I'M JUST a week away from my final race of the year – Challenge Rancho Cordova, in Northern California next Sunday – and it is certainly beginning to feel like the season is winding down.

I’m glad to report I returned from Beijing with minimal jetlag after my last race two weeks ago.

Despite leaving Beijing at 4pm on a Tuesday, flying for 17 hours and then arriving in Los Angeles at 5pm the same day, I somehow managed to escape without feeling the effects of crossing 15 time zones.

I was given a few jetlag-busting tips by my nutritionist, Dr Stacy Sims, and I think these worked wonders.

I avoided almost all carbohydrates while travelling, eating mostly protein; stayed well hydrated; kept my sunglasses off for the first 48 hours back in LA and tried to spend as much time in the sun as possible.

I’m not sure those last two tips will be applicable when I return to the UK at Christmas!

I have spent the last fortnight easing back into training and refreshing my body, while also keeping it sharp ready for the race on October 5. I’m all set for one last blast at the races before hanging up my race suit for the year.

Under my original plans for the season, I had intended to do my first Ironman in Arizona in November, but my coach and I decided last week that it would be far more beneficial for me to rest, relax and reset now rather than ramp up for an Ironman. That might happen next year.

After next weekend’s race I’ll take a couple of weeks off, which means I’ll still stay active and keep my body moving, but there will be no structured training.

In fact, I’ll look to do plenty of other sports and activities. I’ve recently discovered hot yoga, which is all the rage here in LA, so there’s a strong chance I’ll be sweating it out on my yoga mat.

I’ve also got some serious beach time planned, catching up with friends, some cinema action and, of course, one of my favourite pastimes – baking.

It has been far too long since a tray of chocolate chip cookies came out of my oven!

I’ll ease back into light training a few weeks after that as 2015 pre-season work begins.

I’m already beginning to look ahead to Christmas and returning to Swindon to see my family.

I’ll have been away a year, so I’m very excited at the prospect of seeing everyone.

Just make sure the sun makes an appearance for me, okay? All this Southern Californian sunshine has definitely made me soft!