MY FINAL race of the year went well – I finished second at Challenge Rancho Cordova in northern California, last Sunday.

Although I was obviously gunning for the win, I was still pleased to perform strongly, earn some good prize money and close out the season on a high note.

I’ve since been in “vacation” mode and am now a week into a fortnight’s break. I decided against going away anywhere – I spend so much time travelling as part of my job that it’s actually a luxury sometimes just to stay at home.

I’ve also recently decided to leave Los Angeles in the coming weeks and move up to San Francisco, where my coach and team are based.

I absolutely love southern California living and love my life here, but it is definitely going to be advantageous to be with my coach full-time going forwards.

With so many of our team now in San Francisco, it makes sense for me to be there too.

I’ve lived in LA for almost two years now and have had the time of my life. Great beaches, great weather, great friends, great times – but the time is right to move on and take the next step now for my triathlon training, racing and career development.

I plan to stay in LA for the next two to three weeks, enjoy the rest of my downtime and do all the things I’ve always been meaning to do but have never found the time – yes, I will get to the Getty Center and the Getty Villa.

I’ve already been to plenty of hot yoga classes and have been baking some fine batches of peanut butter choc chip cookies.

Unfortunately it’s not all holiday fun. I also have the unenviable task of sorting and packing two years worth of tri kit, equipment, clothing and “stuff”. Given that I arrived here with a bike bag, a suitcase and a carry on bag, it is quite remarkable how much I have managed to amass in a relatively short space of time. Triathlon is definitely a kit heavy sport.

As sad as I will be to say goodbye to the many great friends I have made here, I am equally excited to move to a new city, meet new people, begin the next chapter in my triathlon career and keep moving ever closer to being the very best athlete I can be. See you in a couple of weeks, when I might be buried under boxes and bikes!