The 5 minute interview is back! And to mark its return we have The Daddy of RAF Triathlon, the one, the only. Mat Stephenson.

1. The reason I started triathlon was....I was asked along to a race in Cyprus in 1991 by a friend who knew I could run and thought I might be quite good at it. I came 4th in the novice race. I wasted so much time washing my feet in a basin and putting on socks. The winner was an Austrian mountain biker. I didn’t get my own bike until early 1992.

2. To balance family life, work and training I....I don’t do this very well at all. I struggle to maintain a balance. It’s usually all or nothing.

3. Before a race I....go through scenarios of winning, my race nutrition, visualising the course and racing well.

4. During a long training session I...talk and sing to myself.

5. The last time I stacked it was.... the Vitruvian 2009 with a stiff back and tingling foot!

6. My most embarrassing triathlon moment was....falling into a pool whilst trying to wet my goggles.

7. I prefer....(One piece or two piece?) both. Depends on the distance.

8. Something that not many people know about me is....I get road rage and hate driving.

9. My pet hates are....DRAFTING.

10. The thing that saps me of energy (beyond triathlon) is....studying for an OU life sciences degree.

11. In the event of a house fire I would rescue....my children.

12. If I could live anywhere it would be....Somewhere warm and scenic but near my family.

13. My favourite holiday destination is....anywhere hot with an Ironman race. Sad!

14. My ideal day would be....a long lie in followed by lots of sport on television whilst lounging on the sofa. Especially if Man Utd are playing or Olympics or TDF.

15. My ideal night out would be....a nice meal with a bottle of white wine somewhere not too noisy.

16. My favourite film is....The Wizard of Oz.

17. In another life I would have been...professional athlete getting paid to do sport.

18. My greatest fear is losing....my hair, memory, fitness....oops too late.

19. My earliest sporting memory is....getting hit on the head with a cricket ball because I was daydreaming. It caused me memory and hair loss.

20. My favourite smell is....bacon sandwiches..Mmmm!

21. If I could time travel I would....go back to my teens and get a coach.

22. Describe triathlon in 3 words...ambition exceeds ability.

23. The most important lesson life has taught me....enjoy what you have in the moment because sooner or later it’s all going to catch you up!


Thanks Mat for those wise words!

Hmmm - favourite film? You could have chosen The Matrix, Harry Potter, Star Wars, X-Men, even Ice Age or Wallace and Gromit but you chose.......Wizard of Oz. You have got to be kidding!

I believe it Pete, as for his musical tastes they are as equally bad! I have heard him singing along to Vanilla Ice!!!

If you've got a problem, yo, I'll solve it,
Check out the base while the DJ revolves it!!!!
Ice, Ice, Baby!

God no! My musical tastes are even more diverse than Matt's. Don't pigeon-hole yourself, that is the path to monotony.

Good interview though. I love the Wizard of Oz.

Always saw you as the Scarecrow Mat!