2XU's Co-Founder/Director and Head of Product Development Jamie Hunt, is lining up for his first IRONMAN (IM) World Championships (Kona, Hawaii) on Saturday October 13.  In the M40-44 category; Jamie made his full IM debut in Melbourne earlier this year - not only finishing in a cracking time of 8:58:06, but winning his Age Group.  With this result and Jamie's background as a former short course World Champion Duathlete in mind, be sure to keep watch of this Kiwi on race day!

While Hunt originally left the circuit to establish 2XU; he's now back and determined to show what his highly acclaimed technical 2XU Compression + Triathlon garments can do.  From today through to race-day eve, Jamie will be checking in with a daily journal entry.  Stay tuned - here's DAY 1:

After two years of build up, I'm finally on the plane to Kona. My story is one of nearly 2000; all the competitors have gone through their own battles in reaching what is the ultimate in the sport of triathlon, racing the Hawaii Ironman World Championship.

I was last here two years ago watching many of our sponsored athletes, and decided, as I'm sure many spectators on race day do, that I wanted to compete there someday.

I had the added advantage of being a former Pro Triathlete, so I knew I had the ability, however I had been out of the sport for 10 years, and tipped the scales at 25kg over my race weight.

I set myself little intermediate goals; starting with a 70.3 race in Australia early last year, where I finished a long way back in the field after turning in a disappointing 1.45 run, and finishing with my first Ironman this year at the Asian Pacific Championships in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia.  On that day I raced myself to a surprising Age Group win, and in doing so broke the 9 hour barrier on what was a perfect racing day.

I know Hawaii will be a new ball game.  The heat is intense, and the gravity of the event adds a whole new level of nerves.

Over the next 10 days I will update you on my progress leading to the big race.  I'll also do a couple of interviews with Sponsored 2XU Athletes, and offer insights on the life of The Big Island!

Stay tuned.

Aloha,

Jamie