Ironman Africa champion Lucy Charles will be chasing a Port Elizabeth double when she lines up for the Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championships at Kings Beach in Summerstrand on Saturday.
Great Britain’s Charles won the full-distance African Championship on debut in the Bay in April in a personal best time of eight hours, 56 minutes and six seconds and is confident she can do the business in the half as well this weekend.
But with the top professional triathletes from all over the world in the field, she said there will be no room for error.
Charles, who came second at the Ironman World Championships in Kona last year, will be up against last year’s African Championship winner and World Championship title holder Daniela Ryf.
“My fitness levels are in a good place and preparations have been going well,” she said.
“However, there are a lot of women capable of winning.
“I predict the top 10 will be spread by as little as two to three minutes.”
Last year’s Ironman Lanzarote winner said when she heard there was an opportunity to race again in PE she had jumped at the chance.
“Having raced here in April it’s great to come back to a place that feels familiar and with great memories,” she said.
“It helps knowing a large amount of course too. I feel very relaxed about it all.
“However, I believe everyone will benefit from the South Africa crowd support.
“It really is the best I have ever experienced.”
Also vying for the top honours will be last year’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship runner-up, Emma Pallant of Great Britain.
Pallant, who came second at the Ironman 70.3 in East London but was a non-finisher at the African Champs in PE, said she plans to race her heart out.
“I have raced in South Africa twice this year, one at 70.3 in East London and one at Ironman Champs in Port Elizabeth,” she told Molo Mandela Bay on Facebook.
“The first race was just after I had re-separated my broken clavicle in a bike crash.
“I knew I wasn’t in the best shape and it would be a tough race.
“I totally blew up in the last few kilometres of the run, but the support got me through.
“It was great to come second to South African Jeanni Seymour.”
Pallant said SA was unique because of the support.
“Race day feels like a party, and the afterparty matches it.
“Everyone is so kind and supportive and there is just such a passion for the sport.”
The men’s race will take place on Sunday.