Non Stanford is a Welsh triathlete. Stanford was the ITU World Champion in 2013 and represented Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she finished fourth. Non Stanford is based in Leeds, England and was born in Bridgend, Wales. Stanford graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Sport and Exercises Sciences in 2010.
Stanford was a successful cross country runner; she was Welsh Schools 1,500m champion in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In the 2009 British Triathlon Super Series she came second, and in 2009/10 was awarded the ‘Paul Weston Triathlon Scholarship’ to concentrate on triathlon.
The 2012 season was a breakthrough year for her as she won senior gold in the Stockholm ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championships and U23 gold at the Barfoot and Thompson World Triathlon Grand Final Auckland. The 2013 season started with a win at ITU World Triathlon Madrid, before going on to take the title of ITU World Champion at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final London. That season Stanford also achieved silver medals at the ITU World Triathlon San Diego, ITU World Triathlon Hamburg and ITU World Triathlon Stockholm.
The 2018 season saw Stanford win two silver medals at the Cape Town ITU Triathlon World Cup and ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Nottingham. She also secured a bronze medal at the ITU World Triathlon Yokohama. Stanford also captained Team Wales at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
In 2019 Stanford left the Brownlee Centre in Leeds and joined an international group of elite triathletes under Coach Joel Filliol. The season saw her win gold at the 2019 Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Non Stanford, World Triathlon Champion here she talks about her workout, diet and the success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were picked out as a bright young running talent in 2004 and invited to join Kelly Holmes on the first-ever ‘On Camp with Kelly’ in South Africa. How did it help in your initial years as a runner and then triathlon?
Non Stanford:
My involvement with On Camp with Kelly was probably one of the most key moments in my development as a young athlete. Having someone as successful and experienced as Kelly identifies you as a talented prospect for the future was a huge step in giving me the confidence to believe in my ability.
That aside, Kelly strived to teach us exactly what it took to be a successful professional athlete, the good and the bad, and many of those lessons still help me today. To be able to draw on the experiences of a career like Kelly’s has been an invaluable tool in allowing me to progress from a talented junior into a successful senior, and the lessons have transcended sports seamlessly. I will always be grateful and indebted to Kelly for all her hard work, support and belief in me.
Namita Nayyar:
You also represented Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and finished at 4th place, a commendable performance. Being the best involves a lot of dedication and commitment. Share five keys for beginners to become an outstanding winner in sports?
Non Stanford:
- Train Smart: More isn’t always more with training. Listen to your body and don’t be afraid to back off from time to time.
- Be Patient: Success doesn’t come over night and it often feels like you’re not making any progress, but if you stick with it you will be rewarded for your hard work.
- Sleep: It’s the most valuable recovery tool you will ever have. Try to get 7+ hours every night and if you have time take a nap during the day. You’re body makes the biggest adaptions when you’re resting.
- Do what makes you happy: A happy athlete makes a successful athlete. Make sure you’re in an environment that you enjoy, surrounded by people that make you smile. If training becomes a chore then you’re not doing it right.
- Be consistent: Consistency is key in progressing your fitness and becoming a better athlete. It’s better to do 3 weeks working between 40% – 80% of your maximum capacity, than 3 days all above 80%. There’s not point killing you for a short period of time and then getting tired, sick or injured.
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life. Your morning begins with what routine.
Non Stanford:
Being a triathlete, and having 3 sports to train for, every day is a little bit different. I generally wake up naturally around 7am, and where possible I don’t set an alarm because I like to allow my body to sleep for as long as it needs. Seeing as I am a full time athlete I have all day to train, so I generally don’t need to rush too much in the morning.
My fiancé is also a professional triathlete, so we generally make a coffee and watch the morning news together before the first session of the day. Depending on the duration and intensity of that session I will either eat my breakfast before or after. At the minute I have 2 go to breakfast’s; peanut butter and banana on raisin toast with lots of honey, or porridge with banana, sultanas, berries and Greek yogurt.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
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Namita Nayyar:
Exercises that essentially comprise your workout routine? The therapy you undertake to prevent sports-related injury?
Non Stanford:
Over the years I’ve suffered with many injuries, big and small. It’s one of the risks related to endurance sport and the need to do so much training. In order to keep my body strong and hopefully injury free I do 3 strength and conditioning sessions a week where I work on any weak areas that I have, plus lots of lower limb conditioning as running is generally a high injury risk sport. I’ve also learnt how best to look after my body as I’ve matured, so lots of stretching plus 2 sports massage or physiotherapy sessions a week. As I get older I definitely have to respect my body more.
Namita Nayyar:
The diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Two supplements that are key essential for immunity and enhanced performance.
Non Stanford:
I don’t follow any special diet; I just try to eat a healthy balanced diet, with lots of fruit and veg, good quality protein, carbohydrates, and some treats thrown in there too. I try to limit my dairy and caffeine intake as I find they aggravate my respiratory problems, but otherwise I eat what I want to ensure my body is fuelled sufficiently for the training I’m asking it to do. I take probiotics and omega fish oils to help support my immune system, and a daily dose of U-Perform Collagen to support my joints, ligaments and tendons and enhance post workout recovery and repair.
Namita Nayyar:
Training in extreme weather conditions can show its toll on hair & skin, five tips you follow for skin, and hair care?
Non Stanford:
The biggest revelation for me in terms of looking after my skin has been the discovery of the Pretty Athletic skin care range. Until that point I was really lazy with my skin care, and neglected it despite exposing it on a daily basis to chlorine, wind, rain, sun, sweat and everything in between. It’s designed specifically to meet the needs of active women from moisturisers to gel cleansers, shower scrubs to soothing tonics.
The products are easy to use around the demands of an active lifestyle, look and smell amazing, and genuinely leave your skin looking and feeling wonderful. My favourite products in the range are the Sweat proof Neutralising Hydration Gel, the Recovery Boost Cell Repair Serum, and the Cool down Purifying Gel Cleanser. I would definitely recommend even the laziest or time strapped exerciser to at least give it a try.
Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career? Quote, you live by.
Non Stanford:
My mum has always been a big influence on my sporting ambition and career. She herself was involved in Gymnastics to a high level, which always inspired me to pursue my own sporting dream. From a young age both her and my dad supported and encouraged me in whatever sport I tried, and sacrificed so much of their own time and life to allow me the opportunities I needed to succeed.
I’m definitely someone who has feared failure over the years, so a quote I often use to rise above that fear and stay calm on big occasions is “What if I fall? Oh but darling, what if you fly?” It reminds me to be brave, to take risks that sometimes scare me, because the rewards normally outweigh the consequences.
Namita Nayyar:
In the current pandemic situation, how do you keep yourself busy while staying at home?
Non Stanford:
I’m very fortunate to be currently based in Australia where the situation is much better than other places around the world. Our training hasn’t been that restricted so I haven’t actually had too much time sitting at home getting bored. We can run and ride as normal, and as we live 200m from the beach, we’ve been able to swim in the ocean on a daily basis. If I’d have been at my home in the UK I think I would have fully redecorated and landscaped the garden by now though; every time I’m there I always wish I had more time to do those things.
Namita Nayyar:
You have captained Team Wales at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games; share a memorable experience a captain?
Non Stanford:
It’s hard to pick just one. Captaining the whole of Team Wales was just an incredible and very humbling experience. I was so honoured to have been asked and I would definitely rank it as one of my proudest moments as an athlete.
Stand out moments include getting an access all events pass so that I could jump from event to event cheering on my team in all the various sports. I was lucky my own event was on the first day of the Games so that I could properly support the team for the next 2 weeks. I think that was harder than any 2 week training block I’ve ever done though; don’t under estimate the life of a spectator!
Namita Nayyar:
At the end of 2019, you underwent knee surgery to remove damaged cartilage. Have you recovered from it now and is ready for a great comeback?
Non Stanford:
The nature of the surgery meant that the recovery process was pretty slow; I had to be very patient especially during the initial few weeks and months when I was in a full leg brace and was’t allowed to bend my knee at all. I’m so fortunate that I had an incredible medical team around me that managed my rehab and got me back on my feet as quick as possible.
I’m now 27 weeks post-surgery and slowly building my training back to where it was before. Pre COVID I was hoping to be back racing by June, but this period if anything, has bought me some extra time to take the come back a little slower and make sure my body is completely ready to take on the rigours of racing and 30 hour training weeks.
Namita Nayyar:
Social media has gained significance nowadays, how do you use it to inspire your audience?
Non Stanford:
I just try to be myself and portray my life as it is. I try to share the good and the bad times, because no one’s life is perfect, and nobody looks perfect all of the time; especially when training or working out. Plus professional sport is tough.
There’s no point sugar coating it. I think people can relate more when you’re honest, and when you show yourself to be human, with normal day to day ups and down just like them and theirs. If people then find inspiration in what I’m doing then that’s brilliant.
Namita Nayyar:
Share a few words about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our visitors?
Non Stanford:
It’s a privilege to be interviewed by such a long running and respected publication. The work that you do to promote Women’s Health and Fitness is brilliant; it’s so important that women have resources that are specific to their needs; after all we are not men. I hope that your readers enjoy the content and that it facilitates and inspires them on their own fitness journey. Happy 21st Anniversary Women Fitness, here’s to another 20 years of championing women.
Namita Nayyar:
In 2019 you joined an international group of elite triathletes under coach Joel Filliol. How has this helped you in your preparation for coming competitions?
Non Stanford:
I got to a point in my career where I needed change. I’d been in my previous setup for 8 years; things had got stale and I’d gotten myself into a rut both mentally and physically. Joining Joel and his squad was exactly the fresh start I needed. It provided me with a renewed energy and love for training and the environment Joel has created was perfect for me.
Training alongside some of the world’s best athletes, including the current Male and Female World Champions, is inspiring but also a great way to learn and develop myself further as an athlete. Joel is an outstanding coach, the results are testimony to that, and I fully trust in his philosophies and wisdom so that we can both get the best out of me. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later, but with no solid races on the horizon just yet, we have to be patient like everyone else.
Non Stanford social media presence
- Instagram @nonstanford
- Twitter @nonstanford
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness