Professional triathlete Andrea Forrest from Glenbrook has continued her strong form in the Ironman 70.3 competition, placing fifth in the Dubai 70.3 on Friday.
I love seeing how many girls I can run down.
- Andrea Forrest
The 90km bike route was out into the desert, finishing with a 21.1km run along a beach.
The triathlon was held in tough conditions, with strong winds and currents leading to a shortening of the 1.9km swim leg.
“I had a great race in extremely tough conditions,” Forrest said.
“It was very tough on the bike with strong, blustery winds and sandstorms on the run leg.”
Her fifth placing was behind double world champion Daniela Ryf who took out the professional female division in Dubai. Forrest’s placing helps her qualification chances for the 2016 world championships in September in Queensland.
Forrest is ranked 19th in the world after a strong season starting on the Sunshine Coast in September.
In October she came second in the Port Macquarie 70.3, followed by third in November at the Western Sydney 70.3.
Her next event is the 70.3 in Geelong on February 7.
"Geelong looks to be a tough course. The coastal winds will play a big factor on the bike and a tough hill has been added in to the bike course this year. There is also going to be a huge professional field on the start line,” Forrest said.
Solid across all three disciplines of a triathlon, the 30-year-old aims to swim with the front pack, hold her position on the bike and then see what she can run.
“I do come from a running background so that is the leg of the triathlon that I enjoy the most and I love seeing how many girls I can run down,” Forrest said.
A member of Panthers Triathlon Club, Forrest trains extensively around Penrith and the Nepean River, and at the gym Atmosphere Health and Fitness, using weights, the pool and cycling studio.