Kirsty has no regrets

Kirsty Holmes walks away from the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain series with her head held high.

Contributed

REGARDLESS of where Kirsty Holmes finishes in the final round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series at Noosa this Sunday, she will walk away from the sport with no regrets.

The 38-year-old firefighter returned this season after an eight-year hiatus and has shown she is still capable of matching it with the best in the country.

The former two-time Australian ironwoman champion sits equal 11th in the series, and needs to make the final of the three-race eliminator format at Noosa to move into the top 10.

"My goal when I came back was to make the top 10. I'll be disappointed if I don't do that," Holmes said.

"It's the same format as Newcastle (round three), where I finished fifth."

Holmes, who confirmed she would go on and compete at the state and national championships, said there was no chance she would line up in the series next summer.

"I'll be going to Canada in November on an international exchange with a firefighter at Whistler. I'll be based there for six months and he'll come over and work here," she said.

"I love the snow. I've been skiing pretty much every year since I was 12.

"The only thing I'm not sure of is how I'll cope with not being at the beach."

Holmes said one key thing she had changed since she was last in the series was her level of training.

"We used to do three sessions a day. I think we all over-trained - a lot of it becomes junk miles," she said.

"This time around I've been doing probably four sessions in the pool each week, and a couple on the board and ski.

"Race fitness is where you get your fitness."

She said while the quality of her opposition hadn't changed much from the time when Karla Gilbert and Reen Corbett were household names, there were definitely more competitors capable of winning now.

While some things have changed, one that hasn't is the adrenaline rush she gets from competing.

"I'm glad I made the decision to come back, but I won't have any regrets after Sunday," she said.

"It's been worth it just to get the hit again."