Hillary Allen – Ultrarunner and Author of Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds
Release Date: 12/09/2025
Alexandra Nemeth: Beyond the Seven Summits — Highs, Lows, and Life in Extreme Places.
Tough Girl Podcast
Alex is a qualified International Mountain Leader, Polar Guide, and a professional Photographer based in St. Moritz, Switzerland. From scaling the world’s highest peaks to leading expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, she thrives where the wild meets the extreme. Her passion for high-altitude exploration took her on a relentless quest; climbing the highest mountain on every continent, culminating on the summit of Mt. Everest in 2018. She became the first ever Hungarian to climb the Seven Summits. This journey ignited her mission to guide others through the raw beauty of the mountains...
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Tough Girl Podcast
Bonita Norris became the youngest woman to reach both the summit of Mt Everest at just 22 and the North Pole at 23, and her story is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, she shares the journey that took her from school trips in North Wales to climbing some of the world’s highest peaks, navigating extreme environments, and pushing the limits of what’s possible. Bonita reflects on the early steps that built her career in mountaineering—starting with beginner climbing courses, funding her expeditions, and preparing for the Himalayan peaks. She opens up about the mental and...
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Becky Wandell is a Teacher, Writer, Tour Guide, Volunteer, and Solo Traveler. At 47, while weathering a difficult divorce and the death of four close relatives, she clawed her way up from the depths of grief and, in her words, set out to “find her way back to Becky again”. To do this, she quit her job, sold all of her belongings and charted a plan to complete a series of adventures she had always dreamed of doing. Joining the US Peace Corps, learning to speak Spanish and gaining her confidence in solo travel and living abroad set the stage for several years of living her best life...
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Sheryl Ramstad – Surviving the Impossible: A 1% Miracle, Radical Resilience, and Rebuilding Life After a Plane Crash
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Sheryl Ramstad’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, Sheryl’s life was forever changed. What began as her first solo flight at age 29 became a harrowing journey through life-threatening burns, multiple surgeries, overwhelming grief, and two years of excruciating rehabilitation. But this isn’t just a survival story—it’s a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit. In this powerful conversation, Sheryl shares how she transformed unimaginable trauma into...
info_outlineHillary Allen, famously known as the “Hillygoat,” is a world-class ultrarunner celebrated for her fearless climbs on steep, technical terrain. But in 2017, at the peak of her career as the #1 ultrarunner in the world, Hillary faced a life-changing setback: during a race in Norway, she fell 150 feet off a ridge, breaking 14 bones. Doctors told her she’d never run again.
Yet Hillary didn’t just defy the odds—she redefined them. Today, she’s back competing at the elite level and inspiring others to rewrite their own stories of resilience.
With a background in neuroscience and a master’s in physiology and structural biology, Hillary combines science, grit, and empathy in her work as an author, coach, and speaker.
Her book, Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds, chronicles her incredible comeback.
In this episode, Hillary shares:
- How her lifelong love of running and science shaped her journey
- The mental and physical challenges of recovering from a life-threatening fall
- Practical tips on mindset, self-belief, and self-compassion
- Why she believes your best athletic days can be ahead of you
Whether you’re an athlete, adventurer, or someone looking to overcome setbacks in life, Hillary’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience, courage, and persistence can take you farther than you ever imagined.
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Show notes
- Who is Hillary
- Growing up in Boulder Colorado, USA
- Being an athlete all her life
- Coming from an outdoorsy, academic family
- Describing herself as a science nerd
- Currently in a Masters Program for Applied Sports Psychology
- Having an older sister
- Growing up camping with her family
- Her parents both being professors
- Studying chemistry and neuroscience
- Not finishing her Phd
- Getting her first running sponsorship
- Her running journey to get to being a sponsored athlete
- Starting running in graduate school
- Needing an outlet to reset
- Starting to run with a running group
- Discovering the trail running scene
- When things clicked after running a road marathon
- Wondering if she could do it…
- Being drawn to running and feeling satisfaction in the challenge
- Working hard on her weaknesses
- Working on her ability to run on technical trails and push herself when feeling tired
- Getting into skyruning
- Being named the Hilly Goat!
- Why its a skill you need to practice
- The challenges of 2017
- Heading over to Europe to race
- Tromsø Skyrace
- Thinking she was dying
- Falling 150ft, breaking 14 bones, damaging ligaments and being lucky to be alive
- Book: Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds
- Being depressed
- Starting to think about running again
- Believe that your best athletic days are ahead of you
- Helping her mindset and the mental side of the challenge
- Working with a counsellor
- Working past fear
- Breaking her ankle and dealing with another injury
- Going back to do the race again
- Getting her nervous energy out
- Closing the chapter off
- Practical tips around mindset
- The power of self compassion and self belief
- The next plan/goals
- Signing up for a road marathon in January
- Working on building up some speed
- Podcast - Trail Society
- How to connect with Hillary
- Final words of advice for other women
- The importance of daily practices
- Journalling
- Mantra - believe your best athletic days are ahead of you
- Affirmations - I am statements “I am a runner”
- Start small, and start with self belief
Social Media
Website www.hillaryallen.com
Instagram @hillygoat_climbs
Facebook @hillaryallenrunner
Podcast - Trail Society