My Other Life: Stephen Ridley, triathlon competitor

How did your interest in triathlons start?

One of my good mates was training to complete an Ironman, and it sounded like a good challenge to complete myself for my 30th birthday. I did a few sprint distances to start, and was hooked from the outset.

How did you build up your skills?

A lot of training – I can be squeezing in up to 15 or 16 hours per week (on top of a full-time job) in peak season. I don’t have any kind of swim background, so that is where I have had to focus a lot of effort, with it being such a skill-based sport – up to five sessions a week. I’m still normally some way down after that first leg, which is always a swim, but thankfully the run is my strongest, so having that last helps.

What is the triathlon experience like?

It can be pretty daunting. It typically involves a very early start, and you can’t help but compare yourself to everyone before you even begin. Whose bike looks fastest? Who will I likely be racing against? Will I survive the swim? I get the same butterflies and doubts every time, but once the race starts, it’s great. There’s almost always fantastic support, and most people are very friendly, with a great sense of camaraderie between competitors. The endorphin release after crossing the finish line is unlike anything else!

How has the experience changed you?

It’s given me a great sense of discipline, and awareness of time management. I have to be very well organised to fit all of the training in, as well as balancing the day job. And at times it involves significant sacrifice – the most difficult of which being alcohol in the build-up to a major race.

Any crossover between triathlons and your insurance day job?

In a similar vein to cycling, there is a real focus on ‘marginal gains’ in triathlon, with small amounts of weight or aerodynamic savings potentially having a significant impact. I often ask myself ‘Will it make me go faster?’ and the same transitions to work. For example, will attending this meeting, or completing this piece of work actually have a material impact on business performance? Or is it just a meeting for meeting’s sake?