TAVISTOCK triathlete Hannah Colston took part in the 2018 Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa last month.

In a total time of 5 hours 18 minutes, Hannah completed the the event she had been building towards for a full year in an excellent 45th place for her age group which put her in the top 25% across the world.

The journey to the World Championships began at the 2017 Weymouth 70.3 Ironman event, where Hannah qualified to compete in the world event by achieving second place in her age group. The 70.3 race distance includes a 1.2 mile swim and 56 mile bike leg, finishing with a 13.1 mile run.

Hannah said: ‘Many age-group athletes balance full-time work and family life on top of a full on training programme. You have to get really good at organising yourself and not getting ill!

‘The actual day of any race is the high point when it all comes together; it’s the dark, cold, rainy training days that can make or break you. Luckily there is a great local scene in Tavistock for triathlon training, especially with Tavistock Triathlon Club, everyone keeps each other going.’

Hannah was accompanied on much of her run training by her good friend Megan McCormick. Both Hannah and Megan took part in the Manchester Marathon earlier in the year, which saw Megan secure her slot in the 2019 London Marathon with a ‘good for age’ entry.

Megan also accompanied Hannah to South Africa, where they continued their travels after the race across South Africa’s Garden Route.

Hannah is now hoping to represent Great Britain at the 2018 Ibiza ETU Middle Distance Triathlon European Championships coming up on October 27.