Charlotte Garner - Discovering the power of running and cycling in midlife. Advocating for the physical and mental benefits of sports for women in their 50s.

Charlotte Garner is a 58-year-old runner and cyclist, living in France, who only took up sports ten years ago, aged 48. She advocates for the physical and mental benefits of sports for women in their 50s. 

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, she shares her journey of getting involved in sports and how it has transformed her life.

Charlotte grew up in Wales but has lived in France all her life, working as a freelance translator and raising her two daughters. It wasn't until her early 40s that she started to become interested in sports. 

After a divorce, Charlotte moved to Leon and got into running, completing her first 5km and 10km race. She felt a sense of achievement after completing the distance and proud to be part of a community of runners. 

Joining a running club changed her running for the better, and having a coach and following a training plan helped her structure her running routine. Charlotte has since completed seven marathons and two ultra marathons, enjoying the challenge of pushing herself further.

Charlotte's journey is an inspiration for women who may have thought it was too late to start being active.

It is never too late to start, and the physical and mental benefits are well worth it.

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Show notes

• Who is Charlotte
• 58 years old
• Growing up in Wales
• Living in France all her life
• Working as a freelance translator
• Mother to two daughters
• Getting interested in sports in her early 40s
• Why 50 is a great age to get involved in sports
• Her early years growing up in Wales
• Not liking sports at school and being bullied
• Making the decision to move to France at 25
• Studying French and Spanish at University 
• Becoming qualified to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
• Marrying a French man and having 2 daughters
• Getting move active in her late 40s
• Going through a divorce
• Moving to Leon
• Getting into running and doing her first 5km and 10km race
• Feeling a sense of achievement after completing the distance
• Feeling proud to be a part of a community of runners
• Joining a running club and how it changed her running for the better
• Having a running coach and following a training plan
• Liking a structure and enjoying following a plan
• Running 7 marathons and doing 2 ultra marathons
• Enjoying the challenge of pushing herself further 
• Running 70/80km per week in training 
• Peri-menopause and menopause and the impact on running
• Not sleeping properly and going on HRT tablets
• The mental side of running longer distances
• The power of gratitude
• Turning 50 and not looking forward to it
• Getting fitter and feeling younger
• Bike touring around New Zealand for 3 months
• Starting cycle touring in Switzerland and her love of travelling this way
• Wanting to get more long term adventure in her life
• Figuring out how to do that as a freelance translator
• Working and travelling while on the road
• Heading to New Zealand in December 2022
• Having to be disciplined while on the road
• Advice for other women who want to go cycle touring
• Find a bike that fits you and suits you
• Start small with a weekend trip and build it up from there
• Learning to be happy with your own company
• Using an old folding bike to get around the city 
• Buying an Avanti bike in New Zealand
• The challenges of selling the bike at the end
• Trade Me 
• Words of advice for women in their 50s who want to get more physically active
• Connecting with other like minded people 
• Join a running club or another inclusive group. e.g. Adventure Queens

 

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