Beth French - Ocean Swimmer, Inspirational Speaker. Recovering from ME- and bringing up her son.

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

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

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

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

Show notes

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

 

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

 

Social Media

 

• Website - http://bethfrench.co.uk
• Twitter - @bethsbigswim  https://twitter.com/bethsbigswim
• Instagram - @bethfrenchlives  https://www.instagram.com/bethfrenchlives/
• Facebook  @bethfrenchlives https://www.facebook.com/bethfrenchlives/ 

 

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