EBR Women

Clare

EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life. Hosted by coach Clare Pearson, the podcast shares conversations with women from across the endurance community. From scholarship athletes to experienced competitors, each episode explores the realities of training, resilience, recovery and personal growth through sport. Endurance sport is rarely just about physiology. It is about how we manage effort, balance stress and recovery, and navigate the challenges that appear both in training and in life. Through thoughtful conversations and real experiences, EBR Women looks at how endurance sport can shape not only performance but also wellbeing and self-understanding.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Karen Ekman - Racing Without Losing Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson talks with Karen Ekman after her outstanding ride at the Trans Balkan Race. Karen is from Finland, and has spent many years living in Norway and Austria. Her route into adventure cycling has been long and winding: team sports, snowboarding, freeride competition, mountain biking, gravel riding, bikepacking, and now ultra-distance racing. Clare and Karen talk about her transition from long solo bikepacking journeys to ultra racing, including a 2,500km ride through Norway and Finland, and a four-month, 7,000km solo trip from Athens to Porto. Karen reflects on what she learned from freeride snowboarding, why she once stepped away from competition, and how ultra cycling has helped her rebuild a healthier relationship with racing. She talks openly about self-worth, pressure, curiosity, uncertainty, and learning to compete without losing sight of herself. The conversation also explores the Trans Balkan Race: the surprise of finding herself at the front, the mental effect of being described as “chasing”, the importance of food, sleep and self-care, and why taking care of yourself can be the fastest way forward in a multi-day race. This is a thoughtful conversation about bikepacking, racing, trust, uncertainty, mindset, and listening to the curious voice that asks what else might be possible. You can follow Karen on social media and also learn about her work as a cycling guide via the link: https://www.instagram.com/karenemiliae?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

    57 min

  2. Jun 23 ·  Video

    Quinda Verheul - Bikepacking, Creativity and Riding a 6,000 km Circle Around Europe

    Send us Fan Mail Clare talks with Quinda Verheul, a long-distance cyclist, bikepacker, artist and creative currently riding a 6,000 km circle around Europe. Quinda shares how she moved from football and creative work into cycling, why bikepacking became such an important part of her life, and how riding long distances gives her space to think, process, create and connect with the world around her. They talk about: Quinda’s first major race at Atlas Mountain RaceCreating a 600 km circle in the Netherlands during COVIDHer current 6,000 km circle through EuropeThe tension between racing, adventure and letting go of pressureWhat it means to identify as an athleteBeing a woman travelling alone by bikeCreativity, movement and mental healthWhy adventure can be beautiful, messy and difficult at the same timeHow to start bikepacking without pretending it is always simpleThis is a thoughtful conversation about cycling, identity, creativity, fear, confidence and the value of making space for yourself through movement. You can follow Quinda’s current journey on Instagram: @quindaverheul_ You can sign up for the Endurance Bike & Run Friday Focus newsletter here: https://endurancebikeandrun.com/friday-focus-insights And you can find out more about Endurance Bike & Run coaching, clubs and resources here: https://endurancebikeandrun.com/ Thanks for listening.

    1 hr

  3. Jun 9 ·  Video

    Alice Segre - Bikepacking, Badlands and the Power of Support

    Send us Fan Mail Italian cyclist and bikepacker Alice Segre joins Clare on the EBR Women Podcast to talk about bikepacking, ultra cycling, representation and the power of support. Alice shares the story of her first improvised bikepacking trip across Korea, riding from Seoul to Busan on second-hand bikes with friends, backpacks and no tools. That experience opened up a love of travelling by bike, seeing places slowly, and connecting with people along the way. Clare and Alice also discuss solo travel, women’s cycling, Brava Cycling Club in Lisbon, the mental challenge of ultra racing, upcoming events including The GOATS and Badlands, and Alice’s documentary project Desert Lilies, which explores female perspectives in endurance sport. A thoughtful conversation about big rides, community, representation and why you do not have to do hard things alone. Find out more about Endurance Bike and Run: https://endurancebikeandrun.com You can find Brava Cycling Club on Instagram as @bravacyclingclub and the Desert Lilies trailer link is here: https://youtu.be/GzUn5wOOgJc?si=PZ-b63DRyZbN7jMT #EBRWomen #Bikepacking #UltraCycling

    48 min

  4. May 20 ·  Video

    Claire Sharpe - Women Have Superpowers: Bikes, Confidence and Creating Space in Cycling

    Send us Fan Mail Claire Sharpe is a mountain bike guide and coach, trains mountain bike guides, runs the off-road cycling community All Terrain Adventures, and organises the Bristol Rally, a bikepacking rally in the south west of England. In this conversation, Clare and Claire talk about what stops women and marginalised genders from turning up to rides and events, and what organisers can do to make those spaces feel more welcoming. They discuss confidence, group culture, facilities, representation, and the small signals that tell people whether a space is really for them. Claire also shares her own route into cycling, from roller derby and giving up smoking, to gravel riding, bikepacking, wild camping and mountain biking. She talks about learning practical skills, managing fear, becoming more confident outdoors, and why sometimes the right group or event can be the thing that helps someone take the next step. This is a thoughtful conversation about access, adventure, confidence, and the power of creating spaces where more people feel able to begin. In this episode: Women and FLINTA riders in cycling Bikepacking and gravel riding The Bristol Rally Confidence, fear and belonging Wild camping and solo adventure Guiding, coaching and leadership Making cycling events more welcoming Why learning practical skills can extend your reach

    51 min

  5. May 6 ·  Video

    Dilara Tuna - Running Towards Adventure

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson talks with ultra cyclist, trail runner and EBR Scholar Dilara Tuna. Originally from Germany and now based in Brussels, Dilara’s route into endurance sport has been anything but conventional. Before long-distance cycling and ultrarunning, there was a childhood shaped by horse riding, responsibility, bad weather, and learning to keep going because the job still had to be done. That attitude now carries into bikepacking races, mountain trails and long unsupported adventures. Dilara has recently finished first female at ACT3 in Belgium and is preparing for the Trans Balkan Race, a demanding off-road bikepacking race across the Balkans. Last year she was also the second female finisher and 8th overall at GranGuanche. But this conversation is not about results. Clare and Dilara talk about curiosity, confidence, learning through experience, the cost and complexity of endurance sport, and what it means to stop keeping yourself small. Dilara reflects on why she is drawn to new places and unfamiliar routes, how she approaches big challenges without over-controlling every detail, and why structured support through the EBR Scholarship felt like the right next step. It is a thoughtful conversation about adventure, self-belief, and the quiet work of becoming a more capable athlete. Listen if you are interested in: ultra cycling, trail running, bikepacking, women in endurance sport, confidence, coaching, and long-distance adventure.

    50 min

  6. Apr 8 ·  Video

    May Jackson - From Gymnastics to Endurance Cycling - EBR Women

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson speaks with May Jackson, a Colorado-based endurance cyclist and one of our 2026 EBR Women scholars. May’s background in competitive gymnastics continues to shape her approach to cycling, bringing a strong sense of discipline and a natural competitive edge. She balances her development as an endurance athlete alongside full-time work, building her training around the realities of everyday life rather than ideal conditions. In this conversation, Clare and May explore her progression into endurance cycling, her experience in events such as Leadville, and the challenges of moving beyond a plateau after years of self-coached training. They also discuss the role of coaching, consistency, and practical strategies around training and nutrition when time and energy are limited. EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life.

    18 min

  7. Mar 9 ·  Video

    Leanne Wrightson - Founder of Blooming Wild Adventures and EBR Scholar

    Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson speaks with Leanne Wrightson, owner of Blooming Wild Adventures and one of the 2026 EBR Women scholars. Leanne’s journey into endurance cycling began after a period of burnout in her late twenties, when reconnecting with the outdoors became an important part of rebuilding her life. What started as a way to regain balance gradually grew into a passion for bikepacking and ultra-distance cycling. In this conversation, Clare and Leanne explore how endurance sport can support mental wellbeing, the challenges of confidence and imposter syndrome in ultra events, and the realities of balancing training with work and life commitments. They also discuss Leanne’s work helping other women discover bikepacking through Blooming Wild Adventures, creating supportive spaces for people to begin their own journeys in cycling and the outdoors. EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life.

    16 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life. Hosted by coach Clare Pearson, the podcast shares conversations with women from across the endurance community. From scholarship athletes to experienced competitors, each episode explores the realities of training, resilience, recovery and personal growth through sport. Endurance sport is rarely just about physiology. It is about how we manage effort, balance stress and recovery, and navigate the challenges that appear both in training and in life. Through thoughtful conversations and real experiences, EBR Women looks at how endurance sport can shape not only performance but also wellbeing and self-understanding.

Information

  • Creator
    Clare
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 EBR Solutions
  • Show Website
    EBR Women