Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

Tiffany Winchester (aka Tiff or Tiffo) was first on the podcast in June 2019.

In that conversation, Tiff shared her background and her preparations for an iconic event called Paris-Brest-Paris (or PBP) - a 1,200km event held in France every 4 years considered to be the Olympics of the ultra-endurance cycling world.

This time, Tiff returns to share how the event unfolded, the trauma it inflicted on her, the physical, mental and emotional toll it took on her and how she was able to recover from it.

An iconic race - and a great storyteller - require a long conversation. So I have divided this episode into two parts.

In Part 1, Tiff shares the final stage of her preparation and how the race unfolded - including why she had to apply white wine vinegar to her “lady parts”.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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[TW/CN: this post and episode discuss suicide]

One of our most popular guests, Katee Pedicini, returns to Sparta Chicks Radio this week.

Yet this is a very different conversation from our previous episodes.

This time, Katee shares the story of her mental health journey over the last 20 years.

In her 20s, Katee was (finally) diagnosed with a condition called Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (or PMDD).

Katee describes PMDD as extreme PMS “wrapped up with anxiety, depression, sometimes psychosis and suicidality or suicidal tendencies”

We begin this conversation with Katee’s story. Her experience of the symptoms of PMDD, including suicidal ideation.

Then we transition into a broader conversation about suicide and mental health; why suicide is often still seen as a ‘taboo’ and what Katee believes needs to change to enable it to be discussed more openly, and with less shame.

Finally, we step back and discuss the intersection between mental health and endurance sports.

This was an extremely difficult conversation, for both of us. I’m in awe of Katee’s bravery and vulnerability. 

If you or someone you know needs help, in Australia you can contact Lifeline 24 hours per day on 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or the Black Dog Institute.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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The #1 most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2019 was Dr Stacy Sims on How to Work With Your Body, Not Fight Against It

Dr Stacy Sims is an environmental exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist at the University of Waikato in NZ.

She’s an incredible athlete in her own right too, having competed at the Hawaii Ironman in Kona as well as the Xterra (Off-Road Triathlon) World Championships in Maui.

Plus she’s the author of an important book called “Roar: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health and a Strong, Lean Body for Life”

At the core of Stacy’s work is the concept that women are not small men.

It seems obvious, I know!

Yet the majority of sports science research - and a result, the majority of what we understand about the best way to train, eat, drink, race and recover - has been done on men.

Even the common training program structure of 3 weeks of training followed by 1 week of recovery is - you guessed it! - based on research done on men, without any regard for the hormonal changes experienced by women throughout the month.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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The #2 most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2019 was Samantha Gash on Inspiration, Impact & ‘Run India’

It’s easy in this day and age to think that one person - that you - can’t make a difference. But Sam has proved that wrong, time and time again.

In her first ultramarathon in 2010, Sam became the first female and youngest person to complete the Racing the Planet 4 Deserts Grand Slam, running 4 ultra marathons across the driest, windiest, hottest and coldest deserts on Earth.

That was followed in 2011 by a 222km non-stop race through the Indian Himalayas.

It was during that run across the Himalayas that Sam decided to use her running for a greater purpose.

Fast forward a few years and in 2016, as an ambassador for World Vision, Sam set out on her most ambitious project to date; running across India.

Over 76 days, she ran 3,253km from the west to the east of India and, in the process, raised close to $200,000 to fund 6 programs to improve access to education for children in India.

In this conversation, Sam and I discuss:

- why disappointment is not a terrible emotion,

- why she says she isn’t addicted to running and doesn’t need to call herself a runner,

- why she cringes at the word 'inspiration' and

- what it means to be truly committed to a goal.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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The 3rd most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2019 was Renee Kiley on Inspiration, Goal Setting & the Fear of Failure

In November 2013, Renee joined friends to watch the Noosa Triathlon. And life hasn’t been the same since.

At the time Renee was an overweight, unhealthy, pack-a-day smoker.

Yet despite not having ridden a bike or swum laps since she was a kid, Renee set a goal to compete in the Noosa Triathlon the following year.

She did that, and more: less than 3 1/2 years later, Renee raced for the first time as a professional triathlete. 

Many people involved in endurance sports have undergone dramatic transformations; from losing weight, quitting smoking and overcoming major health issues.

But I was curious how Renee was able to take her performance and achievements to the next level and became a professional athlete in a sport she didn’t know even existed only a few years ago.

So I asked :)

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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The #4 most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2019 was Jess Fox on Resilience, Goal Setting & Proving Yourself

Jess Fox was just 18 (and 3 months out of High School) when she qualified for the 2012 London Olympics.

She left those Games with a Silver medal and, in hindsight, admits she felt the need to prove herself and to show that her result in London wasn’t a fluke.

Of course, it wasn’t a fluke - in fact, it was just the start of an incredible career!

A 2 x Olympic medalist (Jess also won Bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics), Jess is now the most successful canoe slalom paddler - male or female - in the history of the sport!

In this fun conversation, we discussed:

- the power of writing down your goals and seeing them on a daily basis,

- how she deals with her own internal expectations as opposed to the external expectations placed on her by the media and the public, and

- why you should welcome conditions that aren’t ideal in training.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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The 5th popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2019 was Tiffany Winchester on Donuts, the Imposter & Ultra-Endurance Cycling.

Tiffany is an ultra-endurance cyclist, with a love of doughnuts, who was at the time we recorded this conversation, preparing to ride the Paris-Brest-Paris; an iconic 1,200km endurance cycling event in France later in 2019.

Tiff finished her first bike race as a child and then took a “25 year rest week” from almost all forms of exercise.

It wasn’t until her 30s that she started walking and hiking (“procrasta-hiking” as she calls it) as a way to clear her head and clarify your thoughts while working on her PhD.

After a brief with trail running, Tiff was introduced to the world of cycling 3 years ago - and hated it at first!

Her relationship with cycling has been bumpy; so much so, she decided to stop racing for mental health reasons.

However, she has since found her ‘happy place’ in the incredibly gruelling world of ultra-endurance cycling (all while balancing a family and full-time work).

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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In October 2019, Melissa Urie became the first woman to line up at the start of Uberman.

Described as the world’s most challenging ultra triathlon, it consists of a 34km swim, 644km ride and 217km run which Mel finished - becoming the first woman to do so - in a total of 135hr 15min - that's over 5 1/2 days! 

In the process, she also set a new swim course record for the event, finished second overall and smashed the previous course record by 31 hours. 

A long race requires a long conversation; Mel and I spoke for 2 hours about all-things Uberman so I have divided this conversation into two parts.

You can find Part 1 of that conversation here. In it, we covered her preparation and training, the logistics of the event and how the swim leg unfolded - here.

This is the second half of our conversation, in which Mel and I cover how the 644km bike, the 217km run leg and her recovery.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Uberman is described as the world’s most challenging triathlon.

Consisting of 34km swim, 644km ride and 217km run, the race takes competitors from the Catalina Islands off the California coast to the trailhead at the top of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in Continental USA.

Until 2019 when Melissa Urie lined up at the start, no woman had ever attempted the event.

But 135 hours, 15 minutes and 55 seconds after she started, Mel became the first woman to finish the race!

In the process, she also set a new swim course record, finished second overall and smashed the previous course record by 31 hours.

And she returns to Sparta Chicks Radio this week to share the story!

A long race requires a long conversation; Mel and I spoke for 2 hours about all-things Uberman - her preparation and training, the race itself and the aftermath.

And my thanks to those in the Sparta Chicks community who offered their own questions for Mel!

So I have divided this episode into two instalments.

This is part 1 and part 2 will be published on 23rd December 2019, making this “the Month of Mel” ;)

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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One of the main themes that run through many of my conversations on Sparta Chicks Radio is around the concept that “you can’t be what you can’t see”.

This week’s guest is on a mission to change what you can see - and by extension, be.

Mary Konstantopoulos is a lawyer who, in her “spare time”, is the force behind the “Ladies Who” media company - or dare I say growing empire - that advocates for, and shares stories of, women in sport here in Australia.

She hosts two podcasts on the ABC Grandstand radio network; Ladies Who League  (about rugby league) and Ladies Who Legspin (about cricket).

Mary’s passion for sport developed as a result of her desire to spend more time with her Dad who was (and remains) a passionate Parramatta Eels supporter in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition.

Yet she describes in this conversation a sense of shame she sometimes feels because it never occurred to her to ask if women also played the sport.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- how her life has revolved around sport since she was a young child growing up with her two brothers,

- why she was motivated to throw herself into all sports as a kid (despite not being very good at any of them),

- what prompted her to launch the ‘Ladies Who League’ blog (which at the time was about the men’s competition),

- the evolution of the ‘Ladies Who’ media company,

- her experience with the Imposter Complex,

- why it’s important to give yourself credit for your hard work and success, rather than attributing it to luck, and

- how she deals with online trolling and public criticism.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Mary on Instagram: instagram.com/ladieswholegspin_