Ali, at 50 years young, is a dedicated mother, wife, and part-time Civil Servant from South Wales. With a lifelong passion for sport and adventure, Ali transitioned from competitive athletics to human-powered challenges after knee injuries redirected her path.
To mark her milestone 50th birthday, Ali embarked on a deeply personal adventure: hiking across the island of Malta, the place where she took her very first steps as a toddler. While not her longest or most physically demanding challenge, this journey proved to be one of her most meaningful.
In this episode, Ali reflects on her evolving identity as an adventurer, the struggles of balancing motherhood, work, and the pull for personal time in nature. Her story is one of resilience, purpose, and finding space for adventure amidst life’s many demands.
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Show notes
Who is Ali
50 years old
Living in South Wales with her wife Amy and her son Ollie
Farm- life and working in the civil service
How life has changed since we last spoke in 2016
Speaking with Ali in 2016 - Sport Psychology Coach who rode a bike 767 miles from South Wales to Chamonix!
Riding her bike from South Wales to Chamonix
Going on more mini adventures
Knowing each other for 10 years
Seeing each other over the years
Being older mums
Getting married
Celebrating their 10 year anniversary
Fitting adventure and sport into life now
Deciding to have a child
The process of adaptation
Peri menopause and menopause
What her 40s were like
A new chapter
Celebrating turning 50 and what it was like
Thinking up new ideas and challenges
Wanting it to be meaningful and significant
The connection to Malta
Planning to walk across the island
Deciding to apply for the Tim Moss Adventure Grant - “The Next Challenge”
Have a go, you never know!
No adventures is too small
Being granted £150 for the cost of the challenge
Telling her wife Amy about the challenge
Is is practically possible? How can we make it work?
Balancing the family dynamics
The logistics for the hike and training for the hike
Being in the worst shape of her life
Figuring out the accommodation as she went
Dealing with the heat and humidity in Malta during August!
When the doubt started to creep in
Mentally getting in the zone and being ready to start confident
Being sensible in the heat
Planning her own route on google maps
Starting on the most easterly point
Having time to herself to reflect and look back on life and plan for the future
The lessons learned from the walk
Figuring out the balance between solo time and family time
Dealing with feelings of guilt and “mum guilt”
Looking towards the next decade
Glamping pods on the farm
Getting into a new routine
We need more women sharing their stories!!
Celebrating the end of the challenge and how it compares to other challenges done previously
Why it felt so meaningful
Don’t compare your challenge to anyone else and what they are doing
How to connect with Ali on the socials
Advice and top tips to motivate and inspire you
Linking ability and belief together
Build your belief
Build your confidence
Unlock the power of belief
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