The Mettleset Podcast
The Mettleset
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The Mettleset Podcast is on a mission to bring you stories of tenacity, courage and mettle from athletes in the Middle East and beyond. From womenās sports and motorsports to adventure, action- and ultra- endurance sports, and everything in between, listeners will get a dose of the regionās most compelling - fun and funny - underreported sports stories every week.
Hosts Dawn Barnable (Sports Communications Professional & Ultra Cyclist), and Afshan Ahmed (Journalist and Endurance Athlete) will be joined weekly by guests who range from record - and boundary ā breaking athletes, world-class explorers, community sports leaders and pro athletes at every stage of their career.
For more info, visit www.themettleset.com and find us on all major socials at @themettleset.
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1 day ago
EP50 Pt 1: Moonshot: š š¦šŖ šš¾ UAE Snowboarder Amenah Al Muhairi & Mum Maya on dreams, dream teams and being the first to represent the UAE in snowboarding
This episode follows UAE National Day š¦šŖ, when everyone living in the UAE celebrates the independence of the country, 52 years ago.
This is a young country with a rich history and a vibrancy that is hard to beat. Thatās why it's a pleasure today to have a rising Emirati star - and our youngest guest ever -, 15 year-old snowboarder Amenah Al Muhairi as our guest.Ā
Yes, you heard that correctly, Amenah is an up and coming snowboarder hailing from the United Arab Emirates, a country where winter temperatures usually sit at a very nice 26 degrees celsius.Ā
Amenah is the first Emirati snowboarder to represent the UAE in an international snowboarding competition which she did earlier this year at the World Junior Championships in Freestyle Snowboarding in New Zealand.
Amenah is also our first snowboarder on the podcast and also in a first for us, it is the first time that we have an athlete parent duo as guests as Amenahās Mum Maya also joins us to discuss Amenahās exciting future in sport.Ā Ā
We loved this chat so much that we covered a lot so weāve split this episode in two parts, with Part Two live now as well.Ā
To find Amenah on Instagram: @itsamenahalmuhairi
For more information on:Ā
* Mubadala, visit https://www.mubadala.comĀ
* Ski Dubai, visit: https://www.skidxb.comĀ
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
Dawn & Afshan
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1 day ago
EP50 Pt 2: Moonshot š š¦šŖ šš¾: UAE Snowboarder Amenah Al Muhairi & Mum Maya on community and sponsor support and chasing Olympic dreams
This is Part Two of two of our chat with 15 year-old Emirati snowboarder Amenah Al Muhairi, and her mum Maya!Ā
If you havenāt checked out Part One, you may want to pause and go back and do that now! Itās a great chat about Amenahās start in sports, her and her familyās approach to training as well as wise words from Amenah herself.Ā
In this - Part Two, weāre chatting through Amenahās future plans including Olympic aspirations, and the wonderful support sheās received through sponsors. We also chat through what more needs to be done more broadly in the sports eco-system to ensure that all young athletes are able to live up to their full potential.Ā
We also chat through why Amenha is not not only aiming for the stars, but also the moon!Ā Ā
To find Amenah on Instagram: @itsamenahalmuhairi
For more information on:Ā
* Mubadala, visit https://www.mubadala.comĀ
* Ski Dubai, visit: https://www.skidxb.comĀ
* The UAE Winter Sports Federation, check them out on @uaewsf
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
Dawn & Afshan
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Nov 27, 2023
EP49:āµMaking Waves š: Sailing legend Hannah Mills, OBE š¬š§ on Sail GP, realising your dreams and powering purpose
Todayās guest is the most successful female sailor in Olympic history, Hannah Mills, OBE.Ā
Among Hannahās many accolades are a Silver in the 2012 London Olympics, a Gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics and another gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Ā Thatās certainly not where it started or ended for Hannah with multiple gold, silver and bronze medals to her name from the World Championships, World Junior Championships, European Championships and European Junior Championships.Ā
In this episode, we chat through Hannahās start in sport, her early ambitions - sparked by watching the Olympics as a child - and how they were both realised with her gold medal win in 2016 and also it led to a full circle moment with her newest endeavour, as a Strategist with team Emirates GBR in the relatively new, and undoubtedly riveting SailGP, also known as the worldās most exciting racing on water.Ā
Hannah also educates us on this amazing new sport format and its focus on both equality and sustainability - a particular passion point for Hannah who thanks to her work in this space has been recognised as a International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sustainability Ambassador.Ā
Catch Hannah on the socials on at @hannahmills_gbr and her team Emirates GBR at @emiratesgbrsailgpĀ
We discuss lots more but as promised, please find below some links and details including dates and how to purchase tickets for Sail GP.Ā
šļø Sail GP will be in Dubai on 9-10 December, and in Abu Dhabi on 13-14 January so please check it out!
šļø For information on Sail GP and to buy tickets or watch online, please visit https://sailgp.com.Ā
Also as promised, please find info on Hannahās, and Sail GPās programmes and initiatives to promote equality & sustainability:
* š The Big Plastic Pledge @big_plastic_pledge
* š Athletes of the World https://athletesoftheworld.orgĀ
* š©š½ SailGPās Women Pathway ProgramĀ
* āµ SailGPās Impact League AKA the Podium for The PlanetĀ
* š° And hot off the press is news that SailGP will Highlight its commitment to climate action with the first ever āRace for The Futureā Takeover in Dubai. Check it out HERE.Ā
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and...
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Nov 6, 2023
EP48:š“š² š§š½āāļøWhy not?! The first Omani woman to summit Everest, Nadhira Al Harthy on stepping outside your comfort zone and transforming your life
When we sat down with Nadhira Al Harthy for this episode in early October, we knew that we were going to discuss her journey to become the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest. We also knew weād discuss how she became the first Arab woman to climb Ama Dablam, one of the most beautiful and technical peaks in Nepal.Ā
What we didnāt know, and as she announced on our show, is that she has become the first ever civilian woman to be embedded with Omanās military mountaineering team where she is learning techniques to cope with treacherous terrains. At the time of release of this episode, her training had just begun and she expects this to be one her biggest challenges yet. Weāre pretty sure that we were the first to hear about this, and now you are too!Ā
In this episode, youāll also hear how Nadhira started Mountaineering at the age of 42, inspired by her late mentor,Ā Khalid Al-Siyabi, the first Omani to summit Everest. Weāll chat through her childhood in remote Oman, how she came to find ultra-running having not even run 10km before and how all of this has led to a deep appreciation for the outdoors and has been a catalyst for her personal growth and achievement.Ā
This is a heartwarming, inspiring, fun and funny chat that we know youāll love as much as we did.Ā
To find Nadhira online, please visit: https://nadhira-alharthy.com or on instagram at @alharthynoor.Ā
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
Dawn & Afshan
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Oct 25, 2023
š This is not an episode but a message from us to you
Thanks for listening. As we mentioned, here are some resources and information below.Ā
Remember, your voice matters!
šµšø Relief EffortsĀ
* Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF)- https://www.pcrf.net
* Emirates Red Crescent - https://www.emiratesrc.ae
* International Committee of the Red Cross - https://www.icrc.org/enĀ
Share Your voice, If you live in Canada, Australia, the UK or the US, please find below links to help contact your elected representatives:Ā
* šØš¦ šCanada - Ā Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV)Ā
* š¦šŗ šAustralia - Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN)Ā Ā
* šŗšø šUnited States - Jewish Voices for PeaceĀ
* š¬š§ šUnited Kingdom - Muslim Council of BritainĀ
šµšø Independent Journalists on the ground in Gaza:Ā
* Motaz Azisza - @Motaz_AziszaĀ Ā
* Plestia Alaqad -@ByPlestia
* Wissam Nassar @WissamGazaĀ
* Ahmed Eldin @ahmedeldin
Independent News Organisations & NGOs to follow:Ā
* @theimeu
* @middleeasteye
* @jewishvoiceforpeace
* The Ireland Palestine AllianceĀ
šļø Podcast:Ā
* Ā The Inside Story Podcast by Al Jazeera
* Ā This is Palestine - The Institute of Middle East UnderstandingĀ
Sports Organisations & Groups:Ā
* The Gaza Sunbirds (@GazaSunBirds) - a paracycling team from the Gaza StripĀ
* Gaza Skate Team (@gaza_skate_team) - a skateboarding team from Gaza CityĀ
* Skate Pal (@skate_pal) - a charity organisation supporting young people in Palestine through...
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Oct 15, 2023
EP47: The fast track:šš½āāļø š±š§ Fastest Woman in Lebanese History, Aziza Sbaity, on uncovering identity and purpose through sprinting
Hi Guys,
Our show today is as power-packed as our guest when the gun goes off on a run track.
Aziza Sbaity, who has earned the title of the Fastest Woman in Lebanese History, joined us for a chat right after her first track and field training session of the season - as she starts her prep to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Aziza has come out of a very busy first half of the year, winning gold in the 200m sprint at the West Asian Athletics Championships in April, at the Arab Athletics Championship in June, and a silver in the 100m in that race.Ā Ā
Thatās not all, she also broke the 100m sprint national record in May ā for the SIXTH time - doing the dash in an impressive 11.54 secs.
But it was her performance at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships that left her with a deep introspection, respect for her body and maturity as an athlete ā all of which weāll get into on the show.
Aziza tells us about her move from Liberia to Lebanon at 10, and how being a Lebanese with mixed heritage shaped her childhood, and her views on identity and representation as an athlete.
We discuss what it takes to be an Olympic hopeful in a highly competitive landscape and how, despite the challenges of resources and athlete support, thereās a will to grow access to sports for everyone in Lebanon. Itās also one of the reasons Aziza continues to give back through her community initiatives.Ā Ā
One of them has been her constant collaboration with the Beirut Marathon Association, which has been spearheading the growth of the running community in the country. For those of you who have been following us for a while may remember that I did the Beirut International Marathon, my first one - last year. Youāll hear more about the associationās impact in the episode, and weāll got links below to our previous episodes on the association.Ā
For us, this chat also turned into a guide to mastering the mind with Japanese concepts of self-reflection and how elite athletes can navigate the pressures of expectations.Ā
Dawn and I are keenly following Azizaās journey and many endeavors in sports, and you can too by following her on @azizasbaity on Instagram.Ā
To listen to our coverage on the Beirut International Marathon:
šš½āāļøThe story of unity and peace in the region through running with Francoise Nehme, the director of operations for the Beirut International Marathon.Ā
āCan anyone run a marathon?
š§¾My First Marathon DebriefĀ
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram,
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Oct 8, 2023
EP46: Me to We: šøš¦ Next Gen Saudi Sports Leader, Jeddah Tribeās Jude Jamjoon on how triathlon helped her find her tribe
Todayās guest is one of the next generation of Saudi Arabian sports leaders.Ā
Jude Jamjoon is the Co-Founder and President of Jeddah Tribe and to call this a Tri Club, would be accurate but it would miss the fact that it is also an event series and really at its core, a robust community that offers training, mentorship, support & encouragement for triathletes of all levels, including those who are yet to become triathletes.Ā
This episode is about the power of community or tribe as it were. As you'll hear, Jude shares with us her own story of triathlon - which remarkably started in 2018 -Ā and how she was supported by a tribe of people that included her family, friends and sometimes surprisingly, complete strangers.Ā
Since recording this episode, Jude was recognised with a 2023 World Triathlon Womenās Committee Award of Excellence. Ā Weāre sharing some links so you too, can check out further info on Jeddah Tribe and Triathlon in Saudi Arabia, as well as some of our former podcast guests mentioned in this episode.Ā
More info & links:
* šš¾āāļø Jeddah Tribe including their race calendar: https://jeddahtribe.com and on Instagram @jeddahtribe
* šš¼āāļø The Saudi Triathlon Federation: https://www.triathlon.sa
* š For more information on Judeās World Triathlon Award of Excellence, click hereĀ
* š½ Chairman of Saudi Triathlon Federation, Ali Magboul in Episode 40a of The Mettleset PodcastĀ
* š“š½āāļø Triathlon Trailblazer Dr Dina AlTayeb in Episode 15 of The Mettleset PodcastĀ
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 ā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
Dawn & Afshan
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Oct 1, 2023
EP45: š²š¦šš½āāļøThe Long Game: Maha Haddioui, the first Arab golfer on the Ladies European Tour, on the mental fortitude required to stay on top in the sport
Hi guys,Ā
Our guest today is from Morocco, a country that was recently rocked by a devastating earthquake. We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the loss that Morocco has experienced and our thoughts are with its people during this difficult time. Weāve also linked some global aid initiatives that you can support below.Ā
Back to todayās guest and an honest unveiling of the hustle behind the glamour of professional golf. Moroccan golfer Maha Haddioui made headlines when she became the first Arab to gain playing privileges on the Ladies European Tour 10 years back. Itās an honour that has gone on to inspire many more women from the region to dream of a career in golf.
But beyond the headlines, getting there - and staying thereĀ - is no easy feat.Ā Being one of the toughest individual sports, the odds of becoming a pro golfer are between 0.4% down to 0.006%.Ā
Add to that being a woman in the sport, and the challenges of fewer tournaments, a much smaller prize purse and pool of sponsors, and lack of visibility can make this a career that needs a Plan B.Ā
But Maha took a gamble on herself, getting the LET tour card and then going to the Olympics twice - in 2016 Brazil and 2021 Tokyo - the latter being the highlight of her career as she scored a hole-in-one. We found a clip of the EPIC shot HERE.Ā
In this episode, we discuss Mahaās journey into golf and the immense joy it brings her, but we also chat about the mental fortitude and discipline required to keep going in the game.Ā
We discuss strategies to keep your cool through frustrating shots and the power of visualisation for wins. Maha also shares her insights on the changing face of golf and major moves to elevate the womenās game by countries in the region.Ā
To follow Maha Haddioui, head to @mahahaddiouiĀ
To know more about the Ladies European Tour, visit ladieseuropeantour.com
Follow updates from the Saudi Aramco Team Series by visiting aramcoteamseries.comĀ
To support aid Initiatives for Morocco, head to:
Moroccan Red Crescent Society
Global GivingĀ
UnicefĀ
If you've been enjoying our content and finding value in our discussions, please take a quick moment to show your support. Just hit the subscribe button wherever you are listening to us so that you never miss an episode.
Please also leave a review - 5 āāāāā only - and follow @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. This really helps us in our commitment to bring you the best possible show and the most interesting guests.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of
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Sep 24, 2023
EP44: šļø šš½āāļøš§š Move Mountains: Fatema Husain on UTMB and being the first Bahraini - and GCC national woman - to complete the world's toughest ultramarathon
Todayās guest is from one of the flattest countries in the world, Bahrain.Ā
In fact, the highest point in the entire country is only 134m above sea level and thatās not even open to the public.Ā Why is that relevant you may ask?Ā Ā
Well, our guest today just completed what is widely considered the hardest ultramarathon in the world, UTMB.Ā For those who donāt know UTMB stands for the Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc, a 171 km trail race with 10,000m of elevation -Ā all with a time limit of 46 hours and 30 minutes.Ā
Fatema Husain is the first Bahraini National - woman or man to complete this race and she is here to tell us all about it.Ā
This year UTMBĀ started on Friday, 1st of September at 6pm and as it always does, it traversed the Tour Du Mont Blanc hiking path across France, Italy & Switzerland.Ā All starting and ending in Chamonix with the magnificent Mont Blanc as the backdrop to the start and finish line.Ā
Whatās more remarkable is that Fatema once didnāt consider herself a runner, in fact it took her a year and a half to build up to running 3 km on a treadmill.Ā Ā
Fatema is determination embodied and our chat with her has already given us some ideas about taking on the Tour Du Mont Blanc ourselves.Ā
In todayās episode we chat with Fatema about how she went from having very little physical activity in her day-to-day life to completing what many consider the pinnacle of the ultra running race calendar.Ā
We chat through how she built up her endurance over the past ten years from running to running ultras. Her cycling career - yes, she is also a Bahraini National cycling champā¦ and the day-by-day of UTMB, including the support she got along the way, racing against cut off times and making peace with pain.Ā
We also hear what it felt like carrying the Bahraini flag over the UTMB finish line for the first time ever.Ā
For more information on UTMB visit: https://utmb.world
To follow Fatema Husain on Instagram, follow @FateMovesĀ
We were also delighted to see the celebration and acknowledgement that Fatema has received since arriving home. For more information check out the Bahrain News Agency article here.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.Ā
Find us on @themettleset
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
Dawn & Afshan
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Sep 18, 2023
EP43: š°š· š“š»āāļø K-Bikepacking: Exploring South Koreaās 600km Four Rivers Path in four (and a half) days
Hello Dawn here,Ā
I hope youāre all doing well. Summer 2023 is over and well, mine was EPIC with not one, but two adventures involving bikes.Ā
Todayās episode is all about bikepacking in South Korea, more specifically, the 4 Rivers BIke Path in South Korea:Ā approx 600 km of mostly car-free, dedicated bike paths extending from the Capital city, Seoul, to the southern sea-side city of Busan. I did this in four and a half days in early July.Ā
In todayās episode, Afshan and I chatted through what Bikepacking in Korea was like. The good, bad and the questionable hotels. As youāll hear or may discover if you are now looking for information on the 4 Rivers Bike Path, it may be a little disjointed or hard to find so Iām sharing some resources below that may be helpful.Ā Ā
The Four Rivers Trail - Full Ride with GPS MapĀ
This is the file that I used. Just a note that this file goes a little beyond the official end of the path as I learned. Keep an eye out for the KWater center at the end.Ā
My Day by Day Strava SegmentsĀ
My strava segments are below and will take you each night to a hotel if you want to recreate the full experience. :)Ā
* Day 1 - https://www.strava.com/activities/9392400708
* Day 2 - https://www.strava.com/activities/9398669925
* Day 3 - https://www.strava.com/activities/9403583994Ā
* Day 4 - https://www.strava.com/activities/9410403128
* Day 5 - https://www.strava.com/activities/9415692577Ā
NAVERĀ
As noted in the episode, Google maps does not work in Korea, nor really does booking.com so Naver is your go-to for navigation when you need to go off piste from the GPX route to find hotels and/or food. Naver also outlines bike paths so will get you back on the Four Rivers Path easily. I would recommend buying a cell phone holder for your handlebars so you can easily navigate with Naver as and when you need it.Ā
Additional Ultra Cycling Episodes
If a timed bikepacking adventure is your jam:Ā Ā
* Episode 1 - How I went from Zero to Ultra in (a little over) 3 monthsĀ
* Episode 16 - Ā So you want to be an ultra-cyclist? Coach Niel Copeland chats about just exactly what it takesĀ
* Episode 16a - Ultra-Eating - Coach Niel Copeland chats race nutritionĀ
* EpisodeĀ 24 - The Women of Race Around Rwanda - PT 1Ā
* Episode 25 - The Women of Race...
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Aug 27, 2023
EP42: šš¼āāļøš“š¾āāļøšš» Triathletes & the Beginner's Mindset: Four triathletes recount their first ever start line experience in the sport
Hi Guys - Afshan here
Dawn and I are enjoying a summer away from our adopted home Dubai, but are always thinking about you, our listeners, and how we can bring you the most diverse and relatable chats with athletes from the region and beyond.
If youāve arrived at our show for the first time - welcome, thereās a lot of amazing content to go through, and hit that like and subscribe button for future updates and episodes. If youāve been following us for a while, youāre always in good company. Keep listening and loving, as always. Please also follow us on our social @themettleset on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn . Ā
Dawn introduced our summer series in the last episode, dedicated to the Beginner Mindset which, undoubtedly, will take anyone listening down memory lane.
I vividly remember mine was a 90km undulating gradient bike race in the Liwa desert, in the far-flung western region of the UAE, just two months after learning how to ride a bike in 2020, having missed that milestone as a child.
Unshackled from any pressure of time, power or performance, and unknown in the strava -sphere, the goal was to keep pedalling and be in the moment, enjoy it. And no matter how the race goes, the outcome would lead to growth - personal and athletic.
Ultra-cyclists who Dawn interviews in this EP41: š“āāļøš“āāļøš“āāļø Ultra-Cycling & the Beginnerās Mindset: Three Ultra-Cyclists share their first race experience recount the first time they found themselves on the start line of a race. Their journey is energising , so do give it a listen. Ā Youāll find the show wherever you get your podcasts fix.
Today, Iām bringing you start line stories from athletes who donāt just take on one challenge but three different ones in a single day. Triathletes compete in swimming, biking and running - in that order - over total distances ranging from short sprints of 12.9km to long-distances that go up to 226km.
Youāll hear from Asma Al Janahi, John Senger, Katerina Malhi and Zahraa Alkhaleesi , all triathletes who found this multiport at different stages of their lives. Youāll find yourself in their experiences - jumping into the unknown, fear of doing something for the first time, falling ill but showing up to see how resilient you can be. Whatās uplifting is that they all endured and kept returning to learn and grow from each race.
In her book A Life Without Limits: A World Championās Journey, Chrissie Wellington OBE, the English former professional triathlete, and four-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion describes her mindset as: āThere is never a destination, just the impulse to grow. My only policy through, she says āhas been to keep an open mind and whatever I may do, to give it my all,ā, which is exactly what I took away from listening to the experiences shared in this episode.
Before I give the floor to the athletes in todayās show, Iād like to say that there are few commonalities in beginners - the eagerness to improve, building oneās self-confidence, enthusiasm to transform and above all humility. Even as we grow in our sports, it...
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Aug 13, 2023
EP41: š“āāļøš“āāļøš“āāļø Ultra-Cycling & the Beginnerās Mindset: Three Ultra-Cyclists share their first race experience
Hi, Dawn here,
I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Before I get into this episode, we want to remind you that we now have a YouTube channel. Expect video episodes - live right now- and new and fun types of content. Please subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@themettlesetĀ
So back to this episode. This is the start of a new series which is dedicated to the Beginner Mindset. If youāve been following along youāll know that throughout the podcast, weāve had the opportunity to talk with so many amazing women - and men - about achieving some VERY big goals.Ā
We hope that you find our guests as relatable as we do, and keeping in this spirit, we wanted to share athletes speaking about their very first race or major sports challengeā¦ be it in ultra-cycling, ultra-running, triathlon or even mountaineering.Ā We wanted to do this to highlight that we all start somewhere and reinforce that there is beauty in the Beginnerās Mindset.Ā
Today, we focus on self-supported ultra-cycling and youāll hear from Evelyn Weiss, Ella Barlow and Chris Thomas, as each shares their experience in their very first race.Ā
Find the athletes and the races they talk about below:Ā
* Evelyn Weiss (@cyclingneve) discusses the 1,000km/10,000m NorthRace WestPhalia in GermanyĀ
* Ella Barlow (@ellabeebikes) discusses the 1,000km/12,000m BikingMan Portugal in PortugalĀ
* Chris Thomas (@zemountaingoat) discusses the 330km /8,300m Ā Le Tour Du Mont Blanc which spans France, Switzerland and ItalyĀ
In this episode youāll hear about:Ā
* their sporting background;Ā
* their chosen first race;Ā
* how and why they did it;Ā
* the preparation for the race;Ā Ā
* what was going through their mind on the startline;Ā
* the hardest part of the race & the highlight of the race;Ā
* what the experience taught them; andĀ
* and what advice theyād give to others thinking of taking on a self-supported ultra cycling race.Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.
For more info,Ā visit www.themettleset.com , and follow us on @themettleset
We hope you enjoy!Ā
Dawn & AfshanĀ
@dawnableĀ
@afshahmed
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Aug 10, 2023
EP40a: Voices of Challenge Roth šš¼āāļøšš¼āāļøš“š¾
Hey guys, Afshan here -
I recently came pretty close to being swept away by the fanaticism of cycling spectatorsĀ that I had only ever seen when sitting on my couch miles away watching livestreams and reruns of Tour de France.
Last month, I was among thousands of fans crammed on either side of Solar Hill , a climb that is one of the most anticipated points for the 3,500 triathletes participating in Challenge Roth, the annual long-distance triathlon in Germany. Earlier this week, we released our interview with Felix Walschofer, the director of the race. You can head to that episode from here: EP40: šš¼āāļøšš¼āāļøš“š¾ Why is Challenge Roth on every triathlete's bucket list? Race Director Felix Walchshofer discusses why this record breaking long-distance triathlon in Germany is among the top three races in the world
The crowd on Solar Hill renders the race route almost invisible, parting as cyclists push their pedals to the max, some off their saddle, some sittiā¦
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Aug 6, 2023
EP40: šš¼āāļøšš¼āāļøš“š¾ Why is Challenge Roth on every triathlete's bucket list? Race Director Felix Walchshoefer discusses why this record breaking long-distance triathlon in Germany is among the top three races in the world
More than 3,500 triathletes, 7,500 volunteers and 300,000 spectators have been descending on a small town in Germany every summer since 1990.
Thereās a reason Challenge Roth is considered among the top three long-distance triathlons in the world.
Ā And each year, the race sells out in under a minute - this year in 40 seconds for the 2024 edition.
As youāve heard from two triathletes from the Middle East who took on the challenge in June this year, this race is a celebration of endurance, determination and camaraderie - all of which I too got to experience as a spectator this year.
We also did an episode in June with Dubai-based community athlete Najla Hallit on how to prepare for this challenge. Here's the link to it: EP36: š“š¾āāļøšš¼āāļøšš¼āāļøSports for Life: Community athlete Najla Hallit on finding the training and life balance to train the long-distance triathlon Challenge Roth
So, what makes Challenge Roth the Home of Triathlon? Why is thisā¦
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Jul 27, 2023
EP39a: MORE METTLE - with UAE National Team Football Player and Adidas Athlete Areej Al Hammadi
Hi Guys, Afshan here,
Youāve probably listened to our FIFA special episode with UAE National Football Team player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi last week. And if you havenāt, click through to EP39: ā½ā½ā½ and FIFA Women's World Cup: UAE National Team football player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi on the changing face of women's football in the region and globally to hear about how she carved her own path in this sport, and her insights on the ongoing Womenās World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
And hereās the fun spill over BONUS from that episode where we asked her some rapid fire questions because we wanted to get to the bottom of her quirky side.
We hope you enjoy!
To know more about Areej,Ā head to @areej.alhammadi13 and www.areejalhammadi.com
If you want to follow the FIFA Women's World Cup and all its happenings, visit fifa.com
For our episode with Georgia Adderley, the co-founder of Onyx FC, the UAE's first fully female-owned football club, head tā¦
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Jul 16, 2023
EP39: ā½ā½ā½ and FIFA Women's World Cup: UAE National Team football player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi on the changing face of women's football in the region and globally
Hello, itās Afshan
Weāre only days away from the 9th edition of the Fifa Womenās World Cup, which is held every four years.
Thereās a palpable excitement in the air as womenās football has grown in stature, with an expanding fan base that is now being recognised by sports associations, brands, governments and the media.
This edition of the World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, is set to become the most attended standalone womenās sporting event in history.
Ā FIFA has sold over 1m tickets for the event.
Ā So, we had to get UAE National Team football player and Adidas athlete Areej Al Hammadi on the show for this episode to chat all about footballā¦ and the World Cup, of course.
Ā The 37-year-old Emirati footballer, whose obsession with the sport began by watching the World Cups with her brothers and playing with them as a child, had to carve her own path into playing at a national level at a time when there were very feā¦
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Jul 9, 2023
EP38: Rewind -šš¼āāļøš“š¾āāļøšš¼āāļø IRONWOMAN: Saudi triathlete Dina Al Tayeb on unintentionally blazing a trail for Arab athletes
Hi, Afshan here -
Weāre continuing our rewind series this week as Dawn and I are taking a break for some summer adventure.
But we are also working hard on exciting new content and sports stories from the region and beyond. So, keep listening!
In the meantime, hereās an episode that Iāve chosen because I just witnessed one of the most electrifying long-distance triathlons in the world ā Challenge Roth in Germany ā and our guest was among the 3,500 participants who were there and smashed her race. Ā
I hope this chat inspires you to explore your own physical and mental limits, and have fun while at it!
See you soon!
*****
January 9, 2023 - If youāve been paying attention, triathlons are having a moment in the Middle East. More and more athletes from all over the region are taking up the sport.Ā Equally, Saudi Arabia is seeing a booming interest in sports, especially triathlons, and our guest today has and continues to play a key role in developing it in the region.ā¦
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Jul 2, 2023
EP37: Rewind - HISTORIC: š§š½āāļøMountaineer Nelly Attar, the first Arab woman to summit K2
Hi all,
We hope you're having an amazing summer. We're working on some great new episodes at the moment. We're also having some new adventures that we can't wait to share with you all. In the meantime, we wanted to share once again the story of Nelly Attar, the first Arab women to summit K2.
We hope that it inspires you to reach new heights!
xDawn
*****
July 22, 2022 ā On this day our guest, Nelly Attar, became the first Arab woman to summit K2.
This is historic for the Arab world. Not only is this the worldās second-highest peak after Mount Everest but is also one of the most dangerous mountains to climb. With its peak 8,611 meters high, located in the Karakoram Range in Pakistan, this is famously known as the Savage Mountain.
It was a challenge that theĀ 33-year-old mountaineer took on to honour her late father, who was responsible for sparking that spirit of the outdoors and adventure in her. Unfazed by the facts and figures of the mountainās challenging terrain,Ā andā¦
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Jun 22, 2023
Summer Plans š©šŖ š°š· and New Challenges š®š³šæš¦ā¦ A Mid-Year Check-In with Dawn and Afshan
Wow, how is it June already!? So much has (and is happening) at The Mettleset that we decided to do a little mid-year check in to share whatās been happening in our world, and what new challenges we have in the works.Ā
We also give you a preview of our upcoming summer series.Ā
In what may need a spoiler alert if youāre reading this before listening, links to some of the events discussed are as follows:
* Challenge RothĀ https://www.challenge-roth.com/en/Ā
* The Ladakh Marathon - https://ladakhmarathon.com/
* The Sani2Sea MTB Race: https://sani2c.co.zaĀ
To follow our personal adventuresĀ this summer -Ā and in training -Ā follow us on @dawnable Ā and @afshahmed.Ā
Thanks for joining us in our journey so far this year. We look forward to sharing more adventures - and stories - with you in the next 6 monthsā¦ and beyond!Ā
Our wider support team for this episode includes Editor JJ Thompson and our Artwork is by the talented Alexandra Hickey of Studio Theodore.
Forā¦
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Jun 18, 2023
EP36: š“š¾āāļøšš¼āāļøšš¼āāļøSports for Life: Community athlete Najla Hallit on finding the training and life balance to train the long-distance triathlon Challenge Roth
Hi Afshan here,
In a new book by sports journalist Sally Jenkins called The Right Call - What sports teach us about work and life, she says that we are all a combination of light and electricity as much as tissue. Sports and exercise light us up like a swarm of fireflies.Ā
It sounds romantic but if I have to bring it to reality and layman terms, itās that rush of joy I feel when I get off my bike after a ride or the sustained high after a run.Ā
Itās what makes sports not just for the elite and professionals but for everyone - you and me - community athletes.Ā
And itās what Najla Hallit, our guest today, discusses with us as she takes on one of the biggest challenges in the triathlon universe and a race on every triathleteās bucket list - Challenge Roth in Germany - on June 25.Ā
Najla only started sports in 2020, at the age of 36, and hasnāt looked back since. Challenge Roth, a long-distance triathlon, similar to the Ironman brand, with distances of 3.8km swim, 180kmā¦
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Jun 15, 2023
From the Bike to the Barre - Barre Effectās Nora Hameidani on why Barre if for all athletes
Hello Dawn here,Ā
If youāve been following along, you know I spend a lot of time on a bike. Particularly in the lead-up to a big race. Like many cyclists or athletes who absolutely love one particular sport, I sometimes ignore strength & mobility. Two areas of fitness I also love, but always seem to come second place to cycling.Ā
Enter Barre Effect in Dubai, which was recommended after a conversation with my coach about cross training.Ā
In this episode, I speak with Barre Effect Founder Nora Hameidani who shares just exactly what Barre is, her own athletic background, how she came to found Barre Effect and how Barre is not just great for cyclists but everyone who wants to build strength, balance and flexibility.Ā Ā
We also chat through the challenges of opening a fitness studio in the middle of the global pandemic and how the studio - and its community - are thriving.Ā
To find Barre Effect online including their class schedule, visit www.barreeffectdxb.com or on IG, @barreeā¦
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Jun 11, 2023
EP35: Should cyclists fuel with Haribo gummy bears? Sports and exercise medicine doctor Kate Jordan answers this and other burning questions from athletes
Hey Guys,
Today, weāve got a special episode with questions about athlete health that you shared with us on our social platforms.
Dr Kate Jordan, a sports and exercise medicine physician at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai,Ā stayed back after our two-part episode on female athlete health, which you can find here: Part 1 , Part 2 , to answer them.
So, if you ever wondered why and how to top up on your collagen, how to improve your cycling power, supplements you may need as an athlete, or should you train through a niggle, youāve come to the right place. We have you covered.
We would like to add that this is a general discussion on athlete health and any information in this podcast is for educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute a personal consultation with a physician, diagnosis or treatment.Ā If you have any health concerns, please speak to your doctor.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
To know more about Dr. Kate Jordan, visit the Mediclinic Parkviā¦
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Jun 4, 2023
EP34: Part2 Female athlete health: Talking hormones, menstrual cycle and menopause with sports and exercise medicine doctor Kate Jordan
Todayās episode is aĀ continuation of our discussion on female athlete health with Dr Kate Jordan, a sports and exercise medicine physician at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai.
The first part of this episode came out last week, and you can access it directly from here: EP33: Part1 Female athlete health: Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor Kate Jordan on common injuries, LEA and right fuelling for performance.
In this episode, we go deeper into our discussion on training on your menstrual cycle, hormones, the importance of supplements, and strength and resistance training as we age.Ā
We would like to add that this is a general discussion on athlete health and any information in this podcast is for educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute a personal consultation with a physician, diagnosis or treatment.Ā If you have any health concerns, please speak to your doctor.Ā
We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā
To know more about Dr. Kate Jordan, visit the Mediclinā¦
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May 28, 2023
EP33: Part1 Female athlete health: Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor Kate Jordan on common injuries, LEA and right fuelling for performance and long-term health
Concussions, shoulder troubles, ACL tears, low bone density, Low Energy Availability, menopause ā¦
Sports, and injuries from it, tend to impact female athletes in a different way to their male counterparts.Ā
Yet, it is only now that awareness and medical research has ramped up around the gender differences in sports medicine.Ā
Joining us on todayās show to discuss some of the most pressing issues in female athlete health is Dr Kate Jordan, a sports and exercise medicine physician at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital in Dubai.
Dr Jordan has worked with elite athletes throughout her career. Sheās been with international teams at the London 2021 Olympics, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games,Ā She has also been with the British Olympic team, Scottish Rugby and Football, and at the Scottish Institute of Sports.
Dr Jordan is currently working with British Swimming, for World Rugby as a tournament doctor and a medical educator, and in anti-doping.Ā
Having treated a wide range of illnessā¦
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May 25, 2023
š° Let Them Eat Cake šµš½āāļø: A preview of Dead Ends & CakešØš, one of the most fun and accessible ultra cycling races on the calendar
Hello Dawn here,Ā
So earlier this year, I participated in my fourth ultra cycling race, the Race Around Rwanda. A race I did not finish. Please check out episodes 29 and 29a for my DNF race report.Ā Ā
As with my earlier ultra races, after Race Around Rwanda was done, I quickly signed up for another race. This time, Dead Ends & Cake, a three-day self-supported ultra that sees those participating cycle 500km with 9000m of climbing. As the name suggests it has dead end checkpoints.. five to be exact, each with cake. It is due to start on 23 June, from St Gallen Switzerland.Ā
I was able to speak to Dominik Bokstaller, the race organiser a little while ago for the podcast. Since that time however, my personal circumstances have changed and I will no longer be participating in this particular race.Ā While Iām sad I wonāt be on the start-line for this race, Iāll be following along with interest and wanted to share this episode to spread more awareness of this fun, accessible ultrā¦
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May 21, 2023
EP32: ā·ļøFinding the Perfect Line: First woman on the Saudi Arabia Alpine Skiing Team Sharifa Al Sudairi on why mindset trumps over age in pursuit of competitive advantage ā·ļø
No matter at what age you enter a sport, your attitude is what cements your success.Ā
Todayās guest and the first woman to join the Saudi Arabia Alpine Skiing Team, Sharifa Al-Sudairi, epitomises courage in competition.Ā
The 36-year-old athlete only took up professional ski racing in 2020 and admits that she has a long way to go. But Sharifa has already become a trailblazer among Arab women for her ānever give upā mindset, which she has consciously been training since becoming an athlete.Ā
From growing up tackling the slopes of Switzerland as a child to enduring crashes as a forerunner, Sharifa has kept picking herself back up to push on in the sport and competed in her first official competition at Ski Dubai last November, which we get into in the show.
We also discuss the huge potential in winter sports that is building in the Kingdom, now that Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the reception that women from the region have been receivinā¦
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May 14, 2023
EP31: š Rally Jameel: 2023 winning team co-driver Hanna Riehle on living outside her comfort zone and being part of a supportive sports community in the region
When Rally Jameel, the first navigational rally in the region exclusively for women, was launched in Saudi two years ago, we were excited to see how this event with a low barrier to entry would encourage more women into motorsports.Ā
Today, we have one half of this yearās Rally Jameelās winning team Hanna Riehle, who takes us a little bit closer to what it was like on ground, navigating the desert of Saudi with 81 other women who grabbed this unique opportunity to prove their mettle.Ā
This was Hanna and co-driver Evelina Chlebowskaās second year competing as team Sandstorm Express. After coming very close to ranking at the top in the first edition, they clinched the win in this yearās 1,600km, five-day long rally, which took place in March. All in a 10-year-old Toyota FJ Cruiser and without any sponsors.Ā
Hanna tells us how sheās always been naturally competitive, so this win comes as no surprise. The sports consultant from Germany moved to Saudi in search of a new adveā¦
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May 11, 2023
š¦šŖ #UnitedToBeStronger š“š¾āāļø: Head of Team at UAE Team ADQ, Melissa Moncada shares the vision and mission powering the growth of UAE womenās cycling
Todayās guest is playing a big role in the development of cycling in the UAE, particularly for women.Ā Melissa Moncada is the Head of TeamĀ at UAE Team ADQ - thatās the UAEās Womenās WorldTour Cycling Team.Ā Sheās also Vice President at Colnago.Ā
As youāll hear in this episode, UAE Team ADQ extends beyond a pro team, it's a movement. It features a pro team, a development team - the first of its kind in the Womenās WorldTour may we add, - as well as a grassroots movement, Women Moving Forward which provides pathways and opportunities for UAE residents to enjoy cycling.Ā
As two cyclists, we loved our chat with Melissa, learning about the inner workings of a womenās pro cycling team. In this episode youāll learn about its structure, the team behind the team and how UAE Team ADQ is part of a bigger mission to inspire and enable a new generation of cyclists at every level.Ā Ā
To listen to UAE Team ADQ cyclist Safiya Al Sayeghās Episode (EP28), click here.Ā
Forā¦
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May 7, 2023
EP30: šš£š½ Courage In Motion: Toby Gregory on rowing the first UAE-flagged boat 5000km across the Atlantic Ocean
What does it feel like to row across the Atlantic Ocean?Ā
What motivates you to do something like that?Ā
Toby Gregory, the Founder and Director of the Arabian Ocean Rowing team,Ā is here to tell us exactly what it felt like to row the first UAE-flagged boat across the Atlantic Ocean unsupported and unassisted.Ā
Interestingly, more people have been to space and climbed Mount Everest than actually taking on this 5,000 km journey from the coast of Africa to Antigua.Ā
So, having Toby share how he conceived the idea and what it took to go on this 40-day expedition with his teammates where they navigated everything from 40-foot waves, sleep deprivation and sea sickness was an amazing storm of astonishment, excitement and inspiration for us too!Ā
The journey was also undertaken to raise awareness of marine pollutionĀ with the UN Environment Programme Clean Seas team. Toby has been continuing that work with talks and workshops in the UAE since his return.
During the conversation,ā¦
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May 4, 2023
EP29a: š·š¼ šµāāļø Race Around Rwanda: Dawnās DNF Story - Part 2 - The Aftermath
Hello Dawn here,Ā
So here it is, my Race Around Rwanda race report - part 2.
If you follow the podcast, it comes as no surprise that it is a DNF story.Ā For background, the Race Around Rwanda is a self-supported ultra cycling race that takes place annually in February. It is 1000 km with 20,000m of climbing and this year it was billed as 30% gravel.Ā
Joining me to relive the experience is my coach Niel Copeland who did the race a couple of years ago, and also reported on the race for Dotwatcher.Ā Because Niel and I love to chat, Iāve split this episode into two parts - both live now.Ā
To keep it simple, Part 1 discusses the day-by-day of the race and this, Part 2 chats through my thoughts on not finishing and what I would have done differently. We also touch upon safety in the ultra cycling world for all participants and women in particular.Ā
Itās impossible to share all that happened in the race but I want to give a thank you and share handles and resources on some of thā¦
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May 4, 2023
EP29: š·š¼ šµāāļø Race Around Rwanda: Dawnās DNF Story - Part 1 - What Happened
Hello Dawn here,Ā
So here it is, my Race Around Rwanda race report. If you follow the podcast, it comes as no surprise that it is a DNF story.Ā I did not finish the race. I peddled - and walked - some 713 km out of a possible 1000km in the race that took place in early February.Ā
For background, the Race Around Rwanda is a self-supported ultra cycling race that takes place annually in February. It is 1000 km with 20,000m of climbing and this year it was billed as 30% gravel.
Joining me to relive the experience is my coach Niel Copeland who did the race a couple of years ago, and also reported on the race for Dotwatcher.Ā Because Niel and I love to chat, Iāve split this episode into two parts - both live now.Ā
To keep it simple, this, part 1 discusses the day-by-day of the race and Part 2 chatāsĀ through my thoughts on not finishing and what I would have done differently.
Itās impossible to share all that happened in the race but I want to give a thank you and share handā¦
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Apr 27, 2023
Wings for Life World Run: Everything you need to know to run to support spinal injury research with race ambassador Gada Shaikli
Hey guys, Afshan here!
The Mettleset is doing its first running race as a teamā¦and itās all for a good cause.Ā
Dawn and I have signed up for the amazing annual Wings for Life World Run, which supports the Wings for Life Foundation for spinal injury research. The race happens around the world on the same day and at the same time - this year being May 7.Ā
Itās exciting for us to join this yearās event because the race is celebrating its 10th year. In 2022 alone, the Wings for Life World Run generated about AED 19,084,170 (ā¬4,700,000) in donations thanks to the 161,892 participants from 192 countries.Ā
The UAE edition is happening at 3PM at none other than the Expo City in Dubai. Weāll be at the start line with more than 270 or so residents, first-time runners and seasoned athletes who have already signed up the last time I checked.
Itās a unique race with no predetermined finish line and a Catcher car that you have to escape. The best part - you set your own goal. Hā¦
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Apr 20, 2023
EP28a: MORE METTLE - with UAE Team ADQ rider Safiya Al Sayegh, the First Arab and Emirati on the UCI Womenās WorldTour
Hello, it is us againĀ
Ever wondered what three things your favourite athlete would take with them on a deserted island? Or what their favourite food is? Or perhaps the worst advice theyāve ever received?Ā
Yes, we know you canāt get enough of our guests. In our new bonus series More Mettle, we fire 10 fun questions at our in-studio guests to peel back their professional layers and get to their humorous, quirky and uninhibited side.Ā
Our first guest on the series is UAE Team ADQ rider Safiya Al Sayegh,Ā First Arab and Emirati on the UCI Womenās WorldTour. Ā
Expect witty responses, very entertaining moments and a whole lot of laughs. Enjoy!
To follow Safiyaās journey, head to @safiya.alsayegh
For updates on UAE Team ADQ, visit www.uaeteamadq.com and follow @uaeteam_adq andĀ the teamās development team @uaedevo_team.Ā Ā
To follow UAE Team ADQās work in encouraging more women to start cycling, follow @wmn_moving_fwd.Ā
To know more about Union Cycliste Internatioā¦
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Apr 16, 2023
EP28: š¦šŖš“š¾āāļø First Arab rider on the Women's WorldTour: Safiya Al Sayegh on pedalling for passion and pushing the power metre with UAE Team ADQ
Todayās guest is Safiya Al Sayegh, and if you donāt know that name yet - where have you been hiding? Remember it because this Emirati cyclist is the heroine we need!Ā
Safiya is the first Emirati and first Arab woman to join a WorldTour Pro Team, UAE Team ADQ. The 21-year-old athlete kicked off her cycling career in 2016 and turned pro last year, displaying remarkable growth under the guidance of UAE Team ADQ.
She closed 2022 with six medals from the Arab Track Championships, including two gold, three silver and one bronze.Ā And she has been seizing the day by securing a National title in both the Individual Time Trial and Road Race at the annual National Championship for the third time in 2023,Ā confirming her status as the UAE National Champion.
The pro is now gearing up for a number of international races, including the Asian Road Cycling Championships in June, the UCI World Championships in Glasgow in August, the Asian Games in China and the Arab Championships in Saudi - bā¦
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Apr 6, 2023
Leaders in Sport: Women's sports, opportunities and inspiration in the UAE
Hello Dawn here,Ā
Today we have a special bonus episode thatās a little different to our usual athlete interviews as we touch upon the business of sport and sport leadership here in the United Arab Emirates.Ā Ā
As someone whoās worked in sports communications for over 11 years, I recently had the opportunity to go to the Leaders in Sport Business Summit in Abu Dhabi held on 1-2 March. This episode shares some observations and snippets from just one of the many thought-provoking panels that took place.Ā
If youāre unfamiliar with Leaders in Sport, among other things, they bring influential individuals within the sports industry together in a series of global events. The events are really a platform to foster discussion and debate about the state of the industry, explore trends and discuss ways to drive the industry forward.Ā Ā
The panel you will hear in this episode includes the very inspirational Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, Vice Chairwoman of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sportā¦
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Apr 2, 2023
EP27: šš»āāļø š¦šŖ Fittest in the UAE: CrossFitter Shahad Budebs on burpees, bars, bulk and heading to the CrossFit Games 2023 semis
Emirati CrossFitter Shahad Budebs doesnāt shy away from telling women - āLetās get bulkyā.Ā Because getting swole is exactly what will get you to the top of the sport. The four-time Fittest in the UAE athlete sits down with us in-studio days before she dives into her intense training for theĀ CrossFit Games semi-finals in June.
The 28-year-old, who only began CrossFit in 2017 after being on the UAE National football team and the UAE athletics team, has had a meteoric rise in world rankings. In just five years, she wentĀ from 34,506th worldwide and 90th in the UAE, to 257th worldwide, 7th in Asia and 1st in the UAE according to CrossFit.Ā
She tells us what it takes for an athlete to move up the ranks in the game and the support this requires from family and sponsors. Shahad talks about her drive to keep growing in the sport and why sheāll make every sacrifice to raise the flag of her country at the games. She also addresses common misconceptions that women have about theā¦
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Mar 26, 2023
EP26: The Godzone Adventure: Adventurer Ivana Kolaric on taking on the trials and highs in the largest expedition race in the world
Ultra running and adventure sports athlete Ivana Kolaric is back with us for this episode where she talks about her most recent and very exciting multi-day, non-stop adventure in New Zealand - Godzone - also known as the largest expedition race in the world.Ā
For those of you who havenāt heard our first chat with Ivana on the podcast where she tells us what makes her push her limits in sports and discusses her self-supported Trans Balkan Ultra Cycling Race in 2022, donāt worry, head to EP2 here: āTENACITY: Ultra athlete Ivana Kolaric on going from fitness to seeking the worldās toughest racesā .
We had to get Ivana back on because we were excitedly following her as she did this 558km multi-discipline challenge, which involved 136kms of trekking, 310kms of mountain biking, 47kms of canoeing and 65kms of kayaking over 12 stages, which her team of four had to finish in 8.5 days.Ā
We donāt just want to take you back in time with stories of athletes as they grow in their sā¦
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Mar 20, 2023
EP25: š“š½āāļø š·š¼ Ultra Women Pt 2 - The Women of Race Around Rwanda
Hi Dawn here,Ā
As you may know, I recently took part in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self supported cycling race in early February. It was my fourth ultra cycling race in total, and my first since 2019. Spoiler alert, it was also my second scratch or DNF.Ā
I did make it 712 km along the route and Iām detailing my experience in an upcoming episode.Ā
But before that, I had the chance to speak to 9 women I raced with -Ā and alongside - to get their thoughts on the race to share with you across two episodesā¦ think of it as a double dose of adventure.Ā
This Episode, (Part 2) features ultra women Cleo Jensen, Julie Melville, Hari Milburn and Isabel Riffel.Ā
Part 1, (EP24) is also live now (so do check it out), and features the amazing Mona Stockheal, Juliet Elliott, Juliana Veterano, Alina Kilian and Caz Buckland.Ā
As a reminder, the Race Around Rwanda 2023 was 1000km with approximately 17,000m of climbing. Itās also ā30%ā āgravelā and of course, self supportedā¦
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Mar 20, 2023
EP24: š“š½āāļø š·š¼ Ultra Women Pt 1 - The Women of Race Around Rwanda
Hi Dawn here,Ā
As you may know, I recently took part in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self supported cycling race in early February. It was my fourth ultra cycling race in total and my first since 2019. Spoiler alert, it was also my second scratch or DNF.Ā
I did make it 712 km along the route and Iām detailing my experience in an upcoming episode.Ā
But before that, I had the chance to speak to 9 women I raced with -Ā and alongside - to get their thoughts on the race to share with you across two episodesā¦ think of it as a double dose of adventure.Ā
This Episode (Part 1) features the amazing Mona Stockhecke, Juliet Elliott, Juliana Veterano, Alina Kilian and Caz Buckland.Ā
Part 2, (EP25) is also live now, featuring ultra women Cleo Jensen, Julie Melville, Hari Milburn and Isabel Riffel.Ā
As a reminder, the Race Around Rwanda 2023 was 1000km with approximately 17,000m of climbing. Itās also ā30%ā āgravelā and of course, self supported.Ā Ā
All women were askā¦
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Mar 12, 2023
EP23: Coming Full Circle: Former Olympic Gymnast Sarah Mercer on creating a cultural shift in gymnastics
Our guest on todayās episode has had an illustrious career in gymnastics, starting at a young age when most Olympics hopefuls spend uncountable hours in the gym perfecting routines to now coaching young athletes in the sport - coming full circle in her sport.Ā
Sarah Mercer, who is from South Africa, represented Great Britain in the 1992 Olympics that took place in Barcelona. That was the ultimate goal for which,Ā in her own words, sheĀ āput horse blinkers onā to achieve it. No injury, no amount of overtraining and not even the bureaucratic process could stop her from her road to the Olympics.Ā Ā
In fact, sheās down in the history books for a routine that is named after her - āThe MercerāĀ
But moving past her adulation and achievements in gymnasticsĀ is the trials of an athlete, and of other professional and elite athletes in gymnastics today,Ā that is increasingly making the news in this sport. The extreme body image pressures, the physical toll and mental stress.ā¦
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Feb 26, 2023
EP22: Mentorship: Prof. of Sport Psychology, Maria Kavussanu, on the role of coaches to promote good values and fairness in sports
We have hosted athletes from across the Middle East, and some of the common factors among them has been their growth mindset, positive competitive spirit and, importantly, the guidance of good coaches and mentors in their sports.Ā
Maria Kavussanu,Ā a professor in sports and exercise psychology at the University of Birmingham in the UK has dedicated several years to understanding what causes prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sports, and its consequences.Ā
In this discussion with her, we talk about morality in sports, developing the right mindset and her most recent study on āauthentic leadershipā, which looked into the influence of a coach on an athleteās behaviour, attitudes and performance in their sports. This was published in the Sports Exercise and Performance Psychology academic journal last year. She also discusses how elite and amateur athletes can ease stress and preserve their mental wellbeing.
Prof. Maria has published more than 120 journal articles and book cā¦
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Feb 19, 2023
EP21: REWIND - RESOLUTE: UAEās first female camel jockey trainer Linda Krockenberger on introducing womenās camel racing in the region
I am just back from Race Around Rwanda and Afshan and I are busy working on a whole bunch of new episodes for you. Expect a full race debrief from me and other women on the race, as well as a host of new athletes, new sports, new stories and new perspectives.Ā
Weāll be back next Monday with a brand new episode but until then we wanted to reshare one of our first and favorites with Linda Krokenberger, the UAEās first female camel jockey trainer.Ā
If youāre a new listener, we hope you enjoy and if youāre a long time listener, we hope you enjoy again!Ā
Please donāt forget to take the time to rate and review us wherever youāre listening to The Mettleset!Ā
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Camels are an integral part of the regionās heritage and the embodiment of the Bedouin way of life. But seeing a woman race a camel was uncommon until last year when we started seeing images of female jockeys racing camels to the finish line go viral on social media.Ā
Our guest Linda Krockenberger, UAEās fiā¦
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Feb 12, 2023
EP20: GO-GETTER: Mountain biker Faranak Partoazar on leading the charge in womenās cycling in Iran and being the voice of encouragement for women around the world
In this episode with ourĀ guest Faranak Partoazar, a mountain biker from Iran with several accolades to her name, Dawn and I want to first acknowledge the challenges and obstacles women in Iran continue to face today, which makes Faranakās journey into mountain biking even more compelling. The safety of our guests, who come from across the region, is of utmost importance to us, and we have avoided sensitive topics in this discussion.Ā
At the age of nine, Faranak had to give up cycling because it was frowned upon for girls to be seen riding in Iran. But it was an obsession that never left her and at 21, she went looking for it again. The rest is history, literally!
Faranak became one of the first professional mountain bikers in Iran, starting her career in 2014 and going on to win national titles and races at home, and also becoming the first woman in Iran to win medals in the Asian Championships.Ā
This, after the several hurdles of being harassed while riding, horrific accidentsā¦
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Feb 5, 2023
EP19: DEFYING ODDS: Mountaineer Nelly Attar, on facing one of the most dangerous climbs in the world to honour her father
July 22, 2022 ā On this day our guest, Nelly Attar, became the first Arab woman to summit K2.
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This is historic for the Arab world. Not only is this the worldās second-highest peak after Mount Everest but is also one of the most dangerous mountains to climb. With its peak 8,611 meters high, located in the Karakoram Range in Pakistan, this is famously known as the Savage Mountain.
It was a challenge that theĀ 33-year-old mountaineer took on to honour her late father, who was responsible for sparking that spirit of the outdoors and adventure in her. Unfazed by the facts and figures of the mountainās challenging terrain,Ā and some of the most unforgiving conditions and weather on the planet, she went out and achieved her dream.Ā
In fact, Nelly tells us that she manifested and visualised her accent down to a T. How sheād climb, what sheād do when she got to the top, the fireball outfit that sheād wear, and of course, wanting to raise the flag of Lebanon high.
We go frā¦
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Jan 29, 2023
EP18: INCLUSION: Disability awareness advocate and former Paralympian swimmer Jessica Smith on creating effective inclusion and diversity in sports
Former Paralympian Jessica Smith joins us on the episode for a very honest discussion on diversity, and inclusion for people with disabilities.Ā
As an elite swimmer who representedĀ Australia in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Jessica isnāt a stranger to the pressures of performance and scrutiny. But when it comes to athletes with disabilities, this is compounded by the lack ofĀ much-needed psychological, financial, and infrastructural support, as well.Ā
After retiring at the age of 22 to address her eating disorders and mental wellbeing, the athlete turned to being a loud and strong advocate for disability awareness, diversity and inclusion. She was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her outstanding achievement and service towards this cause.Ā
As a co-founder of Touch, a talent management and inclusivity consultancy, which she set up after moving to Dubai in 2019, Jessica works with her team to provide opportunities forĀ athletes with disabilities, and leads theā¦
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Jan 22, 2023
EP17: GROWTH MINDSET: Mountaineer Tima Deryan on going to the ends of the Earth to inspire others to be limitless
Dubai-based mountaineer Tima Deryan joins us today, a month after she became the first Lebanese woman to ski the last degree of the South Pole and only a few months away from skiing the last degree of the North Pole. This will conclude her seven-year expedition to achieve the Explorers Grand Slam. Itās a mountaineering challenge that only about 73 people have completed of which fewer than 20 are women, according to the Explorers Grand Slam website.Ā
As part of the challenge, the 30-year-old has also summited the highest mountain on every continent, and became the youngest Arab to summit Mount Everest at the age of 26. She is also the first Arab woman to climb Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world.Ā Ā
Tima has climbed more than 25 high mountains around the world, collecting life-changing experiences, fun memories and lasting friendships as she ascended and descending with lessons that have contributed to her growth mindset.
She is also the author of the Curly Aā¦
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Jan 19, 2023
EP16A: Ultra-Eating: Ultra-Cycling Coach Niel Copeland chats with Dawn Barnable about race nutrition when riding your bike a really really long time
So hopefully you have listened to our earlier episode (Episode 16) this week where we chat with my coach Niel Copeland on all things ultra-cycling. Well, almost all things. One major aspect of these long distance races is eating ā¦ eating a lot, a lot, a lot of food.Ā
So today, thatās why weāre bringing you a bonus episode on Ultra Eating.Ā We start off with a quick check-in on my training for the Race Around Rwanda and then go into the importance of nutrition, how you train to eat (yes, you actually need to do this), how much and what to eat on an ultra race, issues that come up and how to avoid them and why planning is key .Ā
We also chat through my recent experience using the UltraHuman CGM and how the insights available through wearing it helped me stay fueled during training.Ā Iāll be wearing one during my upcoming race and am excited to report back on that.Ā
So, if you like cycling, and you like food, you may like this episode.Ā Ā
To follow Niel, check him out onā¦
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Jan 15, 2023
EP16: So you want to be an Ultra Cyclist? Coach Niel Copeland chats with Dawn about just exactly what it takes
Hello! Dawn here.Ā
So you want to be an ultra-cyclist? Well, maybe you do, maybe you are one already, or maybe youāre just curious to know how one can race distances that range from 700 km to up to over 7000 km, all self supported.Ā Well, todayās episode aims to share a good overview of the sport and how you can get involved as I speak with my coach, Niel Copeland, one of the worldās most experienced ultra-cycling coaches.Ā
Iām in full training mode for Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self supported road and gravel cycling race taking place early February 2023. This will be my fourth ultra, and hopefully my third successful finish. For some background, donāt forget to listen to Episode 1, which details my first race or our last Bonus Episode with Simon DeSchutter, the man behind Race Around Rwanda.Ā
So, who is Niel and what do we chat about? Niel has 20 ultra-distance race finishes under his belt. He's podiumed in some of the biggest races in the world and as a coach, heā¦
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Jan 8, 2023
EP15: IRONWOMAN: Saudi triathlete Dina Al Tayeb on unintentionally blazing a trail for Arab athletes
If youāve been paying attention, triathlons are having a moment in the Middle East. More and more athletes from all over the region are taking up the sport.Ā Equally, Saudi Arabia is seeing a booming interest in sports, especially triathlons, and our guest today has and continues to play a key role in developing it in the region.Ā
This unintentional trailblazer is Dr. Dina Al Tayeb, who began competing in triathlons back in 2005 when no one was doing it and there really wasnāt any tri community to fall back on.Ā
Dina became the first Arab and first Saudi national to complete an Ironman distance triathlon.Ā She is also the first Arab woman and Saudi National to qualify and complete the Ironman World Championships in Kona.Ā Ā And she is the first Saudi National to qualify and compete in the 70.3 World Championships.Ā Feats and titles she never set out to accomplish as she was simply looking to challenge herself in sports.Ā
In our chat with Dina, she details her start into theā¦
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Jan 1, 2023
EP14: 2023 INSPO: Reflections, lessons and adventures from our 2022 guests to get you excited about the year ahead
Hey Team,Ā
Happy New Year! Itās a whole new year for all of us, and for The Mettleset Podcast and what better way to start it than with a little reflection and all of the lessons that weāre taking with us into 2023.Ā
2022 was phenomenal for us - The Mettleset was born and with it, we shared stories from athletes from across the Middle East representing all sorts of sports. Theyāve pushed boundaries, overcome challenges and fears, jumped into the deep end without a momentās hesitation, found a flow that balances their sporting endeavours while caring for their mental wellbeing and have grown throughout their respective journeys.Ā
In this episode, we give you a quick recap of how 2022 shaped up for us and what weāve got going on in 2023. More importantly, we discuss all the pearls of wisdom we took from each guest. Every conversation we had in 2022 was a goldmine of inspiration and advice. We walked away from each chat feeling hopeful and enriched and wanted to share someā¦
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Dec 18, 2022
EP13: SPORTS SAVED ME: The UAEās First Emirati Pro Surfer, Mo Rahma On Happiness and The Healing Power of Sport
Our last full episode of 2023 features the energetic and joyful Mo Rahma. Mo brings heart to everything he does, which at the time of recording includes 60 different sport disciplinesā¦ and counting.Ā
Moās sport journey started in childhood has many twists and turns and heās represented the UAE in football as a youth, and later rugby and surfing all while managing ulcerative colitis, a chronic health condition.Ā Ā
In our chat with Mo, he talks about focus, motivation, mindset, managing a chronic illness, why competition matters, and the importance of the basics. He also discusses becoming the first Emirati to represent the UAE on the World Surfing Tour.Ā Ā
Moās journey didnāt stop there and most recently, heās committed himself to trying (and documenting with the help of his wife) as many sports as possible during the Dubai Fitness Challenge. 60 down, 40 more to go.Ā Ā
We also chat about the power of reflection, celebration and why the best is yet to come.Ā
In hisā¦
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Dec 15, 2022
Race Around Rwanda - RAR Organiser Simon De Schutter on the race and cycling in Rwanda
Hello! Dawn here.Ā
In case you missed it, I am training for the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self-supported ultra cycling race, scheduled to start on the 5th of February, 2023.Ā
It just so happens that our guest today, one of the race organizers, Simon De Schutter, is a friend of mine. I first met Simon back in 2019 as we traveled to Oman together for what was for each of us, our first ultra cycling race, BikingMan Oman.Ā
This is the first in what will be a Bonus Series around the Race Around Rwanda and my preparation for it. This episode gives an overview of the race, the route, an update on cycling in Rwanda and what makes this race so special. Simon offers some practical advice for those signed up and words of encouragement for those thinking of signing up.Ā Ā
He also chats with me about Rwanda Beyond, an initiative to help develop Rwandan cycling talent.Ā
Iām not going to lie, Iām not sure if Iāll be physically ready for this race but mentally, I am beyond excited fā¦
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Dec 11, 2022
EP12: BREATHTAKING: World Champion Freediver Nataliia Zharkova on going deep, finding purpose, and mastering the mind
Todayās episode features a real life mermaid. Nataliia Zharkova is a world record breaking freediver and five-time World Champion but she didnāt find freediving, freediving found her.Ā
Co-host Dawn first met Nataliia in 2021 when she worked with the team at Deep Dive Dubai and took an introductory freedive lesson with her. Yes, you too can train with this phenomenal athlete in Dubai!Ā
What struck Dawn about freediving at the time was the slow and graceful athleticism that freedivers need to be successful in their sport.Ā
As youāll hear in Nataliiaās discussion with Dawn, her accomplishments in the freediving world came quite naturally. Among those accomplishments are five World Championships and six World Records. She is one of only two women in history to freedive the Arch of the Blue Hole in the Red Sea with only a monofin. She is also the 7th woman in the world to reach a depth of 100m in a single breath - 102m in fact. Her longest breath hold is a staggering 6 minutesā¦
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Dec 8, 2022
BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL MARATHON: My First Marathon Debrief
The Mettlesetās bonus episodes, which complement our regular Monday interviews with athletes from the region, are out on Fridays. Our bonus episodes will bring to you a range of trending and topical discussions around sporting news, races and events, along with our co-founders Dawn and Afshanās own training and upcoming races.
Hi Listeners, itās AfshanĀ
This bonus episode concludes our series on the Beirut International Marathon, which took place on November 13. This week, the marathon organisers shared the official race photos and, as I was sifting through the gallery to find my pictures, I had pleasant flashbacks and reminders of what it took to get marathon-ready and the feeling of crossing the finish line strong.Ā
Dawn put me in the hot seat to discuss what training looked like in the lead up to my first marathon, how my race went and all the learnings that I will carry forward for my next race which, hopefully, will help you too.
If even one of you non-runners decidesā¦
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Dec 4, 2022
EP11: GOALS: Onyx FC Co-Founder Georgia Adderley on community, inclusion and sharing the beautiful game
We couldnāt let the FIFA World Cup pass us by without a chat about footballĀ Ā
In this episode we chat with Georgia Adderley, one of the four Co-Founders of Onyx FC, the UAEās first fully female owned football club.Ā
Despite being from the football-mad UK, Georgia didnāt take up football until moving to Dubai. It was in Dubai that she also found friendship, fun and community, as well as the three other founders of Onyx FC.Ā
In this episode, we discuss how Onyx FC came about, what football brought to her life, the achievements of the club since it started just one year ago and the growth of womenās football in the UAE and beyond.Ā
Georgia also shares her predictions for the World Cup!Ā We hope you enjoy the episode!Ā Ā
To learn more about football in the UAE, visit the UAE Football Association at www.uaefa.ae.Ā
Find Onyx FC on Instagram at @onyxfc_ and Georgia at @georgia.add. Onyx FCās website is www.onyx-fc.comĀ
Our wider support team for this episode includesā¦
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Nov 27, 2022
EP10: DRIVE: Saudi Motorsport Athlete Dania Akeel on the āin the momentā mindset and racing in the Dakar Rally
Our guest today, Dania Akeel, is the first motorsport athlete on our podcast.Ā
And it's fitting since she has a lot of firsts herself:Ā Ā
The first Saudi woman to hold a National Competition License for Speedbike Circuit Racing. The first Saudi woman to participate in an international Rally Competition.Ā
The first woman globally to win an FIA Cross Country World Cup in the T3 Category.Ā Ā Ā
The first Saudi woman to complete the Dakar Rally and last but not least,Ā the first Arab woman to finish in the top ten of that same Dakar RallyĀ
All this achieved in a little over three years of racing.Ā Ā
In our chat with Dania, we discuss how her love of driving started early and an unintentional start to her racing career which eventually led her to the prestigious Dakar Rally.Ā She also tells us about the mindset that carried her through a period of recovery after an accident, and her wonderful and judgment-free perspective on life and racing.Ā
Dania shares that she is going toā¦
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Nov 24, 2022
SHE CAN TRI: Founder Jackie Faye on preparing Afghan women for triathlons
The Mettlesetās bonus episodes, which complement our regular Monday interviews with athletes from the region, are out on Fridays. Our bonus episodes will bring to you a range of trending and topical discussions around sporting news, races and events, along with our co-founders Dawn and Afshanās own training and upcoming races.
Our Bonus Episode today follows our interview with Zeinab Rezaie, the first Afghan woman to race and finish the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Utah, this week.
We invited Jackie Faye, the Founder of the non-profit She Can Tri, on a virtual chat to discuss how she set up this organisation to empower women like Zeinab to take up and continue playing sports even through the challenges they face in countries where women face repression and inequality.
Jackie, who also became the first woman to complete six Ironman triathlons on six different continents in 2018, tells us how she met Zeinab during her time as a journalist alongside NATO troops in Afghanistanā¦
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Nov 20, 2022
EP9: HOPE: Zeinab Rezaie, the First Afghan woman to race 70.3 Ironman Championship, on fleeing Afghanistan in 2021 and continuing to dream big
If you missed recent headlines about the first Afghan woman to complete the 70.3 Ironman Championship in Utah in the United States on October 28, weāre here to tell you - Zeinab made history. And itās no surprise that getting there was far from straightforward.
Afghanistan is a country where people have been suffering for decades as a result of war and terror and women have been repressed and denied their rights in many areas of life. Talibanās takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 made matters much worse for women who are now battling for their right to education and inclusion in public life. In fact, Taliban officials told reporters in 2021 that womenās sports was neither appropriate nor necessary. Afghan women wouldnāt be allowed to play āthe kind of sports where they get exposedā.
Yet, women like Zeinab have continued to resist and grab every opportunity to break the shackles of fundamentalism. She was born as an Afghan refugee in Iran and returned to her homeland with heā¦
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Nov 13, 2022
EP8: COURAGE: Saudi cyclist Dara Sahab on competing in her first ever race at the inaugural Saudi Games and the potential it holds to uncover the Kingdomās talent
Dara Sahab is a woman after our co-host Dawnās own heart. Like her, our 29-year-old gutsy guest took up cycling as a sport only three months before doing her first ever race, and that too in the historic Saudi Games. The biggest national multi-sport, Olympic-style sporting event in Saudi, which took place from October 27 - November 7, was launched to draw out the Kingdomās athletic talent and provide them an opportunity to grow in their sport. The games are part of the countryās wider āVision 2030ā to diversify the economy and improve the quality of life of citizens.Ā
Dara represents a Saudi generation that has been waiting to prove that they have what it takes to get to the top in sports, both on home turf and internationally. We invited Dara on the show, not because she won, but because she embodies all the values we hold dearly at The Mettleset - she showed courage and mettle in abundance even when the odds were stacked against her right from the get go.Ā
Dara played sā¦
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Nov 6, 2022
EP7: EXPLORER: Deep Dive Dubai Director and world record-setting cave diver Jarrod Jablonski on exploring the spellbinding underwater world safely
Thereās something unexplainable and enigmatic about underwater caves, which Jarrod Jablonski, the Director of Deep Dive Dubai - the worldās deepest diving pool - beautifully paints for us in this episode.Ā
He should know! The accomplished explorer, educator, published author and world-record setting diver has spent countless hours navigating caves all around the world with an upward of 10,000 dives in his 30-year career.Ā
We sat down with Jarrod to discuss his childhood and university days diving in Florida, where he also set a world record for the longest cave dive, a 90m dive spanning 18km that saw him underwater for 30 hours - you heard that correct - his world record for the longest cave traverse, 11km also at 90km.
He also discusses how his own experience in the sport and the critical need for elevating diver safety and aquatic conservation led him to setting up the non-profit Global Underwater Explorers.Ā
Of course, we couldnāt let him leave with chatting about someā¦
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Nov 3, 2022
BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL MARATHON: Can anyone run a full marathon?
The Mettlesetās bonus episodes, which complement our regular Monday interviews with athletes from the region, are out on Fridays. Our bonus episodes will bring to you a range of trending and topical discussions around sporting news, races and events, along with our co-founders Dawn and Afshanās own training and upcoming races.
Can anyone do a marathon? What is the benefit of doing a mix of aerobic, tempo and recovery runs in the lead up to a marathon? Can you overeat during a run? Should you train through pain? What should you be doing a week before your marathon? What are the common mistakes new runners make and can avoid?Ā
In our second bonus episode of my road to the Beirut International Marathon series, I sit down with my endurance coach Rob Foster to answer these crucial questions, which can help you get started if you too are considering your first marathon.Ā
My takeaway is that when you set an intention, do the work and trust the process, whether you achieve that desireā¦
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Oct 30, 2022
EP6: FORTITUDE: Women for Tri Ambassador Melina Timson-Katchis on returning from the brink of giving up in one of her hardest races
Our guest Melina Timson, a triathlon coach and Women for Tri Ambassador, recently completed a 30KM UltraOceanman Kalamata, Greece, open water swim. She walked into our recording studio with pictures of a swollen tongue from a condition called salt mouth that open water swimmers have from long durations of time in salt water. This was only one of the many challenges that she faced during this mind boggling race, including choppy conditions and sea sickness, which she tells us made her want to give up several times while on the course. But there was always something that kept her going that day.Ā
The 43-year-old triathlete, who has a background in sport and exercise science, had given up racing after her teenage years but returned physically and, more crucially, mentally stronger to sports at the age of 36. She completed the Ironman distance Challenge Roth in Germany, qualified for and finished the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2019, and continues taking on challenges that push heā¦
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Oct 27, 2022
BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL MARATHON: A story of unity and peace in the region through its beautiful course
Today, The Mettleset launches a new series of bonus episodes, which complement our regular Monday interviews with athletes from the region. Our bonus episodes will bring to you a range of trending and topical discussions around sporting news, races and events, along with our co-founders Dawn and Afshanās own training and upcoming races.
Hi Listeners, Afshan here!
The first in our series of bonus episodes documents my road to the Beirut International Marathon, which is on November 13. This is my first ever marathon and I believe it is a good opportunity to discuss why I decided to sign up for this one in Beirut (thereās a special story behind the origins of this marathon), what goes into training for a marathon and, later on, stories and experiences from others participants while Iām actually there!
In this first bonus episode, I, without my partner in crime Dawn, connected with Francoise Nehme, the head of operations for the Beirut International Marathon, to talk about its oriā¦
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Oct 23, 2022
EP5: RESOLUTE: UAEās first female camel jockey trainer Linda Krockenberger on introducing womenās camel racing in the region
Camels are an integral part of the regionās heritage and the embodiment of the Bedouin way of life. But seeing a woman race a camel was uncommon until last year when we started seeing images of female jockeys racing camels to the finish line go viral on social media.Ā
Our guest Linda Krockenberger, UAEās first female camel jockey trainer and the co-founder of the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Centre in Dubai, which is the first licensed camel riding school in the region, is to credit for this revolution in a sport that has traditionally been practiced by men only.
Lindaās love for camels blossomed when she took a 14-day trek from Liwa in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi to Dubai on this friendly creature in 2019. She shifted her entire focus and career into building a riding centre with co-founder Obaid Al Falasi in 2021, where women felt welcome and encouraged to pursue it as a sport. The centre also established the first and only camel racing championship for female jockeys inā¦
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Oct 16, 2022
EP4: SILENT ASSASSIN: Muay Thai champion Anisha Shetty on never throwing in the towel
Can you win a boxing match with a dislocated shoulder? Our guest, Anisha Shetty, a two-time UAE Muay Thai Champion and three-time National Muay Thai champion for India, can and did!
The 26-year-old athlete with an unwavering dream of making Muay Thai a household name in the UAE went against her familyās wishes to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and learnt everything there is to know about the sport first in India and then in Thailand before moving to the UAE to become a coach.Ā
Anisha is ready to conquer the UAEās professional Muay Thai scene, but also wants to share her knowledge and techniques with others and make the sport less intimidating, especially for women.Ā
An athlete on a mission, Anisha tells us about ānot throwing in the towelā when faced by challenges and lessons learnt along the way, her mission to build this as an after-school activity for children and the goal to become the queen of the 50s weight categories in the championship.
Follow Anishaāā¦
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Oct 9, 2022
EP3: WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: Emirati weightlifter and mental health advocate Amna Al Haddad on the story behind the headlines
Before becoming a well-recognised mental health advocate, Amna Al Hadad was the UAEās most talked about powerlifter.Ā
She is the first Arab and GCC National to compete in the Reebok Crossfit Asia Regionals in Korea in 2012, the First Arab and GCC Woman to become a competitive covered weightlifter and first Emirati to compete in the 10th International Women Weightlifting Grand Prix in 2013, and played a crucial part in the 7-member Female UAE National Weightlifting team that competed to earn a quota for the Rio Olympics, in 2016.Ā
But her most fulfilling accomplishment has been inspiring others with her story of overcoming mental health battles and competing in a predominantly male-dominated sport in the Middle East. The prolific advocate tells us about how she got drawn into the sport of weightlifting, how she beat the odds in her sport and life post-competition. We also discuss what it's like to have your very own wax sculpture at Madame Tussauds!Ā Ā
You can follow Amna on @amā¦
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Oct 2, 2022
EP2: TENACITY: Ultra athlete Ivana Kolaric on going from fitness to seeking the worldās toughest races
A pro endurance athlete based in Dubai, Ivana Kolaric is excited by challenges that push her to extremes. Sheās competed in the World Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji, the 386kms MOAB240 endurance ultra trail run in Utah, the Spartan World Championship in 2021 and the very first edition of the 1,366km off-road & self-supported Trans Balkan Ultra Cycling Race in 2022.
In this episode, Ivana talks to us about keeping her limitless energy for the outdoors alive since childhood, all her character-defining moments in some of the worldās toughest races, her startline rituals and the power of positive attitude and mindset to move mountains in anything you set your mind to.
To find Ivana, and follow her journey, check her out at @ivko_fitness
Find out more about the races discussed in the episode, visit:
https://www.transbalkanrace.com/
https://www.destinationtrailrun.com/moab
Todayās episode was supported by the awesome and adventurous team at Deep Dive Dubai, the worldās deepeā¦
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Oct 2, 2022
EP1: TMS Co-Host Dawn Barnable on How I went from Zero to Ultra Cyclist in (a little over) 3 months
ļ»æļ»æDawn here! In late 2018, I decided to enter the world of self-supported ultra cycling with little more than a wish and a prayer, and signed up for my very first ultra race. At the time, I didnāt own a bike, had never owned a road bike and I had no racing (or real road cycling) experience at all. Three months later, in February 2019, I crossed the line at my first Ultracycling race, BikingMan Oman, having completed 1040km/7500m in 104 hours. I went on to compete in two further BikingMan races, one successfully and one, not so much.
In this episode, Afshan and I discuss how I managed to do this, the friends who helped me along the way and something that happened on the race that I have never spoken about publicly before. Itās a deeply personal episode for me but I hope it can inform, and encourage others to be fearless and accomplish whatever goal they set out to achieve, especially if it seems out of reach.
Iāve put more details on our website www.themettleset.com and if yā¦
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Sep 28, 2022
Introduction to The Mettleset Podcast
The Mettleset Podcast is on a mission to bring you stories of tenacity, courage and mettle from athletes in the Middle East and beyond. From womenās sports and motorsports to adventure, action- and ultra- endurance sports, and everything in between, listeners will get a dose of the regionās most compelling - fun and funny - underreported sports stories every week.
Hosts Dawn Barnable (Sports Communications Professional & Ultra Cyclist), and Afshan Ahmed (Journalist and Endurance Athlete) will be joined weekly by guests who range from record - and boundary ā breaking athletes, world-class explorers, community sports leaders and pro athletes at every stage of their career.
For more info, visit www.themettleset.com and find us on all major socials at @themettleset.
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