Born in Stirling, Scotland, Lesley entered the world of competitive sport at 8 years of age as the only girl among 250 boys in a Scottish rugby club. After 5 years, she had risen through the ranks to become team captain and the only girl to lead a boys’ team to a national championship. Forced out of the sport at age 12 because of Scottish rules prohibiting teenage girls playing on boys teams, she looked for other tough sports to try. Within months, she was running over the hills with her dad and cycling through the glens with a local club.  Her competitive urges soon kicked in, and at 14 she became the youngest ever ‘under 18’ Scottish national triathlon champion.  At 16 she was the national junior cross country champion, and by 18 was a double world medalist in duathlon. After being hit by a car while out training on her bike, she sustained a foot injury that halted her career as a professional triathlete.

A healed foot, a marriage,  and a move to California reinvigorated her love of triathlon.  In 2007 she restarted her triathlon career by winning the Scottish national championships (Pro/Elite). In 2008 she began competing as a pro XTERRA racer and started a coaching business with her sport psychologist husband, Dr Simon Marshall. 

And yes, beating the boys is sweeter than ever.

RACE RESULTS

2nd, Pro Women, 2009 XTERRA World Championships (Maui, Hawaii)

3rd, Pro Women, 2009 XTERRA US National Championships (Ogden, UT)

2nd, Pro Women, 2009 XTERRA Southeast Coast Championships (Pelham, Alabama)

3rd, Pro Women, 2009 XTERRA West Coast Championships (Las Vegas, NV)

5th, Pro/Elite UK Ironman 70.3 National Championships (Wimbleball Lake, UK)

10th, Pro Women, 2008 XTERRA World Championships (Maui, Hawaii)

4th, Pro Women, 2008 XTERRA US National Championships (Lake Tahoe, NV)

7th, Pro Women, 2008 XTERRA East Coast Championships (Richmond, Virginia)

2nd, Pro Women, 2008 XTERRA Southeast Coast Championships (Pelham, Alabama)

9th, Pro Women, 2008 XTERRA West Coast Championships (Temecula, CA)

1st Pro Female, Spring Sprint Triathlon, San Diego (2008)

1st, (9th overall in male field), XTERRA REAL USA series Off-Road Triathlon (2008)

1st (7th overall in male field), 44th Sue Krenn 15km Running Race (2008)

3rd Female Pro, Shimano Winter Mountain Bike Series, Fontana (2008)

USATF Dirt Dog Cross Country Running Champion (2007)

Scottish National Triathlon Champion (Pro/Elite) (2007)

British Sprint Triathlon Champion (Pro/Elite)  (2001)

Silver Medalist, Duathlon Junior World Championships (2000)

Bronze Medalist, Team Triathlon European Championships (1999)

15th, Triathlon World Junior Championships (1999)

18th, Triathlon World Junior Championships (1999)

Bronze Medalist, Duathlon Junior World Championship (1998)

4th, Duathlon Junior World Championships (1997)

4th, Duathlon, Junior European Championships (1997)

Scottish Junior Cross Country Running Champion (1997)

7th, Triathlon European Youth Championships (1996)

Scottish Triathlon Youth Champion (1995)

12 years experience as an International Triathlete

Represented Great Britain and Scotland as a Professional Triathlete 17 times

Represented Scotland for running