“Israel wouldn’t be the first place I’d choose to race, but the European triathlon Championships were a good excuse to visit. Security was tight at Heathrow and once in Tel Aviv finding bikes, luggage and anyone who knew what was going on was a challenge. The bikes had either been swept up by Nirvana’s fleet of lorries or were on the next flight to Eilat!

The compulsory pre-race chat was predominantly wetsuit or no wetsuit and nervous banter. Paul and Chris kicked off the racing in the Olympic distance on Friday competing in 32degree’s heat and the remnants of a sand storm. They finished in 13th and 11th respectively.

Pam and I had a slightly cooler start, the water temperature a chilly 20 degree’s, but I decided to swim without a wetsuit. I was working on the theory that any time I may loose on the swim would definitely be made up on the 400m run to transition without a wetsuit.

Out of T1 and onto the bike I kept my focus and avoided my normal day dreaming mid race. The head wind was relentless and the course demanded concentration to avoid pot holes and negotiate the obstacle course of man-made ramps and speed bumps.

The run course was an unimaginative loop taking in the fields of land mines bordering Jordan but with a steady run I finished 1st in my age group and 3rd female overall.

Pam had a fantastic race; I think she was smiling the whole way round, finishing 5th in her age group. After watching some elite racing we celebrated with a cocktail in preparation for the evening dessert buffet and looked forward to spending a relaxing day on the beach.

Thanks to the invaluable support of the valve technician and tyre inflator without whom our results would have been very different!” Follow Emma Pearson on twitter @emmapearson19