Emma Wilkinson – Freelance Health Journalist, Ultra Runner & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport cover art

Emma Wilkinson – Freelance Health Journalist, Ultra Runner & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

Emma Wilkinson – Freelance Health Journalist, Ultra Runner & Co-Author of Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

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 This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, we welcome Emma Wilkinson—a freelance health journalist, ultra runner, mother of three, and co-author of the empowering book Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport. Emma’s journey into ultra running didn’t begin until her 40s, but once she discovered the joy of going long and slow, there was no turning back. In this honest and motivating conversation, Emma shares how she went from half marathons and road running to self-created 100K adventures in the mountains of Snowdonia. Alongside fellow runner and friend Lily Canter, she set out to research and write Ultra Women, a book that celebrates female endurance athletes and dives into the science, stories, and social constructs around women in ultra sport. Emma talks openly about what inspired the book, how she balanced full-time work, parenting, and running while writing it, and what she learned about the unique strengths women bring to endurance challenges—especially around fatigue resistance, pain management, and mental toughness. If you’ve ever doubted your capabilities, struggled with self-identifying as a “runner,” or wondered if your body was made for ultras—this episode is for you. Emma’s message is simple and powerful: don’t put limits on yourself—just give it a go. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x Show notes Who is EmmaJournalist and runnerCo-Author of a new book - Ultra WomenBook: Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport What Emma was like as little girlGrowing up in Bradford and not being massively sporty when she was youngerGetting into running in her later teensBeing far more active now than she was as a childIn her early 20s watching the London Marathon and wanting to give it ago Getting into half marathonsRunning the Sheffield Half Marathon and being sick at the end Starting to run faster and joining a running club to make new friendsDoing her first marathon just before she had children, just before turning 30Why she enjoyed running 2019 - meeting Lilly (co-author on the Ultra women book)Singing up for a 100k - 2 day eventFalling in love with ultra running - the slower, longer, adventureHer friendship with Lilly, doing their journalism MA together, 20 years agoTeaching Journalism at Sheffield University How the book came aboutWalking the hills What do you need to do, to get to the end. Needing to be able to tune into your bodyCreating their own 100K 2 days event - on the Snowdonia Slate Trail Surprising herself with what she was capable of Writing the book at the same time of doing full time work as a journalist while also looking after children and running Why are women so good at ultra endurance distances Coming from a science background and why the research was so interesting How women have more fatigue resistant musclesNot feeling in competition with other women Book: Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men The lack of research into sports science for womenHopefully the research is starting to turn a cornerWhy ultra running training plans are based on men Women have been deemed as to complicated to include in studies Fatigue resistant muscles research Wanting to learn more about recovery and how that applies to women specifically Training for ultrasWomen having to use a process of trial and error to figure out what works best for themPeriods and cycle tracking and feeling different at different times of the month and why the data can be confusing Learning more about oestrogen and how it affects enduranceHow the book came aboutGetting the book publishedAre women faster the longer they go?Freelancing for Journalists Lael Wilcox going after the mens’s around the world bike record in 2026 The motherhood perspective on runningSophie PowerShe Races Not running in pregnancy and chaining to walkingDealing with separated stomach muscles Needing to get back to running and needing time for herselfHaving a chapter on pregnancy in the book and why it’s not the same for everyonePain and women, and pain managementSexismCreating a manifesto and calling for actionDo you call yourself a runner?Confidence - women - runningSay yes for signing up for that ultraHow to connect with EmmaFinal words of advice Don’t put limits on yourself, if you want to do something, have ago.Women who just wanted to see if they could and they didWhy not give it ago! Social Media Website: emmawilkinson.net Instagram: @emmawjourno/ BlueSky: @...
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