LUCY WALMSLEY described conditions as ‘brutal’ after battling valiantly to finish the course on her debut at the 39th Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday.

Walmsley, a chartered physiotherapist from Bourton-on-the-Water, was so debilitated that she was reduced to walking for periods of the final full marathon, but she rallied to finish 20th in her 45-49 age category.

On the back of a concerted upgrade in her training regime, mum of two Lucy has netted two national titles in 2017.

She first won the Over-45 section of the England National Triathlon Championship and then, on her debut in a full Ironman event, she was crowned British ladies’ V45 champion in Bolton.

Then in her warm-up for Hawaii, Lucy won her age group in a Half Ironman race at Weymouth by a whopping 31 minutes, when, thanks to the generosity of Ribble, she rode one of their professional time trial bikes for the first time.

Expectations had soared by the time she took her place alongside almost 150 British professional and age-group athletes among the field of almost 2,500 on Kona.

Surely a top 10 finish was a possibility. Perhaps even a podium finish.

After a solid 2.4m ocean swim (1hr 13min 10sec) – her least favourite discipline – she put up a strong performance on the bike (5:40.09).

Bizarrely, the field on the straight out-and-back route had to cycle into a headwind throughout the entire 112 miles after a massive mid-race change in wind direction.

Sadly, she could not use the racing helmet that fellow Bourton resident and former British road race champion Sharon Laws had loaned her because she was concerned it would be a bit hot.

Starting the 26.2-mile marathon finale – her strongest suit – Lucy had a deficit of less than five minutes to make up for a top 10 placing and she was less than nine minutes off a podium bronze position.

But nine miles into the marathon medal thoughts had switched to those of pure survival.

“The swim was better than I expected and I really enjoyed the bike ride,” Lucy told the Standard from Hawaii.

“The roads were long straights so you could really find a rhythm and the scenery was amazing from the barren lava fields to the lush coast line.

“But the conditions were brutal. I was expecting heat and humidity but I had underestimated the extent and effect of these conditions.

“The run was definitely the worst bit. I have never experienced anything as tough as that. I became too hot and then could do nothing to cool down.

“Around nine miles I crashed. My breathing was rapid, I had pins and needles in my hands and feet and I could feel it was getting hard to concentrate or plan.

“I must have walked a mile before I was back to something more normal.

“I did manage to recover and got a good strategy of drinking coke and pouring two cups of ice down my top at each station, and by about 18m I was back running 8.30-minute miles and only walking at stations to get supplies.

“Somehow I made it to the finish, something I doubted would happen at one point. I did not want Kona to beat me.

“I have loved the whole experience. I cannot deny I am disappointed not to have gone better. I felt if I got it right I could have made it into the top 10 and I’m not sure what I could have done differently.

“I could have backed off a bit on the bike to hit the run a bit cooler but then would have been out of contention, so it had to be an all-or-nothing effort.”

Lucy clocked 4:12.01 in the marathon, 40 minutes slower than her winning time in Bolton. Her overall finishing time was 11:12:17.

“I have absolutely no plans for the future other than to chill out a bit and enjoy spending more time with my kids (Lilly-Anna and Bertie) and my amazing husband Dennis,” said Lucy.

“I have already turned down a slot for next year’s 70.3 World Championship in South Africa as Lilly-Anna is starting senior school and I cannot be away for her first day.

“I think a more balanced family life is called for now.”