#261 Becky Woods: From Basketball and Sibling Rivalry to Ironman World Champion

This week on Any Given Runday podcast we have Ironman World Champion, Becky Woods (@beckswoods on Instagram) . Becky has gone from representing Ireland on a European stage and cross country to dominating the world stage in Ironman 70.3 with multiple AG wins, including the European Championships in Estonia 2023 and the World Championships in New Zealand in 2024.  Becky discusses her journey from swimming, gymnastics, and basketball to her current dominance in Ironman 70.3 events. She shares anecdotes about her transition to triathlons, overcoming injuries, and training during the pandemic. Becky also reveals the mental and physical challenges of preparing for and competing in world championship events, including her recent triumph at the World Championships in New Zealand. Join us for an inspiring conversation with this world champion as she reflects on her past achievements and contemplates her future goals. 06:34 Introduction to Becky Woods 07:26 Early Sports Journey 10:39 Competitive Basketball Years 14:22 Switch to Running 29:40 Injury and Introduction to Triathlon 34:04 First Triathlon Experiences 35:47 COVID-19 Training and Long-Distance Triathlon Training 53:21 Racing at the World Championships in Finland 57:23 Improving Transitions for Better Performance 58:34 Challenges and Lessons from Domestic Races 62:01 The Toughest Race: The Lost Sheep 68:43 Mental Strategies and Race Psychology 72:07 Training and Preparation for the World Championships 76:44 Race Day in New Zealand: Overcoming Doubts 86:22 The Final Push: Winning the World Championship 93:20 Future Goals and Aspirations 98:31 Closing Thoughts and Farewell You can follow us on Instagram: @anygivenrundaypodcast And check out our NEW website: https://www.anygivenrunday.com/ You can listen to this week’s episode of the Any Given Runday Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts from This episode is sponsored by ULTRAPURE Laboratories. Ask for the ULTRAPURE Laboratories Muscle Recovery range in your local Pharmacy or Health Store. Their ULTRAPURE Ice Cold Menthol Gel is  instant fast acting and cooling savior. You can also check out their muscle recovery range through their website: Ultrapurelabs.ie You can now get 25% off all Perform Nutrition products using the code 'AGR' at checkout PerformNutrition.com