As the year comes to a close, we take a moment to look back at just some of the incredible voices and stories shared on the podcast over the past twelve months. From moments of doubt and adversity to breakthroughs, resilience, and quiet determination, each guest has offered something powerful about what it truly means to keep going.
In this reflective episode, we revisit key insights and standout moments from across the year, highlighting the lessons that stayed with us most—about motivation, navigating tough times, and finding the strength to move forward when giving up feels easier.
Whether you’re ending the year tired, inspired, or somewhere in between, this episode is a reminder that progress isn’t always loud, and strength often shows up quietly, one decision at a time.
Perfect for anyone needing a reset, a reminder, or a reason to keep moving forward.
She was a dedicated runner long before three autoimmune diseases changed her life—but she never stopped. In this inspiring episode, Dr Maggie Osa shares how running has become continued to help her, even when she faces the possibility of her conditions progressing. A story of courage, movement, and the power of refusing to give up.
In this episode of The Toughest Finish Line, we sit down with Bianca Fernandez-Clark, Chair of Women in Tri and a powerful voice for change in the endurance world. Bianca opens up about the challenges she’s faced throughout her own sporting journey — from navigating barriers in access and representation to overcoming the personal hurdles that shaped her path in triathlon.
Now, she’s using that lived experience to lead meaningful change. Through her work with Women in Tri and across the wider sports industry, Bianca is helping women break into the world of swim, bike, and run with confidence, support, and opportunity.
This episode is about resilience, advocacy, and the courage to create the change you once needed yourself. Bianca’s story reminds us that when we remove barriers for one athlete, we open the door for many more to cross their own toughest finish lines.
In this episode of The Toughest Finish Line, we meet an extraordinary woman who has redefined what’s possible — setting a new world record as the fastest autistic female in the ironman distance. Marlynne's story isn’t just about speed; it’s about strength, courage, and the power of showing up as your true self.
She opens up about navigating life and sport through the lens of autism, the challenges she’s faced both on and off the course, and how endurance became her way of finding focus. From training setbacks to race-day breakthroughs, her journey is a masterclass in resilience.
This is a story for anyone who’s ever felt different, doubted themselves, or wondered if they truly belonged in the sport. Because sometimes, the toughest finish lines aren’t the ones we cross — they’re the ones we fight to believe we can reach.
Meet the lady who defied the odds, more than once. In this raw and inspiring episode, we dive deep into the story of a mother who battled the darkest corners of her mind and body. Diagnosed with OCD, she faced overwhelming mental health struggles after a car accident, that led to multiple suicide attempts. But despite weighing 20 stone and having four children under the age of three, Amy shares how she battled back to complete an Ironman and find herself again.
Warning: This episode contains themes of suicide.
He's the voice that has inspired millions across finish lines across the world. In this episode we sit down with Mike Reilly, the man who created the iconic phrase "You are an Ironman!".
Mike shares the story behind those unforgettable words, as well as what life was like as a race announcer for one of the toughest finish lines in the world.
He survived the mother of all surgeries and set himself the goal to complete and Ironman 10 months after his surgery. Paul shares his incredibly inspiring story.
An incredible journey of losing 19.5 stone to the Ironman start line. A powerful story of resilience, transformation, and proving nothing is impossible.
Lisa Ann shares her incredible story of how she was homeless and experienced years of abuse and neglect, yet she has gone on to cross some epic sporting finish lines. This is a pure example of how resilience can help you through anything.
Within this episode Holly shares how despite being labelled and told she wouldn't achieve anything as a child, and then breaking her back in a car accident, this hasn't stopped her. Going on to compete in the world gravel bike championships and currently training for the Ironman World Championships, Holly's story is truly inspirational.
Within this episode Katy shares the story of how she coped after her Dad died by suicide. Katy openly talks about how she felt and what helped her day by day, including setting an epic challenge of cycling the entire UK coastline by herself to raise awareness of suicide and to support others.
Useful links referenced by Katy -
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
https://sossilenceofsuicide.org/
https://www.samaritans.org/
Within this episode Lucia and her husband Holger share how she has fought back from cancer, as well as a serious cycling accident that left her in a coma to training for a mammoth sporting challenge.
In this episode Ashley talks about the extreme pain she experiences on a daily basis due to her multiple sclerosis, but how she doesn't let this hold her back from training for a huge, sporting finish line!
Within this episode, Adrienne shares how it was growing up with a diagnosis of autism. She includes the difficulties she faced but how she used these to help her to set two Guiness World Records - the youngest female and the first female with a diagnosis of autism to complete the Ironman World Championships.
If you would like to support the work of the Ironman Foundation - you can donate here
We're starting the podcast with a bang! Sarah Ruggins shares her incredible story of how she lost the ability to walk and use her arms but fought back to complete a massive cycling challenging, smashing multiple world records.
To donate to Sarah's charities Bike for Refugees and The Bike Project please click here
Looking for some inspiration to get out and do what you've always dreamt of doing?
The Toughest Finish Line will share the stories of truly inspiring people who have overcome significant challenges, traumas or illness by pushing endless boundaries and completing the toughest sporting feats in the world.