Episode 152: Just Warming Up After UTMB Finish with Anita Phillips

“I definitely felt the majesty of the mountains and just privileged to be there.”

— Anita Phillips

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Anita Phillips, a remarkable individual who embodies the "work hard, play hard" philosophy. For 20 years, Anita thrived as a corporate lawyer in the bustling cities of London, Paris, and Hong Kong. But when she wasn’t navigating high-powered boardrooms, she was exploring the world with just a backpack and a tent. Now an executive coach, Anita calls the foothills of Mont Blanc in the French Alps home, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and a brood of chickens.

Anita recently tackled the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, the pinnacle of trail races, covering 176 kilometers of grueling terrain across the French, Italian, and Swiss Alps, with a breathtaking 10,000 meters of elevation gain. At 48, new to trail running and with only a handful of races to her name, Anita defied the odds by securing a top ten finish in her age group. She’s living proof that with determination, anything is possible.

Anita also discusses:

2:00 - An overview of the UTMB
6:00 - Highlights from this experience
10:30 - How she was challenged mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually
17:00 - Moments of awe she experienced
19:00 - Her running journey
22:00 - How she developed her confidence
28:40 - Leveling up her adventures
35:00 - Her experience with fear and doubt during her life
38:30 - Blending her business life with adventure
43:30 - Her views on confidence and trust
45:30 - The earliest call to adventure she felt
49:30 - How people can connect with her
51:00 - Advice for people who are looking to gain more confidence
52:30 - Who is going to play her in a Hollywood movie about her life