British professional Ironman triathlete Scott Neyedli has been in great form in his recent Ironman races. To his Ironman UK win in 2007 (and a second in 2008), Scott added further second place finishes at Ironman Western Australia at the end of last year, and also at Ironman Australia in March. Partick Vernay was to prove his conquerer in both events.

Scott is now second only to Stephen Bayliss in terms of total British male Ironman® podium finishes (four), as highlighted last week in my British Ironman success article, charting the history of British male athletes in M-Dot racing.

This summer, Scott's plans were to take on the infamous Challenge Roth event in Germany, aiming to break the all-time UK iron-distance record currently held by Stephen Bayliss, and perhaps even challenge the eight hour mark. However, recent illness has meant a change of plan, and Scott is now basing himself in Canada for the summer in the lead up to his new goal of Ironman Canada at the end of August.

I tracked down Scott, to find out more about his mid-season changes.

Can you tell us a little about your illness, and the impact on your training?

I picked up a sinus cold mid week before the first TriGrandPrix race and in hindsight it would have been a smarter thing to sit it out for a complete recovery, but that's not in my nature, plus I had paid my flights already.

I was committed to TriGrandPrix Series and I was pumped at the international start list drawn to Kent. I gave my all, but the racing didn't do me any favours. Once back at the hotel - my head was in bin, pardon the expression!

I resumed training there after, travelling to Spain and the the cold moved onto my chest, putting extra load on my respiratory system - I have asthma...

So basically when training at what is normally a comfortable pace uphill I would feel like I'm going anaerobic or an intensity work out, and at the same time blowing my nose for Britain.

I tried training through and raced the second TriGrandPrix race in Zarautz. I performed better and felt better afterwards but on reflection, still 5% off 100% healthy.

You raced (and won) recently the Scottish Champs at Olympic Distance, so I'm guessing that the decision not to race Roth is based on lacking the required mileage/base?

I had a good race, rest was what I needed. Normally I would be straight back into training after an event but returning home from Spain I went cold turkey - no training - until the Scottish Champs, firstly to completely get rid of the bug in my system and also to restore my run down energy levels from the two recent 1/2 Irons and travel.

Pretty much, my key banking miles and sessions are done through this period (now) and obviously they are not banked. I could race Roth next month and still could do well, but I don't want to go there to do well. If I race I want to be there to challenge.

The time period between now and Roth is too tight to spike the training load, to be where I need to be. I did this already this season when I fractured my toe prior to Ironman Australia and after discussions with Joe Beer and my manager, it was a simple or smart decision to reevaluate my summer goals, take a step back to look longer term to the rest of the season.

Having regained your Scottish record for iron-distance, one of the big aims for Roth was to set a new British record. How important is that - and is it something that a lot of the British athletes talk about / aspire too. Presumably it would be a great ‘title’ to have?

I guess for bragging rights it is, but in the grand scheme of Ironman racing I think winning an Ironman event holds more merit than gaining a fast time, albeit still a nice bow to your string. There are a couple of other fast courses on the WTC Calendar where I think I could race a fast time on a good day.

You have decided to race Ironman Canada in August, which is six weeks before Kona. Was there a temptation to not race an Ironman again before Kona? Have you learned from previously having done UK / Kona previously with a short timescale, how to better optimise your recovery and Kona prep this time around?

The temptation is there not to race but I don't have the financial sponsor support to single out Kona. The Ironman Canada race course profile suits me, my family lives nearby so it's very cost effective. The race gives me an opportunity to earn more money and act as an intermediate goal before hitting the big Island again.

The training blocks I have mapped between now & Oct will see much of the banked miles prior IM Canada banked towards Kona also. In 2007 and 2008, Ironman UK was my focus. Adjusting training with six and five weeks before Kona was hard, but if managed correctly I believe I can do great in both. Faris raced IM Canada and podiumed in Kona a few years back so I know it can be done in male competition.