A military background helps Christina Murray continue to push the limits of endurance cycling.

The 45-year-old only started cycling seven years ago but has won the National 24-hour Championship twice, setting a new competition record of 490.28 miles this year.

It was not only the distance that challenged riders last July but also hot temperatures, starting in 26 degrees Celsius heat before rising to 28 degrees the following day.

Murray, who rides for Army Cycling, says that her previous experience in the military helped her to adapt to the hot conditions.

“So much of it was about mental toughness and staying calm,” said Murray.

“It’s so interesting to look at the trace of the ride and how high my heart rate was during the heat of the day.

“At 10pm at night when the sun went down it went back to normal. You have to cope with that and adapt your plan.

“I wasn’t prepared for it to be that hot. I was taking on three times as much water as I had planned for.

“The beauty of having a support crew is being able to adapt to the situations as they present themselves.

“That’s where my military training comes in. We always say plan early and plan twice. Until you are on that start line you don’t know how your plan is going to unfold.

“That day the heat didn’t bother me, I live in Scotland and I’m not conditioned to the heat. But I lived outside in Iraq for six months in 50-degree heat and it never went below 30 degrees.

“The human body can survive and it’s only 24 hours. I feel I’m blessed with comparisons which are actually harder.

“I spent six months working 18-hour days on five hours sleep. A friend of mine once said ‘you’ve done 180 late nights in Helmand, you can do one all-nighter in Shropshire’.

“It’s having those comparisons that are harder, it then takes it away and feels easier in comparison. I’ve had some of my most challenging situations in uniform and if it wasn’t for those I probably wouldn’t have the courage to even get to the start line.

“It was an incredible day and Steph Mottram [second with 483 miles] who pushed me so hard, had I not had her competition I might not have gone so far.

“I was third overall including the guys and she was fifth which is wicked for endurance cycling. Not many national events you get females finishing in the top five out of all competitors.”

Looking ahead, Murray would like to beat her 24-hour women’s competition record again and target going over the 500-mile mark.

She considers it possible for her or another women’s competitor.

“For female endurance cycling that would be a really cool thing to do,” she added.

“I think maybe being stronger and taking more risks perhaps and looking and analysing my ride and how I can improve.

“I did that between 2019 and this year, I knew absolutely where I could improve and I did that this year which gave me an extra 12 miles.

“I need to find another 10 miles but I think it’s possible. The heat did limit my power [this year] and I only just matched my first 12 hours which was exactly the same this year as 2019, but I found the difference in the final 12 hours.”

Despite having the most success in the National 24 Hour Championship Murray says she prides herself on being competitive over a range of distances.

Murray also finished seventh in the British Best All-Rounder (BBAR) with times of 55-51 (25 miles), 1-54-11 (50 miles) and 4-02-06 (100 miles) and was crowned Scottish 25 champion and Inter-Services champion.

She was also part of the Army Cycling squad that finished second in last year’s National Team Time Trial Championship.

“I had some good results over shorter distances as well which to be honest is what I pride myself on,” added Murray.

“I think it’s all too easy to be viewed as a rider who can sit on a bike at Zone 1, while actually I was still up and amongst it at 25s, 50s and 100s.

“I also got a new PB over a 50, which when you are training for a 24-hour it’s not really at that intensity.

“That stuff means a lot as it’s me being out of type. I love racing and trying to stay competitive across the spectrum.”

Murray is still undecided about her targets for the forthcoming season but has plans at the Liverpool to Edinburgh record and the National 12-hour Championship.

In 2020 Murray attempted the Land's End to John O' Groats record.

Despite being unsuccessful the Army recognised her potential and placed Murray on the Army Elite Sports Programme which means she can now train full-time to support her ambitions.

Murray only started cycling aged 38 and is now 45 but the Army recognise she has got potential.

The Scottish rider, from Glasgow, also said that key to her success is coach Mark Powell and her support crew for the long-distance events.

“Coaching for long distance is really hard as there is an awful lot of art,” added Murray.

“You can be quite scientific about the shorter distance. But how on earth do you know how to get somebody around 24 hours?

“I’m blessed with a guy who is super-good and really gets it. I’ve also got the best friends who chase me around and support me.

“It isn’t just you, but I’ve got half a dozen people who give up days to come and see me in the middle of the night.”

* All reports and features are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This feature by Ben Goddard.