The Active Journey
Welcome to the active journey.
Listen to inspirational conversations with remarkable guests from all walks of life.
Some famous, some talented, some with just an amazing story to share.
The Active Journey
10 - Laura Fairhurst - Ironman Insights: Training, Triathlons, Triumphs, and Trials
In this episode of the Active Journey Podcast, Mark interviews Laura Fairhurst, a world-class Ironman Distance triathlete and successful entrepreneur.
Laura shares her inspiring story, starting from her early days in sports to becoming a champion triathlete. She discusses her training regimen, balancing business and elite competition, and the challenges she's overcome.
Laura also reveals her plans for future competitions and her new venture, Trinity Triathlon, aimed at promoting inclusivity in the sport.
Tune in to be inspired by Laura's incredible journey and insights!
If you liked this episode, and want to know more about Mark and his amazing organisation Active Sports Group, then follow him, and make sure to keep listening for more updates, discussions and sports related content!
Edited with finesse by Mike at Making Digital Real
In today's episode of the active Journey podcast we have Laura Fairhurst, a world class Ironman Distance triathlete, whose dedication and achievements have set her apart in the world of endurance sports. In this episode, we'll delve into Laura's journey from her humble beginnings to her rise as a powerhouse in both triathlon business will uncover how she balances the demands of elite competition with the challenges of entrepreneurship and hear about the obstacles she's overcome and the victories she celebrated along the way. Okay, episode four of the active Journey podcast I'm really pleased to be joined by lower fat house this morning. Laura is a world champion triathlete at Ironman distance and also multiple business owners. So really looking forward to finding out more about Laura's story and how she got into triathlon. Laura, how're you doing?
Laura Fairhurst:I'm good. Thanks, Mark. Thanks for having me on the show.
Mark Whitwood:No, it's great. And we couldn't firstly, could you tell the listeners sort of more about your early years and how you got into sports? And eventually what led you into triathlon?
Laura Fairhurst:Yeah, sure. Well, I wasn't particularly that sporty at school, I did have some horses, which I competed with, up to sort of a county level, but really took up swimming when I was 22. I taught myself how to swim. And then when I got to 28, my cousin sadly passed away. And I decided I would do something to raise some money in her name. So took a sport that I hated, which was running and very, very quickly fell in love with. So I decided to run the Manchester 10k. And I wanted to do a sub 50. So decided I needed to train hard for that. So I started training with a running and the rest is history with regard to not not enjoying running anyway,
Mark Whitwood:in terms of running, you said that you fell in love with it, what was what was it that you were getting most out of from running? Can I enjoy running a lot and for me, it's like with running the business I when I got run, it's often that quiet time I sometimes get my thinking time and best ideas and just feel really good from doing it. Is that sort of similar feelings for yourself? Or what? What was it that got you hooked? Because speaking so many people now that, you know, we're finding like they've started running at a later age as well in life, and it's almost transformed their life in terms of balance across everything that they do it? Yeah,
Laura Fairhurst:I think I think you really see the increase in fitness come when you become you kind of take your your running up to a new level. I was doing lots of interval training, and I just thought I was getting faster. And then it gave me more challenges with regard to like, I ticked milestones off, like do my sub 50 10k and then then you you just want to get better. I joined a running club, and then became part of community, which was there my social life. Yeah, I think that that that also really helped.
Mark Whitwood:Well, you've mentioned there already that you you swimmin and started in the running. And obviously you've gone on to achieve great things in triathlon. I'm looking forward to sort of finding out how you first found out about triathlon because not everyone's been aware of where to go and access triathlon or even how to get involved or sometimes what it is, but one component of that that's missing is cycling. So did you go and join cycling club or was that just something that you enjoyed doing in the gym or in your spare time as well to be able to start thinking about combining it together?
Laura Fairhurst:It started off with some spin classes at my local gym, which I was really enjoying. And then I thought actually, a friend of mine was selling her old bike and she'd done some Iron Man's and she was progressing on to the next time trail bike. So I said, I'll pay that off you Rachel ended up buying this this bike which said I was petrified to get I couldn't get clip in Santa. I've got to get cleats for it. I need to look professional and I was like, Oh, well, you know, it's fine. So I kind of pooped around on this bike for probably about six months and then decided I'm actually into a triathlon. And so I did my first triathlon six months later, which was, well, not not to kind of probably did the best start to triathlon, I think I ended up falling off in, in the airport tunnels in Wilmslow. And the second one, I ended up getting lost around Northwich. And they both did what I think had mastered it, and I actually managed to do a whole a whole triathlon without getting lost without forming laugh, and I thought, this is all right.
Mark Whitwood:What year was that when you first had to go? To 2010 2010? Right. Okay, so 14 years now, was it as a triathlete, you're starting out anyway. And did you as soon as you'd finished the first one though, did you? Did you just enjoy more than when you completed your 10k in Manchester? Like, what was the feeling that if I finish that thought was it? Yeah,
Laura Fairhurst:I think I was. I think it was more challenges involved. And I also I always like to challenge in every aspect of life. So I think that that that was definitely appealing. And I think you're doing a sprint distance for him thought, Oh, well, you can do you no longer distances here you might channel Olympic distance or a 70.3. And then you've always got in the back of your mind like read books. I read the Chrissie Wellington book and was totally inspired by Percy Wellington. This woman is amazing. And she seems to do it, do it and enjoy it so much. So I thought, right, I think at one point in my life about student Ironman,
Mark Whitwood:she was four times world champion. Would you say Chris? He's one of Have you met Chrissy?
Laura Fairhurst:No, no. Would you
Mark Whitwood:say she's one of the biggest influences you had in sort of triathlon at the time? Actually, they're not there and and just say hearing her story and to achieve That's
Laura Fairhurst:it. That's it. It's Christy Wellington and Paul Ratcliffe. Yeah, like the long distance you know, the marathon runner and the the Ironman but Chrissy, absolutely brilliant, superb athlete. Yeah. So
Mark Whitwood:being modest as your whole or like, there was a there must have been a turning point, though, after you had started to do some of these triathlons and you got a little bit better, you weren't getting lost. And you're falling off your bike here and there and things are starting to slowly come together. You're also having a fun ride. I know you've got which we'll talk about a business that you started prior to becoming a triathlete when your personal training or explored sort of qualifications around the fitness industry as well, because you're starting to really get like just hooked on that health and well being sort of career as well. Absolutely.
Laura Fairhurst:So I a couple of years prior to my fitness, travel and actually qualified with as a personal trainer. And then I've gone off and set up some boot camps around altering him and I'd sort of started coaching at David Lloyd doing core stability and circuits and things like that. So, yeah, I'd really got into the coaching side of things and that PTM side of things. Yeah. So yeah.
Mark Whitwood:So that then combined with starting to, we're starting to place better in triathlons was that was sort of a turning point or lightbulb moment where you thought that's really I'm finishing quite well here, I could actually start training more start to look at bigger, bigger races bigger, better competition. Well, funnily
Laura Fairhurst:enough after the first two chapters was the one that had fallen off from the one that I got lost. I actually entered a two or two other triathlons in that same series of which I did pretty well at and because I'd entered all four of the the events and I've done okay, in in few of them actually completed the two that I got lost. And for luffa I actually ended up winning the series, I managed to win a wetsuits right, and so they're not great. I don't have to do these pull swims anymore. I can go in and do some open water swimming. So I took up then some a bit of open water swimming practice, and then went and entered. It was one of tatton Park, actually,
Mark Whitwood:and don't do that one anymore.
Laura Fairhurst:They stopped in that one is a lovely event. Yes, sort of partly in the in the park itself, so it felt quite safe. Yeah, so it did that one and then one at Cape Stuart Hall of which I managed to lose my triathlon watching in the middle of the lake and spent about three hours trying to find it afterwards. So, yeah, so that was and then and then went on to kind of book a couple of 70 Point threes, one
Mark Whitwood:in at the moment, just can you tell us what 70.3 is? Yeah, sure.
Laura Fairhurst:It's a half distance Ironman, so it's 70.3 miles, basically.
Mark Whitwood:Just break that down for listeners?
Laura Fairhurst:Yeah, it's a 1900 meter swim. 56 mile bike and then half marathon. 13.1 mile run. Okay.
Mark Whitwood:So yeah, serious training needed to be involved in Yeah. And to what what year was it when you first did you? First 70.37 2.3
Laura Fairhurst:was 2012. And then not long after? Picture, that's it. And then I decided to enter them under mark and ballot and managed to get in for 2013. At the same time,
Mark Whitwood:I'm not just secret for that, by the way. 12 times now it's easy
Laura Fairhurst:thing. It's not an easy thing. And at the same time, I actually after it, well, I have to I have to admit after a couple of glasses of wine one evening decided to enter bought an Ironman. So I had a couple of things then planned for 2013 which was the London Marathon a couple more 70 Point threes and falls
Mark Whitwood:off so you really sort of ramping up your endurance events they're supposed to blend in in life. It was was that the first marathon that you'd ever done as well, the London one it wasn't
Laura Fairhurst:actually So I did Dublin in 2010. So that's
Mark Whitwood:some experience. Yeah. Long distance running. So putting all those together and and with the the personal training and the business system, they're already starting. So I have lots going on. Where you find in that sometimes the the triathlon training was an escape from like the busy schedules we had running the businesses and how did it how did you manage to sort of fit it all in what was a typical training week, like then when you were first starting to guess more at an amateur level, like trying to participate in some of the events that you are doing, and we'll go into how that's changed as you become more successful. But at that point, you were, you know, I suppose more at the coalface with the business. I like doing a lot of the practical work yourself and everything like how do you how did you manage to make it all work?
Laura Fairhurst:So basically, I used a lot of races. So I enter literally everything under the sun thinking I raised myself fit. I was going to David Lloyd spin classes because they were convenient after work. It was safe that these work prior to the days of people having smart turbo trainers, yeah. And I joined Manchester Triathlon Club and was doing a lot of my swim training with them. So that was quite good because it was structured swim training. And it meant that I was having to push myself really hard because I was swimming with other very good competitive swimmers. So then I was still using my ultrium. I was a member of Ultracam athletics club, and I was going to training with them on the track on a Tuesday and then doing my long runs with many of my friends on Sunday. I was getting fitting in long bike rides going on sportif so it was it was quite unstructured bar there couple of interval sessions I was doing with the club.
Mark Whitwood:It sounds a bit how I manage my head at the moment. But I sometimes enter these things just to have those targets and goals. And then yeah, keeps you focused a little bit, doesn't it when you've got everything else going on. But you just said about Chrissy? Well, incidentally, Paul Radcliffe been influences there. But you mentioned like quite a few different clubs that you were sort of part of as well which I think's great for anyone listening as well. If you're interested in sports, or your children are getting down to a club, or maybe, you know, being around a good coach or other other participants that are just enjoying the sport, it's a great place to go and feel and explore, like getting more involved. So you've been involved in Manchester try club altering athletics club, you must have had some influences or role models there that you're coming across that kind of training with probably getting you more motivated to keep achieving bigger goals, which you've ended up obviously going on to do as well. It was not the case, we found that there was people out the clubs that were just inspiring.
Laura Fairhurst:Unlike I've met some very good good friends there as well. And it was a case of you know, there might have been, I might have had friends who are was running with who might have been 20 years older than me. And they were running at my pace, and we used to race each other in races, and you'd think it's amazing, you know, my friend, Bev, she was in her 50s and I'm in my 30s and, and she's kind of beating me around 10 mile road races and things and yeah, so I definitely I've definitely been really inspired by by a lot of people I've trained with along the way. Now.
Mark Whitwood:I love that age. Like we were just talking about that before we started the podcast for ages and a barrier. It didn't have to be does it like you just said there's people there that you're coming across that are much older that we're not going out great times and everything and it just shows you like you're never too late to start something. And if you if you go all in and follow a training plan and everything, then anything can be achieved can't and if we fast forward a little bit so you're part of these clubs, and you've you've started to do full distance. Ironman, how did that first one at Bolton, go? By the way, just before we go on to your successes,
Laura Fairhurst:it was bad. Well, actually, it ended up racing it as a pro. So I went as part of my training, as well as the London Marathon I decided to enter the long course weekend, which was the full iron distance over three days. So we did the we did the 2.4 mile swim on the Friday. Yeah. Then the Saturday was 112 miles on the bike around a ridiculously hilly course, in Tempe. And then on the Sunday again, ridiculously hilly marathan in very hot weather. Actually, we were very lucky, which is quite unusual for temporary Yeah, and I ended up coming game second second in the swim. So they put us on. It was kind of like a start where we start on top of this platform and then rode off rode off this platform and everyone was timed and I think it came fifth overall in the in the bike ride. And then the marathon I came second Oh Overall, and ended up getting second place overall in, in the whole events. So it actually gave me qualification to because I'd achieved like a podium finish in a world recognized events that I could actually apply for pro status because I was trying to get a place for I am on Wales. And they said that there wasn't any available unless I was either a pro or I was famous. I was like, I'm not favored. I'm gonna have to turn pro. So that's basically all I did. So I did my first Ironman as front of like the canoes, and I had all these overenthusiastic male age groupers. Behind me, and I was like, this could be carnage. Yeah, so it was quite nerve wracking, actually, for your first Ironman to know that, you know, you're kind of racing it as a pro. As well, I suppose. Because you're kind of in the age group, the age group money, so I actually came fifth pro overall, did
Unknown:you win 2000 pounds? It was a good day in the office ready? 1127. So you managed to replace your watch that you lost in keeps on
Laura Fairhurst:lately? I did. I did. And that funds funds the next day on Monday as well. So
Mark Whitwood:Wow. I mean, that's such a standout moment, right at the very beginning and to be like turning pro and so clearly, like natural talent for it all. And then oh, like from doing a couple of triathlons myself and speaking to others that do it. People struggle with self discipline the same. They enjoy doing all of them and perhaps ones that least favorite but I think from from what I've heard and some of your performances that doesn't appear to be many weaknesses across the three different disciplines like swimming so extremely strong cycling you love and you finished high and and call an invitation great times with the marathon etc. How would you find that you you feel quite lucky that you are not lucky but you've trained hard, but you naturally seem to be able to take two or three disciplines pretty well, it's
Laura Fairhurst:a strange thing actually, Mark because I have days where I'll get into the pool and peel. I'm not swimming well. And then I think about it and go, actually my times are they're always strong in the pool. My bike has just gone from strength to strength. I've been you know, I've been coached over the years I put a lot of miles into to kind of ride it I think I think my bikes are more miles than my car actually for the last for the last 10 years. So it's it's that's just been a lot of hard graft but my bike is now probably my strongest discipline, okay, then my running has always been through been thrown to the wayside because of injury things. And I've tried to strengthen myself up in the gym. But it has been a weakness of mine due to I think my biomechanics really, of which I've tried to put right through strength and conditioning and also through a lot of chiropractic treatment that I go for regularly and and physio
Mark Whitwood:and such high impact. Sometimes you can still get training loads and I guess on the bike and without the bigger impacts on the rest of the body. Yeah,
Laura Fairhurst:so that's, that's the way I've started training much more smartly, and putting more impact into the bike which which doesn't have as much impact on my body and then it's, I kind of got my running Fitness Through that side of things to triathlon
Mark Whitwood:and Ironman in particular is taken not just within the UK and certainly Bolton but now in Tenby all over the world hasn't it? Has, you've ended up becoming a competitor at World championship events? So yeah, could you say what what's been the biggest achievement then? But if you've had with triathlon, and how did you how did you get there?
Laura Fairhurst:It's a funny one because probably, like we racing it, the World Champs in Utah was was completely out of this world experience that had the most amazing couple of weeks there with a couple of my friends of competitors in the leader, and then the actual experience of racing against the best the best of Ironman Triathlon in your age group. Isn't that exceptional, like the boys around? I actually race race the World Champs at Utah? The bus around it, there was just absolutely out of this world. It was just something that I'll never
Mark Whitwood:forget. How did you qualify Laura to become a you know, a competitor in a in a world championship event? Or to achieve a certain time in another event or build up enough points or how does it work?
Laura Fairhurst:I actually came second at in my age group for Mr. Portugal, right? Just the previous year so then that that gave me Be around Keisha? Absolutely. And then I got a lovely email through from Ironman, so you've qualified for the World Champs. I was like, Do you want to take up? I mean, it's expensive to kind of get your place. It's over 1000 pounds. Do you want to take this place up? And I was like, absolutely I do. Yeah, I didn't give it a second thought. It was something I'd always wanted to do. I'd hoped I'd have raced at Hawaii, which is in Kona, which is where the World Champs normally held, but because of the it was the year after the COVID, roll, rollover, yeah, I ended up at Utah, but it was great to race or when you when somebody
Mark Whitwood:GB athletes are out there to come across, represented by
Laura Fairhurst:literally 1000s of us. I mean, it is a bigger event, because it's it's the World Champs so it's like literally the best of the best. So anyone that's come podiums over competition, yeah, you're kind of competing against them, if they decided to attend to when
Mark Whitwood:you're aiming for these big events. And obviously, that had been the pinnacle. And what did the typical training block or week look like building up for that? I know, with marathon training, it can be a 12 or 16 week schedule that you kind of follow in preparation for that? Is it similar with triathlon each other like blend the three activities that you do over three, four months? Or is it longer? Like how did you manage to do it? And what how many hours were you having to put in each week? Well, for
Laura Fairhurst:me, with triathlon training, the consistency and key, the key is consistency. So I was probably putting in on my big weeks, 25 hours a week of training. So like a normal week would look at, we'd be doing a hard sweat. And on Monday mornings, followed by a hard bite session, then Tuesdays, I'd be doing an interval session running wise and a swim session. Wednesdays would be trade all day Wednesday. So it was all easy, but I would bite for five hours, I'd run for an hour. And I would swim for an hour and a half. And then Thursdays would be another what threshold Thursdays we used to call them so you'd be doing threshold on the bike and threshold swim. Fridays was easy day. And so then we would we be doing just an easy swim, and maybe an easy job just to kind of ease out the legs. Yeah, Saturdays is the big interval session running wise. And then an easy spin out on the bike for a couple of hours in the afternoon. And Sunday is like a big ride day. So six, six hours on the bike. is intense.
Mark Whitwood:Yeah, I hear that word a lot. And I think that's important across everything that anyone's doing, isn't it, like just you can get there at whatever pace it is. But as long as you're consistently making steps forward, it's, it's the key to to everything, isn't it rarely, absolutely like but actually, that's a lot of hours to put in. And there must be some times the mental sort of preparation. So even not just going into races, but to train in and then the challenges of just living during the week. And sometimes challenges at work and stuff. Were there any moments through that where, you know, you had to face challenges in the training but but building up to the World Championships where you felt like sometimes it was it was all too much or you're having to like, just take a deep breath and like realize, like what the end goal would be eventually. And you know, was there anything that sort of happened during during those training weeks that like you found tougher early?
Laura Fairhurst:Absolutely.
Mark Whitwood:I'm assuming fatigue, I wake up every Monday night and again, I'd be ready to just rock out 25 hours a day. Most
Laura Fairhurst:days like that. And I know that there were times I'm on the bike ride that I'd be out with my friends and I'd be in tears up at the top of the hill going, I've absolutely fatigued I can't carry on. I just, I just ended up having to take an extra day's rest on the Monday and I think it was listed is it a case of listening to your body, keeping a check on on my heart rate variables as well using my my Garmin watch, just to see how fatigued actually am and then the other thing is fuel. So making sure that I'm eating enough because when you're training oh absolutely when you're training this March. So I actually got totally Joris nutrition to write my nutrition plan. So I had all my food documents had Kelsey was telling me exactly what I needed because following that as well, yeah, yeah, totally. And, and then during each session what I needed to fuel us to fuel that session. Some of them we do fasted so that your body will get used to not being able to run off off the fat, the fat stores basically. So we do we
Mark Whitwood:vary to crisis management, strike and training. Yeah,
Laura Fairhurst:absolutely. And then we would look at it I'm kind of what we do. I trained with a certain type of fueling, like, I use science and sport betta fuel. But then we'd look at what was on course. So say it was an Iron Man's an Ironman event, it would be Morton's. So then I practice using those in case I've dropped some of my nutrition, which I did actually do in Utah, dropped it all. So then you've got you've got an actual contingency backup plan
Mark Whitwood:in triathlon and marathon running and everything. It's the classic phrase the bunk, isn't it? Like when you run out of fuel, and the body starts breaking discipline? Why does that happen to you before?
Laura Fairhurst:Yeah, yeah, it has done training when I've been on training training days, and have not eaten enough. And I thought, Oh, well, it's fine. I'll be able to get through this and then all of a sudden, yeah, yeah, like having to climb the last climb and there's nothing left in the leg. So this is crazy. How am I gonna get home? And you stopping like the petrol station to try and refill your pill? But by then it's it's gone? Yeah. So yeah, absolutely. So it def definitely, I think we've all probably made that mistake before at some point during training, and you do live and learn.
Mark Whitwood:Yeah, so triathlons taking you on such a journey, like, obviously, from humble beginnings, and you've gone all over the world and won competition. So you've won a competition recently?
Laura Fairhurst:I did I want to sleep. Sleep on legends, which is 70.3 the heart the Half Ironman distance. That was the only event I've done this year, because I've been so busy trying to juggle new starting setting up new businesses and moving house and so on and so forth. Yeah, so I've just, I've just literally checked, I've not been doing 25 hours a week, I will admit that. And I've just done a smart training plan, which I would give to time limited athletes, just to to kind of put the intensity up. But without the volume. Yeah. So I've managed to fit that into a very, very busy schedule. Yeah. And, and still managed to, to be champion over a slate, man. So it was good. We talked
Mark Whitwood:about time management there. Just before we move on to talking about you how you balance your business and the triathlons and watch me come in new in the business world for yourself as well. What key advice would you give to somebody listening in terms of like, just being able to, to fit some form of training into into the week because everyone always has the same amount of time, or you hear in conversation, when you're chatting with other people that they haven't got time. Or they, they've that's the biggest thing that they moan about. And then they go from one week to the next and there's no progression or they've not started and then they will probably if we can talk about this adaption of the couch to 5k that we were discussing earlier. But you know, what, what could you give as advice to somebody that's struggling maybe with time? And how could they get the most out of maybe two or three hours a week, if that's what they feel that they've got to find the getting some some progress with their fitness and wellbeing?
Laura Fairhurst:Well, again, I'll use the term consistency is key. So I'll write in to some of my sort of newer athletes or time limited athletes 20 minutes a day. So it's a case of just getting up 20 minutes earlier. I mean, I'm being a little bit more organized, maybe with with regard to like, Oh, I haven't got time to do that 20 minutes, because I have to have my I have to make my lunch for the next day, or I have to clean the house or the and he's just trying to kind of make free up that 20 minutes to being in like a little bit more structured with your evening potentially, and not sitting down and watching the telly for that that extra 20 minutes just to to actually fit fit those that that little bit of training in and once you get that structured into your day on a daily basis, then it becomes part of your routine. And I think then the ability to do it is is is much easier for you. Yeah, no,
Mark Whitwood:no, that's great advice. So you've like Sarah talked quite a lot about the triathlons now, but in terms of like that, you've also been a business owner for nearly 20 years now, which was the cleaning business that you still have now as well, which operates across Cheshire, is it or is it beyond Cheshire?
Laura Fairhurst:It does it's pretty much beyond that. Yeah, around Cheshire it's great to Manchester and
Mark Whitwood:so in terms of like being a business owner, what if there been any big learnings that you've had over the over those 20 years, some of them like you are transferable into into the triathlon field, like where you've had challenges and stuff.
Laura Fairhurst:I think everyday can be a challenge with regard to if a problem arises such as a member of staff, does it come into work, I have to deal with it. And it's it's about having contingency backups and I think it's it's like this with with training, and it's about organization and again, it's like that was training. So it's just about being super organized and making sure that you kind of you have, I find, if I give myself enough time to do things, I don't get stressed. So if I think it's going to take me 10 minutes to drive somewhere and actually, it's gonna take me 15 It's allowing myself that 15 minutes. I've done this too often, where you try and condense too much into two shorter periods of time. So, so and I want to give my clients the best service as well. So it's making sure that all the time management's doing correctly. Yeah,
Mark Whitwood:no, that's brilliant advice. Well, the cleaning business in obviously been an entrepreneur, you know, expanding the business offering and guest taking the passion from triathlon into into an additional new business. Could you pizzas sort of share some more information about that, and what's led you to want to start that? Yeah.
Laura Fairhurst:And so, we're setting up a business called Trinity triathlon, which is going to be a very inclusive business, I've been dealing, one of my athletes is a power athlete, he went off a cliff on a bike two years ago, had a spinal cord injury, and has taken up para triathlon, which is swim as usual, then handcycle, and then wheelchair racing. This is kind of branched me out a lot. And it's opened my eyes. Yeah, so my new business is going to be dealing quite a lot with with the parasite of things. I've also been helping my partner in her business with athletics coaching in schools. So we want to branch out with coaching children in triathlon, from a young age so that the business is also going to include like coaching Little ones through to teenagers. So
Mark Whitwood:that's great, because it's, I mean, the business that we've been involved in with the active sports groups working in schools and been in myself in primary education for over 20 years, there isn't much opportunity even now for young children to sort of access or even found out about triathlon, I think, knowledge wise, like, because of the success of some of our great British team GB athletes and across the mix really lays in the middle in that they've had it sort of the Olympic games and stuff people are becoming more aware, aren't they and recognizing, like successful athletes, but still, there's a lack of opportunity I found in schools to do that. So this sounds really exciting. So have you have you started to test this out with some schools and, and if I've gone and spoken or do some workshops with children,
Laura Fairhurst:we have been we've been do some school assemblies and making children aware, I mean, a lot of children don't even know what triathlon is, yeah, I've been doing talks at schools and kind of bringing their awareness and telling them our story of, of the World Champs in different triathlon events that I've done, and we're hoping to kind of branch out with, with schools hoping to get swimming pools and things like that. Yeah, so it's such,
Mark Whitwood:it's so inspiring. Alright, so essentially, what what keeps you motivated on a daily basis to keep doing all this and keep that energy going for all the, you know, winning the competition recently wanting to start a new business? It's, it's great sort of what what's the motivation behind it all?
Laura Fairhurst:I have to say, I'm motivated. Hartwell highly, highly motivated by my athletes. I see how hard they train on a daily basis, and I sent them training plans, and they might be working 10 hour days, yet they still put the time aside to get their training done and successful in their own triathlon. And as their mentor and their coach, I want to inspire them as much as they inspire me. So it definitely drives me to keep keep doing the sport constantly. And hitting all my training, training training plans myself. So that's
Mark Whitwood:its future goals, then it's obviously going to be growing the new triathlon Trinity training business as well. It sounds really exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing how that progresses. Have you got any other sort of personal future goals in terms of competing and where that might take care? In the next few months or next year?
Laura Fairhurst:I definitely think I'd like to put my hand to some adventure races are quite fancy Patagonian man and Norseman. So that's something for the future.
Unknown:That's one in Iceland or Norway.
Laura Fairhurst:And that's yeah, so you basically dive off the back of a very at three o'clock in the morning into freezing cold waters, and then you you're racing up the sides of mountains and and you finish the run and yeah, you basically have to race up beside of this. This room. be nothing. So it sounds very challenging and appeals to me. But yeah, I'd like to do something something a little bit more gritty. I think
Mark Whitwood:triathlon journeys no way finished.
Laura Fairhurst:I think I'd like to do do some quicker times as well for him from my PV in Texas last year,
Mark Whitwood:so Okay, all right, so so big goals.
Laura Fairhurst:Yeah, absolutely.
Mark Whitwood:We all sort of sucked start to close the podcast by asking guests I want three values that they sort of live by, in their everyday of being a business owner as well and sort of working with lots of people are there's sort of three key values that you can have expected of yourself and I guess those around you that spend most time with you really the people on your training groups or your employees or? Yeah,
Laura Fairhurst:oh, gosh, I think three three key values probably be definitely think working hard is one of them. Yeah. Motivation, I think inclusivity inclusivity. Yeah. So yeah.
Mark Whitwood:Well, I really enjoyed like chatting, and finding out so much more about your journey through triathlon, and then running businesses and excited to see what you achieve in the future as well with it all if if anybody's listening and would be interested in finding out more about sort of your career or potentially even how to get involved or perhaps interested in seeking coaching is or somewhere where they could find out more information.
Laura Fairhurst:We are just literally setting up the website at the moment but I haven't actually got got the domain name or sort of issue we've got we've got talk to them about marketing and get our marketing team this week to get to get everything sorted. Oh, well,
Mark Whitwood:perhaps when once it's sorted and you've done another competition the future we can get you back on and then you'll be able to like promote and let people know more about like how to get involved with with Trinity triethyl That's
Laura Fairhurst:that sounds brilliant market at the moment. They can look me up on Instagram, and I'll keep everyone posted on there on there. Yeah, brilliant.
Mark Whitwood:So that's Laura, fair host on Instagram and get no thanks again, Laura, and good luck with everything.
Laura Fairhurst:Oh, thank you, Mark. Thank you nicely