Travelling to sun-drenched Hawaii means different things to different people — some to simply relax and unwind, while others prefer to put themselves through the ultimate physical challenge that is the Ironman World Championships.

Karen Smith falls into the later category as one of more than 2,000 competitors who have earned the right to compete in the world’s toughest triathlon on Saturday.

Smith, who will race in the 45-49 age category, leaves for Kona today for her fifth Ironman, hoping to make up for the disappointment of having to withdraw from last year’s event because of illness.

Pushing her body to the limit in the Ironman, the most gruelling of all triathlons with a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and full 26.2 marathon, is a challenge that Smith still relishes.

“I had a kidney stone ten days before the race and was in the hospital for four or five days, so I wasn’t in any shape to go and put my body through that,” said Smith, who last competed in 2011, placing nineteenth in her age category for her lowest finish.

“You’ve got to be really prepared to put your body through the test and you can’t do that if you go through what I went through last year.

“It was a bit disappointing not being able to race, so the whole of this year was about getting back to the start line.

“I did that with a qualification race in Los Cabos, Mexico, in March and then had a little bit of a break before starting the build-up in the summertime.”

Smith claimed victory in the 45-49 age group at the Los Cabos Ironman, as the eighteenth-fastest female and fifth-quickest amateur. She was 91st overall in 10hr 22min 59sec.

“I had a few weeks off in the summer where I wasn’t training very hard, then came back and did the 70.3 World Championships in September and was eighth there. I wasn’t running particularly well at that time but I had a decent swim and good bike so I was pleased with that,” said Smith, whose best performance in Hawaii came in 2010, finishing third in the 40-44 age group.

“The last month has really been focused on strength on the bike and then being able to run well.

“I’ve put in a lot more miles with the running in the last month and hopefully it will be back to where it should be.”

Smith believes that competing in Kona is akin to running on the moon, alluding to the miles and miles of barren lava fields.

“When I did the 10:16 [her best time] it was a really special day and maybe you only get one of those in your lifetime,” said Smith, who is aiming for the 10½-hour mark.

“This year, obviously I want to do well and have a good time but for me it’s really more about being healthy enough to be there and compete. Maybe not chasing podium spots or personal bests, but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.

“If the weather is great and favourable then I might end up with a fast time, but if there are heavy winds, high humidity and sun then your times are going to come down a little bit.

“Relative to my performances, I think my swimming has got a lot better and my biking a lot better, but as you age your running performances drop a little. I’ve started to feel that this year.

“Ironman is more of a strength thing, you see people in their 20s not racing as fast as people in their 40s.

“It takes years of strength and endurance to get to that level.”

Smith added that it was a “magical experience” to compete in the Ironman World Championships — the most prestigious of all triathlons.

“The Ironman World Championships is ‘the race’ of triathlon, the biggest race and more people try to qualify for it than any other race in the world,” she said.

“Some 200,000 people try to get into it every year and it is a special honour to be able to race in Hawaii.

“When you get to the start line it is absolutely magical, thousands of people watching you everywhere.

“It’s my favourite race of the calendar year.

“There is nothing like Hawaii; it’s hard and hot, you go through the desert and then you start going into a farming area, then a rainforest, all these amazing places on the bike course.

“The first 30 or 40 miles it feels like you are riding on the moon because of the dark lava rock highway through. Then that changes as the geography changes, there is no place like it on earth.”

Smith is passing down her love of triathlon to her son Tyler, who is one of the Island’s most promising young triathletes.

The 16-year-old outlined his potential after winning silver medals in the time-trial and road race at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships in Suriname last weekend.

“Our family has been doing triathlons since he was born and it’s just something we talk about daily,” she said.

“Somebody is always out training and that’s our lifestyle, it has never been forced upon him.

“He was a very good swimmer for a long time, but also showed he had talent in other sports. His skills have improved so much, he’s very committed, very focused and loving it.

“Unfortunately our house looks like a transition zone at a triathlon with bikes, helmets, water bottles everywhere!”