#120: Ashley Wiles: From 'Self Destruct' to Finding Her Happy Pace

A 2x Ironman finisher, Ashley Wiles’ struggles with mental health and body image over the years inspired her to launch Sole Girls, an innovative empowerment program that shares, with girls aged 5 to 12, the tools they need for a confident, happy and healthy life. And she joins me on Sparta Chicks Radio this week. In this conversation, we dive into Ashley’s story including: - the ‘kilometre club’ at her elementary / primary school that laid the foundation for her love of being running, - how she manages her mental state if she can’t run due to injury, - how she discovered triathlons (and more recently, boxing and parkour), and - why she says running saved her life. Plus we dive into broader issues, including: - the importance of role models, - the impact a lack of role models has on the number of girls who drop out of sport, - the role of sports as “playtime” for kids and adults alike, - why running (and the body awareness it creates) is fantastic for dealing with anxiety or an overactive brain (how do you get out of your head?), and - why her focus is now on finding her ‘happy pace’. Get the full show notes for the episode here. — Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here  Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks  Follow Ashley on Instagram: instagram.com/evaruns