First sporting success? Cycling across Scotland ages 12.  145 miles in 3 days.

Finest sporting moment? February 15th 2008.  Location Paris.  Guinness World Record for cycling around the world in 194 days and 17 hours, breaking the old record by 81 days.

Your tip for the top: Believe in yourself and your ability even when other do not. 

How do you feel when you represent Scotland/GB? I have not represented my country in the traditional sense but am always proud to be an ambassador for Scotland with my expeditions.  Scots are well received the world over and I am proud to be a part of such a successful small country.

How and why did you get involved in your sport? I was eleven years old when I read a newspaper article about a cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End and decided to do it.  Having no idea how far this was my parents helped me cycle across Scotland first.  A few years later when I was 15 I completed my dream and solo’d the End to End.  I was inspired by the idea of having a big adventure.

Finest sporting moment in history? John Ridgeway and Chay Blythe's 1966 row of the Atlantic.

Any family connections to sport? No.  My Uncle rowed for Cambridge but that is all.

Toughest opponent? Myself!  In ultra-endurance expeditions it is you against yourself.

Three words that describe you: Determined.  Friendly.  Organised.

Who would you most like to meet? Ernest Shakleton – unfortunately he died in 1922!

Most prized possession? I am not very materialistic.  I barely know where my World Record is.  I can’t think of one thing I could not do without.

Biggest influence? My mum – Una Beaumont.

Biggest passion away from your sport? Time with friends and family.

Favourite sport other than your own? Skiing.

Top tips to relax? Stop at least once every day, do some deep breathing and stretches.  Make time learn some yoga. 

Ultimate ambition: I wish I could share this with the public but I can’t.  It will stay that way for a few years until a few issues of what is possible have been researched. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I will be almost 40 in 10 years and hope to have a family.  For this reason I will not take the risks involved in the expedition which I do now.  I will probably be working with a number of organisations to develop ecological sustainability and promoting enterprise with young people.  My specific business could be anything. That is most the exciting thing about life – being ambitious but not set in your ways.