After working in finance for 8 years, I quit my city job and spent 18 months travelling the world, climbing Kilimanjaro, backpacking around South America and doing a ski season. I used this time to help me decide on what I wanted to do with my life. I set up Tough Girl Challenges as a way of motivating and inspiring women and girls.
I’m the host the Tough Girl Podcast where I’ve interviewed over 500 inspirational female explorers, adventurers, athletes and everyday women who have overcome great challenges.
The Tough Girl Podcast has been downloaded over 1.9 Million times in 174 countries. It won the Women’s Sport Trust, Media Initiative of the Year Award in May 2018 and the She Extreme best adventure podcast in 2019.
I completed the Marathon des Sables (6 marathons in 6 days across the Sahara desert) in April 2016 and in 2017 I thru hiked the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days! I completed my Masters in Women & Gender studies at Lancaster University in 2018 and cycled the Pacific Coast Highway and Baja California solo and unsupported (over 4,000 km).
In September 2019, I walked the Camino Portugués 675km from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain #ChallengeWithCicerone. I ended the year by walking the Lycian Way in Turkey.
I started 2020 in Australia, walking the Overland Track in Tasmania.
To celebrate the 6th Year Anniversary of the Tough Girl Podcast in 2021. I created the Tough Girl UK Adventure Series (sponsored by Cicerone) walking – the Anglesey Coastal Path, The South Downs Way, The Pilgrims’ Way, The West Highland Way, Climbed Ben Nevis and walked the Great Glen Way.
I was recognised by the Guardian as one of the 10 most inspiring contemporary female adventurers and Red Bull named me as one of the adventurers to follow on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges
Sarah Williams
