Christina Mackenzie - LEJOG and NC500 Record Holder

In summer 2021, Christina MacKenzie broke the Women's Record for cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats. She completed the 839 miles in 51 hours, 5 minutes and 27 seconds. In 2022, she claimed a new women's cycling record for Scotland's famous North Coast 500 (NC500.) But Christina hasn't always been an endurance cyclist. She did her first 10km in 2010, which led her into triathlon and Ironman (and Celtman!) and ultra endurance cycling.

You'll hear:

07:10 We talk about Christina's LEJOG record breaking attempt - she came past Helen and husband Rich when they were on Day 5 of their LEJOG ride in 2021 and Christina was 35 hours into her 51 hour record breaking ride.

10:55 Christina talks about how she was feeling after 35 hours on the bike 'after 20 hours I wouldn't be able to make my own decisions and that's when the team come in.

12:40 Where did the idea come from to try to break the LEJOG women's record. " I remember looking at Mike Broadwith's strava and thinking 'that's just crazy.' But after my second 24 hour TT I thought 'what would the next thing be?'

16:55: The important thing to remember is that I am just a club cyclist and once I thought it might be a possibility, it was about getting a coach and a support team. It's a huge team effort.

20:10 I think the training I did for it was spot on, including 3 back to back 200 mile days and I was feeling tired, fatigued and grumpy but physically and mentally it got me ready.

25:10 Christina explains how you have to verify the World Record attempt with Guinness. ' We did it in July, but it wasn't until Christmas that it was ratified.

28:00 On the lack of sleep 'I got a wee 'toot' from the support van behind me and what that happened I would take a gel or a cold coffee drink.

29:10 The difference in what's going through your mind when you're doing a LEJOG attempt compared to when you're doing an Ironman.

31:10 the speed Christina had to maintain 'I had to average 13.9 mph, but the clock doesn't stop.

33:40 How Christina trained for LEJOG. It was really difficult to fit everything in, and I have had to put things on hold to be able to do it. At the peak I was probably doing about 25 hours.

37:10 We talk about how to keep vaguely comfortable on a 50 hour +ride.

39:10 How do you go from LEJOG to wanting to have a crack at the North Coast 500? "It was quite logistically difficult." But if you're in a car on a nice day, it's one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you're on a bike, in a headwind, it's the worst place in the world!"

45:10 What's it all for? I do sometimes think that but I don't take my health for granted. I figure while I can do it physically, I should get out and make the most of it and do it.

51:10 Christina outlines how she has progressed from doing a sprint triathlon to breaking the LEJOG women's record.

52:25 Do you ever worry that you need a challenge to be content? I did until last week, but at the moment I don't feel like I need to have the next challenge. I just want to do things that normal people do.

Find out more about this week's guests

Christina MacKenzie Instagram

Lejogmack Instagram

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