Tyler Butterfield is hoping to return to racing in May as he recovers from an illness he picked up in Mexico in November.

The Bermuda triathlete was laid low after the Ironman Cozumel race where he is believed to have contracted three parasites, and has only recently been able to resume training after completing a course of antibiotics.

Still, Butterfield faces a lengthy recovery process and at the moment is struggling to get through 30 minutes of running without feeling the after-effects.

“It has taken longer than we all expected,” Nikki Butterfield, Tyler’s wife said. “He just got the all clear, now it’s just a matter of building up his fitness again and staying healthy.”

The illness has already forced Butterfield to miss the Pan American Ironman 70.3 Championships in Panama last month, and his next target is the Ironamn 70.3 St George in Utah on May 7.

The race serves as the North American Pro Championships and Butterfield is optimistic of being fit enough to compete.

“It all depends on how long it takes for him to get back into his normal routine,” Nikki Butterfield said. “At the moment just a 30-minute run is making him sore, but he’s been doing it his whole life, his body knows what to do, it will come back quickly.

“If things don’t start to click in the next month Tyler will delay his first race for 2016, but we’re positive at this point.”

Whatever happens, Butterfield’s main focus remains the Ironman World Championships in Kona in October, although he has already qualified for the race after finishing fifth last year. Butterfield is third in the Kona Points Rankings for 2016, courtesy of his seventh-placed finish at the 70.3 Worlds, a spot that was validated by competing in Cozumel.