I love to be inspired and I can quite honestly say I was truly inspired by my interview with Lucy Gossage. If you haven't heard of her already, I predict that by the end of next year you will know a lot more about this talented academic, who also happens to be a pretty good Ironman athlete.

The story all began when Lucy decided to do an Ironman following the break-up from a long-term relationship. She chose Ironman UK (2006) as her race and did it on a £500 bike with no tri-bars. With no expectations she loved every minute of it. Since then nothing has really changed, apart from the fact she's now one of Great Britain's fastest ever age-group athletes having finished Ironman Switzerland in a time of 10:05 - oh yes, and she does now own some tri-bars.

This year with a couple of victories under her belt - National age-group middle distance champs and New Forest middle distance triathlon to name just a couple - she's now finally found a little confidence and according to her coach, Leigh Archer, 'next year will be a big year for Lucy'.

A great story, but of course it doesn't stop there. Up until this year whilst training for Ironman 29-year-old Lucy was working as an oncology (cancer) doctor, which meant having to deal with a bleep that went off 'incessantly' and was always rushing between clinics and ward rounds. This year she's working on a research PhD at Cambridge on kidney cancer, which means she has slightly more time on hands! Her work, in her words, puts things in perspective for her. And I have to say it most definitely does - Lucy is one of the most grounded athletes that I have met in a long while - and with a little bit more self-belief will go a long way.

AE Congratulations Lucy, what a fantastic year! Did you expect things to go so well at the beginning of the season?

LG Thanks Annie, the season has finished so well for me and combined with my IM Switzerland result I am really chuffed. I still really only take part in triathlon for the fun and enjoyment factor, so it’s pleasing but still somewhat unexpected that some good results have come my way. Although it could have been so different earlier in the year! I was twice hit by cars (over the bonnet of one) in my build up to the Ironman and so lost the best part of a months training and also became very anaemic during my recovery too. At the time I was so frustrated but it’s also true that a rest can sometimes do you good, although trust me at the time I couldn't see it that way! We did plan a rest after IM Switzerland with a push during the second half of the season, so yes it worked out well.

AE You seem to have accumulated some great results over the last couple of years, which have perhaps crept by a little unnoticed?

LG I guess I have done well this year looking back and reflecting. I think I've become a bit more confident in my own ability over the last few months, especially the bike to run element and being coached (by the extremely patient Leigh Archer at TFN / thetriathloncoach.com), has certainly made a massive difference. He’s helped me focus my training and has replaced some of the pointless hours with some quality and specific sessions. Learning to rest and recover properly was a new experience for me but has clearly been beneficial. I think while Leigh is somewhat overconfident of my capabilities, it probably balances out my pessimism quite well!

AE It must be tough when you’re following in the footsteps of the likes of Chrissie Wellington, Bella Bayliss, Jo Carritt etc, but you’re not doing a bad job; in fact your time of 10:05 at Ironman Switzerland was one of the fastest British age-group times ever?

LG Thanks - I was really pleased with IM Switzerland and loved the race. I thought deep down I may have a good race in me but never really believed I’d pull it off (despite Leigh predicting my time within minutes yet again!). I think the fact it wasn't too hot helped me. We worked a lot this year on running off the bike strongly and actually running 3.23 was quite emotional on the day. One of the nicest things about the race was the support from the other Brits racing, especially the other girls in my age-group. And my parents who are real Ironman groupies now!

AE Where and how did the Ironman bug start for you?

LG I never meant to do more than one! As a student I used to play tennis and squash and went to the gym pretty regularly. I entered the first Ironman (UK in 2006) as a bit of a dare after a long-term relationship broke up - all my friends and family thought I was completely mad. Looking back I'm not sure how I managed it but I did virtually all my training for that on my own without an Ipod, and really had no idea about what I’d let myself in for... I managed to get to the start line on my £500 bike with no tri bars and no idea how to change a puncture and loved pretty much every minute of it (other than forgetting to change out of my heavily padded cycling shorts for the marathon which was a big mistake!)

The next year I plucked up the courage to join TFN tri club which has a pretty inspirational set-up. It’s a real mix of standards and backgrounds but the key common theme is that everyone does triathlon because they enjoy it, and the social side of the club is as important as the training side. I guess I've gradually become more and more hooked since then!

AE What’s been your best experience so far racing Ironman?

LG Probably crossing the line of my very first one. I never really thought I ’d finish and I don’t know that anything will ever top that feeling of achieving the impossible! Some of the results this season have come close but that first one is, I guess, always very special.

AE And worse?

LG Without a doubt Ironman France last year...It was the first year I’d really trained consistently over the winter, and I really hoped I’d do well enough to qualify for Kona. But it was a complete disaster! To cut a long story short my back wheel collapsed at 70 miles. I eventually got a replacement wheel of sorts (but bizarrely never got my original one back!) and finished the bike, but during it got gradually more and more confused and unsteady. At the last turnaround point I fell into and knocked over the drinks table and eventually collapsed with a mile and a half to go. Believe it or not, after three bags of fluid they let me leave the medical tent and finish the race! I've never been as disappointed in myself or my body, though looking back I think I learnt more from that race than any other.

AE There are rumours that you've got big plans for next year, can you tell us more?

LG I don’t know about big plans, just more of the same and hopefully quicker! I'm planning on doing another Ironman with the goal of qualifying for Kona again and hopefully getting there in the best shape possible to have a good day. Lou (Collins) is also doing IM Lanzarote and it would be great if we could both go to Kona together. I have some sponsorship interest at present which will help with my planning and travel but if any other bike or clothing companies would like to offer some support, feel free to get in touch. Triathlon and Ironman is not the cheapest choice of sport around, so any help would be great. I promise not to give the wheels away this time though...

AE With times that are nearly as fast as the pro girls have you considered racing as a pro?

LG We have discussed it but I am happier at present staying at age-group level and doing as well in my division as is possible. I find my work so rewarding that a good work/life balance will always make me a happier all-round athlete. I'm not sure training full-time and the pressures it could bring would guarantee I would be as happy an athlete and I'm very lucky that my balance is really good right now. As I mentioned, I love the sport and just enjoy the taking part and training.

AE Last year you rather impressively raced at Ironman UK (finishing seventh overall) and qualified for Hawaii, which was only five weeks later, how tough was that?

LG Hard! After Ironman Nice I had to go to Ironman UK to try and get a slot for Kona, which I managed thankfully. Then the combination of only five days to acclimatise, very little time to recover between the races and being in Hawaii by myself, not to mention the psychological barrier of not really believing I was good enough to be there, made for a hard day at the office! My main goal after France was to finish running which I did, though my finish video makes for entertaining viewing as I run down the finish chute like a drunk, collapse over the line and get carted off into the medical tent. Anyway they checked my bloods and confirmed my self-diagnosis of hyponatraemia so I hope I know how I can avoid that next time I race in the heat.

AE Ok so now on to the serious stuff; as an age-group athlete you work full-time so how do you combine your work and training?

LG It’s become easier since I've started my PhD. Until April I was working as an oncology (cancer) doctor in Nottingham which meant weekends and evenings on call, a bleep which goes off incessantly and always rushing between clinics and ward rounds. Life in research is a lot more flexible, and though I still work hard I can now take a lunch hour and have a lot more flexibility. I think I underestimated the effect of a bleep on stress levels, and it’s amazing what a difference it makes to not always be at the beck and call of the wards – though I miss the patient contact more than I thought I would.

AE We've heard that you've not just got talent, but brains too and are working on a research PHD at Cambridge on kidney cancer. I guess working on finding a cure for such a horrible disease at times must put things into perspective?

LG I think working as an oncology doctor puts things into perspective. When you see unfortunate patients day in day out who, despite a horrendous disease and awful prognosis are still making the best of life it does make you think about what you’re doing and what you want from life. Lots of people think it must be a really depressing specialty but it’s not and at times can be very uplifting. You’re in a very privileged position as an oncologist and get to build a very special relationship with patients and their families.

Cancer research is really important as treatments are continually evolving. I decided to do a PhD as in the long-term I’d like to be able to run clinical trials as part of my clinical practice, but it’s certainly a very different experience to being a doctor!

AE What’s your biggest inspiration when the alarm clock goes to wake you for an early morning training session?

LG Knowing how good I'll feel afterwards – and looking forwards to a massive breakfast! I think Bella's motto to ‘be the best you can be’ is a good one to live by, though I’d add the caveat ‘with the time and tools available!’

AE At the age of just 29 you obviously have a lot of time to improve so what’s your long-term dream?

LG To not need to sleep! Then it would be so much easier to fit everything in...