Nikki Love is an adventure runner, a sports psychology under-grad, and a motivator of dreaming big, taking action and achieving extraordinary goals. Nikki turned 50 in 2017 and decided it was time to take her love for travel, marathon running, and cross-country running to a new level.  She is now on a mission to run across, around, or through as many countries that her feet can take her, bringing as many people as she can along for the run. Her big adventures include running 63 marathons in 63 days through the UK to celebrate her 50th birthday, a craic of a 750 mile run around Ireland, a runcation through Malta and around Gozo, a jolly jaunt across the Netherlands, an extremely muddy and cow-pat laden run from top to bottom of Wales, a 40 day x 1,000 miles treadmill run, and on July 16, 2023 at the age of 56 Nikki set the women’s record for running across Australia from Perth to Sydney 4,044kms in 76 days, 3 hours and 43 minutes. Driven by her curiosity to answer the question “I wonder if I can do that…”  Nikki shares her adventures – the highs, lows, fun, tears and her experience of overcoming fears, doubts and obstacles as she navigates perimenopause – through her writing, speaking and film-making.  Her goal is to help women know and own their place and space in the world and to keep believing and backing themselves. Listen to the previous TGP episode with Nikki. 30th July 2020 - Adventure Runner, Ran 63 marathons in 63 days in 2017 *** The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.  Stay connected and safe while doing what you love. Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time. *** Show notes Who is Nikki Being an adventure runner 56 years young Speaking with Nikki in 2020 on the TGP  A quick recap of Nikki’s previous challenges Reflecting back on 2020 and 2021 Coming up with idea to do a ‘training run’  on a treadmill  Running 1000 miles and tearing tendons in her toes which ended her adventure Learning that she could do hard things  Setting herself up to run across Australia for real  Dealing with multiple peri-menopausal symptoms 2021- deciding to run 100 marathons in 100 days Getting a stress fracture in her pelvis  Starting a process to understand what was going on in her body  Getting advice to downgrade her ambitions and dreams  Being stubborn and wanting to figure out a way to achieve her goal at 56 of running across Australia  Figuring out what was going on and getting advice from doctors  Starting on different versions on HRT Being encouraged to stop doing her exercise  Having bloods taken and doing MRI scans - privately  Speaking to as many people as possible to come up with solutions Figuring out that her body wasn’t absorbing the hormone therapy  Going back to basics - getting back to a good diet and doing strength training  Taking 2 years to recover from her pelvis stress fracture  Feeling sad and frustrated  Not being willing to give up on her goal Starting to wonder if it would be possible for her to run across Australia  Starting to do more planning and putting dates in place  Dealing with setbacks along the way and why it wasn’t easy  Setting the start date for 1st May 2023 Being supported by her partner  Hiring a camper van and driving from Jhalong to Perth and getting to see the route in reverse.  Going after a Guinness World Record to be the fastest women to run from Perth to Sydney  76 days 3hrs and 43 mins * (waiting to see if it will be accepted by