Natalie Lawrence swam competitively until she was 15, when she fell out of love with swimming, before being invited onto the development programme by British Triathlon. She competed at the World Junior Triathlon Championships and then moved to Loughborough to study and start her journey on the World Class Programme. But she soon developed an eating disorder which led her to leaving the elite set-up. But Natalie still wanted to do triathlon and got her pro license for the first time in 2011. She's since had four children, all the time staying fit between her pregnancies and competing as an age grouper. But now at 36 she's gained her pro card again and says there's nothing to lost by giving it a crack.
You'll hear:
02:00 Heather from The Lake District got in touch to talk about having a larger body in triathlon. How there is a lack of support, equipment and information out there for plus size triathletes and the struggle to find triathlon suits and wetsuits for larger bodies.
19:00 Natalie talks about her background in swimming and triathlon
25:00 Natalie says she didn't fall in love initially with triathlon, it found her. She talks about her time at Loughborough University and being part of the British Triathlon set-up.
27:00 The moment of being weighed on the scales which Natalie was "the beginning of the downwards spiral." Natalie went on to develop an eating disorder 'that was my coping mechanism, but I was in total decline.'
34:00 Developing an exercise addiction. 'If I felt like I hadn't exercised then, I'd punish myself through not eating.'
37:00 The devil Vs the angel and how Natalie felt like she had to change her mindset when she became pregnant for the first time.
38:00 Natalie talks about being a mum to four children. she had four under four at one point!
40:00 How does Natalie fit her own training and work in around being a Mum?
41:00 How Natalie can currently get away with not swimming!
45:00 Why Natalie still wanted to be in triathlon, even once she left Loughborough.
46:00 Why Natalie has decided to go pro again at the age of 36 after winning Outlaw triathlon 2023. 'I'd rather do it and get my answer because life is too short. You don't know when life is up. If I can do it and I can do it alright, I'm going to give it a go.'
Find out more about this week's guest:
Natalie Lawrence Instagram
Natalie Lawrence coaching and athlete website
Heather Good Instagram
Like what you heard?
Let me know! Connect with Inside Tri Show across Social Media, just search Inside Tri Show or click on the icons below
GET YOUR HANDS ON AN EXCLUSIVE EPISODE!
Sign up to be a vino buddy or a training buddy on Patreon and get your hands on two patrons-only episodes a year.
Or just support the show by buying Helen a coffee every month by becoming a coffee buddy Patreon of the Inside Tri Show.
Listener Discounts
For 15% Discount on FORM Swim goggles: https://www.formswim.com/pages/insidetrishow
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summer Series: Outer Hebrides Bike Rafting: Hollie Leonard
Raising £1million by doing the Tour de France
Hayden Wilde: From XTERRA to the Olympics in four years
Race special: Joe Skipper and Katrina Matthews win Ironman UK 2021
Marten Van Riel: The Belgian triathlon star proving the doubters wrong
How do you deal with a DNF? With Laura Siddall
Dr Bella Smith and Baz Moffat: How to survive the menopause
Race Special: World Triathlon Leeds 2021
Calum Johnson - National cross country champion
Helle Frederiksen: Race day nutrition and how to fuel a triathlon
Heather Jackson and Paula Findlay in Conversation
The Ocean Sheroes: Rowing the Pacific
Sameera Al Bitar: Breaking triathlon barriers in Bahrain
George Goodwin and Blair Cartmell in conversation
Gwen Jorgensen: 2016 Olympic Triathlon Champion
Lou Bates: When triathlon becomes a stress
Holly Page: Running for the love of it
Super League Triathlon: Arena Games London 2021
Fiona Kolbinger: Winning the Transcontinental Race
Dr Emma Ross: Focus on Females
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Running with Jake - The PLODcast
Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara
The Strength Running Podcast
Ali on the Run Show
Coach Bennett’s Podcast