For the 10 years I’ve raced triathlons so far, I have only twice had the chance to have my dad with me to support and for him to geek-out on bikes in transition.

But although I know my mum was scared like anything to know I was racing long distance, she had never seen me at a race, even a small one.

Mostly, this was because I was racing abroad, chasing a race everyone dreams of racing one day…

The icing on the cake? The pinnacle of the sport? Or just another race? See it as you please, but the Ironman World Championship in Kona is by far the most well known and iconic event on the calendar. A place of myths, race “wars” and many a disappointment, it is THE one, the holy grail to achieve for many.

After an amazing result last year at IM UK, the goal was to keep going a little bit longer, and I qualified in South Africa earlier this year. For me, that’s where the hard work was done, and I went to the the big island with no expectations, and no pressure.

It’s been a long time since my last olympic tri around Eton Dorney back in 2012. This time, though, it was a massive PB around a theme park!

Coming close to qualification last year in Bolton, and after the disappointment of IM Wales, I was ready to pack it all up. But being so close, and keeping improving, I followed friends' advice, and I “followed the slots” with my ticket to South Africa. At a championship race with 75 slots on offer, and ageing up for one of the largest age groups, I hoped I could get close to the top like at IM UK, and if not in the slots directly, get myself a roll-down.