The trail gets real! Steeper climbs, wilder weather 🌦️, and the growing sense of life on the GR10 — here’s how the next stretch unfolded.

From August to September, I spent 37 days trekking the GR10 🥾 across the French Pyrenees 🇫🇷. It was a tough but rewarding trek, filled with long climbs ⛰️, quiet valleys 🌿, and the steady rhythm of trail life.

In this episode, we catch up with Tiphaine Muller, the intrepid French adventurer who continues to push her boundaries through long-distance cycling and remote, high-altitude trekking. Now 31 and based in Chamonix, France, Tiphaine has spent the last decade traveling the world by bike, exploring five continents. Her latest journey saw her pedaling from the Alps to the Himalayas before tackling one of the toughest and most remote treks on earth: The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT)

Jenn is a long-distance walker, community leader, and passionate advocate for women’s wellbeing in the outdoors — especially during menopause. From battling endometriosis, PCOS, and the trauma of an early medical menopause in her 20s, she was once told she couldn’t live the active, adventurous life she craved. She’s spent the last few years since proving otherwise — one footstep at a time.

At age 55, Belgian runner Hilde Dosogne set out to break boundaries — and did just that.  In 2024, she ran 366 marathons in 366 days, earning her the title of Guinness World Record holder for most consecutive marathons in a year.  What makes Hilde’s journey so extraordinary is not just the distance she covered, but the relentless dedication she showed while working part-time and managing her daily life with laser-focused discipline.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we journey into the heart of the Amazon and the mind of a remarkable woman pushing the boundaries of science, culture, and conservation—Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza. Rosa is a Peruvian chemical biologist, National Geographic Explorer, UN Harmony with Nature Scientist, and the founder of Amazon Research Internacional.

Sophie Pierce is a 32-year-old social worker from Pembrokeshire, West Wales, who made history in March 2025 as the first person with Cystic Fibrosis to row an ocean. Diagnosed at just 3 months old, Sophie has lived with the challenges of a genetic condition that affects her lungs and digestive system and once carried a life expectancy of under 30 years. But Sophie’s story is not defined by limitation—it's a bold testament to resilience, courage, and the power of hope.

Emma Wilkinson is a freelance health journalist, ultra runner, mother of three, and co-author of the empowering book Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport. Emma’s journey into ultra running didn’t begin until her 40s, but once she discovered the joy of going long and slow, there was no turning back.

Lily Canter is ultra runner, women’s running coach, journalist, and passionate advocate for gender equality in sport. As co-author of the groundbreaking book Ultra Women, Lily is helping to challenge outdated narratives and spotlight the women redefining endurance running. Lily didn’t grow up considering herself sporty, but after joining a triathlon club in her 30s, she discovered a love for running that quickly evolved into a passion for ultras.

Tania Carmona is a trailblazing ultrarunner, endurance coach, entrepreneur, and the first Mexican athlete to complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam. From swimming as a national-level athlete in Mexico to conquering some of the toughest environments on Earth, Tania’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity.

🌟 By Day 7, I was deep into the rhythm of the GR20 — tired legs, early starts, and incredible mountain views that made it all worthwhile. This stretch brought tougher terrain, wild weather, and some unforgettable moments. Here’s the breakdown of my stats and experiences from Days 7 to 10. Let’s keep going! 🗺️⏱️🌟

✨ The GR20 is often called Europe’s toughest trek — and it definitely made a bold first impression. From dramatic climbs to jaw-dropping Corsican landscapes, the first six days were a test of both endurance and mindset. In this post, I’m sharing my daily stats, trail highlights, and honest thoughts from Days 1 to 6. Let’s dive in! 📊📍✨

In 2014, I sat down to write my very first blog post. I was still trying to piece together who I was and what I wanted my life to become. I’d left my banking job in 2013, taken a “gap year” to travel, explore, and breathe — but eventually, the big questions found me again. What am I doing? Where am I going? What do I want my life to be? Tough Girl Challenges was born out of that space of uncertainty, curiosity, and deep desire for change.