It has been 2 weeks now and I finally feel like I am back into a good Perth routine. I don’t usually have any problems when I return home but I think due to the nature of my 2 days of traveling home it took me a while to sleep normal hours again. I didn’t mind for the first week, I was up early and wide awake ready for swimming training by 4.30am most mornings. But by mid afternoon I would often crash and burn, needing an afternoon nap. But then..if that was too long, there goes the chances of having a good nights sleep.

I was back to normal when Guy arrived back after spending time in the UK and it was his turn to go through the same as me. Considering he is not a morning person, it was quite amusing having a wide awake Guy on our way to swimming training in the mornings. He even went one morning without coffee which is unheard of.

It has been great to have spent time recently catching up with friends and family I haven’t seen in the last 6 months. Although there are still more to see. But one of my priorities when I got home was getting in a good 4 weeks of training leading into Ironman WA and so far all has been going to plan. The wind and rain was not expected but all part of the challenge. But lucky for me I am totally addicted to my treadmill and computrainer so it has been a perfect opportunity to update my movie watching.

Last weekend I was lucky enough to to fly to Kalgoorlie to attend the Goldfields Sport Star Awards as their Special Guest. It was a quick 28hour visit but jam packed. On arrival I was whisked off by local man off the moment Ian Dunstan to visit 3 schools promoting the sport of triathlon and what is involved being a professional triathlete. A radio interview in the afternoon and a quick trip to the local Oasis centre before it was time for the high heels and dress. I love getting glamoured up because it does’t happen very often. But I must admit by the end of the night my feet were killing me…not used to wearing heels!!

The awards were held in the Old Town Hall which was amazing with so much history and pictures of previous Hall of Fame inductees hanging up stairs. The night was a great success and it was incredible to be witness to the amazing talent in that area across such a variety of sports. Congratulations to all award winners. And a special thanks to cousin David for accompanying me home!! It was first real experience of Kalgoorlie after dark!

From there it was onto celebrate my cousin Wesley’s 40th and a celebration that I was glad to be back in Perth for. But by Sunday morning it was definitely time to catch up on some sleep!!

This weekend it is time for another race, the Bun-Berri Classic! A great kick start to the Western Australian season and 2 weeks prior to Ironman WA it is perfect timing!

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend and in particular Boise training partner John Shilt who is finishing his season with Ironman Arizona!! This is it!!!

After my “not what I was hoping for” race in Kona and an amazing 3 days holiday with Guy it was time to get back into it. Physically and mentally. I needed to race. To remind myself I was still fit and unfortunately Hawaii was a bad day. I wanted something close by, easy to get to, not a lot of travel, but a good hit out!!

Bingo…we came across the Red Rock Soma Half Ironman and in particular the Durapulse Pro Race. Perfect!! There have been some big names to have raced and won the event and with part of the course overlapping with the Ironman Arizona course later in the year it is a popular event. We were sold, and within 24 hours had entered, booked our flights to Phoenix and through the amazing race organisation had my very first ever home stay with Michele!

It ended up being the most carefree, easy weekend of racing we have ever had! No..I am not saying the race was easy, far from it!! Actually I buried myself like I normally do! But Michele and her partner Hoyt may the weekend so much fun and we were totally spoilt that if we weren’t going back to Australia for the summer we may have stayed longer!!

I had another great swim by my standards, although it was non-wetsuit and found myself less than 2 mins down heading out onto the bike. I was happy with that considering the girls in front were from under 23 short course racing backgrounds. But as the ride went on my Ironman training came into play and although the course also demonstrated one of my weakness’s (there was something like 13 180 degree turns on each lap and 3 laps for the 90 km’s!) I was able to establish a lead by the end of the last lap of the bike and was running scared 3.30 mins in front.

I was so excited to be there I started running like it was ann Olympic Distance 10km! Note to self…not a good idea! Hey..but no worries..I feel good and have the endurance in my legs! But not at the pace!! With 3 miles to go I was still holding the lead by just under 2 minutes but the wheels were coming off fast! Rick (a friend of ours from Boise who was also racing) and I were running side by side and in between my puffs and grunts I said “I need you to get me home!” We pushed each other to the end and thankfully it was 40 seconds later that 2nd place came across the line! My 2nd Half Ironman Victory of my Career!

I was spent by the time I reached the finishline (not as bad as Ironman Western Australia last year though!!) but thankfully my knight in shinning army carried me to a better place!!

It was beginning to heat up fast as age group athletes continued to cross the line for the rest of the afternoon. It was a fantastic race and one we would highly recommend and hope to return to next year.

Michele and Hoyt spoilt us again after the race with an amazing home cooked dinner

Then we were back in Boise before we knew it although the lovely DOMS came to join us 24 hours later!

Since then it has been time to pack up and get organised for the return trip home but not before some quality pumpkin time…a first for both Guy and I

We are going to miss all our Boise friends very much…but it won’t be long before we will be back! For now..it is time for the Aussie summer!! I can’t wait!!