The Shakeout Podcast: Rachel Cliff is the Marathon Queen; Sasha Gollish and Jess O’Connell inspire with Fast and Female

This episode is all about girl power! We start by chatting with the new Canadian marathon record holder Rachel Cliff, who ran 2:26:56 in the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2 weeks ago. Cliff talks about breaking barriers, and the joy of running in a women’s only race.

RELATED: Rachel Cliff on women’s-only races: it’s cool to be the main event

Sasha Gollish and Jess O’Connell are athlete ambassadors for Fast and Female, a not-for-profit organization that strives to keep girls engaged in sport. Started in 2005 by Canadian nordic skier and Olympic Champion Chandra Crawford, Fast and Female connects national team athletes with girls aged 8 to 18. Girls drop out of sport at a rate 6 times that of their male peers, meaning that they miss out on the tremendous benefits that come from sport participation. By connecting girls with role models and a sense of social belonging, Fast and Female fosters a positive, empowering environment for girls in sport.

RELATED: Elmore and Gollish run 2:32 marathon debuts at Houston

Sasha, Jess and Chandra have not only enjoyed successful athletic careers but they also excel in their non-athletic pursuits. These women have learned the transformative power of sport firsthand, and are each on a mission to help spread the love and dominate the world!

RELATED: Jessica O’Connell sets Canadian 3,000m record 

You can learn more about Fast and Female HERE, and about Grit Coaching HERE.