What happens when your body changes the rules halfway through your biggest athletic goal? Lucy Hurn found out when perimenopause hit during her 8-year quest to qualify for Kona. In this raw and practical episode, Lucy shares her journey from struggling with fatigue, irregular recovery, and changing physiology to finally earning her spot at the Ironman World Championships. This isn't just about getting faster — it's about adapting, listening to your body, and redefining what success looks like. Key insights from this conversation: • Listen to your body becomes non-negotiable — especially when hormones make recovery unpredictable • Fuelling enough is harder than you think — why most female athletes under-eat and how it sabotages performance • Your thoughts aren't facts — learning to reframe negativity can transform your training and racing • The guilt factor — why women struggle more with training time and how to navigate family responsibilities Practical takeaways for training through perimenopause: • Build flexibility into training plans — some days you adapt, some days you skip entirely • Prioritise protein at every meal (minimum 1g per kg bodyweight, building up from there) • Focus on what you can control: sleep hygiene, nutrition quality, stress management • Track your symptoms to understand patterns and communicate effectively with healthcare providers Resources & Links: • Book recommendation: A Life Without Limits by Chrissie Wellington — Lucy's inspiration for her Kona goal • Research mentioned: Work by Dr. Natalie Brown on training around menstrual cycles and menopause - • Training philosophy: "You don't get fitter from training — you get fitter from recovery from training" Connect with Lucy Hurn: Lucy is the owner of Feel Fit with Lucy and helps women achieve big race goals while building both fitness and confidence. Her coaching covers training, nutrition, mindset, race planning, and stress management. Instagram: @feelfitwithlucy Facebook: Feel Fit with Lucy LinkedIn: Lucy Hurn YouTube: Mobility Monday videos Membership for female triathletes and runners: feelfitwithlucy.co.uk/membership Free resources: feelfitwithlucy.co.uk/freebies Connect with Us If this episode resonated with you, share it with a training buddy or leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform. Subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss upcoming episodes on fasting, midlife performance drops, and more awkward questions from Beth. Check out my Instagram and YouTube channels Join the BattleReadySociety - For those who want to be ready for anything — adventure, challenge, life. Get in early and be first in the fight. https://simon-ward.kit.com/battlereadyvanguard Join the Unstuck Collective – for Beth’s weekly inspiration and coaching insights (not a chat group; replies welcome via DM). Download Simon’s Free ‘Battle Ready Lifestyle’ Infographic — https://simon-ward.kit.com/battlereadylifestyle Website: www.simonward.co.uk Email:
[email protected] Sign up for Simon’s weekly newsletter Sign up for Beth’s weekly newsletter 💬 Got an awkward question for Simon? Send it to
[email protected] — and you might just hear it on a future episode!
