from her problems 
  • Having a sense of peace and feelings of freedom while running
  • How her cycling journey evolved 
  • Moving to Amsterdam during the pandemic 
  • Race around the Netherlands (2,000km) 
  • Training and preparation 
  • Taking it on as a personal challenge and wanting to see what she could achieve 
  • Being the first woman across the line 
  • Strange things that happen to your body when you take on long endurance based challenges 
  • Dealing with a lack of sleep and hallucinations 
  • Dealing with swollen hands and face due to electrolyte in-balances 
  • Sherman’s Neck
  • Lesson and learning for future events 
  • The Transcontinental Race (TCR) - single stage race across Europe where cyclists cover around 4000 km 
  • The importance of planning and preparations for ultra races and what it looks like 
  • How your body starts to adapt during the race 
  • Reaching the start of the race trained and ready but not overtrained 
  • Using bike packing trips for training 
  • Transibérica Race 
  • The sleeping rule
  • Bike set up for races and how it changes depending on the race
  • How many bikes….
  • Racing in the Atlas.Mountains in Morocco and feeling nervous..
  • Managing in the heat
  • Badlands Race 
  • Recovery after a race and why it can take months 
  • Buzzalong Cycling Podcast
  • Sharing her stories on YouTube 
  • Plans and races for 2025
  • Race Across Belgium 
  • Wanting to do more Bikepacking instead of racing 
  • How to connect with Sherry 
  • Final words of advice
  • Knowledge is power 

 

Social Media

Instagram: @sherry.cycling 

Youtube: @Buzzalong.cycling