Show notes
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 Atom Pack!), health updates (peri-menopause, gut health, strength training, and more), financial planning (Patreon, pensions, broken laptops!), plus reflections on my time walking the English Camino, Snowdonia Slate Trail, and tackling the GR20 in Corsica — which was honestly tougher than the Marathon des Sables. I'm also talking about my motivations for taking on the GR10, what I've learned in 10 years of podcasting, and why the mission — to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges— is stronger than ever. Thank you for being here with me on this journey. Whether you've listened from the start or are just finding the show now, I'm so incredibly grateful. This is a celebration of us — of consistency, resilience, growth, and dreaming big. 🎧 Tune in to hear what I've learned over 10 years, what's changed (and what hasn't), and where I see the podcast — and my adventures — heading next. Let's go! 🎙️ 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 Intro to the podcast - solo reflections episode with me - Sarah Williams 800th episode! Reflecting back from January 2025 - to August 2025 Setting the scene - chaos in my room - kit and gear everywhere Taking photos for the flat lay gear post New backpack - atom pack - needing to go on a test hike Agenda and plans for this episode Behind the scenes and what's been going on Living at home with my parents since 2014 Working at AIM Health - structure, regular hours, income, access to therapies Aim Health therapies - Cryotherapy, compression trousers, red light, HBOT, rebalance bed Impact on my wellness and recovery Saving money, emergency funds, breaking my laptop, spending money… Saving money for my pension Funds from patreon - paying for the website, music, search function, auphonic, Zoom costs Root canal - and teeth looking good Health - consistent with training, mobility and strength with Franco Not trusting my ankles - needing to strap them up Adult ballet Yin yoga - not being as consistent as I would like (Kassandra Yin Yoga - Youtube) Reflecting back - longevity - turning 44 - big jump in aging Peri-menopause and menopause Bioresonance, OligoScan Feeling slightly fatigued - anaemic again? Blood test coming back normal Too much cryotherapy? And stopping for the summer so as not to loose my heat adaption Feeling everything is coming together and feeling strong and well Gut health issues; belches, bacteria overgrowth, wheat free October focus will be gut health and working with a nutritionist and Dr Cath Home based for 7 months. Adventures April - Walking The English Camino with Gemma Smith - stats and filming and not having time to share online Snowdonia Slate Trail - 5 day practice hike - getting back into the mountains again Watch the Snowdonia Slate Trail - vlogs on YouTube Why I recommend the Snowdonia Slate Trail Public transport back from the trail Wanting to get mountain fit Hiking the GR20 with Alex Mason end of June, beginning of July Cicerone Guidebooks Abbie Barns Vlogs on the GR20 Meeting at Gatwick for a super early flight to Corsica Watch the Tough Girl GR20 Vlogs on Youtube Harder than Marathon des Sables Mentally wanting to quit the challenge every day Starting to doubt myself Why I didn't quit Never quit on a bad day The challenges of the first 3/4 days The early starts - 5am starts Not eating and feeling rough Double stages…. Having the same goal to finish on the Friday Needing more recovery at the start of the challenge Always being able to push it on the final day Change the plan, not the goal. Why I'm taking on the GR10 The incredible trails in Europe, UK Wanting to walk trails and spend time in the mountains FKT website for GR10 BMC Women's Adventure Film Competition - 'Make a Difference Award' Kendal Mountain Film Festival Get involved in the film! Send in your clips! Has the tough girl podcast inspired you to take on your own adventure? (Filmed Horizontal) YouTube Channel- update - slow growth Being behind with editing the South West Coast Path Vlogs - 40 days of footage - 40 mins per day Needing to get into flow with film/vlog editing Are you an editor?! E-mail me! Podcast update and next recording date in October Tough Podcast Extra Tough Girl Tribe - 1,600 strong Shout out to Patrons - thank you so much for your support. What I have learned in 10 years of podcasting Why you need to start Showing up and being consistent Being a learning and continuing to learn and getting better How quickly has the past 10 years gone How has the mission changed? - It hasn't! Still the same mission Being more motivated than ever before Feeling more pressure in relation to getting older Being proud of the women who listen to the podcast, being proud of the guests and the women who are going through tough times. Website changes and updates! Thank you to Rebecca 'Beck' Mcpherson for creating the new artwork The next 10 years - the Purple Decade Over 7,400 miles of hiking and cycling, 13 countries and doing 31 challenges - Pink Decade Putting all my goals out there What's going to happen?! Would you want to go mega viral Founder Marketing and why it's good for your business Goal - 10 Million Downloads Goal - 100k followers on Youtube? Awards? Film Festivals? What's going to happen?! Loving my life and wanting to continue to travelling and going on adventures Questions from listeners How easy was it wild camping on the South West Coast Path Wild Camping Principles Bucket List Goal or challenge? Pacific Crest Trail Group/Team Challenge Responsibility and stress Repeating any hikes?! Appalachian Trail in 100 days now? Easier or Harder? Favourite country for camping and free hiking Safety and managing the fear on trails. Things you can control in advance Things you can do while on the trail GR10 - I'll be sharing daily updates Thank you for everything you are doing 10 years!!! Time for you to think about what you want to achieve over the next 10 years Have you created your list of goals, your vision board? What excites you? There is no right or wrong. I believe in you! Previous Reflections/Solo Episodes Jan 2nd 2025 - Sarah Williams: Reflections on the South West Coast Path, Health, Money & Future Plans for 2025 Aug 1, 2024 - Sarah Williams: Reflecting on the Past 6 Months and Future Plans for 2024 – Insights, Challenges, and Adventures. Mar 14, 2024 - Sarah Williams - Reflections & Learnings from the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. Nov 2, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for thru hiking the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. #ChallengeWithZOLEO Sep 10, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Solo Reflections: A Look Back at the End of 2022, Adventures and Challenges in 2023 Aug 4th 2022 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2021 and the start of 2022. Aug 4th 2021 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2020 and the start of 2021. Aug 7th 2020 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2019 & and the start of 2020. Aug 4th, 2019 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2018 and the start of 2019. Plus plans for Tough Girl Challenges. Dec 25, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway & Baja Divide Sep 4, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide! Sep 19, 2017 - Sarah Williams - Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days! Apr 26, 2016 - Sarah Williams - Shares her journey of getting to the start line of the Marathon des Sables (MDS) & running the toughest footrace on earth! Social Media Instagram @toughgirlchallenges Facebook: @toughgirlchallenges Youtube: @toughgirlchallenges Patrons: www.patreon.com/c/ToughGirlPodcast