I have lived most of my life in Aberdeen in the north of Scotland, and I think this has made me the athlete and person I am today. I am used to training in all sorts of (mostly terrible!) weather and over challenging terrain. For me, it’s all about the adventure, finding different ways to push my limits and living the moment… preferably with my friends.  

I used to compete in a sport called modern pentathlon which is made up of swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, fencing and running. I competed at World Championships, World Cup Events, and was even in the test event for the Tokyo Olympics in 2019. But 2019 was a bit of a deciding year. I started to feel that elite sport just wasn’t for me, that I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. It’s kind of an ironic thing to say now, considering where this story goes!  

I decided to take a break from competitive sport, and then in 2020 Covid hit, and that changed everything as it did for so many people. I bought a second-hand bike so that I could ride with my dad, who was training at the time for a famous Scottish triathlon - Celtman! Celtman is part of the XTRI WORLD TOUR triathlon series. It was just so much fun, trying something new and different. It wasn’t long before I was out for four or five-hour long rides and started being the one who was pushing my dad – not the other way around… although he still likes to think he can challenge me! 

Celtman is a 3.4km swim (in freezing, jellyfish-infested water), 200km bike, and a marathon over 2 mountains. Back-to-back… on the same day! I should mention that my whole family is weirdly obsessed with this race after my sister, Siobhan, won it in 2016. I used to think, who are these people? What’s wrong with them? Why would anyone want to do this? But surprise, surprise, it wasn’t long before I was obsessed too! The race was cancelled in 2020, and by 2021 I was desperate to be on the start line. Luckily, I got a last-minute slot in 2021 and my dad graciously agreed I could do it… as long as I didn’t overshadow his race. I ended up winning and setting a course record! My dad did really well too with support from both my sisters Siobhan and Kerry and of course my mum.   

Winning Celtman meant I qualified for Norseman in 2022 – the XTRI World Championships and commonly known as the world’s hardest triathlon. But somehow, I won that too, finishing in under 12 hours! It was the adventure aspect of XTRI events which I was addicted to and had begun to build my entire life around. What I really love about these events is that there are so many elements of the race other than just completing the distance: the weather, the terrain and of course the hills! There is also an incredible XTRI family that I feel I’ll always be part of even if I am racing in other branded events. I really recommend it to anyone who wants to do something a bit (I mean very!) crazy. XTRI may seem the toughest events on the planet, but you’ve got a whole community of people who are equally unhinged and believe you can do it. 

After Norseman, I moved to Norway with my work and really just tried to focus on working and having a ‘normal’ life. I very quickly realised that normal is not for me. I have worked full time since starting cycling and triathlon, but I’ve always felt that I need something else to focus on outside of work. Something to push for and be a challenge outside of the day-to-day norm. I started worrying that it was just a fluke that I had won these races. I began to doubt my ability and knew that I had to prove to myself that I could still do it. That I was still tough enough! I was ready to fully embrace the not-normal lifestyle which, I can now admit, is such a big part of who I am. So earlier this year, I went back and raced Celtman again and won it again, beating my own course record by about 30 minutes. So… what next?! Well, I decided it was finally time to give an Ironman a go.  

My first Ironman was IM Portugal in October 2024, and I came 3rd overall in a time under 10 hours. That meant I qualified for my professional triathlon licence for 2025. My mum is Irish so I’ve often competed representing Ireland, which I will be doing this time too. Now all of a sudden, I’m planning a triathlon season with my coach, Fergus Roberts from LT3 Coaching. We’re really doing this! The high point of the calendar will be IM Wales in September. I’m hoping for arctic conditions, a gale and snowstorms – anything that will give me an advantage over these Ironman athletes, they’re so fast! I’ll be on the Argon 18 E119, which is an incredible bike. It’s an intense motivator to be on a bike that fast. My local bike shop in Aberdeen, Total Endurance, have been a big help in getting me set up on the bike – thanks TE!   

Next year won’t just be triathlon though. I also have an Argon 18 Dark Matter and I’m looking forward to some gravel racing too. The Traka gravel race in Girona is on the calendar and I am hoping to squeeze in some more gravel events and adventures… when my coach isn’t looking! 

The Dark Matter is a dream to ride. It’s almost ruined cycling for me, it’s so good. Even though I’m taking a bit of a break from XTRI, it’s really important for me not to lose the adventure part of training. I’m not the type of cyclist who fixates on numbers. That doesn’t make me happy. Embracing the suffering makes me happy. Making everything an adventure makes me happy. Next year the new challenge for me is road running instead of trail running and I’m trying to trick my mind that it will just be one big adventure – we’ll see how well that works! I’m also just getting ready to head to Patagonia for a 2000km bikepacking trip over the holidays which will definitely be an adventure.  

And finally… the people. Alongside the sense of adventure, the biggest motivation for me is the people in my team and inner circle – the people that surround me every day. My family, my friends, my coach, my cycling club Deeside Thistle (I would get into trouble if I didn’t mention them!) and even my work colleagues… they motivate me daily to be the best version and get the most out of myself. Whether it’s riding in a snowstorm in mid winter or running up a hill for sunset in the summer… In the end, it’s the people who make every challenge worthwhile and I’m thankful to the individuals who bring perspective, laughter, and unwavering support. 

Anyway, that’s enough talk. Where’s the next adventure?! I’m ready!