Lucy
“You do you. It really doesn’t matter what anyone else’s opinions are as long as you’re happy and living your life as you want to.”
Lucy is a Triathlete who is constantly looking to challenge herself and push her personal boundaries. Although injuries have presented setbacks in the past, her determination, work ethic, and dedication were able to carry her to the finish line. She maintains an exemplary balance of living in the moment while also focusing on future goals. Meet Lucy. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
L: I am Lucy, and I am a Scottish graphic designer by day and International Age group Triathlete for Great Britain on evenings and weekends. I love a good giggle, dogs are life and I am an extreme chocoholic.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
L: I LOVE being outdoors. Any spare time I have I can be found swimming, cycling or running. I love to travel to new places to race and train. I am very goal-driven and love setting myself targets and goals. Sometimes these will be small but I also have a habit of signing up for crazy ideas, like 24-hour cycling endurance races. Live in the moment and worry about it later I say.
K: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
L: I am very proud of my determination and fight. No matter what the scenario I will always give my all and strive to be a better person. I always want to push myself to become a better person.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
L: 12 weeks/3 months out from the World Triathlon Championships in 2019, I injured my knee quite badly. I knew it was bad and I ended up having surgery to repair my knee. It felt like the carpet had been pulled from under me, just as I was hitting my peak. All my family were flying out to support me in the race and I knew I had to give it everything I had to rehabilitate and get myself on that startline. As the weeks passed I had no idea if I would be able to do it. The pain was horrendous but I kept doing as my physios and surgeons said. 4 weeks out from the Championships I had reached a point where we thought it was looking likely I could safely complete the race. And 4 weeks later I lined up in the world champs. I was by no means fit to compete at any level, but for me, on that day the aim was to get to that finishing straight with my family around me. As I got to the blue carpet finish I was in floods of tears as I hugged all my family and ran down through the finish banner. The emotions that day were epic, and I will never forget it.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
L: You do you. It really doesn't matter what anyone else's opinions are as long as you’re happy and living your life as you want to.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
L: The woman that most inspires me is my mum, Linda. From as early as I can remember she has been the most inspiring and motivating person. Not just a mum but a friend. She has guided me through life, supporting me in anything I did. Teaching me as a young female that I can achieve anything I want to with no limitations. She has shown me this by doing exactly this herself. With her inspiring stories from workplace equality in the 80s and fighting for women's rights in the workplace, to her strength through a divorce and also retraining and following a new career path later in life. She is just amazing and I would reiterate that as many times I can and hopefully show her my gratitude through what I achieve in life, which she will have been a huge factor. Thank you mum!