Shu Pillinger's guest appearances

Shu Pillinger

Tough Girl Podcast

Faster with Dr Hutch

Emily Chappell

Sarah Williams

Alice Morrison

Namira Salim

Polly Vacher

Amelia Boone

Mirna Valerio

Fiona Oakes

Elspeth Beard

Tiffany Coates

Jacqui Furneaux

Lowri Morgan

Ragen Chastain

Katherine Knight

Jen Bricker

OwlTail

James Hayden

This time on Faster, I’m talking to a trio of ultra-endurance riders about how you survive and win in some of the most extreme races in the world.Emily Chappell won the 4000 km Transcontinental race in 2016. James Hayden won it in 2017 and 2018. Shu Pillinger is the first British woman to finish the brutal cost-to-coast RaceAcross America, which she did in 2015. I find out about the dramatic differences between “normal” bike racing and events thatcontinue non-stop for anything up to two weeks. And we talk about the sort of rider who can cope with it. “If you looked at the start line of a Transcontinental race, just the physicalability of the riders would be a bad way to try to pick the winner,” says Emily.Instead, you need the ability to keep eating, the ability to keep riding through the hallucinations of sleep deprivation, and the ability to measure an effort over days and days ofracing. Above all, the three of them tell me that it’s a mental game. As James puts it, “Over a race that lasts for days, your own brain can be your worst enemy.”We discuss the unexpectedly big differences between unsupported races like the Transcontinental, where riders must fend for themselves with no outside help, and supported races like the Race Across America, where the rider has a team of helpers.Finally, we hear from Shu on how her RAAM ride was only possible with the help of someone reading a pornographic novel in a Belgian accent.-------------------------If you liked this episode of Faster, please tell your friends about it. It really helps people find us. It would be great if you could like and subscribe to Faster and rate it too. You can find me on Twitter @doctor_hutch, if you want to get in touch, and I’d love to hear from you. If you want to read the book that inspired the podcast, it’s also called Faster, and available from places that sell books both online and in real life.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time on Faster, I’m talking to a trio of ultra-endurance riders about how you survive and win in some of the most extreme races in the world.Emily Chappell won the 4000 km Transcontinental race in 2016. James Hayden won it in 2017 and 2018. Shu Pillinger is the first British woman to finish the brutal cost-to-coast RaceAcross America, which she did in 2015. I find out about the dramatic differences between “normal” bike racing and events thatcontinue non-stop for anything up to two weeks. And we talk about the sort of rider who can cope with it. “If you looked at the start line of a Transcontinental race, just the physicalability of the riders would be a bad way to try to pick the winner,” says Emily.Instead, you need the ability to keep eating, the ability to keep riding through the hallucinations of sleep deprivation, and the ability to measure an effort over days and days ofracing. Above all, the three of them tell me that it’s a mental game. As James puts it, “Over a race that lasts for days, your own brain can be your worst enemy.”We discuss the unexpectedly big differences between unsupported races like the Transcontinental, where riders must fend for themselves with no outside help, and supported races like the Race Across America, where the rider has a team of helpers.Finally, we hear from Shu on how her RAAM ride was only possible with the help of someone reading a pornographic novel in a Belgian accent.-------------------------If you liked this episode of Faster, please tell your friends about it. It really helps people find us. It would be great if you could like and subscribe to Faster and rate it too. You can find me on Twitter @doctor_hutch, if you want to get in touch, and I’d love to hear from you. If you want to read the book that inspired the podcast, it’s also called Faster, and available from places that sell books both online and in real life.   See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Emily Chappell, Shu Pillinger, and James Hayden

Achievements 2013 - Ladies British National Champion at Double Ironman! 2015 - RAAM - 12 days 9 hours and 12 mins to become the first British Women to do so and the 37th women ever!    Show notes  Growing up on a farm and not being sporty or outdoorsy, but getting use to cycling as she had to cycle everywhere Taking up football when she went to university Moving to London and trying to fit in health and fitness at the same time Jumping straight into triathlon from football Liking to challenge herself What she liked about triathlon The Double Ironman! With ENDUROMAN Times for Ironman Becoming the Ladies’ British National Champion in 2013 Dealing with sleep deprivation  The finish of Enduroman and why it’s special The 24 hour time trail and not realising the significance of the event Why she would never do it again Qualifying for RAAM - Race Across America Why her strength is endurance and not speed Her mental strength to just keep on going Growing up knowing there was nothing she couldn’t do and why she doesn’t believe in “can’t” Being inspired by her dad Still dealing with doubts RAAM - 2014 - time trail - Racing from the West coast to the East coast of America The worlds toughest supported cycle race 3,000 miles in 12 days and 21 hours for women  - 232 mile a day for women Preparing herself for RAAM and why only 5% of the race is to do with cycling  Sleeping less than 2 hours a day for 12 days Falling asleep on her bike, coming off her bike and breaking her collar bone  What she learned from the 2014 race and how she applied it to her 2015 race Preparing for the trans continental race in Europe for 2017 Being able to emotionally detach while cycling Listening to music, podcasts and listening to audio books (The millennium Trilogy) Being inspired by stories from climbing mountains  Swimming from the UK to the US!! (The 3k Virgin Island swim) Loving running when she should be cycling Running in Cyprus and why she loves trail running Liking sleep and going for 8 hours a night Feeling drained, which she think is linked to her diet Making the change from vegetarian to vegan  Her final words of advice and why you should go an crew for someone doing a challenge Being Crew Chief for Jasminjn Muller LEJOG attempt How she met Jasmijn!    Social Media Twitter - @shupillinger  Website - http://shupillinger.info    Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!  Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment! Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.   Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you! Want to do more? Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs. 

Achievements 2013 - Ladies British National Champion at Double Ironman! 2015 - RAAM - 12 days 9 hours and 12 mins to become the first British Women to do so and the 37th women ever!  Show notes <ul> <li>Growing up on a farm and not being sporty or outdoorsy, but getting use to cycling as she had to cycle everywhere</li> <li>Taking up football when she went to university</li> <li>Moving to London and trying to fit in health and fitness at the same time</li> <li>Jumping straight into triathlon from football</li> <li>Liking to challenge herself</li> <li>What she liked about triathlon</li> <li>The Double Ironman! With <a href="http://www.enduroman.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ENDUROMAN</a></li> <li>Times for Ironman</li> <li>Becoming the Ladies’ British National Champion in 2013</li> <li>Dealing with sleep deprivation </li> <li>The finish of Enduroman and why it’s special</li> <li>The 24 hour time trail and not realising the significance of the event</li> <li>Why she would never do it again</li> <li>Qualifying for RAAM - Race Across America</li> <li>Why her strength is endurance and not speed</li> <li>Her mental strength to just keep on going</li> <li>Growing up knowing there was nothing she couldn’t do and why she doesn’t believe in “can’t”</li> <li>Being inspired by her dad</li> <li>Still dealing with doubts</li> <li>RAAM - 2014 - time trail - Racing from the West coast to the East coast of America</li> <li>The worlds toughest supported cycle race</li> <li>3,000 miles in 12 days and 21 hours for women  - 232 mile a day for women</li> <li>Preparing herself for RAAM and why only 5% of the race is to do with cycling </li> <li>Sleeping less than 2 hours a day for 12 days</li> <li>Falling asleep on her bike, coming off her bike and breaking her collar bone </li> <li>What she learned from the 2014 race and how she applied it to her 2015 race</li> <li>Preparing for the trans continental race in Europe for 2017</li> <li>Being able to emotionally detach while cycling</li> <li>Listening to music, podcasts and listening to audio books (The millennium Trilogy)</li> <li>Being inspired by stories from climbing mountains </li> <li>Swimming from the UK to the US!! (The 3k Virgin Island swim)</li> <li>Loving running when she should be cycling</li> <li>Running in Cyprus and why she loves trail running</li> <li>Liking sleep and going for 8 hours a night</li> <li>Feeling drained, which she think is linked to her diet</li> <li>Making the change from vegetarian to vegan </li> <li>Her final words of advice and why you should go an crew for someone doing a challenge</li> <li>Being Crew Chief for Jasminjn Muller LEJOG attempt</li> <li>How she met Jasmijn!</li> </ul> Social Media Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/shupillinger?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@shupillinger </a> Website - <a href="http://shupillinger.info" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://shupillinger.info</a> Feeling inspired week after week?  You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast! <ol> <li>Subscribe to the podcast in <a href="http://www.apple.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, so you won’t miss a single episode</li> <li>If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on <a href="http://www.apple.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>! I read every single comment!</li> <li>Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love. </li> </ol> Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you! Want to do more? Please become a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ToughGirlPodcast?ty=h" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patron</a> and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs.

Shu Pillinger - 1st British woman to complete RAAM Solo in 2015 after broken clavicle in 2014.