HOLA, buenas dias! I’m in sunny Mallorca and as you’re reading this I’m racing my first Ironman, which involves a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride followed by a full marathon.

Is that wearing you out just reading it? Yep, me too! It is double the distance I usually race, but I have been keen and curious to “go long” for some time now and I always wanted to do my first one in a special place.

Mallorca most definitely qualifies as a special place for me as it’s where I won my first 70.3-mile title and I spent a great deal of time training here in my early days as a professional.

I have received advice, support and help from so many other athletes and feel nervous, excited and just a little bit terrified.

My training and preparation has gone well and my new coach Lawrence van Lingen has done a terrific job of getting me to the start line happy, healthy and ready.

More so than with any other distance I have raced, this event requires absolute diligence with hydration, nutrition and pacing.

I will be eating and drinking every 15 minutes on the bike with a mix of energy bars, energy chews, water and electrolyte drinks to ensure I take in about 250 calories an hour.

On the run, I’ll continue with energy chews, water and electrolyte drink and then, in the latter stages of the marathon, it will come time to turn to the magic of caffeine – Red Bull, Coke and/or 5-hour energy shots.

It is very important to listen to your body – and mind – as they are designed to tell you what they want.

Monitoring your mood, energy, breathing and posture are also key and these things will be on a continual checklist in my mind throughout the day.

I have been warned that the highs will be high and the lows – well, they’ll be pretty low – and at those times it is important to focus on strong images from training, from loved ones, from previous races.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me, I’ll be sure to do you proud out there.

Thank you to all my sponsors, including Swindon’s Morris Owen Chartered Accountants and Virtua UK.

You can check my progress via www.ironman.com and I’ll also be updating my Twitter and Instagram (@eklidbury) throughout the weekend.

Here we go - see you on the other side!