Raya Hubbell: 'Triathlon in a way really saved my life'

27 June 2022

Raya Hubbell, is an ambassador for KYMIRA, the technology brand specialising in infrared performance apparel- we caught up with her to talk about overcoming injury with sport and how coaching is mutually beneficial for the newcomers as well as the expert.

Raya Hubbell

Please tell us about the first time you realised you wanted to become a triathlete.

I had been “rehabbing’ from quite a serious injury for many years and was doing a lot of swimming and cycling. I had done triathlons as a kid and saw an advertisement for an ironman on social media and thought that would be an amazing achievement to work towards to mark the 15th anniversary of breaking my back in a skiing accident. At that point I still couldn’t run! I spent a year building up to it and the day I ran onto the red carpet of the finish line I knew I was hooked.

You won a silver medal in the Ironman European Championships, so how did you juggle work and your sport?

I won the silver medal at the ITU European Championships in 2018 when I was working full time. Time management is crucial to ensure a work, life balance! I learnt to be kind on myself. I wasn’t going to be able to do every single training session or go to every single party/event I was invited too. There were times when I had to work hard and skip training, or take days off work to get training in. Proper planning is the best way manage this.

You have overcome many injuries in your time as an athlete so can you tell us about these and where you found the mental and physical strength to get through.

Physical and mental injuries/illnesses can confine and define you, and I didn't want that to be my story in life. No matter how bad an illness or injury was, I wanted to be able to live my life to the fullest. All I needed to do was adapt rather than give up. No one else in this world is going to write your story book - so I wanted to take control of the narrative and make sure every day was worth living. You know that age old saying “Turn that frown upside down,” it works! Stay positive and don't let the hiccups that life throws at you get you down!

This isn't to say that I am never injured or sick anymore! That is a constantly moving target for all of us. I try and manage my training and recovery to minimise the risks going forward. One of my favourite recovery brands that I swear by is KYMIRA. They are an infrared recovery clothing brand, which helps to speed up your recovery and minimise muscle fatigue and soreness. The team at KYMIRA have massively helped me on my journey but also the members of our race team! Recovering well will set you up for great success on your triathlon journey!

You were an alpine skier, but you suffered a serious injury and had to learn to walk again so how did triathlon help you get through this?

My skiing accident left me a little bitter about sport. It was all that I had wanted to do and I had fallen out of love with sport when I got injured. Getting into triathlon helped me to find my love for physical activity again. I got the bug back for being physically and mentally challenged to do something you feel like you might not be able to do. That is something I thrive off of. I found my sporty spark again!

In what ways are triathlons and skiing similar in your approach to them?

The two sports are incredibly different from a physical perspective. Skiing is all about explosive power and short-term strength. Triathlon is multi discipline and endurance focused. Where the similarities lie is in the mindset that you need to be successful. Committed and competitive, driven and ambitious! What you also need to be able to thrive in both sports is to be a little crazy and a thrill seeker!

You approach all sport in a similar way. Train hard, follow a plan, strategize and properly plan for race day. If you follow that structure in any sport you will have success.

You are also a coach, so what made you want to give something back to other athletes?

Triathlon in a way really saved my life. I remember the morning of my first ever Ironman and the commentator told us to look at the people standing next to them, give them a hug or handshake to congratulate them for getting there and ask them what it was that brought them to that moment. I realised there and then that so many people had been through a trauma or big life event that had led them to sign up. Someone was a recovering addict, another partner had passed away from a serious illness. It was incredibly comforting to know that I wasn’t alone in my journey and so many people I was rubbing shoulders with on race day had been through adversity to get themselves to that point. It was one of the most inspiring and humbling feelings I had ever had. It was at that point that I thought to myself, I want to help those people the way my coach had done for me.

What are your top tips for budding triathletes?

1. Be prepared and organised! From everything to your training through to race day. 2. Stay calm in the water and don't forget to sight! 3. Keep an eye on your recovery and listen to your body. If you are tired or feeling unwell – it’s ok to take a step back and rest! Rest is not the enemy! Over training is. 4. HAVE FUN!!!! You have worked so hard for this, don’t let the pressure or stress of the day make you forget why you are doing it! Go and enjoy it!

What is next for you?

I have taken a bit of a break from racing this year to focus on my coaching and manage some niggles and illness (yes, it all stems from my skiing injury). So, my plan is to get back to competitive racing next year. I am looking at Challenge Roth, and the ITU World Championships and ETU European Championships.