World record holder in Ultra Triathlon. Who is she really? Alicja Pyszka-Bazan

She explains that triathlon is three 'excluding' sports: you cannot be a pure swimmer, cyclist, and runner. Each sport breaks down the body differently. Therefore, to race effectively, you must train in all three every day to teach the body to handle transitions. Her week includes one day with extended sessions (Long Day) and other days with moderate 2-hour blocks. She also includes off-bike runs and swim-to-bike bricks. The high volume is built up over years, and she emphasizes that her background in swimming and then running gave her a head start. Currently, she also does daily foot stability exercises because a previous injury left one foot needing constant work.

She explains that in her double Ironman, she focused only on the next lap of 1.2km. After 50km of running, when that became too daunting, her coach Rafał instructed her to break each lap into two, and even further, telling her: 'You can do this little bit, then that little bit.' This segmentation made the impossible feel manageable. Later, when the finish was near and she was in total distress, Rafał gave her permission to cry for a short stretch, then resume pushing. This emotional valve prevented a complete breakdown. She credits this method with getting her to the finish. The approach is similar to endurance swimmers counting strokes or runners checking off landmarks.

She describes that her husband often questions the early departure time, but she insists because she must have everything done by 30 minutes before start. She then stands calm, knowing she has an advantage. This behavior extends to daily training: she blocks extra time for warm-ups, cooldowns, and potential mishaps. She sees it as a safety blanket that provides stability in her 'wojskowe' (military-like) life. As a child, she packed her things in advance to feel security at home, and now she replicates that same pattern to feel safe before a race.

Three weeks before the double Ironman, she fractured her foot by tripping on a curb during a late-night run. She was unable to run, so she devised a plan: she would do her scheduled swim and bike, but instead of running, she would do an extra bike session and tell herself it was running. She managed to keep her weekly training hours identical, convincing her mind that the cycling was running. She says it worked, and she still set the record, though in hindsight she admits she had to consume massive amounts of painkillers (ibuprofen, anti-emetics, anti-cramping) to get through, and the race was 'not the most comfortable'. She credits the mental trick with keeping her in the race mentally.

After the last season, following a planned rest period, she chose to design her own training regimen. She started with two weeks off, then gradually reintroduced training, listening to her body's signals. She describes this as her best life decision so far, even though only a few months have passed. The process of self-coaching is an extension of her high-performance identity; she loves being in the process and feels empowered. She still occasionally consults Rafał for mental calibration, but most decisions are now hers. This shift reflects her trust in her own judgment and her desire to be the ultimate authority over her athletic career.

Rafał Mazur helped her reframe these childhood behaviors as 'moce' (superpowers) that marked her as extraordinary. She now sees that the very traits she tried to hide — extreme organization, anticipating needs, planning days ahead — are the same traits that enable her world records. This understanding gave her self-acceptance. She no longer feels she must prove herself to anyone; she already has the 'papers' (qualifications) to be great. The realization that she was born this way liberated her from the guilt of being 'different' and allowed her to channel the energy positively.

She describes that after her childbirth, she returned to fitness and immediately sought the highest possible level, eventually aiming for bodybuilding championships. This all-in tendency led her into dangerous overtraining. When she contacted Rafał, he diagnosed that for someone like her, external motivation (like Goggins' teachings) would be lethal. He told her they need to 'hamować' (brake) her, not accelerate. During the double Ironman, she nearly burned out on the bike trying to show dominance over a rival; Rafał and her team intervened to calm her down. Afterward, she credits the team's ability to hold her back with saving her race. Now, whenever she feels she should add more training, she contacts Rafał who tells her to stick to the plan, and she trusts him completely.

She describes her childhood longing for parental recognition, which was never fulfilled. Now as a mother, she consciously wants to be present for her daughter, attend her tennis and swimming competitions, and be an authority figure Sara can be proud of. She shared a triumphant moment when Sara pointed at her on the pool deck saying 'To jest moja mama' (This is my mom) to her friends, which Alicja counts as a personal victory. She also aims to provide a happy, two-parent home and to support Sara's passions without becoming the overbearing parent. This 'winning in motherhood' is added to her list of victories alongside sport and business.