Everything I wish I knew before my first Ironman | Lucy Charles-Barclay

Lucy reflects on her first Ironman Triathlon back in Bolton, UK 2014! 10 years on she is now one of the top pro triathletes in the field. Here is everything she wishes she could tell the younger version of herself, preparing for that very first race!
Featured music:
Joonti - Spotlight, Ep.1
syncvault.com/ffm/joonti-2499...
License: syncvault:$2y$10$78oYYLz/1YOhJM4tkIAa
00:00 Intro
01:27 The Beginning
06:01 Hindsight as a Pro
08:02 Creating a Training Plan
10:38 Time Management
11:43 Fuel Every Session
12:58 Equipment
14:57 Progression
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Produced by: Holly Charles
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[@TheDoonst]

Hard to believe that even pros were regular people buying second hand stuff from ebay. That puts things into perspective. Great video, thanks, Lucy!

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Everybody's got to start somewhere! Thanks for tuning in 😁

[@JackMott]

they are still regular people! they make lots of the same bad decisions, but they have a ton of red blood cells and mitochondria and work ethic

[@vanjako7046]

Great video. I did my first at the age of 41 last year (Italy), after more than 15 y in running. Have been learning how to swim and ride a road bike from a zero. Took me a year of training. Two weeks ago I did my second full IM in Austria and I can say I'm addicted. 😅

[@inhHung-ls4wy]

You are just amazing!

[@user-uh2zv7ic9n]

Awesome video. Motivating to see the journey for you both

[@barbaradvojatzki2852]

Thank you for putting the time to share your journey with us! All the best on your great career ❤

[@RuffRydaz82]

Thank you Lucy! Great pro tips! Appreciate the vid! Keep smashing it!

[@dkemecsei]

Super to see videos about you 2 from those days!

[@deannebueno6352]

Thank you so much for this!

[@Zyingtan]

Loved this video. Thank you for sharing Lucy. Doing my first Ironman 70.3 this Oct in Malaysia. Really looking forward to it 🤩

[@vacationmode6286]

I love the reminder of building it up in a gradual way thanks for this video - it was very relatable as I am working towards my first half marathon run. btw I love the sweatshirts on the channel - they are so soft and comfortable on a recovery day...I have 2!

[@xrz100]

Thanks for sharing, a good template that everyone starting Triathlon has a journey ahead, the final gol is different but a journey it is for all of us. Nice to see pictures of young Lucy 🤪

[@DanielCastro-nw7bj]

Awesome video. I am starting in this sport and this is really helpful. I have already sign up for a 70.3 and I really can relate with the mechanical issues with the bike and the limit knowledge

[@nurseboogy]

Yikers! Monster training! Go coach!! Nicely done!

[@GhaneshDas]

Excellent content and advice!

[@gregt0m]

I love that both of you have shared the journey from the beginning. It is a beautiful story. Wish you a continued successful marriage.

[@steevoridgeline]

i enjoyed every second of your video Lucy. I recalled when i decided to lean into ironman training and it was so a great lifestyle and easy to stay passionate about it. Then was the covid and then closed the swimming pool permanently nearby. With no more pool, it was pretty devastating so i stayed into running and trail running with some biking as a second sport. Its also with figure like you that i stay motivated. thanks for sharing the way you do. 🎖☀👍🏻

[@StewTri]

Love it Lucy, Bolton was my first tri and Ironman… ended up doing 6 times over the years 😂

[@marianete148]

Great video, thanks for sharing! I am training for my first 70.3, and though this video is intended for the full iron man, I got some great insights! Greetings from Argentina

[@tranceboyJr]

Hey Lucy! Been following your Ironman journey for ages.. It was actually one of your videos their kickstarted my Triathlon journey. Last year i Finished Ironman 70,3 Elisnore, here in Denmark. And Summer 2024 I'll give Copenhagen Ironman a try.

[@federicomurero]

Beautiful video, it is nice to know your sports background also to inspire new lads to triathlon!

[@peachxblue]

Omg I loved this so much!! On your last video you asked for ideas for future videos and this is EXACTLY the idea that I suggested! 🤩 Thank you for making it, I hope it was fun for you to look at old photos and think back to your start, as much as we have enjoyed watching and learning!! Hoping to do my first 70.3 this summer on a road bike 😊

[@loolapalooza6429]

Many thanks, Lucy! I have just signed up for my first full distance Ironman in 2024 🤞

[@yijuntey]

Thanks for this video though! Really enjoyed hearing about your background and story 🔥🔥🔥

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@merricktaylor4429]

I totally recognize some of these video shots in my home town! Super cool and helpful video. Thank you!

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Glad it was helpful! 🤩

[@joyyboyy1]

Doing my first olympic in 2 weeks and this has got me so excited! Thanks! When's your next race?

[@rieyaadsaban5237]

OMW I am so happy you did not keep working at the Zoo! Absolutely inspiring!!

[@Jamie94Gregory]

I'm doing my first Ironman distance in my hometown Bolton this weekend! Thanks for the video and tips. Hoping to podium one day!

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Ahhh that's awesome! Good luck in your first Iron distance!

[@_J.F_]

Goodness girl! Your natural hair colour suits you SO well 😍 I really enjoyed hearing about your journey to getting where you are today and hope to be seeing you (at the front preferably) in many of this seasons races 👍

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Thank you for watching!

[@binhhuynhvanquoc1832]

Awesome video, planning for my first Ironman (Vietnam 70.30) in next year.

[@elclaudiosanchez]

I Love You Lucy!!!❤

[@Im-nq2jf]

Stay healthy and stay competitive. Support from Malaysia

[@billylee5335]

Great content!!! Awesome editing 🔥 !’ Where can I find 2nd hand gear/equipment?

[@megmikerodriguez6011]

Loved hearing about your journey into sport, Lucy! Trust you're well and good; missed seeing you mix it up at Roth! I completed my first Ironman last fall, IMMD at 50 years young and have to say that training the gut was the best thing for a successful race. I followed a plan in Iron FIt which built up the fitness so gradually that you'd never know I'd never run a marathon before race day; highly recommend that book. :D God bless you and your team as you continue along this fabulous journey, Megan

[@davidkaplan5517]

Imagine how amazing this sport would be if athletes were training and introduced to swim, bike, run early in life and did it throughout HS

[@lawrencep7068]

This is what they already do, for example the Brownlee brothers were training throughout highschool, biking to school from a young age, jogging around the school grounds at lunchtimes with the head of Games and winning every local race at the weekends. The challange is getting kids to stick with it as they grow up! But your right if they do they win gold medals at the Olympics!

[@davidkaplan5517]

@@lawrencep7068 but they weren’t training in HS as part of a triathlon team. It was just them training alone I believe. There’s a social element to swim team or cross country, etc. triathlon should have the same.

[@lawrencep7068]

@@davidkaplan5517 agreed, hopefully as it's popularity continues to grow more and more youth type clubs will be offered. There are many more camps available from what I have seen so it's a step in an awesome direction :)

[@RetroRewind77]

What a great video

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Glad you enjoyed it 😄

[@RetroRewind77]

@@LucyCharlesBarclay so cool to hear all about the first Ironman 💪🏻

[@alexandrepereira3902]

You are a great person… I hope you be very happy … Gos bless you

[@kmetz878]

So interesting to hear about the beginning of your career!

[@timwildauer5063]

I’m hoping to do a 70.3 later this year as my first tri. It’s not the same as a full Ironman, but the same tips apply. Thank you so much!

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Good luck!🍀

[@A.Azzimrazali]

Please come to Malaysia & sign up for Ironman Malaysia upcoming this October! 🎉🙌🏼

[@rramian2001]

Thanks for sharing! I’m just wondering 💭 how do you do to make your needs 💧during the race?

[@Flarui]

I have only ever done 5k and 10k races. I signed up for 3 halfmarathons (distance) races next year. I plan on doing marathons the year after. My dream would be an ironman in 4 years

[@user-gr4wm6hn2m]

We love you Lucy (go mermaid).....thanks for the triathlon top tips and actually stating the reality of the sport

[@JamesGettingFit]

Gonna give my self 2 years training and have a go

[@EFIT_206]

Congrats, at 5:29 I wonder what your bike is being held on? Can I do this to my bike?

[@mikew6840]

MC Paul Kaye introduced Lucy (end of video) as the fastest swim overall “including the pro’s”. Does that mean IM UK was a pro event back then?

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

Yes Ironman U.K. used to be a pro event, won by the likes of Lucy Gossage and Joe Skipper. Hopefully it will be a pro race again in the future, I’d love to race there again 😊

[@yijuntey]

I'm 20 right now and been competing in swimming since around 12 but no where at the level that you were, now I've transitioned to triathlon and have competed a mix of few races from 5k - marathon, to sprint distance tri and a duathlon and planning on competing in an ironman some time in the near future when I have more time. My dream is to become a national triathlete one day and hopefully be able to compete in things like WT competitions and so on even as just an age-grouper. Is it ever too late to start this sport in terms of your potential? I feel like a lot of athletes at 20 already have more major competition experiences or just fitter than I am right now.

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

It’s never too late to start and you are still very young! If you’re willing to put the necessary hard work in you’ll catch up 💪🏻

[@okimy3668]

Absolutely go for it! Short distance I'm not sure about, but middle/long distance it's definitely not too late 💪

[@yijuntey]

@@okimy3668 ah ok will definitely try my hardest to get there. I find that my aerobic base is definitely up there with the faster people, just don't have the running technique and speedy T1/T2 to be competitive enough yet. Thanks for the reply!

[@jeromeibanez2891]

Lucy, any tips on losing weight while training for an IM?

[@andeeaye]

i have my first this Sunday, IM Australia. Nervous. It's gonna be raining too eek

[@franciszekkasperek2604]

Hey Lucy, I started triathlon when i was 22 and im now turning 23. I dont have any background in any of the three sports. Im now training more than 20h per week with a coach. Do you think it is realstic to think i can turn pro ? Its a huge dream of mine since i fell in love with triathlon

[@franciszekkasperek2604]

+ are you thinking of doing something like the TTL dev team to help other athletes out to reach their goals ? Because I'd be more than interested 😁 have a nice day

[@TheJacobBennett]

Lucy Charles Barclay she snarls like Gnarles Barkley and Charles Barkley!

[@SorayaR]

You literally have to commit your life to it if you have a fulltime job and a family, otherwise you just cant do this. Me and my husband are both triathletes he is training for his first half ironman and im short course. People dont always understand why we cant make it to bbq's or partys but its just our way of life...

[@LucyCharlesBarclay]

It’s a tough one for sure having to compromise on the social life but I hope your commitments pay off for you👍

[@juliusrohrbach9115]

My wife and me also just did our first triathlons (she short course me olympic distance) having two small children and she working part time, me working more then full time, while still finishing our acadamic careers (She her master thesis me my PhD) it is possible if one really supports one another and includes training sessions into every day life (biking to work, going regularly to the pool with the family etc.). And it is great fun, keep it up!

[@daveyboydsp]

My first full distance at Bolton this weekend. How hard can it be? 🤷‍♂️

[@roberthodgson3574]

Hard 😂

[@boogieuhuh]

Prepare money first before you prepare for an Ironman. Because like me, I trained first only to find out I could not afford all the expenses, only the registration which was a month’s worth of my salary.

[@ulfeliasson5413]

I think I trained 20 hours per week when I peaked my training. Barely managed below 14 hours, What did I do wrong? lol

[@richardfauvel5978]

How about ironman Wales Lucy?

[@Daimoku1938]

Lucy The Queen Consort is back...telling her story...only Prince Reece The Earl of Nothing was missing...just keep on the good work !!!

[@fastbreakr]

I didn’t know Charles Barkley was this fit

[@santhoshp4726]

I just started learning swimming. Can we take breaks during the swimming and i am hoping i will be good in swimming in next 6 months. Any tips for new swimmers. Swimming is only thing making me to think about participation

[@99cya]

i fear the day when the name ironman has to adapt to ironwoman.

[@jonathanzappala]

Super shoes for a four hour marathon, maybe. For a six hour? No, it won't help you walk faster.

[@17Peloton]

She looks silly wearing a hat