Race New Forest

The BIG seven in 7 - Stephen Bailey

My interest in triathlon was ‘piqued’ when my ‘wife to be’ was organising the first Bournemouth Triathlon back in 1987. We married, moved to Salisbury and joined the original Sarum Triathletes, competing regularly at local events and enjoying the social side of the sport.
In 2008 I tackled my first Ironman event competing in the Forestman and according to my wife, was planning for a rematch in 2009 five minutes after finishing which turned into a long term love/hate relationship with the event.
As well as Ironman I have competed in a wide range of events and distances
Since my return to the sport I have become involved in a wider role. I have enjoyed marshalling and supporting Richard and Jo as much as I have enjoyed competing and it is great to see the events from a different perspective and appreciate the work that goes on behind the scenes.
Richard, Jo and my wife Jo, have all worked for New Forest District Council Leisure Services (my wife still does) and go back well over 20 years, and Richard still holds my wife ‘responsible’ for getting him into the sport when he was encouraged to try the Ringwood Triathlon.
I have developed a real passion for coaching swimming, originally when our 3 children were very involved in competitive swimming, and over the last few years I have gained coaching qualifications and more experience and now coach regularly for Training Bible, and coach on a voluntary basis for Salisbury tri club. My particular passion is underwater filming and analysis and I am looking forward to some exciting developments this year particularly with the open water swimming.

Unlike Richard, I do not have the ability to “compete” in Triathlons. Having said that I am normally out of the water in the top 10% but from that point on its just a continuous stream of athletes screaming past me on both the bike and run. So when Richard explained to me the details of this challenge Tim and he were planning on, I felt quite inspired by the thought of ‘doing’ some events where I could only having a maximum of three people who would be in front of me at the finish!!!!
It took me a couple of months to pluck up the nerve to ask Richard if he would let me join him on his 7 in 7. Richards response was, “what, do one of them with us”? No I said, do all 7 of them with you. After a couple of seconds of silence on the other end of the phone he came back with, “I think that would be great” (crap) “subject to chatting to a couple of people first” (phew)
A few weeks later Richard rang me to tell me it was a go. It was then my turn to be silent. Fantastic I eventually said, are you sure? Richard asked. Yes I was just thinking of the size of this challenge. To which Richard responded, “best not think of the whole thing”

So to this point, having had a recent MRI scan on my left knee and subsequently being told that my knee is completely wrecked, I have concentrated on cycling and swimming. Both of which are going well. I am about to start introducing short runs into my training off the bike to see how the knee holds up. So far so good.

http://www.justgiving.com/racenewforest7in7

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