AFTER a few days of waiting with my fingers crossed the selection for the first World Cup has been announced. Due to the early finish of my season last year it has been over eight months since I last competed internationally so you can imagine my delight when I discovered I am off to America. The location of Palm Springs, California, is an added bonus so I will hopefully be seeing some sunshine in just a few days time.

I might be about to compete in a Modern Pentathlon World Cup but I do also have a race of a significantly further distance coming up soon. In less than one month I am running the Bath half marathon; this has yet again annulled my use of the 'I am a pentathlete' get out card when it comes to the large running sessions with Tavistock Athletics Club. Having said that, when left to my own accord I do quite enjoy an easy long run and I unintentionally took this to the extreme on the weekend. My passion for discovery took me through some gorgeous yet unfamiliar countryside which was all well and good until the sugar levels started to drop, I made it home 2 hours and 20 minutes later - maybe a marathon should be on the cards next.

Having not been home for a few weeks I noticed a few things had changed, most noticeably the growth of my sister. Yes, you are right she is an adult and no longer growing in height and don't worry I would not tell the world if I thought she was getting fat; it is however the appearance of her baby bump. Since I last saw Megan she has become obviously pregnant — it suddenly seems real and the excitement of being an aunt is building fast.