Three months after any long-distance triathlon and you're likely to find a finisher slowly rebuilding their fitness and planning the next season.
Not Charlotte Porter.
The gym owner and personal trainer will mark three months after crossing the line at Ironman New Zealand by lining up at the inaugural Challenge Cairns racethis Sunday.
The race is an iron-distance triathlon of a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run. Hard enough in itself, but coming soon after the Taupo race in March and coupled with the Queensland heat, it will be a major effort.
But Porter, 40, is relishing the challenge.
"When I finished Ironman New Zealand I was so excited and wanted to keep going," she said.
"I felt great afterwards. I was googling and came across Challenge Cairns and then I found a holiday special and thought it would be cool."
The Fit As A Fiddle owner left on Tuesday to prepare for Sunday's race, which is the pinnacle in a week-long festival of sport. As well as the main race, she is looking forward to the 3km reef swim race today.
"I know the race will be tough with the heat and the hilly bike ride but it's not like I have to go fast to qualify for anything. I just have to do it, get through the day and enjoy it. The warm weather will be a bonus."
She said the onset of autumn and winter had made training a challenge as she has been forced indoors on to either a wind-trainer or into her Arawa St gym.
"I've been using the gravity machines to try to prepare for it, something different to riding on the wind-trainer.
"When I first entered there was no course profile but now I can see the bike ride will be a challenge as there are quite a few big hills," Porter said.
"I know the run will be hard as by the time I get out, it will be really hot but it's all good."
This is Porter's third iron-distance triathlon after she finished Ironman New Zealand last year and March this year.
Challenge Cairns is one of the Challenge Family events, which also includes Challenge Wanaka held in January.
