Recovery Lab

26/07/2026

NEW VIDEO IS LIVE!

If I could go back and speak to myself before my first IRONMAN 70.3…

…this is exactly what I’d say.

After years of racing, coaching hundreds of athletes and making plenty of mistakes myself, I’ve put together the 20 biggest mistakes beginners make—so you don’t have to learn them the hard way.

Whether your race is next month or next year, I genuinely believe this could make your entire experience more enjoyable.

👇 I’d love to know…

🏊 What’s your next IRONMAN 70.3?

Or…

😬 What’s the ONE thing you’re most nervous about before race day?

I’ll be replying to as many comments as I can because I want this to become the go-to resource for first-time IRONMAN athletes.

🎥 Watch here:

If you’re training for your first IRONMAN 70.3, this is the video I...

15/07/2026

https://youtu.be/SagRsm0SI_E?si=j83outCr_OOxAbR_

If you raced IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2026… this video is for you.Whe...

11/07/2026

Recovery Lab 🫶🏼

This morning was something really special.

Before the nerves. Before the wetsuits. Before the start line.

We all came together as one team.

Athletes. Partners. Families. Friends.

We chatted about race plans, answered last-minute questions, calmed a few nerves, wandered around the athlete village, had a look around the expo and simply soaked up everything that makes an IRONMAN weekend so special.

Then we had the opportunity to stand together on the finish line.

For some, tomorrow that finish line will become one of the proudest moments of their lives.

Some of you will become IRONMAN 70.3 finishers for the very first time.

And I honestly couldn’t be prouder.

Not because of the finish line you’ll cross tomorrow…

But because I know what it took to get there.

The early mornings.
The missed lie-ins.
The long rides in the rain.
The swims when you didn’t feel like swimming.
The runs when nobody was watching.
The self-doubt you’ve overcome.
The consistency you’ve shown.

You’ve already done the hard part.

Tomorrow isn’t about proving you’re capable.

Tomorrow is simply your opportunity to show yourselves what months of belief, discipline and commitment have built.

When things get tough tomorrow - and at some point they will - remember this…

You don’t need to be fearless.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to keep moving forwards.

Trust your training.
Trust your preparation.
Trust yourself.

And most importantly… enjoy every second.

Look up.
Take in the crowds.
Smile.
Thank the volunteers.
Be present.

These are the days you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Thank you to every Recovery Lab athlete and every family member who’s trusted me to be part of your journey. It genuinely means more than you’ll ever know.

I’ll be out on the course tomorrow cheering every single one of you on, and I can’t wait to see those smiles as you run down the finish chute.

Let’s make tomorrow one you’ll never forget.

You’ve earned your place on that start line.

Now go and enjoy it…

🏊🏽🚴🏽🏃🏽🏁

📸 Huw Fairclough

11/07/2026

🏊 GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE RACING IRONMAN 70.3 SWANSEA THIS WEEKEND! 💙

I’ve just uploaded one final video from the swim start covering:

✅ Swim layout
✅ Managing race anxiety
✅ Heat advice
✅ Race morning mindset
✅ Last-minute tips to help you stay calm before the gun goes.

If you’re feeling nervous…

You’re not alone.

Every athlete on that beach tomorrow will have doubts.

Trust your training.

Trust the work you’ve put in.

One decision at a time.

One buoy at a time.

One mile at a time.

You’ve got this.

👇 If you’re racing…

Drop your race number below!

I’ll add you to my tracker and try to cheer as many of you on as possible around the course tomorrow.

Good luck everyone.

See you in Swansea! 🏊🚴🏃

Racing IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea this weekend?Before you head to the s...

05/07/2026

IRONMAN Wales Shakeout Swim

Saturday 12th September | 7:00am

The day before IRONMAN Wales can be full of excitement, anticipation and nerves.

This swim isn’t about pace, fitness or perfect technique.

It’s about arriving on the start line feeling calmer, more confident and ready to enjoy one of the best races in the world.

Whether it’s your first IRONMAN Wales or your tenth, everyone is welcome.

We’ll spend time in the water becoming familiar with the conditions, practising relaxed breathing, settling race-day nerves and building confidence. I’ll also share some simple mindset strategies and visualisation techniques that have helped both myself and the athletes I coach.

There’ll be no pressure to swim fast or far. The goal is simply to leave the beach feeling more relaxed than when you arrived.

What to expect:

* 🌊 Relaxed open water swim
* 🧠 Mindset and confidence techniques
* 😌 Breathing and relaxation exercises
* 🤝 Meet other athletes before race day
* ❓Opportunity to ask any last-minute questions

Whether you’re racing, supporting someone who is, or simply fancy an easy morning swim with like-minded people, we’d love to see you there.

Recovery Lab UK
Built Different.

02/07/2026

https://youtu.be/arsGE07SZa0?is=fhpCkdk8YOMQuEzo

Thinking about taking on the Long Course Weekend Wales Half Maratho...

01/07/2026

https://youtu.be/vnKXQZVbz4s

Racing LONG COURSE WEEKEND WALES?This is the complete bike race d...

30/06/2026

https://youtu.be/p0TH66KcHv8

Racing LONG COURSE WEEKEND WALES?In this video I’ll take you thro...

29/06/2026

One of my favourite things about coaching isn’t seeing athletes cross finish lines…

It’s watching them slowly become the athlete they never believed they could be.

A huge congratulations to Belinda, who has just completed an incredible Long Course Weekend in Tenby.

🏊 4.4km Open Water Swim
🚴 113km with almost 1,900m of climbing
🏃 42.2km marathon with over 1,000m of elevation

This wasn’t a race. It was one of the biggest training weekends of the year on the same roads and coastline that will host Ironman Wales in September.

What makes me proud isn’t just the distances.

It’s the transformation.

When Belinda first joined Recovery Lab, she questioned almost everything. She doubted herself in the water. She worried about the bike. Every race came with a long list of “what ifs.”

Now I see an athlete who trusts the process.

A few weeks ago we rode the Long Course Weekend bike course together. We worked on pacing, climbing technique, cadence and riding smarter - not harder. This weekend it was brilliant to see those conversations come to life. She stayed patient, rode within herself, fuelled consistently and, because of that, finished the bike in a position where she could run a marathon.

That’s what endurance sport is all about.

Fitness is important.

But confidence, consistency and ex*****on are what unlock your potential.

Belinda has earned every bit of this progress. Week after week she turns up, asks questions, listens, learns and applies what we’ve worked on. Those small improvements are now adding up to something really special.

The best part?

We’re not finished yet.

IRONMAN UK Wales is still ahead of us, and this weekend has shown exactly why I believe she’s capable of having her strongest performance yet.

Keep trusting yourself, Belinda. The athlete you’re becoming is inspiring to watch, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the journey.

Let’s keep building 🚀✨

25/06/2026

https://youtu.be/1Zzopy9dJcE?si=pdIp2DurLPjPK2_L

Everything you need to know before taking on the Long Course Weeken...