In this inspiring episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Naomi Rumble, a passionate triathlete, dedicated swimming coach, and advocate for breaking down barriers in sport. By day, Naomi works as a senior market researcher in London, but outside of her 9-to-5, she’s fully immersed in the world of swimming, cycling, and running.
While sport has always been a part of Naomi’s life—from childhood swimming lessons and taekwondo to dabbling in netball, boxing, and archery—her relationship with consistent training truly solidified during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a challenge to cycle from London to Brighton evolved into a love for endurance sports and, eventually, the bold decision to pursue triathlons.
Naomi shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt, learning to embrace running despite initial resistance, and finding strength through community and connection. As the first sponsored triathlete for Fund Her Tri UK, she’s not only pushing her own boundaries but also paving the way for others to step into the world of triathlons with confidence.
From cold-water swims and marathon struggles to managing self-talk and celebrating small wins, Naomi’s story is a testament to perseverance, courage, and the power of showing up for yourself.
Tune in as Naomi opens up about her experiences, shares invaluable lessons learned along the way, and offers advice to anyone looking to start their own sporting journey. This episode is packed with inspiration, honesty, and actionable takeaways—you won’t want to miss it!
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Show notes
Who is Naomi
Working in market research as a 9-5 job
Supporting running and cycling clubs
Teaching swimming twice a week
Growing up in London as a city girl
Being in sports from a young age
Starting swimming at age 4
Doing taekwondo until 10 years old
Trying to figure out what she likes; netball, basketball, shot-put, discus, boxing, archery, scouts.
Never being fully consistent with sports all the way through
Being willing to try new things and wanting to have new challenges
Role models and the women who have inspired her
Leaving university and starting work and how sport drifted off
Not liking running
How things changed during covid
Cycling from London to Brighton
Getting involved in sport in a more regular way
How her view expanded on what’s possible
Having the confidence and self belief to sign up to new challenges
Being inspired to sing up for a Triathlon
Meeting Bianca Fernandez-Clark @biancatriathlon
Becoming the first sponsored triathlete for Fund Her Trip UK
Working towards a full distance triathlon
How training took a toll on her body
Needing to rest more and eat more protein
The discipline needed to do the training
The importance of discipline and dedication
Cold water swimming/open water swimming
Not liking the cold
What happens when things fall apart and everything goes wrong
Needing to stop in the water and just breathe
Concerns and fears before taking up triathlon
Not being a runner and not liking running
Not calling herself a runner and finding running difficult
Not being a fast runner
Struggling with the breathing and overheating
Running the London marathon and what the experience was like
How new opportunities can change your thinking
Wanting to do an ironman
Persevering though the tough moments
Changing her tactics
What her self talk looks like
Managing negative thoughts
The power of reflecting back
Being her own worst critic
Learning to celebrate the small wins
Goals for 2025
Fitting in exercise and training
Turning training into social events
How to connect with Naomi
Final words of advice
Find your group and your community
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Figure out what works best for you.
Social Media
Instagram: @nay.aminah
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