Steven Sayer Ironman Triathlete
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Steven entered the sport of triathlon late in life after being inspired at the London Marathon. He has now run multiple marathons and raced some of the toughest Ironman races in the UK. He talks to Sundried about what it takes to be an Ironman triathlete.
Have you always been into sport?
Up until 2012, I was not very sporty or athletic, playing golf once a week. This all changed whilst spectating at the Virgin London Marathon; we followed the course and viewed from a few different places. This changed something in me, frustrated me as a spectator, and most of all inspired me. So the following year I booked into the London Marathon with a charity place. I ran with my brother-in-law and we completed the course in 4:01 which obviously means I would need to return to get under the 4 hours mark. In 2013 I ran the Paris marathon in 3:47 and two weeks later I ran London again, this time in 3:46.
What made you decide to enter triathlon?
As a complete novice and with no specific training, I entered a local half iron distance triathlon. I was instantly hooked.
For the past 6 months I have had a specific coach and am on a structured training plan. I gained a place in this year's (2017) London Marathon from the ballot and have trained to be around the 3:30 mark (let's see how that goes), I also have Ironman 70.3 at Wimbleball which is a very testing half iron distance course.
Do you follow a specific nutrition plan? If so, what/when do you eat?
I have no specific nutrition plan other than eating as clean as possible whilst allowing myself to still go out and enjoy eating. For me, it’s all about balance and my weight never really fluctuates too much.
I found having a specific training plan and keeping a detailed training diary keeps me motivated, I don’t go out cycling in all weathers, so when it's very cold and icy I undertake strict Turbo trainer sessions then on nice days I appreciate outdoor cycling all the more.
Talk us through your training regime.
Monday: Run - on and off road, 17 -19 miles
Tuesday: Swim - 400m warm up, 2 x 1000m with 2 mins rest, 400m cool down
Wednesday: rest day
Thursday: Run - either sprint or hill reps then easy 45 mins to cool down
Friday: Run - 1 hour steady
Saturday: Turbo trainer cycle session
Sunday: Long bike ride - 50 – 70 miles with a 15 min run straight after.
What are your top 3 training tips?
- You must enjoy what you're doing otherwise you will fail
- Try to train with different people of different abilities, this keeps you motivated and grounded
- Be comfortable and confident with your gear and clothing as it makes a big difference!
If you could only do one workout for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s a tough one but it would have to be a long bike ride. I’ve been on some amazing bike routes and they are more accessible now than ever.
What are your training goals?
Future training goals are to race iron distance triathlons throughout Europe and America
Why work with Sundried?
Sundried is a fantastic brand with amazing ethics. Their activewear is very well-fitting and comfortable which makes it perfect to train in.
