Last month Penny Hosken (above, courtesy photo) was the top Aussie female finisher at the Australian Cross Triathlon National Championship race to earn the title of elite national champion and a spot on Team Australia.

“It’s Amazing!” said Hosken of the honor.  “I couldn’t believe it. I have struggled with illness the past 18 months and was ready to give high level racing away but I decided to have one more crack with the announcement of the ITU Off-Road Worlds in Australia. Even though I didn’t win the race, the top four females were all very close and I was right in the mix. To get any Elite National title is special, especially in Australia where we have such a rich history of successful females.”

Next month, Hosken hopes to carry that momentum into the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race at Callala Beach, Jervis Bay/New South Wales on April 23.

“I have unfinished business in Callala from 2014,” said Hosken, who did not finish two years ago due to illness. “I absolutely hate DNFs so this is my chance to erase that memory.  I want to be in the mix and have a solid day out.”

Hosken, who also works full-time as an engineer to “fund my triathlon habit,” says she has limited time for training and has to be selective with her racing and traveling but loves the variation off-road racing provides.

“There is no getting into a rhythm and switching off at XTERRA,” she said.  “You have to be focused at all times. I love when they start with a surf swim and you can catch a wave back into shore. Every bike course is different and throughout the bike leg the terrain is usually changing so there is no time to get bored. Its full on the whole time. I also like that the run is not straight and flat. I am not from a run background and strength run courses appeal to me much more. You get distracted by the terrain from the hurt in the legs.”

xterraasiapacific.com

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