Sports scientists help Katie’s bid to be a record breaker

Ultra-endurance cyclist Katie Ford spent a day at our Human Performance Unit (HPU) in preparation for her bid to break the 12-hour cycling world record attempt on a static bike.

As part of her training for the record attempt, to be held in Glasgow on Friday 10 March, Katie met with the HPU team for a day of nutrition advice, training and testing.

Katie, who was accompanied by a BBC Scotland film crew during her visit to our Colchester Campus, travelled to Essex because of our excellence in sports science expertise. HPU manager Chris McManus has been recruited to be part of Katie’s support team due to his experience with ultra-endurance athletes and his previous involvement in the Race Across America.

Chris said: ”Katie is a great athlete and we are pleased to be able to support her in her world record bid. It is very much early days in terms of the HPU involvement, therefore, we hope that as we continue working together over the upcoming months we are able to help Katie in achieving the goals she has set herself."

Since the age of four Katie has had epilepsy, but has always been hugely frustrated by the stigma surrounding the condition. She uses her passion for sport to fight against the stigma surrounding epilepsy. An Olympic Torchbearer for London 2012, Katie's torch currently sits in the Royal Sick Kids Hospital, Edinburgh, where it is used as the milestone for patients relearning to walk after brain and spine injuries.

The current female 12-hour static cycling record Katie has to beat is 348 km (216.24 miles), which was achieved by Tina Ternjak in Slovenia in 2012.