Today, I'm excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at the planning and preparation for my upcoming adventure on the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand. I recorded this episode, hours before I headed down to London to catch my flight to first Korea and then on to Aukland, New Zealand.
In this podcast, I'll take you through the meticulous planning and preparation that goes into making these epic adventures come to life. From the nitty-gritty details on my to-do list to managing setbacks and equipment challenges.
I share the story behind my sponsorship with ZOLEO and the invaluable benefits I've gained from their products. I'll also break down my approach to planning big adventures. Starting by dividing it down into the mental, physical, logistical, and practical aspects, offering insights that hopefully will add value as you plan your adventures.
Throughout this episode, I'll candidly share the intricacies and hurdles I've encountered and why I take full responsibly for all my decision, even when those decision put me under huge amounts of pressure/stress to deliver.
So, if you're curious about what goes into planning an adventure as massive as the Te Araroa Trail while running a business and keeping that business going while travelling. Then this podcast is a must-listen!
Join me on my journey as I navigate the world of planning, preparation, and ultimately, adventure.
Follow my Te Araroa Challenge on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges. I’ll be sharing daily updates on the main page and instagram stories.
A massive thank you to ZOLEO for sponsoring the challenge #ChallengeWithZOLEO
This episode is sponsored by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO
ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.
Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.
Listen Now!
Click here if you can't see the link below.
Show notes
Planning and preparation episode for the Te Araroa hike
10.50pm the day before heading down to London
Setting the scene - Working from my bed ‘aka my office’
Why I’m not complaining - I’m just sharing the challenges and loving my life
Blessed, lucky and very privileged
9th year of the Tough Girl Podcast in 2025
Why I’m grateful and full of gratitude - This is what I dreamed about
Do I complain all the time? Vlog 5/17 Camino Frances
Sharing the realities of what it is like while on challenges
Why can I do so many challenges in a year?
Planing, planning, planning and more planning
Pitching for work in 2024/2025
Having to look far ahead
Planning to go to New Zealand since April/May time
Future adventures and challenges need to be planned quite far in advance
The work that goes on behind the scenes
Working super far ahead to ensure Tough Girl Podcast episodes go live every week
Being home in March and then away on the 1st April
National Outdoor Expo 23rd - 24th March
Me putting pressure on myself
These are my choices
Wanting to walk the main 7 camino’s by the end of 2025
Doing the Camino Primitivo as a training hike
Total Stats from the hike
I should have worked out the average time on feet
Planning to do list and using my apple notes while hiking
Very specific to do list and really breaking it down into small manageable points
Trying to reduce the overwhelm
Setbacks and challenges over the past 23 days
Having a detailed daily plan of what needs to be done e.g. 4 days to edit 16 days worth of vlogs into 7 vlogs and for them to be uploaded to Youtube.
Broken laptop and needing to send it off to be repaired - there were tears
Editing and getting caught up with the vlogs
Getting my laptop back up and running and setting everything up again from scratch
Editing - loving the creative process - the stress comes from not having the time to dedicate to it
When good enough is good enough
Why I edit the TGP how I edit them.
Why my priority is my guest and their story.
Having challenging conversations and navigating through that
Thinking about how to approach these topics, what’s the best way to support the guests
The challenges of batch interviewing and having multiple interviews per day
Building work being done and not being able to record during the day
Earning money and taking a one day job in Manchester with OfftoWork and the opportunity cost of earning money and not having time to do my podcast/editing work
Taking responsibility for my choices
What it means being a sponsored hike. Not all my costs are going to be covered.
First world problems
How did the ZOLEO sponsorship come about?
Starting to use ZOLEO in April 2023
The benefits I’ve found
Needing to figure out a way to attach the ZOLEO to my pack when running
Reaching out to ZOLEO for sponsorship, putting a pitch together and having a meeting.
New Zealand - Land Safety Code
Carrying emergency food - apricots and walnuts
The hiking community and the amazing supportive people out there
Sharon Evans @freewheelingkiwi
Breaking down the planning into 3 parts; mental, physical, logistical & practical
Starting to plan during the covid years
How I start off my research and using apple notes
Facebook: Te Araroa Trail: Women's Group
Working backwards, dates, timeframe, flights accommodation, getting to the start line and getting home from the finish line,
Having a plan B, C, D
Going from Auckland to the top of the North Island
Not being able to plan for everything
Using booking.com for accommodation - cheapest in the best location for me
Insurance
Visa for New Zealand - British Citizens don’t need a visa - they get a 6 month visa waiver
Having another start date for the South Island
Booking the ferry to the South Island
Why sometimes you can’t just go with the flow
Gear - Upgrading my tent from a Terra Nova Laser 2 person tent to MSR 2 person tent (900g) the red palace.
Can I get lighter in my gear? Maybe change my backpack next year
Clothes and trainers provided by Inov-8
Get a 15% discount - using this link
The challenges with the waterproof trousers
Food boxes? Why I don’t do them
Facebook groups and why I don’t like them in relation to challenges
Wanting to figure out stuff for myself
Is it adding value - no - then step away
Mental side of planning for a challenge and why I haven’t done a huge amount this time
The tools in my tool kit
Why the TA is in my comfort zone (which doesn’t mean it’s not going to be tough or hard)
Feeling mentally prepared and ready but thinking I could have done more
Am I feeling physical ready for the challenge - yes and no….
Being joined by Sara Crosland for a walk
Wishing I had longer to train and prepare, but doing the best I could do with the time available.
Working with my PT - Franco @HumalForces
Getting my hiker legs back after 7/10 days and being able to push bigger miles towards the end of the trip
My weight and being very lean at the moment (which I like, but need to be aware of especially when taking on a big physical challenge like this)
Having a vision board on my laptop and phone (created in canva.com)
Flight on Sunday, Korea for 3/4 days, before flying to Auckland.
You can follow along on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges
Should I share my ZOLEO phone number and e-mail so people can contact me?
Having tomorrow morning to do the final bits of work
How to reach out - send me an e-mail sarah@toughgirlchallenges.com or send me a DM via Instagram
Thank you to ZOLEO for sponsoring the podcast and the Te Araroa Challenge.
Previous Challenge Solo Episodes
Sep 4, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide!
Feeling inspired week after week?
You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.
Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!
Want to do more?
Please become a Patron and donate US$5 a month to help fund the runnings costs. Thank you.
Comentarios