September marked the closing chapter of my triathlon season, with just one major race left — the British Super Series Final. After a long stretch of recovery and rebuilding from injury, I was finally starting to feel stronger in training again. The sessions were beginning to click, and confidence was slowly coming back just in time for the big one.

Unfortunately, just a week before the race, I was hit with an illness that completely knocked me back. Most of that week was spent resting rather than training, and by race day I knew preparation hadn’t gone to plan. Still, I was determined to give it everything I had left and make the most of the opportunity.

The swim was a struggle — I came out the water further down the field than usual, missing the pace I’d had earlier in the season. Onto the bike, I hoped to pull things back, but conditions were far from ideal. The course was soaked, with both water and motor oil which made things even trickier. Just 500 metres in, I hit the deck on a corner, and that was my race over before it had really begun.

It was a tough way to finish what’s been a challenging season, but also one full of learning. From injury setbacks to illness and everything in between, I’ve had to adapt and stay patient. While the result at the Grand Final wasn’t what I’d hoped for, I’m proud of how I’ve handled the ups and downs this year.

After the race, I took a short break to recover and reset. Training has now kicked back off again, this time with a focus on building towards the cross-country season — a fresh challenge and a great way to carry fitness through the winter months.