For immediate release
Olympic Athlete’s New Way to Deal with the Competition
After years of enduring hayfever at many of the global championships, Olympic athlete Andy
Baddeley discovered a conveniently tiny pollen barrier balm that provided instant relief, “so this
season I won’t be competing against my hayfever”…
Andy Baddeley, Britain’s top metric miler, Olympic finalist in Beijing and world finalist in Osaka, is targeting
this summer's Commonwealth Games. He is 31, married and trains in southwest London and Bedfordshire.
He also has a 1st class masters degree in aerospace engineering from Cambridge University, and turned
down a PhD in aerodynamics to pursue his running career!
Last summer, Andy had ongoing problems with his hamstring, which thanks to physiotherapy and doctors is
now under control. However he has always had to battle with his hayfever, as he explains, “I have had tests
done for my hayfever, which revealed an allergy to tree and grass pollen. My hayfever tends to have two
main peaks. The first is in the early season from late April into May, with tree pollen being the main trigger.
My other peak is late June and early July.”
Andy’s hayfever has been increasingly problematic for him both in training and during major races;
“Sometimes it isn’t pleasant having to live with my hayfever, especially when it’s at its worst. It’s not a very
nice way to enjoy your summer and can be a real pain”, Andy explains. “So I always try to train in
sunglasses. I’m also asthmatic, so it’s harder training in the peak season on the track. I suffer from exerciseinduced asthma, which means that pretty much all of the time I have to use medication. And the hayfever
tends to exacerbate my asthma, especially on session days, when I tend to train harder. I have two or three
major training sessions a week and it’s harder when I’m on the track, especially if it’s very polleny or dusty,
as it makes breathing far more difficult.”
“I took part in a race in Italy last year, with clouds of dust and grass pollen in the air. After I had competed in
the race, which last for four or five minutes, I experienced real breathing problems which continued for 2 or 3
days, during which time I was still experiencing a streaming nose and eyes, wheezing and an itchy throat.
When I race, I suck the air in so fast because I’m breathing so fast, that my body can’t deal with the aftereffects and all these factors conspire against me.”
“I first saw HayMax pollen barrier balm in a Boots advert and started using it at the end of the last season.
There were some particularly bad days for me but HayMax made a real difference – I didn’t even have to
take tissues out with me!”
“I also struggle with my allergic reaction to cats and dogs when I’m around friends and family with pets.
HayMax has been miraculous for this too. I’d usually be sneezing, but after 5 minutes of applying the balm
this stopped altogether.”
“I find HayMax very convenient – I just throw it in my bag or pocket. There’s nothing complicated to worry
about. It’s not like a tablet, so I don’t have to carefully work out timings for when to take it and you don’t need
to have a glass of water handy. You just wipe it on the base of your nose and it starts working.”
“I now use HayMax every day in the summer and I’m definitely going to recommend it to other runners and
athletes. Athletes have to be so careful in terms of supplements, food and medication, so having something
that’s drug-free is a huge bonus. We’re now 100% responsible for what we put in our body. Because HayMax
isn’t a pharmaceutical product, it’s ideal. And I’m feeling a lot more positive about the forthcoming season as
I won’t be competing against my hayfever.”
HayMax pollen barrier balms retail at £6.99 per pot and are available from Holland & Barrett; selected
Morrisons, Waitrose and Boots; independent chemists, pharmacists and health stores; on 01525 406600;
and from haymax.biz.
NOTES TO EDITORS
2014 Championship dates for Andy Baddeley
Commonwealth Games Glasgow: 23 July - 3 August
Athletics: 27 July - 2 August
1500m: Round 1 - 1 August, Final - 2 August
European Championships: 12 - 17 August
1500m: Round 1 - 15 August, Final - 17 August
5000m: Round 1 - 15 August, Final - 17 August
HayMax™ is proud to be Allergy UK’s official corporate hay fever partner for 2014.
Further Information
If you require any further information about HayMax™ or require an interview or images, please contact:
Ian and Jenny Liddle, Excellart
Telephone: 01761 413022 email: zippy@excellart.co.uk website: www.excellart.co.uk
ENDS