Lucy Charles-Barclay is a triathlon athlete. She has won the Ironman World Championship. In May, Barclay met up with trainer, Natacha Océane, and she shared some photos on Instagram. Océane captioned the post, “The IronMan World Champion x a fangirl 🙋♀️ If you ever needed a reminder that the comeback > the setback, please let me present @lucycharles93 👸💐 Lucy is the kind of person who teaches you the potential of a fighting spirit. Even through a broken hip, and a broken foot, and the frustration of four second place finishes, and even tearing your calf with an entire marathon(!!) to go in the World Championship race.”
1. She Eats Healthy
Barclay shared her diet secrets in her Ironman interview. “Nutrition is indeed the fourth pillar in triathlon—for me, it’s about everyday eating habits that support overall health and energy levels. I focus on a balanced diet rich in whole foods, lean proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Hydration and well-timed meals are crucial, especially post-training to maximize recovery.”
2. She Takes Care Of Her Mental Health
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Barclay shared her mental health secrets with Ironman. “I manage stress through mindfulness and breathing exercises, which help maintain focus and resilience. I speak with a sports psychologist occasionally and keep a positive mindset as much as possible. Acknowledging successes, no matter how small, is also important for mental well-being.”
3. She Bikes
Barclay bikes to keep herself in shape. She shared this video on Instagram of herself biking on a race course. Barclay captioned the post, “After Miami and Singapore, the path was cleared for me to dedicate the time I needed to really get to know this course and face my fears. Having been out here for a few weeks riding the course, I can truly say it’s one of the most spectacular and beautiful courses I have ever ridden and I can’t wait to tackle that ‘fear’ head on race day at @ironman_france next weekend.”
4. She Runs
Barclay likes to run to keep herself in shape. She shares a lot of posts on Instagram of herself running. Barclay shared this video of herself doing a training session. She captioned the post, “My favourite session of the week…🏃🏼♀️🌳☀️Sunday long run with the best support crew♥️”
5. She Gets Enough Sleep
Barclay shared some of her wellness secrets in this interview with Ironman. “Good sleep is critical for recovery, especially after intense training and races,” she says. “My strategy involves creating a calm environment before bedtime--no screens, a cool room temperature, and sometimes meditation to ease my mind. I also stick to a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends, to maintain my body’s internal clock. I usually go to sleep at 8:30 pm and wake up at 5 am. This routine helps me wake up refreshed and ready for the day’s training sessions.”
Emily Steel/Instagram
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