I did Challenge Barcelona last October and we stayed at the Bernat II - about a 10 minute walk to the start, 3 mins to the beach and 5 mins from the pool Bella is talking about. It is a "4 star" hotel which would translate to a pretty low 3 star anywhere else - Calella is a fairly old and tired resort. The rooms are pretty big, 2 pools, lots of kids and they are geared up for the race so early breakfast on race morning etc. It was full of triathletes when we were there.

Find a restaurant called BLU - just down from the hotel - best food in the whole place by an absolute mile!

The course is fast but the run was pretty brutal in the heat. Great race though - I loved it!

thanks "not2fast".
but please, you dont need to feel sorry for me, I am doing very well.
Bella

I don't feel sorry for you Bella! 

I last swam with Bella in Fuerteventura. After trailing her for every lap of any pool we'd ever swum in together (even when she was just kicking and i wasn't!) I finally thought my time had come to beat her in the pool. She SPANKED me despite being 28 weeks pregnant. If its in you, its in you, and will never be very far away!

That child is going to have some genes. Talented AND tough!



 

They did it! A Bayliss double win in the ITU Long Course World Series here in Ibiza. Especially pleasing was the role of the (terrible) weather - so Stephen will enjoy doing his race report.

They will give you the details but from my vantage point(s) Stephen executed a great race. He held off a challenge on the run and nailed the last lap. Those legs worked hard today - he was very impressive. Brilliant.

Bella smashed the bike and gave herself a 35 minute cushion going into the run and brought it home. What the 2nd place girl thought when Bella was a lap ahead of her I can only wonder! Brilliant x 2.

They are both tired but happy - nearly as chuffed as me!

 I'm going to try and get them drunk tonight. Chances?

Well if we're doing a "Bayliss love-in".... its not just children and its not only Bella...

At IMUK I was riding my 2nd lap and Cartmell came past in the lead.. The guy I was riding close to sat up and said "great, Stephen Bayliss will be along in a minute. I got into this sport because of him. I've never even managed to get close to him but apparently if you shout him he'll give you a nod". He did, and Stephen did. Same lap another guy and I got chatting. His kids couldn't sleep because they'd met Stephen and Bella at the hotel and "they even took the time to talk to us, and they are like, triathlon royalty. I've got posters of them in my garage where I keep my turbo". The guy at my local tri shop has a picture of Bella on the wall in his office with "Hard work makes a big difference" written underneath it.

I've been at a lot of their races this year and both of them always make time for everyone whether happy with their own performance or not. Watching them deal with their own disappointment yet being prepared to make someone else's day with a photo or autograph is something a lot of higher profile sports professionals could learn from. Both hard competitors, both genuinely lovely people.

Hi all,

just heading home having watched Bella win IMUK 70.3. I'll leave her to give you the details - it was a cracking race and she was unbelievably impressive. Tamsyn had a great bike and was 2nd.

Stephen was a solid 6th - the mend race was also close. A very good day in the English sunshine!

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback on my little (?) story. I just wanted people to know that this forum can really help. I made the decision to only go with what I get from here. I read other tri forums and can't even understand the questions let alone the answers! It really worked for me and I'm really grateful to others that helped too. Bella was and is brilliant.  Amanda and Damien C also gave me real encouragement from the outset - thank you both.

Now, what about that Bella doll? It could be holding little tubes....

Hi Alan,

I hope you don't mind me chipping in but I used to work very close to Hammersmith and know a bit that might help.

Firstly, there is a tri club in Fulham (right next to H'smith) called Full-On Tri who cater for Ironman athletes. They have a great reputation. There are loads of pools in the H'smith area and swimming almost whatever time of the day shouldn't be a problem. Some gyms are open 24 hours. Running is great around there - you an run along the banks of the Thames for miles or head into Hyde Park and do cicrcuits of the 10km loop around the perimeter past Kensington Palace - its a great run summer and winter. Regents Park and Green Park are only a short hop from Hyde Park and can extend your runs and change your scenery nicely! There is also a lake in Hyde Park - the Seprentine -  where open water swimming happens and Hyde Park is the venue for the 2012 Olympics tri. It will be colder than what you're used to!  Hyde Park is always full of people running and biking and or the odd celebrity doing some push ups on a bench!

Biking in central London is obviously harder. Most people use Richmond Park for 1-2 hour riding and for longer stick the bike in the car and drive out towards Surrey (15 - 20 mins) and the Boxhill area where you can get some good hills in with a lot less traffic. if you go to Richmond Park on a Saturday/Sunday and hang by the cafe at around 8am you'll be able to get in a group or at the very least ask some keen bikers about good places to go.They tend to set off from there for longer rides aswell.

Triathlon is gaining real momentum in the UK - London specifically - I'm sure you'll be able to train and race well - it will just be different!

I hope that helps

Emma

Jocelyn,

Have only come to know you through this website - and have enjoyed every single one of your very generous blogs. Just brilliant. So basically I only know you by what you write...I like what I read!

That arsehole (not sure if thats allowed but you used the w word in your blog so...) on Slowtwitch still hasn't shut up - not about you per se this time but about how short he thinks the IM Cozumel swim must have been. I'm sitting here waiting for your result and Stephen's to be posted and just went on there to see if anyone on there knew what was going on - the timings have been all over the place (you were 3rd at one point!) and its been really difficult to know what was going on. It looks like Bella got 2nd - yey! - just waiting to see how you do.

Anyway, just wanted to say Ultra-tosser is in a minority. You keep doing your thing. And when you're done, write a book. It will sell millions.

EEx

So now it looks like Bella finished 2nd. I hope that update is correct!!

...thats her middle name I think. I don't think she was ever 3rd on the bike though   

The updates from this race are so confusing - the timing is all over the place. I can't work out whats going on with the Baylisses'.

Anyone?

Bella,

Great! Let me know when you're back and I will sort it all out. We are very very busy up there in Aberdeen.

My training is going well (I think!) - but then I don't really know if I'm doing enough. I do the 1.5, 2 hour and 3 hour runs every week. Then I do 3 swim sessions and I am trying to do 2 long rides but if I can't get out with the weather (we are having biblical rain here at the moment) I jump on the turbo. I have the 70.3 in SA in January - am I doing enough?

I'm tired but less tired with every week that passes and I'm spending a load of money - as far as I can tell, thats triathlon for you!?

Hi Bella

The restaurants are called ASK, all freshly cooked Italian food so you can have it cooked however you like. We've got 123 in the UK - just let me know when you're around and I'll sort it. Take families Bayliss and Comerford out on me! Otherwise we could link up via email and I'll send you some stuff.

Good luck for Cozumel - I'll have my iPhone charged and ready for updates!

Best

Emma
 

Hi RSANewbie,

I can guarantee you're not alone in more ways than one: I started swimming in April this year, I am also doing my first 70.3 in East London in January and I am also anxious about the swim. I can pretty much assure you won't be last out of the water!

I've worried about every open water swim I've done in races and training and they are never as bad as I fear. This will be my first ever race in the sea.  Can you ever really  replicate the first time?
 
I'm just going to get in, swim as strongly as I can and enjoy it safe in the knowledge that I've done lots of hard work. Then do a little cheer to myself when I get on the bike. Then I'll try and catch you!   

Bella,

Well done! It was so exciting to follow. As you know it's fireworks time in the UK - a busy night socially but I was out working visiting some of my restaurants with some area managers. You now have at least 6 new fans. I had the iPhone tuned to the tracking and was shouting for you all evening. They know I am training to finish an IM event - now they know a bit about my source of inspiration!

We opened a new restaurant in Aberdeen last week - let me know when you are heading back there (or indeed anywhere in the UK) - no more paying for pasta in the UK for you and Mr B!

I have been listening to Doc and did my first 3 hour run this morning - I love this sport! I loved it less yesterday when I got a rear puncture 8 miles from home and after doing a little dance because I fixed it all by myself for the very first time, I then realised I'd forgotten my pump....

Well done for yesterday - you're amazing.

Emma

Bella,

The fact that you were there, the effort you put in, the lack of showboating, the knowledge that the last time you DNF'd you came back and won everything you entered and finally getting on the blog first thing and explaining how you feel with such humility? You are truly impressive.

Thank you.