Ioana Barbu - What If I Can? Lessons from the World’s Toughest Ultras

What happens when you deliberately put yourself in some of the most extreme environments on Earth and ask your body and mind to do something they’ve never done before? In 2025, ultra-runner and explorer Ioana Barbu became the first British woman to complete the Beyond the Ultimate Global Race Series - a gruelling collection of multi-stage, self-sufficient ultras spanning the Arctic, Amazon rainforest, Namib Desert and Tian Shan Mountains. She became the first person to complete every Beyond the Ultimate race in a single calendar year, setting records along the way. But the races taught her that success in extreme environments isn't simply about being tough. From making decisions when you're exhausted, to knowing when to push and when to adapt, to preparing for things you can't predict, Ioana shares the lessons that changed the way she thinks about challenge, fear, preparation and human potential. Because the biggest question isn't “Can I do this?” It's “What if I can?” Expect stories from some of the world's wildest environments, lessons in preparation and decision-making under pressure, and a fresh perspective on what might be possible when you stop waiting to feel ready.