Jodie Stimpson has been competing in triathlon professionally since 2005, specialising in Olympic distance racing.
Her first major victory came in 2011 when she took Gold as part of Team GB at the World Mixed Relay Championship, followed by an individual Gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games triathlon.
After the high profile theft of her bikes earlier this year, Jodie came to Yellow Jersey to make sure she had proper bicycle insurance for her equipment. Since we are never ones to miss an opportunity, we caught up with Jodie to learn a little more about how she prepares for competition.
How did you get into triathlons and when did you realise you had the potential to be an elite athlete?
I started triathlon when I was eight years old. My dad and uncle took me to my first little triathlon where I won and got the bug! I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything else. I suppose I really started to think I was good enough to race elite in 2009 where I was U23 European and World runner up.
What career do you think you’d have pursued had you not become an athlete?
I honestly couldn’t think of anything else I would want to do which makes me extremely lucky.
Which sport do you enjoy the most?
This is tough…if I had to pick one it would be running.
What’s your favourite training session?
A hard run session.
And the one you dread the most?
Sprint session in the pool!
Do you use music to motivate your training, if so, what’s your favourite music to train to?
I don’t use music to motivate me in training but I listen to music on my runs. I don’t have a favourite…I listen to all sorts. Anything from the latest releases to Phil Collins!
What do you eat before a morning triathlon?
I have to keep things simple so it’s normally porridge and a banana.
What’s your career highlight to date?
Without a doubt winning double gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Favourite race course?
This one is a hard one but the NZ WTS race was a great course. It had a choppy swim, hilly and technical bike, and a run that had false flats.
You’ve recently been recovering from an injury – how have you found coming back from injury this time?
I don’t think any athlete is great at being injured and I’m going to run out of time to get my running form back this year before the races finish but I have chosen to still be on the start line. It’s frustrating because I’m happy to be racing but not happy to not be at the fitness I would like to be. It’s testing for sure but at least I’m healthy and able to race.
Do you have any advice for people frustrated by injury impacting on their training and races?
Take the time you need to get back the right way. It’s incredibly frustrating but take the advice the professionals give you. That way you will be out for less time overall.
What are your goals for the next 12 months?
I would love to say try and defend my commonwealth title but that is in the hands of the selectors. If not, the the WTS series.
As a partner of British Triathlon we have a lot of triathletes as customers, what’s the best piece of advice you can give to people to help their training when they are trying to fit it around a busy work and social life?
Try and find the best balance for you and what you can fit in without overdoing things and burning out. I have so much respect for people who do triathlon and have full time jobs and a family. Give yourself enough time to enjoy all the aspects.
You recently had one of your race bikes stolen – what happened?
Me being too organised! I had put my bike in my car ready to take the bike to the bike shop after morning swimming and when I was driving to the pool at 5.15am it was gone 🙁
Did you ever get the bike back?
No I didn’t and I didn’t have any Yellow Jersey insurance either! Thankfully I don’t have that problem anymore so I’m stoked to have their support.
Find out more about Bicycle Insurance by Yellow Jersey.