No Ego, All Engine: The Midlife Advantage in Multi-Day Racing with Kim Beckinsale & Alina McMaster (Episode 243)

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Kim Beckinsale and Alina McMaster, both in their mid-50s, race with Mountain Designs Wild Women, along with their teammates Cass Kimlin and Del Lloyd, who are both over 40. The team made history last year by becoming the first all-female team to win the 450 km Legend Expedition Race along Australia’s Great Ocean Road, finishing in 73:09:27 and outracing men half their age. They unpack how women-only team chemistry—less ego, more communication, and strategic towing/help—can be a superpower over multi-day, map-and-compass courses on little sleep. They also share how their training has evolved with age (fewer “flog yourself” sessions, sharper intensity, bigger recovery) and how menopause shows up (heat management, sleep shifts, mood) without slowing performance. Kim and Alina are currently at Expedition Canada 2025, getting ready to tackle a 750+ km trek–bike–paddle course starting September 25. Follow along: www.expeditionracecanada.ca

Kim Beckinsale is a Health & PE teacher at Sunshine Beach SHS with 36+ years in education and prior leadership roles at Coorparoo and Cleveland District SHS. Queensland School Sport Life Member (2013) and Triathlon 30-year service awardee (2022). A triathlete since the early ’90s and adventure racer since 2004, she holds coaching quals across triathlon, athletics, paddling, MTB, orienteering, plus Remote First Aid & CPR. Co-owner of Tri Adventure (f. 2009), which coaches athletes and runs The Wild Women Adventure Race (2012, Australia’s first all-female AR) and The Amazons Australia (2025, first ARWS all-women’s event).

Alina McMaster is Australian Partner at Eventplus and Owner/CEO of AROC Sport, organizing outdoor endurance events. Co-founded Ultra-Trail Australia in 2008 (then The North Face 100), which grew into the world’s second-largest trail event before its sale to Ironman in 2018. A former Australian cross-country ski champion and World Cup/Universiade representative, she dominated domestic multisport (Winter Classic, JLW Challenge, Sri Chinmoy Triple Tri, Jindabyne). In the late ’90s–early 2000s, she and husband Tom Landon-Smith raced on one of the top adventure racing teams globally.

Resources

Historic Win for the Mountain Designs Wild Women Team at Legend Race in Australia, Wild & Co.

AR World Series, Expedition Canada

Wild Women in action video clips.

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