Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟

In this episode, we head back to Chamonix for Part 2 of our UTMB special with Karis Miriam Brown, former lawyer, podium-finishing ultra trail runner, and certified coach.

This summer, Karis lined up at the CCC 100K, one of UTMB’s toughest races. Her journey is raw and real: battling a meniscus tear, reshaping expectations mid-race, and leaning into the “why” that fuels her training and racing.

Karis also shares:

• Lessons from training with elites on Réunion Island
• How to reset when your race plan falls apart
• Why community, challenge, and her daughters drive her forward

🎧 Inspiring, honest, and packed with takeaways, this is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever dreamed of testing themselves on the trails.

🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset

• 📥 Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond
• 📸 Instagram: @themettleset
• 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn

Credits:

• Host: Dawn Barnable
• Guests: Karis Miriam Brown
• Editor: Diya Vergis
• A Production of The Mettleset

🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and community sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. We put women in sport first while highlighting niche communities like action and endurance sports.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

- Dawn

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we dive into UTMB – Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, one of the world’s most iconic trail running festivals.

We sat down with three remarkable women from the region who took on the UTMB World Series Finals, sharing their journeys of pushing limits, chasing personal bests, and soaking in the magic of Chamonix.

Featured Athletes:

• Ivana Kolaric – Returned post-pregnancy to finish top 30 and 2nd in her age group at the 61K OCC.
• Fatema Husain – Bahrain’s ultra trailblazer and first GCC woman to complete the 100-mile UTMB, sharing her journey through injury and breathtaking mountain views.
• Sharifah AlQattan – Ultra trail runner, coach, and Boom Ultra Challenge race director, talking mindset, preparation, and the pride of crossing the finish line.

✨ Don’t miss part two featuring Karis M. Brown.

🎧 Listen to Fatema’s previous episode here.

🎧 Listen to Ivana’s previous episode here.

🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset

• 📥 Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond
• 📸 Instagram: @themettleset
• 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn

Credits:

• Host: Dawn Barnable
• Guests: Ivana Kolaric, Fatema Husain, Sharifah AlQattan
• Editor: Diya Vergis

A Production of The Mettleset

🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and community sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. We put women in sport first while highlighting niche communities like action and endurance sports.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

- Dawn

Join us as we chat with Maria Khan, captain of the Pakistan women’s football team, about her incredible journey from an early love of football (or soccer) as a kid in the U.S. to signing her first professional contract at 32 in Saudi Arabia.

Maria opens up about the influence of her sporting family legacy, the lessons learned as a Division 1 backup goalkeeper, and the moment she rediscovered her love for football in Pakistan. She shares what it’s like to captain the Pakistani national team, navigate setbacks, and build resilience, while highlighting the power of supportive environments, corporate backing, and strong team leadership.

We also dive into the challenges female athletes face around fertility, family planning, and evolving maternity policies, alongside the exciting growth of women’s football and the importance of visibility, advocacy, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Follow Maria on Instagram: @mariajamilakhan

🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset

• 📥 Newsletter:Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond
• 📸 Instagram: @themettleset
• 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn

Credits:

• Host: Dawn Barnable
• Guest: Maria Khan
• Editor: Diya Vergis
• Produced by: The Mettleset

🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports.

I hope you enjoy the episode!

Dawn