BUENOS dias! Greetings from Mexico, where I’ve been since Wednesday ahead of tomorrow’s Ironman 70.3 Monterrey.

It’s my first race of the season so I’m excited to get under way and see what’s in the tank.

The first race of the season is always exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure: it’s a great chance to blow away the cobwebs and open your engine, but it all also feels a little unfamiliar as it’s been five months since I last raced.

The 1.2 mile swim takes place in the Santa Lucia River, which is a man made river that looks a lot like a lazy river, so it’s bound to create an interesting course.

It will likely be a non-wetsuit swim, as the water is quite warm. The rules state that if the water is above 71F/20C then wetsuits aren’t allowed (for professionals) and instead we wear thinner “swimskins” which have no neoprene, unlike wetsuits.

The 56-mile bike course is mostly fast and flat and journeys along the highway bringing us into the city centre where we negotiate a few miles of cobbled streets – which could be interesting based on my training rides here so far.

The 13.1 mile run follows the river in which we swam, towards the Fundidora Park which is a beautiful spot that reminds me a little of a tiny Hyde Park.

Of course, much like in the lead up to an exam, there is little I can do between now and when the gun goes except execute my final training well and eat, hydrate, rest and sleep well.

Thank-you to my sponsors, including Swindon’s Morris Owen Chartered Accountants and Virtua UK, for their continued support.

I’ll be sure to update my Twitter (@eklidbury) with news of how it all goes and will also post on my website at www.eklidbury.co.uk soon after the race.

Time to get this party started.