Interview with Charlotte Backus Turner - As told to Velocity Rockers' Albert Knowles
For Charlotte Backus Turner, her senior year of college was supposed to be the culmination of a successful academic and athletic journey. Majoring in sports psychology, psychology, and sports science, she was not only a committed student but also a rising cyclist.
But just as everything seemed to align, her health started to unravel.
“That experience opened my eyes to how underweight I was and how quickly I was losing strength. At that age, it’s hard to understand what under-fueling or RED-S [Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport] really means, or how badly it can affect your body.”
This realization marked the beginning of a deeper journey, one that reshaped her relationship with sport and laid the foundation for her future as a coach.
Now a coach herself, Charlotte Backus Turner works with athletes who still struggle with outdated beliefs around fueling and body image—especially in endurance sports.
“I help athletes who think things like, ‘I shouldn’t eat during a ride because it’s too much.’ That mindset was common when I was competing. We were told strength training would make us bulky, so I avoided the gym entirely. But that’s what actually builds power and supports a healthy metabolism.”
She credits athletes like Kate Courtney and Kendall Ryan for helping change the narrative, showing that proper strength training and nutrition don’t detract from performance, they enhance it.
Her academic background in psychology, physiology, and nutrition reflects the integrated approach she now brings to coaching.
“It’s not just about training numbers. If we’re not mentally present or healthy, we can’t perform at our best. Mental blocks can limit our potential just as much as physical ones.”
That full-picture philosophy is at the core of her training programs, which emphasize long-term health alongside athletic performance.
The transition from competitive road cycling to ultra-distance mountain biking wasn’t immediate or easy. But it started with a push from someone close to home.
“My husband got into ultra-distance bike packing after college. He’d ride across entire states solo. At first, I thought he was crazy—but slowly, I started to get curious.”
At the time, she was still parting ways with the road scene, which had begun to feel toxic.
“I’d struggled with an eating disorder in high school, and the pressure of road racing wasn’t helping. I loved the sport, but the mindset around competition and appearance could be harsh. I needed something different.”
That “something different” came in the form of gravel and mountain biking. Although terrified at first, she quickly found herself hooked.
COVID gave her time to reflect and explore. She began to let go of strict expectations and rediscover her joy for riding.
“Gravel riding brought back a sense of adventure. Mountain biking was scary at first. I remember crying trying to get over rock sections, but it also became empowering. I started learning more about myself and what I was capable of.”
Her husband, already experienced in endurance races like 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, eventually signed them up for Across Andes, a grueling ultra-distance race in Chile.
“He registered us as a duo team without really asking. That was it, I was in. Since then, I’ve been hooked on ultra racing. It’s not about how fast you are. It’s about how long you can go. It’s personal. You’re racing yourself.”
Although she still enjoys road cycling, she now rides it less frequently.
“It’s not just the pressure, it’s the danger. I’ve had friends killed in road accidents. Drivers are so distracted now. Trails feel safer. Trees don’t move.”
Today, ultra endurance riding fuels her soul. She sees it as both a personal challenge and a therapeutic journey.
“Getting out there, even if it's tough, even if I’m crying on a rocky section - it’s freeing. It’s where I reconnect with myself.”
With events like the Ozark Doom and the Belgian Waffle Ride in her sights, Charlotte Backus Turner continues to explore new challenges. She’s also grateful for the community and support that’s helped her grow as both an athlete and coach.
“One of the hardest parts of racing is logistics, finding a place to stay, figuring out travel. During college, I slept in my car a lot before races. It wasn’t ideal, but you figure it out. These days, it’s about balance and building a life that supports the adventure.”
From collegiate road racer to ultra-endurance athlete and coach, Charlotte Backus Turner has lived both sides of the performance spectrum. Her journey is a powerful reminder that health, strength, and mindset are all part of the same equation.
“It's not just about being fast. It's about being whole.”
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