May 2008

Ironman Champ Stephen Bayliss

“How I got into Multisport”

PROFILE
Nicknames	Big Legs, Ostrich Legs
Nationality	British
Date of Birth	5 March 1979
Height	6 foot
Weight	68kg
Personal Best	SA IM! 8:18:23
What would you do if you weren’t a Triathlete?	Motorbike racer
Hobbies	Swimming, cycling, running
Favourite Music	Rock
Favourite quote	“Perseverance conquers all”

FFS: So Stephen, Number 1 at Ironman South Africa! Run us through your first Ironman victory...

Bayliss: Yep, finally, no 4th place! I had a good swim coming out in 2nd and riding with 1 guy at the front. After 60km I was actually leading the race by over 1min after a puncture by a strong riding Austrian left me all alone up front, I was riding a bit too hard and when Chaboud and then Tissink came past I was unable to match their pace. But I limited the gap to a reasonable time.

Onto the run and I didn’t feel brilliant, but did as the Doc prescribed, got some food and drink in over the first 2km, then got going and gradually the gaps started coming down, I moved to 4th then to 3rd then I could see 2nd, then with 8km to go I caught Tissink and was in the lead. But he was tough and hung on with me for another 4km and then with 5km to go I gave it a surge and I was all alone and then ran as hard as I could to the finish.

The sense of satisfaction and happiness I felt was incredible and only matched when Bella (my hero and fiancée) won a sprint finish to win too. I nearly killed her I was hugging her so hard after she crossed the line! What a day for us both.
(Stephen finished in 8:18:23, Bella in 9:27:48)

FFS: What year did you compete in your first Ironman?

Bayliss: I did my first Ironman in 2005 in Lanzarote and finished 14th over 45mins behind the winner. From that day I have been working day in day out and have seen improvement, but it is certainly not easy to win an Ironman race. Finally though in South Africa I pulled it off!

FFS: So how did you get into the sport in the first place?

Bayliss: I did my first triathlon when I was about 12, it was organised by my swimming club. I was hooked immediately, but I got a few knee problems while I was growing and couldn't run for a while. As a result I started to focus on my cycling; I got into it in a big way and wanted to make a career of it. I went on to represent GB on the road and at CycloCross. I even raced on mountain bikes because I just loved everything bike related. In the back of my mind I still had a love for triathlon and wanted to start racing again in the future.

At the end of 2001 I started swimming and running again and so in 2002 started racing triathlons. It all seemed to click and I have been a full time triathlete now since the middle of 2004.

FFS: It must have been tough to race and train and support yourself at the same time?

Bayliss: I worked in a number of places after leaving school, as a Bank Clerk, and as a call centre operative for a DIY store. These taught me a lot as they were really a big endurance test. It taught me that you can either accept being mediocre or decide to strive for better, a sentiment I take to my racing.

FFS: Has it made much of a difference becoming professional?

Bayliss: I don’t feel like I have changed a great deal going professional – the love and passion for the sport are still strong. The benefits of going pro are that I don’t have to fit my training around work, now training is work and my performances have benefited from it. I’m not sure I could have won in South Africa if I hadn’t been professional.

FFS: You seem to be racing all the time, how do you do it?

Bayliss: True, I am always going from one race to the next, but the aim is to constantly look for improvements. Staying healthy and keeping on top of nutrition is really important so I can keep up my training and racing schedule. Big thanks to For Goodness Shakes! for supplying my sports recovery nutrition.

FFS: Do you have a favourite race?

Bayliss: I'm not sure I have a favourite race; there are many great races around. To date I’d probably say IM South Africa was my favourite as it was my first big win. I also like the World Championships. I always want to race the best and I plan on beating the best.

FFS: What’s on your mind when you’re racing?

Bayliss: I try to concentrate on the present and so just concentrate on swimming, then cycling, then running, and making sure I am fueling my body correctly. No point worrying about anything else.

FFS: What have been the most important influences in your life so far?

Bayliss: I guess meeting my fiancée Bella and also my coach Brett Sutton have been very influential moments in my life, they are both amazing people and have shown me that I (in fact anyone) can be the best if you work hard enough, I don't believe you have to have any dramatic experience to change your life, you can just make a decision.

FFS: What is a typical training week like for you?

Bayliss: It is top secret but involves lots of; swim, bike, run, food and sleep!

STEPHEN BAYLISS’ TRIATHLON TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Preparation:

GOALS!
What do you want to get out of your first triathlon experience? Write this down at the outset of your training to keep you focused and motivated

Program it
Get the most out of your time in the saddle, on the tarmac and in the water and make sure you’re not under or over training by getting a triathlon training program from an expert.

It’s always better with a buddy
Get a training partner, or join a triathlon club to keep you motivated during training.

Hydration
Stay well hydrated in the week leading up to the race, drink sports drinks as well as water to give you the extra carbohydrate.

Practice transitions
A lot of time can be saved if you’re slick in this area.

RECOVER!
Rest on your rest days! Your body needs to recover. Recovery is a vital part of training, and you need to let your body recover after all the training.

Race Day:

Nutrition
Eat something at least 3 hours before the race. Good meal options include: porridge and bananas, toast and honey/jam. Have a sports drink to sip in the final half hour before the race.
Make sure you drink during the race
Keep a bottle at transition in case you need a top up between the swim and bike, and/or bike and run. Have two bottles on your bike, better to have more than you need than less.
Trisuit
Wear one piece trisuit so you don’t need to get changed in transition

After the race:

RECOVERY
Awesome! You finished the race.
To make sure it doesn’t hurt too much in the next few days you need to stick to your recovery strategy. I have a For Goodness Shakes straight after my races and another one in the next two hours. Stretching is key too.
I also eat a high carbohydrate meal in the 2-3 hours following the race to keep recovery on track.

STEPHEN'S LATEST RESULTS
April 2008	South Africa Ironman	1st
March 2008	New Zealand Ironman	4th
Feb 2008	Milo Philipines Half Marathon	2nd
Jan 2008	For Goodness Shakes 10km	1st
Dec 2007	Western Australia Ironman	5th
Nov 2007	Florida Ironman	4th
Oct 2007	Singapore Ironman 70.3	3rd
Aug 2007	UK Ironman	2nd
Aug 2007	Alp D’huez Long Distance Triathlon	3rd