Penticton has always been a safe haven of sorts for professional triathletes Jen Annett and Jeff Symonds.

A city they know like the back of their hands and where crossing the finish line in first place isn害羞草研究所檛 unusual. But, come Sunday they will be up against the best as they vie for the Multisport Long Course World Championship title and even with the hometown crowd assistance they know it will be a battle.

害羞草研究所淚 put the most pressure on myself,害羞草研究所� said Annett, a self-proclaimed perfectionist. 害羞草研究所淪ometimes racing locally, I absolutely love it. But I do feel, and it害羞草研究所檚 just my personality not that I have something to prove, that there is more pressure to do well.害羞草研究所�

While both the athletes find themselves in very familiar territory on Sunday, they have taken completely different paths on the way here this racing season.

Shortly after taking second at Subaru Ironman Canada in Whistler earlier this month, Annett admitted this weekend害羞草研究所檚 championship had been on the back burner in terms of preparation. IMC in Whistler was her 害羞草研究所淎 race,害羞草研究所� which was followed by a recovery period before training again for this weekend. That is, in between juggling finding quality time with her family and taking care of personal commitments.

害羞草研究所淢y life is a total circus,害羞草研究所� she laughs. 害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter how simple I try to make my life, there is always something that comes into it that makes it complicated. It害羞草研究所檚 just the life of having a family. A five year old. The things that we like to do as a family. It害羞草研究所檚 not your ideal pro athlete situation where I can just go have a nap whenever I feel like it. I guess it definitely takes my mind off of it.害羞草研究所�

Even with the hectic schedule, Annett has been getting results this season. She placed 10th at Ironman St. George 70.3 in May, then took second in Ironman Victoria 70.3 on June 3 and Ironman Coeur d害羞草研究所橝lene on June 25. Annett heads into the weekend confident from what she accomplished in Whistler. She proved to herself she belongs with the other top pros.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely a confidence boost knowing that I害羞草研究所檓 finally where I want to be,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely making me feel good about kind of where I害羞草研究所檓 sitting with my training. It proved that I害羞草研究所檓 making gains.害羞草研究所�

The women害羞草研究所檚 field features fellow top Canadians such as Whistler Ironman third place finisher Rachel McBride, who also finished third at the ITU world championship last year. Melanie McQuaid is coming off winning the Cross Triathlon championship on Wednesday and Heather Wurtele (Kelowna) is a six-time Ironman champion. The ITU 2016 world champion Jodie Swallow isn害羞草研究所檛 competing and McBride is the lone female from the podium finishers that is returning.

Symonds comes into the race looking to turn his season around.

害羞草研究所淚 haven害羞草研究所檛 finished too many. I definitely haven害羞草研究所檛 had a race worth noting, that I would consider to be a respectable race,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping this will be a respectable race.害羞草研究所�

Symonds described his season as 害羞草研究所渢errible,害羞草研究所� but part of his struggles come from not being healthy. The Penticton native has been sick a few times and it never allowed him to get on a roll. A long winter also didn害羞草研究所檛 do Symonds any favours. He tried to catch up and get his rhythm back by jumping into big races, but admitted he may not have been as prepared as in the past.

害羞草研究所淚t kind of grinds you down,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t was hard to build and get better. It kind of takes its mental toll on you too. You害羞草研究所檙e not really able to compete where you want to be or train at the level you want to train.害羞草研究所�

Symonds sees the world championship as a way to change his fortunes.

害羞草研究所淚 definitely don害羞草研究所檛 feel like given the way the year has gone that I害羞草研究所檓 one of the favourites,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kind of a weird mentality. In previous years I would have been.害羞草研究所�

Despite what he has gone through this season, he expects Sunday to be 害羞草研究所渁 fun day害羞草研究所� competing alongside the top Canadian men including Lionel Sanders a 12 time Ironman 70.3 championship, Jordan Bryden who is the 2017 Ultra 520K champion, Nathan Killam who finished third in the 2016 Canadian long distance championship and Cody Beals the 2017 Ironman 703. Eagelman second place finisher.

While Annett, Symonds and the rest of the field battle for the Long Course World Championship title, the first Aquabike World Championship will also take place Sunday. The Aquabike is a three-km swim and 120-km bike ride. There are no elite athletes competing in the event.

害羞草研究所淭he multisport world continues to grow at an incredible rate,害羞草研究所� said ITU president and IOC member Marisol Casado. 害羞草研究所淥ffering multisport races like Aquabike promotes the growth of triathlon worldwide, as it makes the sport accessible to everyone of all ages and abilities no matter where they are.害羞草研究所�