Winner of two Ironman Age Group titles, runner up to the Beyond Going Long triathlete of the year award and the Ironman Age Group rankings leader - Caroline Livesey has had some year.

I caught up with her to find out a bit more.

Hi Caroline, firstly, congratulations on being awarded the series Ironman title - I believe the only British age-grouper to be awarded such an accolade this year. What does that mean to you?

My goal for the season was to qualify for Kona so I was really pleased to win my age group Ironman series title – there are a lot of fantastic age group athletes competing on the Ironman circuit so I was quite surprised.

It’s a nice feeling knowing I am the best amateur Ironman AG triathlete in the World for 2014.

Your results last year were astonishing - can you tell us a bit about your highlights?

I had a full 18 months away from training in 2012/2013, so coming back to racing in 2014 I didn’t know what to expect. When I started training at the end of 2013 even running 5km was a challenge. I was very surprised at how quickly my fitness came back, but my first race of the year was Ironman Texas so I had no soft start to the race season!

That race was both terrible and amazing in equal measures but to win my age group there and for Mark to as well, meaning we both qualified for Kona, was really special. Ironman Austria was next, and that was a big highlight of the year. I just had a great day – I felt brilliant and even the run was not too tough mentally. The age group field is always very strong at Austria so I was pleased to have already qualified for Kona, the pressure was off. I think this contributed to my strong result and winning my age group category again.

The race venue for Ironman Austria is really spectacular and Mark and I love racing there. Paul Kaye (the European voice of Ironman) calls it the jewel in the crown and I have to agree with him. I left that race extremely confident.

The British Middle Distance champs in Aberfeldy were a bit of a low for me. I snapped my rear gear cable on the first climb, so cycled the remainder of the bike route in my smallest gear at the back. That meant climbing back over Schiehallion (big hill) in my hardest gear. I still managed to come of the bike in the lead having thought I would not make it back to T2 – but was caught in the final mile of the run to come a close second. It was extremely frustrating for me not knowing my position in the whole race and to loose my lead so close to the finish bitterly disappointed. I learnt a lot from the race.

The World Championships in Kona have long been an ambition of ours – so Mark and I went out there to enjoy it as well as to race hard. We spent a great couple of weeks there with the HUUB team and were captivated by the Island. It is a very special place. We even got the opportunity to do a photo shoot with Dave Scott (promoting the Dave Scott Triathlon race kit with HUUB) on the infamous energy lab. He is such a nice guy who genuinely wanted to know about your training and expectations for the race. Spending the afternoon with Dave Scott was defiantly a highlight during my visit to Kona. He’s a LEGEND!

As expected, the race was brutal. The locals said that the wind conditions that day were as strong as they have ever seen in over 10 years. Athletes were actually getting blown off their bikes across the Queen K from the vicious cross winds. I was pleased to finish reasonably well for my first Kona (3rd in AG) . It is a really tough,tough race.

You’ve been posting top results for a while and your husband Mark is also a top age-grouper and has raced pro. Would you mind sharing about about how triathlon and training plays a part in your lifestyles?

Mark and I met through triathlon, and it has always been a big part of lives. Mark now works in the industry and has developed an online coaching and training tool called Xhale (www.trainxhale.com) which has contributed hugely to my gains in the last 15 months. Consistent training is so key in iron-distance racing and Xhale helps us to track our training and allows Mark to keep a close eye on what I am doing. I work full time (40+hrs a week) and online coach as well, so fitting in 20+ hour training weeks can be really tough. Having Mark’s support and guidance is crucial – I could not compete at this level without his help. We also train a lot together so I am always being pushed to keep up with him and we motivate each other. There is not a lot that Mark doesn’t know about this sport!

I remember you sharing with me earlier in the year that Kona was your big focus. I was somewhat surprised to see you on the startline ay Challenge Weymouth! What was your thoughts on that race, experience and how did it help or hinder you at Kona?

I had always been nervous about keeping my form for Kona as it is so late in the year. When I had a bit of a nightmare at Aberfeldy I was hungry for another race to make the most of my good form. Mark and I talked about me doing the Challenge Weymouth Half, but the temptation to race the full distance was just too much. We decided I would go there with an all-or-nothing approach and try to compete for the win.

I really didn’t know how I was going to fare against the other professionals as it was my first pro outing. I had lost around 3 mins on the swim to some of the other athletes so I had my work cut out to catch them. The bike is my strongest discipline and I knew I was peddling well having taken the lead at around the 60km point. I then had to concentrate on trying to create a gap from the other girls, but this proved more difficult to do. I had posted the fastest bike split of the day, and went out onto the run feeling strong. But as those who compete in Ironman will know – it’s a tough distance and sometimes things just don’t go your way. I couldn’t absorb the nutrition I needed and faded badly after 20km on the run and I was slipping off the podium.

Mark was there giving me splits and we quickly took the decision to stop at the 30km point and save myself for Kona which was just 4 weeks away. It was the right decision but I I was gutted. This experience taught me a lot going in to Kona. I reminded me just how tough the distance can be and I was better prepared mentally for the epic that was Kona!

You obviously like to travel a bit with your events - is that part of the appeal? Where will you be racing in 2015? Will we see you much in the UK this year?

Mark and I use triathlon as an excuse to travel and have nice holidays and it is definitely part of the appeal. We love the whole race experience and we try to make the most of our time in these lovely places to meet people and explore. We managed to see much of the Big Island while we were in Hawaii and were so surprised how many athletes spend their time there just looking at the tarmac of the Queen K and Ali’i Drive. It is a truly magical place when you get off the beaten track.

This year I will be racing in the “professional” field for Ironman distance. I am still working full time so I don’t count myself as a “proper” professional, but I wanted to challenge myself against the best athletes in the world at this distance. I had the opportunity and thought I would regret it if I didn’t give myself the chance – and it gives me more flexibility to choose races during the year.

So my first race will be Ironman South Africa at the end of March. For this race I am also supporting Ironman 4 the Kidz. This is a fantastic South African charity which has grown from a few dedicated people raising money each year through this event. It supports deprived and sick children in South Africa, you can read more about it at www.ironman4thekidz.co.za . I wanted to give something back and I am fortunate enough to have fantastic sponsors (Xhale, HUUB, Brodie Skincare, Proto-col nutrition, Langdale Lightweights) who have all pledged money towards this cause. If any readers would like to support I would really appreciate any donation (however small) they can get in touch with me on twitter or take part in the competition at http://www.functionalfitnessevents.co.uk/index.php/competitions/raffles .

After SA I will evaluate how I have done – but hope to do at least 3 more IM/Challenge races before the end of the year. I am thinking about IM Lanzarote and IM UK – so yes, you might see me racing in the UK.

You were well supported in our Triathlete of the Year vote at the end of last year, narrowly missing out to Jodie Swallow. Do you have a message for our readers who voted for you?

I was overwhelmed by the support I received for the Triathlete of the Year award. To be honest I was overwhelmed with the nomination. I am not in the same league as Jodie – or any of the other girls who were nominated – so it was a real honour to be a part of that. I think perhaps a lot of your readers can identify with the challenge that is training and racing Ironman distance and working full time and that is why I had some votes. I really appreciate all the support from your readers – it has certainly spurred me on in training over the winter.

I was pleased to see Jodie win though – she is an incredible athlete and she had a really great year last year. Hopefully I will get to line up with her at Ironman South Africa – and maybe be in the same postcode at the finish…