The Long Way Round: Georgia Hamblett on RED-S, Aquabike and Starting Again

Georgia Hamblett found this podcast driving between park runs in Northern Ireland, working her way through all 36 of them as a personal challenge. She was in the middle of a placement year away from university, a deliberate change of scene at a time when she needed one, and the long drives gave her time to think about the kind of athlete she wanted to become.

Georgia is a competitive age-group aquabike athlete and sports journalist writing for Aquabike.World. Her journey to the European Age Group Aquabike Championships in Spain, which she made alone, 12 hours of travel, bike box and all, has not been straightforward. She has navigated an eating disorder, RED-S, a labral hip tear, and the transition from triathlon to aquabike as a way of staying competitive while protecting her long-term health.

This is a very honest conversation about subjects that don't get discussed enough in endurance sport. Georgia talks about them with clarity, humour and a refreshing absence of self-pity. Her story is still being written and it is well worth following.

IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT:

How Georgia found the podcast driving between parkruns in Northern Ireland and why the timing changed how she heard it

Her experience of disordered eating, why it started, and what finally shifted

RED-S, the labral hip tear, and the cumulative impact of training before she was ready

How working with coach Nat Lawrence helped her build a sustainable approach to training and fuelling

The transition to aquabike, the European Championships in Spain, and what she is building through her writing at Aquabike.World

KILLER QUOTE"Even though it's been quite a wibbly wobbly journey, I absolutely love it. I wouldn't change it for the world now. Because I personally know how hard I found it to get through those things, it gives me a lot of self belief that I'll achieve some of my other goals too."

CONNECT with GeorgiaGeorgia Hamblett is an age-group aquabike athlete and sports journalist based in the UK.

Instagram: @georgias_tris_and_tribulations ,