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ABOUT ME

In 2014, I founded Tough Girl Challenges with a mission to inspire and motivate women and girls through adventure and physical challenges. My ultimate goal is to increase the visibility of female role models in the media, particularly those in the world of adventure and physical challenges.

As the host of the multi-award winning Tough Girl Podcast, I interview exceptional women from all walks of life, including explorers, athletes, and everyday women who have faced challenges and setbacks and persevered to achieve their goals. The podcast has become a global sensation, with listeners in over 210 countries and a remarkable 3+ million downloads to date. In fact, based on monthly downloads, the Tough Girl Podcast ranks in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide.

 

Challenges & Adventures

In 2016, I took on the Marathon des Sables, running six marathons in six days across the Sahara Desert. It was an incredibly challenging experience, but it also taught me a lot about myself and what I'm capable of.

The following year, I embarked on a solo, unsupported thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, covering 2,190 miles in 100 days. It was an amazing journey that allowed me to connect with nature and push my physical and mental limits.

In 2018, I decided to take on a different kind of challenge and cycled over 4,000 km from Vancouver to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico via the Pacific Coast Highway. It was an unforgettable adventure that took me through some stunning landscapes.

In 2019, I walked the Camino Portugués, a 675km-long pilgrimage route from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I also hiked the Lycian Way in Turkey, another incredible adventure. In 2020, I took on the Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia, a challenging and beautiful hike that allowed me to explore a new corner of the world.

In 2021, I created the Tough Girl UK Adventure Series, which involved walking the Anglesey Coastal Path, the South Down’s Way, the Pilgrims Way, the West Highland Way, climbing Ben Nevis, and walking the Great Glen Way. In 2022 I walked the Wales Coast Path - 870 miles in 50 days and completed a series of Scottish Hikes, including The Hebridean Way, Speyside Way, Moray Coastal Trail, Dava Way & East Highland Way.

In 2023, I'm planning to walk the Camino Frances, 500 miles from St Jean-Pied-de-Port in southern France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It's going to be another incredible adventure, and I can't wait to see what else the future holds.

Tough Girl Awards & Nominations

  

2015 - Finalist in the New Media Europe - Influencer Award and Audience Appreciate Award 

2016 - Tough Girl Blog was Highly Recommended in the UK Blog Awards

2016 - Recognised by the Guardian as one of the 10 most inspiring contemporary female adventurers

2016 - Northern Power named me as one of the top 50 women to follow on the Future List

2017 - Tough Girl Blog was a Finalist in the UK Blog Awards

2018 - Winner - Women's Sports Trust #BeAGameChanger Media Initiative of the Year Award

2018 - Red Bull named me as one of the adventurers to follow on Instagram

2019 - Winner of the SheExtreme Best Adventure Podcast Award 

2021 - Winner of the Best Urban & Adventure Podcast for the Sports Podcast Awards.

 2022 - Best Adventure Sports Podcast in the Sports Podcast Awards

Podcasts

Reflections & Learnings from the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. *** 14th Mar 2024 ***

Planning and Preparation for thru hiking the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. *** 2nd Nov 2023 ***

Solo Reflections: A Look Back at the End of 2022, Adventures and Challenges in 2023, and Plans for the Next 6 Months. *** 10th Sep 2023 ***

Reflects on the end of 2021 and the start of 2022. *** 5th Aug 2022 ***

Why so many women are scared to adventure and recognising our female role models with Sarah Williams *** 10th Sep 2021 ***

Reflects on the end of 2020 and the start of 2021. *** 4th Aug 2021 ***

Reflections on 2019 & and the start of 2020.ms Relections 2020 *** 7th Aug 2020 ***

Reflections on 2018 and the start of 2019 - plus update on Tough Girl Challenges *** 4th Aug 2019 ***

Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide! *** 25th Dec 2018 ***

Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide! *** 4th Sep 2018 ***

Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days! *** 19th Sep 2017 ***

Answering all your questions about Boxing! *** 8th Dec 2016 ***

Psychological demands and overcoming mental challenges! *** 6th Oct 2016 ***

My journey of getting to the start line of the Marathon des Sables (MDS) *** 26th Apr 2016 ***

Being interviewed on the Spark Joy Podcast *** 2nd Mar 2018 ***

Podcast with Simply Designed Life *** 22nd Oct 2017 ***

How To Take The First Step To Living Your Dreams - The Lilly Wild Show *** 18th Apr 2017 ***

Live By Design Radio *** 15th Nov 2015 ***

Podcast Interviews

Resilience Rising Podcast

Ep 14 - Resilience Rising Podcast *** 5th May 2023 ***

The Adventure Sports Podcast

Ep. 893: Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail in 100 Days - Revisited - Sarah Williams *** 29th Dec 2022 ***

My First Season

My First Season *** 29th Nov 2021 ***

Life Done Differently Podcast

EP25 – Adventurer, Podcaster, Tough Girl – Sarah Williams

HeadRightOut Podcast

Why so many women are scared to adventure and recognising our female role models with Sarah Williams *** 30th Sep 2021 ***

One Wild Life

#10 Sarah Williams from Tough Girl Challenges on Inspiring Women to Dream Big *** 14th Jun 2021 ***

Life Her Way Podcast

Life Her Way Podcast *** 1st Jun 2021 ***

Living Life Differently

EP4 - Living Life Differently *** 20th Mar 2021 ***

My Adventure Series

My Adventure Series: interview with Sarah Williams *** 16th Apr 2020 ***

This is Alfred

Adventurer And ‘Tough Girl’ Podcast Host Sarah Williams Talks In Shaftesbury *** 24th Oct 2019 ***

The Trail Dames Podcast

EP22 - The Trail Dames Podcast *** 24th Jul 2019 ***

Call to Adventure Podcast

Episode 17 - Sarah Williams (Tough Girl podcast host, Marathon des Sables, Appalachian Trail) *** 28th Oct 2018 ***

The Digital Nomad Daily Show

NomadMe | The Digital Nomad Daily Show *** 14th May 2018 ***

Spark Joy Podcast

Ep 26 | If It Doesn't Challenge You, It Doesn't Change You with Sarah Williams *** 27th Feb 2018 ***

Simply Designed Life

EP20 - Simply Designed Life *** 22nd Oct 2017 ***

Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail

EP36 - Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail *** 25th May 2017 ***

The Lilly Wild Show

[S1E01] How to stop letting fear, overwhelm and/or lack of motivation from achieving your goals with Sarah Williams *** 31st Mar 2017 ***

The Adventure Sports Podcast

Ep. 214: Adventure Travel & The Tough Girl Podcast - Sarah Williams *** 31st Oct 2016 ***

Live By Design Radio

EP42 - Live By Design Radio *** 15th Nov 2015 ***

Podcast Divas

Tough Girl Sarah Williams on getting started in podcasting

Short Films

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