Beth French - Ocean Swimmer, Inspirational Speaker. Recovering from ME- and bringing up her son. - a podcast by Sarah Williams

from 2018-01-02T07:00

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Beth French, an ultra-marathon open-sea ocean swimmer who was once a Buddhist nun, a single mother who home schools her autistic son and an adventurer who suffered from a crippling illness (M.E. aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) in her youth. 

During this podcast we speak to Beth about her journey to swim across the seven most dangerous sea-channels in the world, an official challenge called ‘Oceans Seven'. For extreme swimmers it’s the ultimate test; only a handful of people have ever completed it, but it took them many years.

In September 2016, Beth set out to become the first person ever to conquer Oceans Seven in a 12-months period.

Her motivation: to prove to her autistic son that you are not determined by your circumstances and that you can fulfill your dreams and ambitions by confronting obstacles head on.

Show notes

  • Not living close to the water
  • Self employed single mum who home schools her son with autistic needs and sea swims for sanity
  • Having ME as a teenager…
  • What life was like growing up - the challenges she faces and how she overcame them
  • Not being able to walk..
  • Coping strategies to numb the pain
  • Hitting rock bottom
  • Going to see an alternative therapist 
  • Being told it was her fault at 17
  • Writing a wish list 
  • Having a wake up call and taking responsibility for her life
  • Becoming a Buddhist Nun - meditating for 17 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months
  • Having a 2 week holiday which turned into an 8 year adventure!
  • Swimming in the ocean and falling in love with it
  • Learning the mental side of endurance
  • Being told she couldn’t have kids… Getting pregnant and being terrified
  • Wanting to adventure with her baby
  • Can she do it with a baby? How did she?
  • Her version of motherhood
  • The Channel Swim! Generating the right emotions to push her through
  • How to be true to you and to live your truth
  • Why you should be full of yourself
  • Not celebrating
  • Heading to Hawaii for the winter
  • What’s going on inside her head while she’s swimming
  • Tattoos and why she has them
  • Vulnerability as a strength and what’s she learn’t
  • Why she stopped her last project - Oceans 7
  • Going for the world record and pulling the plug on it
  • Making the toughest decision she has even made
  • The next challenge/adventure!
  • Top tips… advice..
  • Learn more about Beth via her social media channels- see below!

 

“I'm in it to swim it and it's not over till I run out of water.” 

 

Social Media

 

 

On Thursday - hear more from Beth on Tough Girl Extra - The Quick Fire Round!!

 

Further episodes of Tough Girl Podcast

Further podcasts by Sarah Williams

Website of Sarah Williams