From a council estate on the Isle of Wight to conquering some of Europe's toughest mountain ultras, Charlotte Fisher's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Less than three years ago, she had never run competitively. Today, she's a full-time ultra runner chasing elite races like UTMB and Western States 100, proving that it's never too late to find your path. In this episode, Charlotte shares how a charity ultra challenge sparked her running journey, the lessons learned from 50km races to brutal 100-mile mountain ultras, and how running transformed her mindset, confidence, and life. She opens up about the highs, the lows, and the mental toughness required to push through physical limits — from hospitalised near-sepsis to standing on podiums in Europe's toughest races. Whether you're a seasoned runner, an aspiring adventurer, or someone searching for purpose, Charlotte's story is a powerful reminder that mountains, miles, and mindset can transform your life. What you'll hear in this episode: How Charlotte went from zero running experience to winning her first ultraLessons learned from extreme races and mountain ultrasMental toughness, mindset shifts, and life transformation through runningTraining, fueling, and recovery strategies for endurance athletesWhy adventure, self-discovery, and community make ultra running so addictive 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 Charlotte? From the Isle of Wight, UK – where she now lives, works, and trainsRuns her own dog-walking businessOn a mission to become a full-time professional ultra runnerBegan running less than 3 years ago, starting with a charity ultra with no running experience Growing Up on the Isle of Wight Childhood on a council estate in a rural villageOutdoor play, but no sporting backgroundNo sailing or traditional Isle of Wight coastal sports experienceSchool pushed her toward law due to academic ability, despite being naturally creativeInitially chased a law career for financial security, not passion Leaving Home & Early Adulthood Moved to London at 19 for universityPivoted from law to Geography degree after a crisis of directionTook a gap year to travel and try to "find her path"Felt lost through early 20s — unsure of what she should be doing with her life How Running Entered Her Life Started running in Feb 2022, almost accidentallySigned up for a 106km Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge with zero running backgroundMotivation: Raise money for the hospice that cared for her Aunt Jane, and raise awareness for bowel cancerFirst ever long run attempt: a 35km treadmill run to "qualify" for a guided 50km group run From First 50km to Winning 106km – All Within 12 Weeks Completed first 50km guided run with a coach – extremely tough but gave her beliefDidn't run again for 6 months afterwards!Hired a coach and trained for 12 weeks for the Isle of Wight 106km raceWon the race on her ultra debut — a shock to herself and everyone elseImmediately hooked on ultras — discovered a talent for running "abnormally far" Rapid Rise to 100 Miles & First Big Reality Check Next challenge: 100-mile North Downs Way (Centurion) just 6 months into runningWon the race — but it was a harsh lesson in mental toughness and fuellingRan through Storm Anthony — torrential rain, strong winds and brutal conditionsSevere stomach issues, under-fuelled, no proper nutrition strategyLearned the importance of fuelling, hydration, and race strategy Becoming a Mountain Ultra Runner Stepped up to technical mountain ultras with Ultra Trail Snowdonia (UTS)Originally entered the 100-mile UTS (one of Europe's toughest races) with no mountain experienceOnly 50% finish rate – often as few as 8 female finishersMultiple recce weekends in Snowdonia to train – huge learning curve10 days before UTS she became seriously ill & hospitalised with suspected sepsisStill ran the race, finished near the back — emotionally tough but transformativeReturned the following year 13 hours faster, finishing 3rd and becoming the only woman to finish the UTS 100 twice Mindset & Transformation Through Running Running gave her purpose, discipline, and identitySober for almost 2 years — running helped her leave behind her old lifestyleMental health, confidence, and self-belief have skyrocketedFound something where hard work = reward — a completely new feeling after years of feeling lost Training, Fueling & Recovery – What's Changed? Then vs now: Early Ultras Now as...
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