Tough Girl Podcast Sarah Williams

Amy Rusiecki is a full-time engineer with a passion for ultrarunning. 
Amy, who has been running her entire life, started out with orienteering when she was only six years old before moving onto cross country running and then transitioning to road racing (during which time she escaped to the trails to train).
During her ultrarunning career (Amy has completed 82 ultras and has won 33 of them), she has found confidence, joy and her husband. 
She is the Race Director for the Vermont 100 and coaches other ultrarunners through The Run Formula. 
She is a three-time member of the USA Trail Team, and is sponsored by Inov-8 and Drymax. 
Amy, her husband and their kitty live in western Massachusetts and mainly race throughout the East Coast.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
 
Show Notes
Who is Amy Being a lifelong athlete  Finding trail and ultra running Ultra running since 2007 Being a race director and working as a full time engineer Waking up super early! Being from an active family  Doing orienteering and becoming a cross country skier Finding the right endurance sport Running use to be a punishment when she was younger Why she loves running Signing up for her first 50 mile race Doing her first marathon and trail marathon with her sister Reading Ultra Marathon Man By Dean Karnazes  Doing a relay race and roping in her work colleague  Signing up for the Vermont 50  Her mental approach to running endurance races  Make sure you know your why Being inspired by her friend  Doing a 100 mile race without her crew or her friends  100 reasons why Amy is going to rock the 100! Magical moments while racing  2015 - The World Mountain Running and Trail Championships  Feeling bad for herself and just wanting to finish the race Making the transition from being an elite athlete to a normal runner Being more of a middle of the pack runner Did she love the sport or was her passion for the sport tied to her success Being ok with not winning  Not being able to live unto the expectation of other runners Working as a Race Director  The gender split in the ultra races  Breaking down barriers in the ultra race space  Working with adaptive athletes  Wanting to welcome everybody to the trails Having a policy for pregnant women What it’s like on race day being a race director  Wanting things to be perfect  Top tips and advice for new runners Remove any notion in your head about what that mile will look like Why it’s about covering the distance  Top tips for experienced runners wanting to go after a 100 mile race Why you need a race that inspires you  Why it’s ok to pick something that you may fail at  How to connect with Amy (she’s not on social media) Beast Coast Trail Running Working as a run coach through Run Formula  Plans for 2023 - combining running and travel  
Social Media
Seven Sisters Trail Race - 12 miles of technical, single track trail on an out-and-back course with over 3,500 ft. elevation gain 
Vermont 100 - 100 mile race
Vermont Adaptive: www.vermontadaptive.org
Beast Coast Trail Running: www.facebook.com/beastcoasttrails 
 
 

Ingrid has loved competitive sports since a young age. Originally swimming was her passion and she began swimming competitively at 6 years old, she swam throughout high school and attending UCLA (a division 1 school) where she swam competitively for 2 years, while studying Sociology. 
After leaving college, Ingrid made the transition from swimming to running and also decided to become an actress. Played lifeguard Sheryl Whelan, on Baywatch as well as having roles on Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, and Parenthood, to name a few!
At the age of 47 after running her fastest marathon ever, 2hr 48 mins in the 2019 LA Marathon. 
Ingrid was feeling the strongest and fittest she’d ever been. 
However, while training for her next challenge, she started to not feel well and after seeing her doctor was diagnosed with breast cancer. Ingrid underwent a double mastectomy, and continued to run while undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy as well as radiation.
Ingrid is a member of Janes an elite women’s running group based in LA and in 2021 Ingrid was inducted into the National Black Distance Running Hall of Fame.
RUNNING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2014 3rd Place Masters Female Chicago Marathon
2014 2nd Place Female Overall Orange County Marathon
2016 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championship: 5th place Masters Woman Overall
2021 2nd Place 50+, 12th Overall USATF Masters XC Club Nationals Tallahassee,FL
2022 1st Place 50+, 8th Overall USATF Masters XC Championships Mission Bay, CA
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
 
Show Notes
Who is Ingrid  Being based in Santa Monica, California, USA  Racing for the past 10 years Starting out as a competitive swimmer  Swimming for 2 years in College at UCLA Hating running when she was younger Transition to running at 18/19 years old Starting to work as a lifeguard for LA County  Running on the beach and doing her first marathon Running marathons and improving her times Joining the Janes’ an elite running team in Santa Monica and wanting to break 3hrs in the marathon Always loved training and competing  Liking to challenge herself Working as an actor for 26 years Finding her niche in life What was Ingrid like as a little girl  Being taught to swim from a very young age Being a junior lifeguard Studying Sociology at College in the early 90s Getting into acting and booking her first commercial  Acting in Baywatch Gradually falling in love with running Hal Higdon - Marathon training plan  Deciding to join the Janes Elite Running Club  Taking 5 years to run under 3hrs Being fully committed to her running program  Getting a running coach and running 70 miles a week Breaking 3 hrs when she was 45 years old Starting to change her training and wanting to go faster Running 100mile weeks for 3 months before the LA Marathon Running 2.48 at the LA Marathon!!! Starting to not feel well and being diagnosed with Breast Cancer Feeling shocked The next steps to follow  Being supported by the running community  Running throughout her treatment  Having surgery in August 2019 Getting into cross country races in 2021 Having a baby heart attack at a race in New Jersey Figuring out what happened Looking at running in a different way  Reframing the situation in her mind Advice for new runners starting out The joy of making running fun! A magical running memory  How to connect with Ingrid   
Social Media
Instagram @ingridwalt
Janes Elite Racing - www.thejanes.net 

 

A Swiss-born ultrarunner, Luzia Buehler now lives in the mountains, trying to live a good life while protecting what is most important to her.
Luzia has always been an athletic person since she was a child because of her great love for the outdoors and the mountains. Luzia discovered her passion for trail running when she was about 20 years old, and she has since competed in all of the most important international races.
In 2016, Luzia competed in the Western States 100 race for the first time, finishing 27th (27hrs 03mins) and 11th (20hrs 23mins) in 2019.
Having run this race twice, which has greatly prepared her, Luzia, 40, has rocked the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race, the Western States Endurance Run, by becoming the 4th place women's finisher in a time of 18 hours, 08 minutes last year.
Luzia is also a social worker who enjoys skiing and snowboarding during the winter.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
 
Show Notes
Who Luzia Living in East Switzerland by the mountains  Working as a social worker Being the youngest child and growing up in a sport family Getting into skiing at a young age Always being a runner Working as a cook and fitting in running around her hours Doing her first Half Marathon on the road and why it wasn’t good! Working with running coach Ellie Greenwood Listen to Ellie Greenwood on the Tough Girl Podcast 2016  Needing more flexibility in her training  Western States 100 mile endurance race  Running the WS100 in 2016 and why it was the hardest thing she has ever done Running for 27 hrs and needing to walk the majority of the race Wanting to come back and do the race again (this time training with Ellie) Winning a golden ticket to gain entry to Western States in 2018  Going into the race with a lot of passion  Why it’s so much more than a race Having stomach problems on Raceday - but completing it in 20hrs  Wanting to race the Western States again in 2022 Completing the WS100 in 18hrs 8 mins 27 secs Why it was such a good day and feeling proud of herself  Race strategy and tactics for Western States Needing to run at her own pace Feeling the impact of jet lag and needing to go slower at the start Running really well when she runs alone  Starting to overtake a few people and having fun while she raced.  Just keep smiling and keep putting one foot in front of the other  What’s going on in her head while racing  Trying to stay in the current moment and be in the present Fuelling and nutrition while racing  Wanting to eat more salty food and less fatty food Pizza and beer at the end of the race How she recovers after a 100 mile race  Taking a week or 2 weeks off from running  Supplements? “The future is unwritten” - what does that mean? Her dream race - Hardrock 100  Being an inov-8 ambassador  Advice for new runners who are just starting out  Losing her running mojo and what she does when she doesn’t feel like running Remembering her why - why does she run? Wanting to create happy memories  Her favourite paid of Inov-8 trainers Wearing PARKCLAW G 280 in the Western States 100 Advice for more experienced runners Why time on feet really does count  Doing strength training 2/3x a week  Remaining injury free due to strength training  Why cycling is good as well How you can connect with Luzia on IG  
Social Media
Instagram @luz.s.y

 
 

Allie spent a lot of her life seeking approval from people she thought were cool, believing that in order to be successful, you had to act a certain way. For her, success is seeing someone who doesn't believe they can do something transform into someone who does.
After working for major record labels for 12 years, Allie realised that music, which she had once loved, was slowly killing her. Her dream career had turned her into a nightmare, and she was completely lost. Allie has struggled to find her place and suffers from depressive demons, anxiety, and existential misery.
After taking part in the inaugural Rat Race Test Pilot trip to Mongolia in 2018, she realised it was the first time she had truly had time to stop, think, and be completely at peace. Fast forward, after three and a half years, numerous journeys, a pandemic, some questionable decisions, and a lot of planning and running, Allie is now coaching other people to do amazing things.
Allie holds several world firsts to her name, including running across Mongolia's Lake Khovsgol and crossing the Namib Desert twice. Allie is the first woman to run the entire length of the Panama Canal. She has also run the length of the Outer Hebrides, crossed Scotland on packraft and foot several times, and completed over 100 marathons and 60-70 ultramarathons, including nine 100-mile plus races.
Allie started running 10 years ago and have only being doing the ultra thing for 6 years, but she absolutely love it. It's a game changer. Allie believes that it is something that anyone of any age and from any background can participate in.
Allie has been extremely lucky to have discovered something she truly enjoys doing, and her favorite thing in the entire world is seeing people achieve things they never thought were possible
"There's nobody funner than an Ultrarunner" - Allie Bailey
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
* We have previously spoken with Allie on 18th Dec 2018 - Listen here 
 
FYI marked as *Explicit - as there are a few little swear words!
 
Show Notes
Who is Allie Bailey Meeting her dogs! Why ultra running and why she loves it  Writing her book  How running helps with her mental health  Being able to process her thoughts  Going more into adventure running Her favourite distance to run… Liking 100 mile races LEJOG - Lands End to John O’Groats The ultimate dream  Working with Rat Race  Starting on the 1st June 2022 Running on average 35 miles a day The hardest part of the LEJOG challenge The mental side of the challenge The challenges of being away from home What a typical day looked like  Starting with the South West Coast Path Running 44 miles into Bristol over 12 hrs Chocolate milk Being in bed asleep by 8pm Snacking all day Having a rest day once a week  Staying injury free throughout the journey  Wanting to finish the run Voltarol gel to help with the pain Using bonjela to numb blisters  Wearing Inov-8 Parkclaw G280 - for 750 miles (then wearing a second pair for the final 250 miles) - “the greatest shoe of all time” The ultra playlist on Spotify - The Bailey Ultra Sound System  Getting to Scotland and the final few days  Spending time by herself towards the end  Getting to John O’Groats and doing the final mile  Feeling underwhelmed with what she had achieved  What she would have done differently  Wishing she had done more strength training before she left Costs of taking on a challenge like this  RAT RACE: RUN BRITANNIA Dragons Back Race, Wales  Getting timed out on day 2  Why it was the most intense thing she’s ever done Feeling like a fraud  Taking herself out of the situation The lessons learned from the experience Wanting to go back in 20

Rav is a mum of 3 teenagers and works as a management consultant. 
Rav only found running later on in life when she was in her late 30’s. She started running to prove a point to someone who said she couldn’t run. Rav soon realised that fitness initiatives such as Park Run and races just weren’t for her.  
Her joy for running came from the solitude and peace she found while on an empty trail or a calm street.  
Rav now runs for fun, for her mental well being and to keep fit. In 2022 she completed a goal she had had for 20 years - running the London Marathon.
 
Rav is currently on a run streak where she has been running outside every day for almost 5 years. She is also training for her next challenge: a 32 mile / 52k Ultra Marathon in the Peak District taking place in the Summer of 2023! 
“Find what makes you happy. Do more of it”
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
 
Show Notes
Who is Rav 42 year old, mum of 3 teenagers Celebrating her 5 year run streak in March 2023 Her early years and growing up in a strict Indian family  Not being sporty Being pushed down the academic route Deciding to join a gym Getting her first pair of trainers when she was 36 Joining a hotel gym and going at night Getting into swimming  Starting her IG account to document her fitness journey  Buying trainers The motivation behind wanting to run Wanting to prove people wrong Not wanting to be seen in public Deciding to run outside on the 17th May 2017 Doing a 12 week fitness challenge which involved running 200 miles Setting running goals RED January The power of spending 30 mins outside each day Meeting Scott who was run streaking  How the purpose of the run streak has changed since she started Motivating herself to run on the tough days London Marathon 26.2 miles  Dealing with imposter syndrome Having social anxiety while running and not being able to do park run  Getting a plan in places for races  Running plans being stopped due to covid and doing the virtual London Marathon  Doing 9 virtual marathons in 12 weeks  Finding the training hard when running 18 miles+ Joining a fitness program - Six Pack Revolution Not being able to run the London Marathon in 2021 Dealing with injury and the recovery process while still running every day Losing her running confidence The unofficial running community! Getting over her mental block when running longer distances Getting her running confidence back and starting to work with a running coach Dealing with the fear of getting injured again  The start line of the London Marathon 2022 Being a glam runner - hot pink lipstick and shades! Being supported by friends  Wanting to make the most of the day The toughest part of the race and struggling around mile 16 and mile 24 Not wanting to do another road marathon again  How to connect with Rav Top tips and advice to help you get out running   
Social Media
 
Twitter @ravbillan 
 
Instagram @ravbillan 
 
 

Grace in her own words:
 
“I’m driven by the need to inspire other people of colour on to the trails.
 
I want to increase diversity and participation in endurance running. 
 
I’m also tired of being the only Black person at endurance events and feeling like I don’t belong. 
 
I’ve run 70+ marathons including ultras, and I’m still going.”
 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live in March every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout March by Inov-8. www.inov-8.com
 
Get involved with the #MarchDailyMile Challenge. Run 1 mile everyday in March. 
 
 
Show notes
Being based on the South Coast of the UK Working as a management consultant  Starting running in 2009 Training for her first 10k Her early years and what she was like as a little girl Being sporty but not outdoorsy Her brothers and sisters Her children and grandchildren  Being supported and inspired by fellow runners Running her first 5k Being determined to get better Signing up for her first race Running in the dark Not having the confidence to run outdoors Not wanting to stop Joining a local running club Running off road Her love for running and feeling happy Her accidental half marathon What running has taught her Running her first marathon in 2011 Running the Brighton Marathon multiple times Sharing the lessons she’s learned Why the race starts at mile 20 What a typical training week looks like Focusing on strength training Wanting to be the best version of herself Practicing yoga Girls run the world  The Atlantic Coast Challenge Finishing the race at Land’s End and feeling emotional  Focusing on core and endurance  Fuelling her long runs and focusing on eating real food The women who have inspired her How to connect with Grace Final words of advice for new runners  
Social Media
 
Instagram @marathongracefully