Photo Credit: Chris Keller-Jackson

So you’re looking for a new challenge that mixes endurance sports with something new and fun – for charity? I’ve found it. Cyclone 24. Here’s what you need to know…

What is it?
Cyclone24 is a 24-hour cycle team relay event with a difference – it’s based in the velodrome, on the indoor cycle track. Fully supported before and during the event, it’s suitable for all ages and levels of cycling experiences. Think exhausting, think exhilarating. You’ll feel like a pro!

Photo Credit: Camille Fiducia

I first came across American mountain endurance athlete, Kelly Halpin, when I saw a short film about her taking on the Picnic in the Teton mountain range, a crazy version of a triathlon with a mountain summit smack bang in the middle of it. Described as a natural obstacle course, the Picnic includes a 2.6-mile swim, 42-mile cycle and a 20-mile hike then technical climb up to a 12,000ft high Teton peak, before doing the whole thing in reverse (you can see the video here.) Since then, Kelly’s surpassed the Picnic by doing the Triple Teton Triathlon, a version which included summiting all three Teton peaks, self-supported.

A few years ago, 33-year old Kiko Matthews was seriously ill with Cushing’s disease, suffering with everything from 65% muscle loss to psychosis, diabetes and osteoporosis. Fast forward to today and Kiko’s set herself an epic challenge: to not only complete a solo 3000-mile row across the Atlantic, but to annihilate a world record in the process by doing it all within 45 days (current record 56 days)!

Oh, and I should probably mention that the SUP board instructor has NO ROWING EXPERIENCE.
Kiko’s training journey will kick-off properly in October, but today we cover the basics of what she’s up to and why…

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.

*Olympic gold medallist claxon!* If you were one of the 9 million people in the UK who tuned in to watch the England Women’s hockey team scoop gold against the Netherlands in last year’s Olympics, you’ll be familiar with 31-year-old forward and all-round hockey legend, Alex Danson MBE.

A senior England player since the age of 16 (wow) and a pivotal member of the Olympic team, Alex took time out of her busy schedule to chat training, nutrition and how the team built their winning mindset.

I love fitness and I love trying new sports. However I sometimes (erm… often) cross certain sports off my mental list through no other reason that I *assume* I might not be fit enough, not coordinated enough, too old, or just not the right fit for the sport etc.

Rugby is one of those sports. And it seems like I’m not alone, as England Rugby (clearly familiar with this disappointing mind-set!) are introducing ‘Warrior Camps’ around the country from 12-21st May to give women and girls a taster of contact rugby and encourage more women and girls to try the sport. Importantly, you don’t need to have any rugby experience or be ‘match fit’ to take part – it’s open to everyone! And the sessions are FREE (visit www.Englandrugby.com/innerwarrior to find a camp near you).

Few people have the talent to compete successfully in multiple endurance sports, but 26-year-old Canadian (and two-time obstacle course racing world champion) Lindsay Webster has podiumed in cross country running, cross country skiing, mountain bike racing and obstacle course racing.

A huge name in OCR and the current women’s OCR World Champ, Lindsay’s been on my ‘wish list’ of interviews since I first dreamt up Lessons In Badassery, so I’m really thrilled to have her up here! *EXCITED FACE*.

In between training, racing and her new job, Lindsay let me delve into her training and goals for 2017.