22-year-old rallycross driver Paige Bellerby grew-up watching her family compete in motorsports and started driving a quad bike at the age of four. In her debut year of racing, Paige became the first female to win a British Rallycross title, aged just 14. Now, eight years later, she’s the only woman competing in her class as she races for the Bellerby RX team.

In this Q&A Paige, who is supported by the Christopher Ward Challenger Programme, chats about growing up surrounded by motorsport, the demands of rallycross, and her goals for the future.

Photo: @garminoutdoor

There’s so much to say about Rebecca Rusch that it’s difficult to know where to start. Mountain biker, climber, adventure racer, Nordic skier, champion of women in sport, activist. A world champion 7 times over, she’s even ridden her bike UP Mount Kilimanjaro! Rebecca epitomises the word ‘badass’ and I’m thrilled to have her on Lessons in Badassery.

Hope you enjoy the interview.

Photo: SportsCam

On the blog today, we’re going all sport psychology with Dr Josephine Perry of Performance in Mind, an age group Ironman triathlete turned sport psychologist who works with everyone from endurance athletes to tennis players in order to give them the mental tools for a winning performance.

Dr Perry chats through some of her own techniques for improving performance during races and training, and reveals how a start line comment during an Ironman triathlon led her to pursue a new career as a sport psychologist.

This time last year, Zwift Academy winner Tanja Erath was only just beginning her Zwift Academy experience, juggling the rides while studying in her final year of a Medicine degree. On being named 2017 winner, she was catapulted into life as a pro cyclist, with a shiny new contract to ride for leading women’s team, CANYON//SRAM.

With the 2018 Zwift Academy underway (you can still join up until 19 August) and a group of new hopefuls competing for their chance to win a pro contract, I checked back with Tanja to see how she’s enjoying her new life as a professional cyclist.

On Tuesday I shared the first part of my Q&A with record-breaking ultra-runner, Mimi Anderson. Here’s part two, where Mimi talks more about her TransCon record attempt, including her disappointment of having to abandon it, plus we hear how she’s getting on training for her first triathlon.

Photo: Martin Paldan

Mimi Anderson is an ultra-running phenomenon. Her collection of ultra achievements is too long to list, but includes winning outright the notorious 6633 Arctic Ultra and setting a course record that still stands; setting a world record for running John O’Groats to Lands End (838 miles), and completing the Double Badwater – an epic 292-mile run in Death Valley. Wow.

What makes it all the more incredible is that Mimi only began running at the age of 36. Now 55, the grandmother is a 3x record holder and last year ran 2,217.2 miles across America in 40 days before injury forced her to retire short of her 2850 mile target.

In the first of a two-part Q&A, Mimi chats about her running journey and her attempt to run across America. Check back on Friday for part two!

Photo: Jack Snyder

When Hollywood cast trainer Mark Twight needed a UK-based personal trainer for the Justice League Amazons, he turned to PT and former elite triathlete, Helen Mayhew, to whip the female cast members into Amazon warrior shape.

I quizzed the former competitive swimmer on the workouts and training it took to create the strong, kick-ass Amazons you see in the Justice League film.

Photo: Matt DeLorme

She dominated the downhill mountain bike scene for years before switching to riding enduro MTB and carving out an equally successful enduro career. So who better than Tracy Moseley to share tips on tackling descents on a mountain bike?

Between looking after her baby and squeezing in rides, Trek athlete Tracy very kindly took time out to relay her tips on tackling downhill rides on the mountain bike. This one’s for beginners – enjoy!

This weekend I’m off to Mallorca for a week of cycling, hiking and relaxing (lucky me!). Whilst I’m out there, RAD Monika and I are hoping our schedules will align to allow us to meet up for a chat. If this works out, I’ll try and run a quick video Q&A with Monika (or maybe a Facebook/Instagram live), so let me know if you have any questions for her!

In case you haven’t seen my previous interview with Monika, she is riding every stage of the men’s cycling Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, just hours ahead of the pro teams. The Vuelta is renowned for being an all-out sufferfest – three weeks of riding (3300km) and some of Spain’s hardest climbs, all while enduring Spain’s searing heat.

My plans for Mallorca include significantly less suffering! During my stay, I’m hoping to get some running in and to cycle some of the climbs I did last year, including the ride to the lighthouse (Cap Formentor) – apparently this road is now closed to cars, yey! – and the Coll de Sa Battalia, plus investigate a few new routes. My bike fitness is pretty hopeless right now though, so wish me luck…

Full report to come once I’m back.

Photo: Tough Mudder

She’s one of the nicest people on the OCR circuit – and she just happens to have won the OCR World Championship three years in a row. Yup, Lindsay Webster is on the blog today, talking through a typical day in her life as a pro obstacle racing athlete.

Plus, don’t miss my five quick-fire questions at the end of Lindsay’s write-up, where she chats about her recent foray into vertical kilometre racing (with a win) and her plans to try her luck in skyrunning. Personally, I’d love to see this happen as Lindsay would be force to be reckoned with on the skyrunning circuit!