Written by: Radana Williams

If you’re struggling to meet the 1000km Challenge or looking for a great group to go out with, keep your eye out for some awesome events coming up thanks to RadMum Louise!

An avid runner and mom to a teen and a toddler (thots and prayers), Louise is a key organizer in this group and is working on helping you cross off your Strive for Five bingo card and rack up your mileage this summer.

What does RadMums do for you?
RadMums has offered me the chance to get out and do the things I love while connecting with like-minded women in a way that I never knew was possible. I have struggled to find my place and meet friends—RadMums has helped me conquer both of these struggles.  

What are your favourite outdoor activities?
I have been running since I was about 18 years old and started racing recreationally before the birth of my first child. My first races were back in 2006 and 2007! I prefer longer distance races, such as the half and full marathon. After many years of training, the act of running has now become a habit and honestly, a requirement for my mental health stability—although there are still days that I would prefer to stay on the couch!

I also love hiking, camping, and my new favourite activity is cross-country skiing!

What new things are you hoping to try this year?
My big goal this year is to run an ultra. I have a few planned over summer and fall—the biggest of which is the Golden Ultra in September. I am excited and terrified at the same time.

Other goals include doing longer day hikes/trail runs in the mountains and planning exciting events for RadMums! I will also be trying backpacking for the first time this year and hope to bring my toddler out for many backcountry trips this summer!

What do you hope your kids learn from your adventures? 
I hope that my children find a passion for something in their lives, just as I have. I hope they can learn to challenge themselves to do things that they may think are unattainable. I hope they never stop trying to achieve their goals, and when they do achieve those goals, they find new goals to challenge themselves. And above all, I hope they find what makes them happy!   

What would you tell someone hesitating about joining an event?
We were all newbies once! My first event with RadMums was in 2021. I had registered for a hike at Lake Louise. There were approximately 20 women who RSVP’d.

To say I was intimidated was an understatement! I arrived and joined the group at the meeting place, at which point I still felt terribly nervous. We started hiking and I slowly fell into stride with a few women. We chatted about our children, our jobs, and our lives.

As the day progressed many of us split off naturally into groups according to our skill level. I ended up having an amazing day that I will never forget. The memory of this day is what inspires me to continue organizing events for the group. I hope that when new women come out they have the opportunity to make connections and lifelong friends, while pushing themselves to their physical limits! Life can feel overwhelming at the best of times, but having RadMums events to look forward to helps keep me going!

You can check out more of Louise’s adventures on Instagram at @inhale_wilderness and YouTube Channel.