Photo Credit: Jack Chevell

I’ve always wondered what happens behind the scenes at a world class cycling stage race. What do the riders do? Is there any panic on the team bus right before the start? Does everyone get on? On Sunday I got a sneaky insight while spending time with the Wiggle High5 Women’s Pro Cycling Team in London at the final stage of the OVO Energy Women’s Cycling Tour.

Photo Credit: Damiano Levati for Red Bull

A new addition to the 2017 race calendar, the Vertical Kilometer™ World Circuit hopes to capitalise on the growing popularity of uphill, vertical racing with the introduction of a competitive series.

A spin-off of the popular Skyrunner World Series, the VK World Circuit includes 16 vertical kilometre races around Europe (plus one in the US), raced as a series. The idea: gain points for your position in each race and compete for the overall series win. A mix of new courses and classic race routes, the race length actually varies from 1km to a max of 5km.

For us mere mortals, however, it’s not about racing but the simple (!) goal of reaching the summit to enjoy a nauseous mix of elation and total exhaustion.

There’s 24-hour endurance races and then there’s World’s Toughest Mudder; a 24-hour obstacle course race of epic proportions. Think a hot and dusty Nevada desert. Think lap after lap of the 5+ mile, 20-obstacle-heavy course from midday Saturday until midday Sunday. Think crazy obstacles. Think masses of water submersions. And a 30ft cliff jump. WAHHH.

It’s a test for the biggest names in elite obstacle course racing, so how does it feel to take part?
32-year-old paramedic, Tough Mudder lover and ordinary gal, Corinne Luckie, shares her experience.

What a weekend for women’s running! On Saturday, the incredible fell running legend, Nicky Spinks, took on the Joss Naylor challenge, running 48 miles and summiting 17,000 feet of Lake District ascent to smash the previous best women’s time by an hour. Not a bad way to celebrate your 50^th birthday! Congrats Nicky on setting a new all-time record of 11 hours 2 minutes. Woohoo!

Then on Sunday, Kenya’s Mary Keitany broke the women-only marathon record with a time of 2hrs.17.

Amazing.

Photo Credit: Inov8

Bon Voyage!

Road bike, running trainers and Chrissie Wellington’s autobiography packed as I head to Provence for Easter with the family. (Chocolate and exercise, the perfect partners in crime!)

Happy Easter!

Check back next week for my interview with incredible open water ocean swimmer, Beth French…

Katie

Now that we’re live – yey! – I’d like to ask a favour. I’ve got a lovely list of cool women I’d like to interview for Lessons in Badassery, but I’m always on the hunt for more inspiring ladies from the world of sport, fitness and adventure.

Know one? Send her my way. Got a story to tell yourself? Don’t be shy, drop me an email and say hello.

Thank you.

Email me at katie@lessonsinbadassery.com