Denise Leonard - The World's Toughest Row, 50 Days at Sea and Inspiring Women into Adventure
- 30 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Denise is part of a team of women who have just successfully rowed 3000 miles, unsupported, across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the 'World's Toughest Row'. Rowing 12 hours a day for over 50 days, Denise drew on decades of experience from white water and sea kayaking, alongside years spent as an outdoor instructor.
Driven by a deep belief that adventure belongs to everyone, Denise champions the visibility of women in outdoor spaces. She’s passionate about showing that ordinary women can achieve extraordinary things, and that authentic role models have the power to inspire the next generation of adventure-loving women.
In this episode, Denise shares what it really takes to row across an ocean, from raising the funds and building the right team to coping with exhaustion, fear and the mental challenges of spending 50 days at sea.
She opens up about the power of mindset, learning to be kinder to herself, and why focusing on what you can control can make all the difference in the toughest moments.
Listen to this episode to discover how adventure can transform your perspective, why saying yes to opportunities can lead to extraordinary experiences, and why Denise believes that adventure truly is for everyone.
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Show notes
Who is Denise
Working as a Lecturer at the University of Wales, Trinity St Davids
Being based in Pembrokeshire in West Wales
Growing up in the South of England in Wiltshire
Her early years and not coming from an outdoorsy family
Getting into slalom kayaking
Her journey to becoming a lecturer
Studying sports science at university
Moving from kayaking into rowing
After graduation and not knowing what she wanted to do
Working at the National Water Sports Centre
Finding her community of people
Deciding to go traveling for the next few years
Having an innate desire for freedom
Being quite risk adverse
Struggling with predictability
Needing moments of real significant change in order to feel alive
Saying yes to opportunities
Putting one foot in front of the other and seeing the positive in things
Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean and where the idea came from
Being inspired by Jasmine Harrison
Taking it from a dream/opportunity to making it happen
Spending a year trying to get a crew together
Not being able to get people to commit
Starting to ask people again in January 2022
Getting the crew together
Raising the funds to pay for the row
Why it was a 3.5 year process
Working as a team and all bringing their best to the table
Keeping motivated through the tough challenging moments
Being able to rely on the team for support
The start line and feeling a sense of relief
When the nerves started to kick in a few days before setting off
Journalling
As the skipper feeling responsible for keeping the girls safe
Starting the process of writing a book
Not sleeping for 2 nights before the row
Heading out in big conditions
The simplicity of surviving
When the nerves disappeared
Why the row was the best form of CBD - Cognitive behavioural therapy
Being forced to confront her thought processes
Feeling so tired and physically exhausted
Not having the space for anything that drains energy
Seeing the positives in the situation and asking for help
Learning acceptance while on the row
The challenges from week 6
Focusing on what you can control during the row
What is my attitude, how am I talking to myself
Being kinder to myself
The team dynamics and how the tough situations were handled
Working with an emotional performance coach
Stop talking to my friend/yourself like that
The power of self talk
Seeing land for the first time and getting to the end of the challenge
The final push at the end
Picturing the finish line in her mind
Being the first all welsh, women team to complete the row
Singing the national anthem on land after 50 days on sea
Adapting back to reality and getting back to ‘normal’ life
Wanting to leave a legacy
How to connect
Merchedymor - Women/girls/sisters of the sea
Final words of advice for other women who want to step outside their comfort zone
Why it’s about mindset
Social Media
Website: www.merchedymor.wales
Instagram: @Merchedymor2025
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