Former Mount Maunganui athlete Michelle Bremer is hoping next month's Port of Tauranga Half will prove a happy homecoming.
The 28-year-old Bremer enjoyed an unexpected breakthrough victory in Ironman Western Australia earlier this month which has boosted her chances for the half on 7 January at Mount Maunganui.
Bremer - her maiden name was Michelle Simpson - grew up in Mount Maunganui and although keen on sport did not take part in much serious sport during her teenage years.
Bremer, a physiotherapist, became keen on triathlons a few years ago and has made a spectacular rise in the sport. She led in this year's Port of Tauranga Half before fading to fourth on the run.
"I want to be a full-time professional triathlete in endurance distance events," Bremer said.
With the support of her husband, Clay, they moved to Queensland this year to allow for more consistent training without work pressures.
"I've always struggled with training over the winter in New Zealand so the move to Queensland has been ideal as it has been like our New Zealand summer the whole way through."
She had worked fulltime until July when she decided to enter her first Ironman in Busselton, Western Australia.
"Luckily I have a very supportive husband who encouraged me to train fulltime for the four months to the ironman and that not only helped with getting longer sessions in during the week, but also getting decent recovery time".
Bremer had a positive attitude going into the race but winning was not on her list.
"I was hoping for a good race as I had a solid block of training behind me, but being my first ironman I was hoping to break the 10-hour mark and come in the top five."
She hit all of her markers during the race and was out of the water under the hour mark and only five minutes off the lead.
Her strength on the bike saw her hit the lead at the 35km mark and she completed a scheduled five-mark effort for the 180km.
"I had never run a marathon let alone during an ironman and didn't know how I would feel coming off the 180km ride, so I didn't have any preconceived ideas for that - I just left it to fate."
She had a two-minute lead over Elly Franks with a further three minutes to fellow Australian Carrie Lester off the bike.
Fate worked out well as she strode to a 3h 22m marathon to finish in 9h 25m 38s, two minutes clear of fast-finishing Aussie Michelle Mitchell.
"Everything went pretty smoothly until about 10km to go.
"As the quads and calves started to seize it turned more to a mind-game of keeping the legs turning over.
"Running down the finishing chute to not only complete my first ironman but to win it was a pretty overwhelming feeling."
Bremer is unsure of her racing future.
She is working with coach Chris Pilone to not only to improve her running but to ensure she does not over-race.
She is steeled for a top performance at Mount Maunganui.
"It's my favourite race.
"Having come from the Mount I would love to have a strong race there in front of the family and friends. After that we have not really decided.
"I plan on qualifying for Kona in the longer term, probably another couple of years down the track, once I have some more race experience under my belt."