In the fifth episode of our special Break the Bias series, I chat to Kate Jayden, who has just finished runnnig 101 marathons in 101 consecutive days. Kate set off on New Year's Day 2022, and has raised over £27,000 to help refugees with food, hygiene products, and mental health support. The distance of 100 marathons, is the same distance that a Sy…

Endurance cycle coach, Alison Wood challenges bias in so many ways, and has done throughout her life. Of mixed race heritage, she was raised in Essex/London by a white mother within a stones throw of the British National Front headquarters. We chat about her upbringing and experience of always being the non-white face in her family and enviromment.…

On the 3rd year anniversary of Black Girls Do Run UK, a community to inspire, encourage and motivate more black women to run, I spoke to Tasha about what inspired her to set up the community. She discussses fear of 'the sugars', the term used for diabetes which was prevalent in Jamaica where her parents were from. I first interviewed Tasha two year…

Vera Ngosi-Sambrook grew up in Malawi and moved to the UK to study mechanical engineering. From the very start of her adult life, she has challenged bias in her choice of career. It was after meeting her husband that she first tried cycling, on a tandem, on the promise of being able to just leisurely cycle. Five years later, she was awarded a schol…

In our first episode of our new series celebrating women who break down barriers, we chat to Asics FrontRunner Sally Brider about the representation of older women in running and overcoming the impact of menopause on mental well being.By Rachael Woolston

'If the only black people you see in magazines are elite runners, it makes you feel that you have to be exceptional to take part in running.' Listen to these two trailblazing sisters (not sistas, they really are siblings!) chat about growing up in London, how they started running, and the work they are doing to help encourage other BAME men and wom…

Elle Linton started cycling as a way of commuting to work in London. So when a friend suggested they cycled to Richmond Park just to 'cycle round and round,' she thought it was a crazy idea. 'Why ride round in a circle?' Despite the punctures enroute, she discovered a love of cycling for the community, being able to explore and a way of getting fit…

Over twenty years ago Claire Smith (@brutalclaire) started running, pushing her baby in a buggy in a bid to lose weight. This August, she was back to pushing a baby stroller but this time, it carried everything she needed to run the length of the UK without any support from John'O Groats to Lands End. She certainly has form. This is the endurance a…

If you feel dissatisfied with your life, have you done anything about it? No? Then you may want to listen to this podcast for inspiration. A bit fed up with her life and work trajectory, Laura Kennington turned her life upside down and decided to kayak down the River Volga in Russia on her own simply after hearing about the river during a pub quiz.…

Beth Pascall, 32 is a true trail blazing ultra runner. Even as a young girl, there was something about exploring the outer edges of comfort and challenging herself that appealed. From begging her dad and brother to let her go on a long bike ride when she was young, this love of exploring the world we live in and the extremes to which the human mind…

Like many women, Jevid Majid started running through doing Parkrun in then home town of Nottingham in 2017. As a way of getting fit, and finding time for herself, the mum of two says, 'It’s the most liberating feeling to be on your own and having that escape, processing the day and in turn it benefitting your physical and emotional health.' But her…

Life often takes unexpected turns and that is particularly true for Australian born Lucja Leonard whose life has been changed by a dog. After starting to run to lose weight, she and her husband, Dion, started running incredible ultras all over the world. It was in China when her husband came across Gobi, now immortalised in the book, Finding Gobi. …

Tahsa Thompson, 43, from London is the founder of Black Girls Do Run UK. Established in 2019, she set the online community up to help inspire women of colour to run for their health, fitness and mental well being. A runner herself for over 20 years, this mum of two describes how, when she first started running 10km and half marathons, she was the o…

Like many women before her, and many who will come after, Taz started running as a way of getting fit and having some me time from her three sons. But she would go out before sunrise, initially worried about how the Muslim community in her area would react to a woman running. She soon learned that her community, along with most of the running commu…

Iran's first female triathlete, Shirin Gerami took part in the World ITU Championships in London in 2013 in a body suit, inspiring women the world over that your cultural background should not inhibit your right or ability to take part in triathlon. She followed this with completing the Ironman World Championship in Kona in a full body suit. We cau…

'I've never seen another black woman racing in any triathlon events that I have done.' We speak to Kelsie Johnson, 25, (@kelsieolivia94) a personal trainer, triathlete and PhD student about race in triathlon. Kelsie took up triathlon a few years ago and is part of the new Facebook community, Women Who Tri for Justice, set up following the decision …

Celebrating extraordinary trailblazers in endurance sport, Ingrid Walters, 47, an actress and elite marathon runner, chats to us about getting faster with age, running through breast cancer and the need for better representation of black, Asian and mixed race female athletes in endurance sport.

Vegan runner, Ruth Farnell, 58, decided to take on 12 marathons in 12 months in 2019. Her goal? Just to see if she could do it and to explore the world she lived in through her races. Here she talks about mental resilience and what she learned, plus nutrition as a vegan runner - and beating her PB. **Some audio is poor on this podcast.…

Nowadays, it's common for women to be running marathons and beyond - and posting impressive times. So what happens when you fall pregnant and you want to keep running? And what about post pregnancy performance? We chat to inspiring marathon runner and mum of one, Gill Bland, 36 whose PB before she had her son was 2.53.25 and no stands at 3.10 about…

Josephine first started learning about performance psychology after competing in Ironman Melbourne in 2013. It was a really windy day with huge waves. Having only trained in a 20 m London pool, it was a shock. But the commentators words stayed with her and now influence how she works with her clients. He said: “you can’t control the conditions. Wha…

We all know sleeping and eating the right things are the best way to recover from exercise, and for life in general to ensure good health and performance. But there are clever hacks that you can do throughout the day that will help you ensure good sleep recovery strategy. Getting good quality sleep, starts during the day. Want to know more? Listen …

Whether you're a pro athlete or not, juggling motherhood and a training schedule that involves not just running but cycling and swimming takes some doing. And if you want tips on staying mentally strong, then this is the lady Canyon sponsored, Daniela, who can provide the answers. Last year, she beat UK favourite, Lucy Charles to the finish line at…

Knowing how and when to eat, when to get a cat nap or what to wear on any ultra race is difficult. But imagine what it's like when you have no idea long you'll have to run for. This is what Katie Wright faced when she took on the Backyard Relaps event in New Zealand, eventually running 201km in 30 hours to be the last one standing. We chat nutritio…

We all face difficulties when training or coming back from injury. But Lou Read, 36, a lawyer and mum of two from Nottinghamshire shares how a stroke last October left her in Locked in syndrome, unable to speak or move. Once a sub 20 minute park runner with a London Marathon championship place, she was worried she'd never run again. Over eight mont…

In 2019, Jenny Spink, 37 won the Manchester Marathon after many years of working towards a personal best. Here she chats about what inspires her to keep running and the training tips that lead to her success.By Rachael Woolston