By Charlie Bradley

A MUM who almost broke the world record for running a half marathon with a buggy now has a new challenge in store- The Ironman World Championships

Anna Jenkins, 38 spent the last four years away from full Ironman racing raising her son Edward, 3 and 15-month daughter Jessica while also running her business Oxford Sports Physios and Pilates.

But despite the break, Anna has secured a place at The World Championships in October 2019.

The mum and business owner from Warborough, near Wallingford said: “I was completely shocked and blown away.

“I had actually intended for this to be my last ironman, but I guess I’m doing one more now.”

An ironman race is a triathlon event consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. During her win this month, Anna completed this in 11 hours and 34 mins.

The World Championships will take place in Kona, Hawaii, and Anna aims to take Jessica, Edward and husband Charlie with her to the race.

She said: “I couldn’t have done any of this without the most incredibly supportive husband, we couldn’t find anyone to have the kids for the race weekend so he deferred his entry to next year so that I could race.”

Anna also raised eyebrows in 2016 when she nearly broke the record time for running a half marathon while pushing a buggy, carrying her then one-year-old son Edward.

She said: “At the time, my dad was facing a second battle with bowel cancer having discovered that the cancer he had fought since 2012 had returned in December 2015. He sadly passed away on the January 13 this year.

“I was really happy to get as close to the record as I did but it was more about the experience and fundraising for the charity and my dad’s illness.”

Anna now has her sights set on next month's world championships, and she will be fundraising again to ensure she can make it to the competition.

She added: “I want to bring my whole family with me, it will be an expensive trip but any support I can find to help me get through training over the next year would be very gratefully received.”